Happy Buddha Inn

Paid $23/night for a private double room, no breakfast, no air con, no shower, no toilet seat, no drinking water, not even coffee (which are very standard in all other “budget” hostels in the Philippines). This was our last stay after almost 30 days in this beautiful stunning friendly country. Showered with a bucket, no big deal, not the first time, air con was more expensive, fine. We have no issues with this but for the price (???) Staff almost made us lose our flight back from Manila because they said we were ok getting boat tickets right before departure. This was completely inaccurate, as the tickets for the boat we wanted to take were sold out the night before!!! We had to ask around ourselves and run to the other pier to find out which was the next available boat that wouldn’t make us miss our international flight!!! Also didn’t know how much tricycle rides cost and could’t help us booking tours. Just told us to go to the agencies directly. (Again, this is standard practice everywhere in south east Asia, except here) They gave us coffee the first morning which I accepted out of courtesy because it was instant with sugar and cream, only to find out it was 50 pesos each when we checked out! (btw, coffee is about 30 pesos everywhere else) They rushed us out of the room at 11am even though there were no other guests and they knew our boat left at 1pm. Before letting us go, they did a thorough room check, I guess to see if we weren’t stealing towels, or maybe had trashed the TV. First time this has ever happened to us. The common area of this hostel is not cozy, looks like a bunker or a jail and is dark with a lot of mosquitoes you’d never want to stay there. Rooms are ok, clean and comfy bed, no complaints there. If you are new to Puerto Galera, don’t stay here because no one can help you figure anything out and whatever they tell you might be incorrect anyway. If you are a local, I hope you get a better deal than me. These prices are way higher for what you get than any other place we stayed in the Philippines and the service is terrible. We’ve been traveling for 4 months (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand) and had been raving about the value and quality of all the places we had been staying, this was just a hiccup on our good streak. Just go to the next hostel.

Wonderful experience, couldn't of asked for better hospitality from the crew at the Happy Buddha Inn. The accommodation is great with clean and comfortable beds. Definitely coming back here.

Friendly staff, icy showers, kind of in the middle of nowhere, staff can get a scooter delivered for you or transport. Clean rooms but rustic neighborhood with roosters.

Oh very nice place and friendly owner

Nice place for lovers