Kota Beach Resort

The Kota Beach Resort is a low-frills property with large grounds and a huge white-sand beach lined with palm trees and housing a gorgeous turquoise-hued sea. The hotel saw some serious damage during Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, but the property has been brought back to life with care and features plenty of lovely indoor and outdoor spaces. The wood-filled lobby is surprisingly striking, with terra-cotta tiling, tons of potted plants, and a large seating area filled with rattan sofas and chairs with old-fashioned upholstered cushions. The open-air restaurant is housed in the same building as the reception and features a similar decor scheme. Guests are a near-even mix of families, couples, and groups of friends. 

The resort is located right on a beautiful stretch of white-sand beach on Bantayan Island, in a simple, sleepy neighborhood that it shares with a few other beach resorts. There's a small school next door, and several restaurants within a five-minute walk. It's a seven-minute drive to the Santa Fe Ferry Port, and getting to Mactan-Cebu International Airport involves taking a ferry across to the larger island of Cebu and then driving south. The whole trip takes at least four hours.

The Kota Beach Resort offers five room categories, none of which come with TVs. Entry-level Standard Non-Aircon Rooms are located on the second floor of the main building and each has one double bed and two twins plus an outdoor terrace. While small fans are provided, the lack of air-conditioning can make the spaces hot. For a fair bit more cash, guests can upgrade to a Standard Aircon Rooms or opt for one of the more attractive Deluxe Cottages on the second through fourth rows from the beach; these come with double beds. The even larger Beachfront Cottages have unobstructed views of the sea, as do the huge Beachfront Suites.  

Standard Rooms have terra-cotta tiled floors and simple furniture, and though the windows are small, they still allow a fair bit of of natural light. Cottages and Beachfront Suites have hard-wood floors and add bamboo and rattan trim on accent walls and ceiling panels. Only upgraded rooms have mini-fridges. Bathrooms are basic, with open wet-room-style floor plans, though those in cottage and suites add shower curtains that seem more symbolic than practical. Note that there have been past complaints of wear and tear and maintenance issues in rooms.

The hotel's star attraction is its gorgeous palm-tree-flanked white-sand beach, complete with a volleyball net, shaded lounge chairs, and plenty of room to explore. There's no pool, but there is a sandbar right by the beach that's good for swimming. There are also a few cruiser-style bicycles for rent, as well as a tiny gift shop selling basic souvenirs and T-shirts. There are no gym or spa facilities.

The hotel's restaurant, simply named Resto, is a semi-open casual space with terra-cotta tiled floors and wicker chairs clustered around tables for four. Breakfast is free for those staying in Beachfront Cottages and Suites, however, it's served a la carte and there have been past complaints of long wait times. There's also an open-air, ocean-view bar under a thatched roof with a few tables and stools plus a pool table for guest use. On-site parking is free and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort. Note that credit cards are not accepted.