Date visited: October 13-14, 2011
Rating: 7/10
Hof Gorei is ideal for those who want to disconnect. It's not for everyone - rooms are secluded, and you need to walk around quite a bit to get to the views. The idea is that it's a date with nature. It's not your typical hotel experience, and that's not a bad thing.
The beach during sunset (left) and at night (right).
If city stress has found a way to bury itself into the inner reaches of your consciousness, this is a great place to clear your head.
At the Chalet.
How to get there: When you book with Hof Gorei, transportation from Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City to the resort is included. It's an hour by boat. Make sure that you catch the boat at 11am or 2:30pm. If you arrange a boat trip outside these schedules, you'll be charged about P2700. Departure from Hof Gorei to Davao City is at 11am and 1pm.
I highly discourage you from going to the resort by land because it is uber difficult.
Advantages:
1. Personalized service. This is the resort's unique selling proposition. You get your own version of Bruce Wayne's "Alfred," and they will take care of you, and will always be there when you need them. They keep enough distance, so you still have your privacy.
That's Niel, our personal butler, behind Jeff, helping us descend the 205 steps from the Pinzgau Chalet.
I celebrated my birthday at the resort, and I was surprised when Niel, our butler, greeted me. It's good to know that they go the extra mile to read through their customers' information.
2. Not overly crowded. Because Hof Gorei has very limited rooms, it is possible for you to have the pool or the beach all to yourself, especially during off peak seasons.
3. Eat anywhere! Your personal butler will set up your meal anywhere you want him/her to. We opted to have dinner at the "veranda-ish" section of our hut, then breakfast at the beach front.
Dinner at the veranda of our hut. Check out the elaborate set-up by our personal butler.
Breakfast at the beachfront.
Pinzgau Chalet
4. Interesting architecture. The resort has varying architectural designs. The Pinzgau Chalet looks like a traditional Filipino mansion, while the bungalow and the round huts are obviously nipa hut-inspired.
Round Hut 1
5. Lots of fauna! You'll see ducks and horn-bills just walking around.
Disadvantages
1. Mediocre beach. My expectations of the beach were lowered because of what I'd read from other blogs. Some people even described it as "un-swimmable," which I think is an exaggeration. When we arrived at the resort, the water was clear but there was trash floating around. The next morning, the trash was gone and the tide was high, so conditions were better for swimming. The white sand at the beach front is deceiving too because the sand in the water is not white at all. It's muddy. You have too be careful too because there are certain quicksand-like parts.
2. Un-manicured plants and trees. I don't know if they're going for this, but I think the resort needs to clear off some branches and leaves. There are certain areas that are supposed to give you a view of something (e.g. the ocean), but they don't anymore because branches and leaves cover the view.
3. Really pricey food. Be prepared to shell out for food. A meal per person costs about P300. Big servings, but nothing exceptional about the taste. I knew about the cost of food, so we ate in the city before leaving for the resort, so we'd have less meals to pay for. I'm not sure if it is always the case, but breakfast was included in the package we got. Bringing of food to the resort is not allowed too (they charge corkage).
4. There's a caged snake in the resort. Sorry guys, but I am extremely terrified of snakes. I'd read somewhere that the caged snake is situated near one of the rooms, so that's totally not cool with me. Luckily, I didn't see the snake throughout our stay in the resort.
Go to Hof Gorei if:
1. You want solitude. The resort is isolated from the town and there's not a lot of guests so it can get very quiet, especially at night. So, if your idea of a vacation is just bumming around in the resort, this is the place to be.
2. You want to get close to nature.
Do NOT go to Hof Gorei if:
1. You don't want to walk. The rooms are located on a mountain slope, so prepare for some cardio. The jacuzzi is located some 205 steps away from most of the rooms.
Jacuzzi at the Chalet; some 205 steps from most of the rooms.
2. You're after a really nice beach. The nicest beaches in Samal are in the cheaper resorts (which are harder to get a hold of).
3. You don't want to spend too much on food and other activities. Island hopping is P3,800 for four people ( 5 hours with packed lunch), and Samal Island tour is P1600/person.
Some tips on booking:
1. I highly suggest that you book through agoda for cheaper rates.
2. You can also check Hof Gorei's website for promotions and packages.
3. Before you buy discount coupons from offer sites, check the accuracy of the offer with Hof Gorei. Labels: Davao, Hof Gorei, Samal
