Elnor's homestay

Value for money, swimming with turtles

Boat broke down on or island tour, no flippers provided even though they say they're included food was barely acceptable, rather find better eating places

La hospitalidad de Eleonor. Las comidas y la ayuda para lo que necesites

It was ok. Cleaning must be done every day though. You get what u paid for. The owner is very hospitable and caring!

Dusty.

L emplacement et la gentillesse de l hôte.

Rien

La gentillesse et les attentions constantes de l’hôte qui se plie en quatre pour rendre le séjour exceptionnel.

Un peu trop de moustiques à mon goût mais c est vite oublié par la beauté de l île et de ses fonds marins.

La simplicité du lieu, la gentillesse et l’efficacité de notre hôte et le dîner avec du poisson frais excellent

Il faisait un peu trop chaud… heureusement qu’il y avait un ventilateur

Elnor est une personne adorable, bienveillante qui a rendu notre séjour de 2 nuits très agréable. Elle a répondu à nos attentes en les dépassant parfois !

De ne pas avoir pu prolonger notre séjour dans ce rêve éveillé, en acceptant les contraintes de l'île (pas d'eau courante, confort spartiate), mais grand luxe : de l'électricité chez la remarquable Elnor ! Cuisine extra

Homely. Great snorkelling pristine coral.

Noisy fan

I originally booked only one night at this place, but because I liked it so much, I extended my stay to one month. The owner is a very friendly lady. This place is among the very few on the island that has electricity 24/7, so there is no issue. You can enjoy your time at night, charge your phone, and always have light, which is very rare on the island. The place runs on solar power. She has also recently built a bathroom with a proper shower, so you do not have to use a bucket. Again, this is very rare on the island, where bucket showers are the norm. The price is very reasonable, especially considering that she offers some of the best service while also being one of the cheapest options, which is unusual. She also offers very delicious food at reasonable prices, cheaper than other restaurants on the island. She is very friendly. Overall, I really enjoyed my stay here, and I will likely come back and stay for a couple of months, not just one.

The Wi-Fi and internet connection are really bad. I hope the owner installs Starlink soon. It can be noisy due to nearby roosters or dogs, so bring some earplugs.

Le meilleur rapport qualité prix d apo. La chambre est propre (bien que vétuste), et proche de tout. Franchement très peu cher et ça fait parfaitement l'affaire. Le petit déjeuner est présent ( mais très simple et peu savoureux, normal au vu du prix)

Il faut savoir qu'il n'y a pas d'eau courante (on se lave au puit) et la salle de bain n'est pas très propre.

Bon Emplacement, pas cher, convivialité avec les autres voyageurs de passage, et très bon accueil de Elnor, qui est très serviable et très joyeuse.

Dommage! Il ne restait plus de chambres au 1er. L'Air y était plus respirable. Le lieu est tellement apprécié qu'il faut réserver à l'avance.

You will live exactly as they live themselves on the island. Minimal. It’s a great experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

Tita Elnor was a great host and i love her cooking (the portions were too much for me though)

The old french man that is way too french (and whiny) for me.

L'accueil d'Elnor, le dîner qu'elle propose, les chambres sommaires mais propres et avec moustiquaire

Pas toujours facile de s'adapter aux sanitaires rudimentaires mais ça fait parti du rustique de l'île

eine einfache und saubere Unterkunft bei elnor, es war alles vorhanden, was man braucht, die Insel ist ein Traum inkl der Wasserwelt drumherum und die locals im Dorf....und elnor ist eine Seele von Mensch...für uns war es perfekt....wir kommen wieder....!!!

Un endroit absolument charmant en plein cœur du village d’Apo. Nous avons adoré séjourné ici, ce fut notre coup de cœur des Phillipines. Les petit-déjeuners et repas sont très bons, et nous y avons fais de très belles rencontres. La gentillesse et l’accueil d’Elnor ont contribué à rendre ce séjour merveilleux. Il faut faire avec les moyens du bord (douche au seau par exemple), mais ça rend l’expérience encore plus authentique. Nous ne savons pas quand, mais nous y reviendrons sans aucun doute, un grand merci.

I would certainly recommend staying at Elnor's. Elnor is a very kind and funny woman, and you feel very welcome in her home. The room was as advertised. The bed was foam and surprisingly comfortable. No running water on any of Apo, but the bathrooms were clean and the bucket showers were refreshing. We didn't take breakfast since we left very early, but Elnor was very accommodating, and you can buy dinner from her at a very inexpensive rate.

There were some holes in our mosquito net, but there weren't many or any mosquitos in the room so it didn't bother us. There was an overhead fan, which was lovely, but it was so loud that we couldn't sleep with it on. However, we didn't really end up needing it as the windows in the room allowed for a cross breeze. Know that the island is loud in the mornings because of all the roosters (and in our case, amorous cats)- that's anywhere you stay, so bring earplugs if you're a sensitive sleeper.

Unresponsive, better to stay at Mario Homestay

Unresponsive, better to stay at Mario Homestay

It’s the best place you can stay on the Island. If you wanna have a real Philippino’s experience this the place to stay. You live with this wonderful and welcoming family, you share chats and moments with the Owner, Elnor, who will never stop entertaining you with her stories. Her family is amazing, always smiling and supportive for any possible help you might need. She’s also an amazing cook and prices are much cheaper compared to the rest of the island, with absolutely bigger and bigger quantities. I booked for one night initially and ended up staying almost two weeks. If i just had more time i would have definitely stayed even longer. You get your private room, your privacy plus a wonderful company everyday, stories and real and genuine people.

It’s not gonna be a luxury experience, but will definitely warm your heart.

You just have to stay here! Elnor was so lovely and also very funny. She will help you with anything and give you advice. She sorted us a boat to the city and as she was going to the market she came with us and made sure we got on all the right buses. She really supports tourists getting a fair price for things which was very nice. The room is obviously basic but for the price you can not complain. The bed is fine, with a mosquito net over the top. Access to balcony to dry things. We spent all our time out and about snorkelling anyway. Location only 4minutes from where the boats drop you off. The island is tiny so you can walk literally everywhere. People are so friendly and there is a few nice food options. 24hr access to light and fan thanks to the solar panel as the island only gets electricity 6-10pm.

Bathroom is shared - 2 between the rooms. It is fine but don’t expect luxury. There is no sink as no running water so you use the bucket to flush toilet, wash hand and shower. This was part of the fun to experience this island!

Elnor est vraiment adorable, le petit dej est inclu, simple et bon ! La literie est confortable. Salle de bain partager, lavage au seau mais ça fait partit de l’expérience sur cette île qui est vraiment incroyable ! si un jour nous revenons à Apo island nous reviendrons chez Elnor’s ! Encore merci pour tout 🥰

Si nous pouvons nous permettre ce serait bien juste d’installer un petit robinet ou même juste un petit tuyau dans les salles de bains .. 😊

Läget Elnor förståss! Maten o att el fanns dygnet runt sköna fläktar på rummen Vi en familj på 7 pax 3 barn kände oss som hemma. Vi åt alla middagar hos Elnor och hon lagar bra mat med rikligt med grönsaker dock inte till frukost. Då är det ett stekt ägg med valet bröd ris eller nudlar.

Lite mycket tuppar men det hör till i mitten av ett litet Filippinskt samhälle. Förvänta dig inte att sova längre än till gryningen. Vissa fläktar i rummen låter mer än genomsnittet någon mindre men är du känslig rek öronproppar

Очень дёшево. Завтрак включён в стоимость. Радушная и активная хозяйка Эльнора которая старается чтобы гости чувствовали себя максимально комфортно, насколько это позволяют условия. Утром она готовила завтрак, за дополнительную плату можно было заказать обед и ужин. На ужин курица или рыба с рисом и овощами. На втором этаже 4 комнаты. В каждой есть двухспальная кровать с вентилятором и сеткой от комаров. Одна комната без балкона, три остальные с балконами. Есть веревки для сушки одежды. Электричество круглосуточное. Насколько я понял в других местах электричество отключают в 10 вечера. В последний вечер Эльнора заказала для нас лодку на утро. У меня создалось ощущение, что я у бабушки в деревне. К крикам петухов я привык, а мыться холодной водой из ковшика экологично и полезно для здоровья. Люди в деревне приветливые, улыбчивые и даже самый маленкий её житель поинтересуется - куда ты идёшь? За неделю я успел понаблюдать как живёт маленькое сообщество. В шторм они отдыхают, поют песни в домашних караоке, делают ставки на петушиных боях, выпивают, едят и смеються. В будние дни дети ходят в школу, через холмы и пальмовые рощи. Мужчины уходят в море рыбачить или проводят экскурсии для туристов. Женщины занимаются домашними делами. В воскресенье многие идут на службу в церковь на холме, моляться, поют, одевают свою лучшую одежду. Остров Апо прекрасное место для снорклинга и легкого трекинга. Вы стопроцентно встретите черепах. Так же вы увидите мягкие кораллы всех видов цветов и размеров. Так же на острове есть тропы для трекинга.

На первом этаже в комнате с туалетом, условия хуже чем на втором. Матрасы прогибаются как будто я спал на гаммаке. Из за влажности подушки и матрас плохо пахнут. Вентилятор сильно шумит. Сетка от комаров с дырками. В один день хозяйка уехала на остров Негрос, и без неё этот дом словно перестаёт функционировать. Интернет пропадает, вода в ванной не пополняется, радушие улетучивается. Ещё меня раздражал дым от костров, которые жгут в деревне. Наверное, из-за того, что некоторые сжигают в кострах пластиковый мусор. В общем, минусы незначительные и общее впечатление об хомстее и острове у меня отличные.

First of all the owner treated us like if we were part of her family, whom we met while staying there. Her guesthouse is in the center of the village and the rooms are really comfortable and cute. There is a common area where we shared delicious meals with other guests and everything you need is at disposition.

Un établissement à l’image de l’île: authentique, sobre, fondu dans l’ambiance de l’île. On ne va pas à Apo island pour vivre dans un palace, mais pour partager un peu de cette ambiance rare où les gens de cette petite île maintiennent leur façon de vivre depuis des générations ! Goûter l’authenticité et l’immuable est un privilège ! Quant à l’emplacement il est d’une propreté irréprochable, tenue par une dame exceptionnelle et ses enfants , qui se fait une joie de vous aider pour quoi que ce soit dont vous pourriez avoir besoin! Elle vous réserve même le bateau pour le retour et vous emmène même au port en chargeant vos bagages sur un chariot!

La propriétaire très gentille La proximité avec le village L'électricité continue ce qui n'est pas le cas ailleurs sur l'île Le petit déjeuner inclus, possibilité de dîner sur place Moustiquaire au lit

Les coqs très présents Pour information, la salle de bain est sommaire mais fonctionnelle, se doucher avec le seau, également pour les toilettes

It has wifi and solar power compared to other stays

Uncomfortable toilet and low wifi data and really cant use laptop outsode 6 pm to 10 pm when apo island receives electricity. This reqlly is not the problem of this stay because it is island problem

Ho adorato l’esperienza della doccia con una vaschetta, i servizi erano puliti giornalmente e la stanza molto accogliente con balcone privato. La signora Elnor è una donna meravigliosa, sempre sorridente e pronta ad aiutare. Una vera business woman, si occupava di tutto! Wi-Fi funzionante ed energia elettrica h24 grazie ai pannelli solari.

El millor de tot és Elnor, ens ha ajudat en tot moment en qualsevol cosa que li demanavem, ens ha preparat esmorzars, dinars i sopars de cuina filipina increible i a més a més adaptant-se als nostres horaris, ens ha ajudat amb els transports, etc… no podem dir absolutament res dolent de la nostra estada. Elnor ha sigut la millor, sempre amable i amb un somriure. Moltes gràcies, no podem recomanar més quedar-se aquí.

Elnor is so friendly and helpful. The meals she cooks are great and good portion sizes, as well. She can also offer 24h electricity unlike the rest of the island. The locals are also so nice and friendly. Apart from that the island is just beautiful. Only other place I've been to with similar reefs and aquatic life are the Maldives. I'd definitely recommend it!

el lugar es maravilloso

Nada

*No lo recomiendo en absoluto* Hay una gran diferencia entre un alojamiento austero o rural y uno insalubre y extremadamente tacaño. Viajo como mochilera desde hace años y esto no tiene nada q ver con lo simple o básico. El agua q ofrecen para asearse (un “estanque” con jarra) está en mal estado: al final de mi estancia noté q la vikini lavada con esa agua —estrictamente prohibido— olía literalmente a podrido. Tras alojarme allí sufrí una intoxicaciónx fuerte q me hizo perder 3 días de viaje. Era mi primer destino y solo comí y dormí allí. Después de salir del alojamiento me aparecieron ronchas compatibles con *chinches de cama.* El uso de la electricidad está controlado por la dueña, pese a anunciar “electricidad 24 h”; incluso me pidió apagar el ventilador cuando estaba acomodando mis cosas al llegar y me confeso que le molesta q los huéspedes estén todo el dia con el ordenador enchufado. Cobra el agua potable de garrafa (la q te regalan en todos los alojamientos del país), el wifi es prepago, se corta constantemente y hay q pedir q lo recarguen. La comida es escasa y de mala calidad, por 250 pesos comes mucho mejor en cualquier otro lado. El ferry “gestionado” por ella resulta más caro q el precio real para locales (locales 50p, a ella 300p). Conclusión: trato poco honesto y una experiencia muy negativa. Solo quiere ganar dinero al menor costo posible. Intoxicarse fuertemente estando de viaje no se lo deseo a nadie!

Nanay Elnors is very friendly & very accommodating. The electricity starts from 6pm - 10pm only & good thing Elnors has a solar so we don’t have problem with the electricity. Also has a WiFi .

My only problem is the food coz it is not easy to find a better restaurant & food.

Un hébergement relativement confortable sur cette petite île superbe et attachante, où l'on partage les conditions sommaires de ses habitants fort accueillants. Elnor propose des repas, réserve le bateau du retour...

Les prises de courants sont très peu nombreuses, bancales, en hauteur, sans aucune étagère pour poser un téléphone et rares sont celles qui fonctionnent. La multiprise au rez-de-chaussée ne permet pas de charger tous les appareils.

Elnor est une hôtesse qui prend soin de ses guests. Nous avons passé un agréable séjour. Les repas du soir étaient très bons et copieux. Nous recommandons cette adresse. Très bon rapport qualité prix, séjourner sur l'île c'est accepter des conditions de confort un peu plus rudimentaires. Ici à noter, pas de coupure d'électricité la nuit, et un peu de wifi.

Tout était bien

I like the cosy small close community vibe of Apo island

Private boats prices are ridiculous so always contact you're property host and arrange for cheap and shared boat pick up and drop off if you don't want to get ripped off .

Elnor's homestay was lovely! The accommodation on Apo is pretty basic but she has solar panels so there's electricity all day and a fan in the room so it was not too hot! Elnor was a great host and the meals she cooked were delicious. She also sorted out the ferry for us when we left and would help you with anything you needed. Highly recommend

Great staff

The roosters

Очень душевное и внимательное отношение ко мне со стороны смотрительницы. Несмотря на то, что ей нездоровилось, мадам любезно провела меня до лодки на Негрос, и даже ждала примерно три четверти часа. Вкусный завтрак Всё великолепно, спасибо! Группе гидов, сопровождавших мой снорклинг, также горячий привет из России!

Elnor et sa famille sont très sympathiques et serviables. Ils nous ont très bien accueilli. Le petit déjeuner est inclus, ce qui est très pratique. Elnor propose également des repas pour le déjeuner et le dîner qui sont très bons et copieux. Elle nous a aussi aidé pour prendre le bateau de retour. Appréciable qu'il y ait l'électricité toute la journée, ce qui n'est pas le cas partout sur l'île !

Le lit était un peu dur. Le confort est assez sommaire, mais on s'y attend.

Elnor es muy atenta y está pendiente de que estés cómodo durante tu estancia en Apo. Su cocina lo mejor!! Súper recomendable🤩

Elbor is a fantastic lady - sorted us out with everything we could need. Location is incredible - apo island is a must see.

Minimal facilities but that was expected.

Le prix et la gentillesse d’Elnor.

Il n’y avait , hélas, pas plus d’électricité qu’ailleurs sur l’île…… alors que nous étions justement venu ici pour l’électricité H24 ! Comme il y fait très très chaud , les nuits sans ventilo n’était pas simple . Ne pas rester à Apo plus de 1 ou 2 nuits car le snorkling n’est pas si exceptionnel que ça en fin de compte ! C’est beau mais pas tant de tortues qu’annoncé!

Elnor is super nice and kind. She cooks like your momma and she is always smiling and happy to help! She booked our boat back to the mainland and made everything easy.

There is no shower or flushable toilets but we knew about it. We were ok with it but it might come as a surprise if not expected.

All the other reviews on here are spot on. Elnor is a lovely lady who really helps you out while on the island. She can cook dinners for you if you like which are delicious and very plentiful. Place isn't luxuary but is awesome value for what you pay. Hostel has just got solar in last couple of months so is one of the few places on the island with 24hr electricity. I was very happy with my stay.

This is an authentic Filipino experience in a welcoming and very real island home. What Elinor lacks in mod cons, she more than makes up for with her kindness and hospitality, going to a lot of trouble organising our return boat trip. Excellent value!

Limited alternative options on the island for food, but Elinor’s cooking is great

There is NOTHING I liked about this place. It is a dump, and the owner lies!

Where to begin... First, the reason we rented the room was because she said it had Wifi. It does NOT have Wifi! Eleanor will take you on a 4 minute walk to a hotspot. Next, and this is the reason I'm writing this review: One of the first things that happened was Eleanor saw me walk in with a bottle of water. "Oh no" she said, "you can just fill your bottles here, no need to buy!" Then when we left (one day early because the place is so nasty) she yelled "You need to pay me for the water!" We couldn't believe it! Next, the food is HORRIBLE, almost inedible. Her "free breakfast" is ONE finger of sticky rice OR one banana! (Although to Eleanor's credit, she gave me a "free banana" with my teensy rice stick. See photo). Not enough for a snack! The ceiling fan was so loud we had to turn it off at night. She lights the room with one 25-watt bulb! You feel like you are in a dark, dirty prison cell. she didn't fill the bathroom cistern, so you had to bend way over to get water out. Lastly, a young couple sitting next to us found three worms at the bottom of their water carafe at dinner! So, to sum up: (1). Eleanor lied about Wifi, free water, and free breakfast (2) the food is horrible (3) the place is dark, dirty, and depressing (4) the owner ACTS nice, but anyone who lies about their services in order to get customers in not nice, she is only ACTING nice.

Breakfast was very simple Homestay is good value for money

Comfort room

All 4 thumbs up ! Nice and practical enough for a local experience.

Facilities are limited, as everywhere else in Apo island. But food was delicious and she helped us to take the boat back to Malatapay.

The room was nice, just a bed and a musquito net wich you will need. The room has a good price for what you get and Elnor can be a helpfull host. She also maked sure I got on a good boat back from Apo for a fair price, that was nice! O yes and the place has electricity all night long so you can sleep with the van on. Electricity shuts down from 22PM to 6AM at Apo.

I did not find the bathroom and shower situation to be that clean. I used my drinking water to wash my face with and brush my teeth with. Breakfast was included but its verry simple and not verry tasty, so dont get your hopes up too much on that one eighter ☺️. In the end, I would reccomend staying with Elnor!

Elnors is a great place to stay on Apo 24 hour electricity has just been installed unlike other places on the island Free breakfast and Elnor couldn’t do enough for you!

Cockerels on the island

Elnor is simply fantastic and super welcoming, the free breakfast included in the price is grate and, last but not least, the homestay has 24/24 elecrticity!! Enjoy!!

Ronor is superfriendly and helpfull. It's a very basic homestay (how philipino familys live) but the place has now solarcells, meaning the fan will run all night and it's possible to charge your phone or camera in daytime! Loved to stay here and will be back

On Apo there are 2 problems (nothing to do with the homestay!): there are too many chickens (for food and cockfights). Sleep will be less untill you get used to it. And there is quite a lot of pollution (though the sea at the turtle area is quite clean).

The location of the homestay is perfect! The room was quite fresh, taking into account that at night there is no electricity, which means no fan. El or helped us book the departing boat, which was very helpful!

She lets you refill water but she charges 10 pesos per liter, which we found a little expensive. But overall we had a nice stay!

Good accommodation for the price we paid, good food, mosquito net over the bed, room also had private balcony, kind personnel.

Village is quite loud, so expect to have some trouble sleeping.

Nanay was very accommodating and kind. She even waited for us in the mainland and we crossed the island together. She cooked a very good dinner for us and the free breakfast was also a good option. Nanay also helped us to book our ferry back to the mainland. Though there was only electricity from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, everything was still great. You will appreciate living the simple island type of life.

not in the accommodations, but the Apo Island Reef and Marine Sanctuary and interaction with the turtle..

Scheduled electricity, from 6pm to 10pm only, renting a private boat is pricey, there is a public boat available from malatapay to apo island at 1 pm, and from apo back to malatapay is at 6am. Food is per head, but I managed to talk to a local to cook for us.. We are on a tight budget, that is why we find any possible way to lower our expenses... 😅😅😅 Private Boat - 4000/4 pax Food- 200/head per meal Boat to circle the whole island- 2500 but I talked to the boat captain and agreed to lower our payment Tour guide- 300/head we are 4 pax so I paid 1200 for a 3 hrs. tour

Delicious breakfast Very helful with anything needed

Elnor is the mother of everything, she takes care of everybody, she is always here. Nice breakfast, very nice meals. The place is central and close to all activities.

Noise. Sometimes several cellular phones with huge sounds in the same time for hours….

Classic room for a cheap price, don’t expect anything fancy but it’s enough to enjoy Apo. Really kind host, her food was generous and delicious.

Elnor is very friendly and likes a chat - if you have any questions just ask her! Don’t expect luxury here, but if you are staying on Apo Island hopefully that’s not why you’re here anyway :)

Elnor (Ronor) is a very kind and attentive host. And an excellent cook! The village life is simple, people are very friendly. Located very close to Turtle sanctuary and snorkeling. Breakfast included- pancit and egg sandwich. Coffe and tea options. 😋❤️😋

Village life is loud!! Roosters crowing all hours of the day. Loud karaoke snd music. Loud talking neighbors. Sleep is difficult. No running water. Hard to feel clean. Limited electricity, only 1 outlet. Luckily, Elnor let me charge additional devices in a downstairs outlet.

The owner tries hard to make everyone happy and comfortable. Its a new business I think and facilities will probably gradually improve when funds allow.

Very noisy neighborhood 24/7, even for the Philpns! Breakfast was included, but pretty bad. The bathroom was grim. The booking system is annoying - the upstairs rooms are for booking.com customers, and you can keep your room for the length of your booking, but if you want to extend while you are on the island (no phone reception/wi-fi), you have to move downstairs. Those rooms were awful. Yes, its cheap, but I found better options elsewhere in the village (no online reservation possible)

Eleanor is the best host ever. We had a great experience there

Owner was lovely, she was very informative, helpful and a great cook. What more could you ask for.

Nithing

Was full of authenticity as a travel with a local experience. Elnor is so welcoming, caring and helpful. She makes sure everything is ok for you. The meals are cheap And really good! The room was bright And was Space. I always extented my stay because I was feeling like home. Thank you so much for those beautiful days !

The woman was super extra nice!! We were stung by sea orchids and she was so helpful! The location is perfect and the room has what it needs. Good breakfast for the money you pay.

The food, Elnor, the energy of her

Shower

The bathroom has no flowing water. The hygiene of the room is low.

Ronor is super! She knows that people staying at her place are on a budget and helps you saving money. Also she is very cheerful and often makes time for some small talk. It's a great place to stay and experience authentic philipines village life. However people expecting luxury like 24/7 electricity are much better off at another island.

Absolutely nothing!