Marcosas Cottages Resort is a budget friendly place to stay in Moalboal. It’s 50m from the beach, and less than 5 minute walk from downtown Panangsama Beach. It has spacious and tidy bungalows, and a great communal area with a big pool, beach beds and a poolside bar. Its affordable prices make Marcosas one of the best resorts to stay on a budget in Moalboal.
It’s a 3.5 star resort that’s also a little outdated, so don’t expect anything too grand. Yet Marcosas is a homey resort with friendly staff. It’s a nice place to stay if you’re a couple or even a solo traveler. We recommend it especially for our non-diver guests, as it doesn’t have its own dive center. That said, if you don’t care about staying in one place and diving in another, we will book your dives with one of our dive shops.
The staff in Marcosas is very friendly and helpful and to most parts everything runs smoothly. However they can be a little slow at times and seem a little disoriented.
The rooms and communal areas are clean and tidy. There can be some ants in the bungalows but that's because of the natural green surroundings.
Rooms are very spacious and have all of the basic facilities needed. The beds are European double beds (two singles put together), and the AC in most rooms is a little old. In general a little outdated.
Very nice pool area, and a big pool with a little water side for kids. The resort isn't beachfront but it only 50m from it.
One of the strongest points of the resort. It's located in a very quiet part of Panangsama Beach, yet very close to the bars and restaurants area.
Comparing Marcosas to other resorts in Panangsama, we think it's one if the best value for money resorts. Most 3 star resorts in Moalboal cost the same or more, yet have much less facilities and usually dirty and not well maintained.
The rooms are basic, but cozy and spacious and the interior design is simple and unassuming with furniture made of local rattan. The biggest downside are the thin mattresses. However all of the bungalows will give you all the essentials you need to have a great vacation and a little bit extra, and it’s very hard to beat the prices of Marcosas.
The resort’s public areas are very nice as well. The first thing you’ll notice when you come inside Marcosas is a big library books that you can pick and head to the poolside for a quiet read. The pool is one of the biggest in Panangsama, especially for a 3.5 star resort. It’s clean and well maintained, and even have a small water slide for kids. There are many beach beds and chairs and plenty of shade for a peaceful rest by the pool.
The restaurant and bar are located just by the pool as well, and that’s the place you’ll eat your complimentary breakfast too. The food in the restaurant serves a selection of pan-European and Filipino dishes and there’s a strong German influence because of Michael, one of the owners, and you’ll find signature dishes like bratwurst and curry wurst on the menu. The Filipino influence comes from the second owner and wife Marcosa.
The bar serve a variety of drinks, from beer and cocktails to a selection of 40 different liquors (and espresso available all day long). Though we didn’t have the chance to eat there yet, most of the guests really liked their food. Another great thing about the restaurant is that the prices are moderate. The owners really cares about providing great service and not overcharging their guests.
There is also a spa by the pool which is small and also outdated, but the treatments there are of very good quality. All of the masseuses trained and worked in Cebu City, and the spa in Marcosas is a branch of the veteran MedDah Spa from Cebu. They offer Swedish massage, Hilot and hot stone massage, foot massage and more, using homemade or international therapeutic oils. The spa in Marcosas is also very affordable and accepts guests from other resorts.
Our guests were very favorable of Marcosas Cottages Resort. They said that they were very happy with their stay, and feel their money was well spent. The rooms were clean and good enough, loved the restaurant, and really enjoyed the pool. They did complain that the AC in the cheaper rooms were loud. Marcosas Resort received similar rates in both Agoda and Booking.com, 7.9 and 8.0 respectively. Most of the commenters described it as a value for money hideaway in the middle of busy Panangsama. The majority of the complaints however were about the outdated rooms and the week internet connection. Out of the 190 reviews on Tripadvisor, Marcosas got a 4 out of 5 ranking. Also here most of the reviews were favorable, praising the resort as value for money, and the staff as kind and friendly. They also commented that the food is great. The major complaints were that it is too expensive for what it is, and that the staff is not friendly or professional. We think this is because some people want to get a 5 star treatment when they pay for a 3 star resort, and due to the staff inability to deal with unusual problems. We also think that the room rate is a little expensive but more than fair regarding the popularity of Moalboal. Another recurring complaint was about the Wifi not reaching the rooms, but this is described in the resort's website, so it's a bit odd to complain about.
A few key points that we think are good in Marcosas:
A few points that need inprovement:
Marcosas Cottages Resort is a very good budget option for tourists in Panangsama. The bungalows are modern, private and clean, the resort is quiet and the communal areas are great. It’s a perfect place for travelers on a budget that care for slightly higher standards. It’s also a resort where families with kids can enjoy in a homey yet intimate resort without spending a fortune.
This room type is suitable for 2-3 people, with one double bed or two single beds, subjected to availability upon arrival. This room type is best for two guests who don’t mind sharing a bed or sleeping is two different beds. It has an additional single bed too, so it’s also perfect for groups of 3 guests.
This room type is bigger and has a bigger bath than the Hideaway Bungalows. There’s also a double bed in the cottage for certain. There is also one single bed too, and another can be arranged for small families of four. There is also almost no price difference too.
This type of room has two single beds, and a kitchen. Therefore it’s not suitable for couples, but if you’re a diver on a budget it might be an interesting option for you. You can cook your own meals, saving your money for diving.
The biggest rooms in Marcosas, with large room area and bathroom. It has one double bed, and located in the most private part of the resort, making it perfect for couples. This type of rooms also have a split unit A/C, which is much quieter.
These are the two most exclusive rooms in Marcosas Resort. They are not as big as the normal superior, but they are ocean front rooms, meaning, your veranda will have a small staircase leading to the beach. The only downside to them is that they’re outside of the resort, and you’ll have to cross a narrow road to reach them. Still, these are two very private and unique units. This type of rooms also have a split unit A/C, which is much quieter.
