The Bruce ₱₱

The Bruce is in Solangon, on the west coast. 4.3 out of 5 from 137 TripAdvisor reviews, and 3rd of the island's 98 properties in its category — one of the few places on Siquijor that has both a private beach and a pool.

What you come for. Real beachfront, a pool, and kayaks free for guests — the detail repeat visitors name most. Stand-up paddleboards are available too, for rent. Rooms look onto the sea or the pool and come with a kitchenette, private balcony and dining area: you can live here a week without depending on the restaurant. There is a restaurant and tiki bar on site, a shuttle from the port, and bicycle and motorbike rentals.

Our reservations, and there are several. The place is no longer new: some rooms are described as spartan, and pool maintenance and water pressure recur in the critical reviews. Two things to know about the beach: dried seaweed is not cleared every day, and swimming gets difficult at low tide — if swimming is your priority, check the tides before booking. Stray dogs pass along the beach. And rooms near the restaurant kitchen get the noise of service.

Who it is for. A family or a couple who want the sea at the door, a pool, and somewhere to cook. It is not a luxury address, and value for money is its real argument.

Practical: roughly 25 to 65 USD a night depending on room and season. Free wifi and parking, 24-hour security, non-smoking rooms. Solangon is about fifteen minutes by scooter from central San Juan: Mr Sumo is in the same barangay, and so is El Kabron.