GEM Crystal Water Resort

Friendly staff, comfortable local style cabins, good food, a beautiful quiet beach with clear water to swim or snorkel, a great place to turn off the phone (and take photos instead), and just relax. The perfect place to switch off for a couple of days

It is a bit hard to get to the resort and once you are there, there isn't anywhere to go (except the beach) or things to do except relax. Plan ahead and travel light. Fastest is the (3-trip daily) Talikud Express from/to Santa Ana wharf in Davao City to Kaputian wharf on Talicud but get there very early to get a seat. Then catch a motor tricycle with one of the friendly locals from the wharf to the resort (about 15 mins). The slowest is via Samal Island.  Not a negative for us but the rooms don't have ensuites, there are shared bathrooms.

The location near the White sandy beach and the cottages.

All good. Just need sign to say no credit card payments. Cash only.

The beach is nice and the water is clear. The food is very good. Jing jing the cook is very good and went out of her way to cater for our food cravings. I wanted ginataan bilo bilo and she cooked me binigkit instead, which was yummy. Every single dish/meal we've had was delicious! Each dish/order is good for 2-3 people so bare that in mind when you see the price. It looks expensive at first but it isn't, as 1 dish can be share. A couple of times Jingjing will keep our leftovers in the fridge for when we want it again and so there was no food wasted. Cris the owner's caretaker is sweet and will go out of her way to get what you need in town like fresh fruits, cigarette and even a massage lady! The nipa cottage accomodation is what I like about this place and to top that, the beds and linens are very clean to a 5 star hotel standard which I quite like. The restaurant bar is good and modern with an excellent view of the sea. Strong wifi signal from the restaurant.

The place is in an island, isolated and has limited resources. Shared toilet and shower are located outside. Need to turn on the generator if you need a shower and must shower for 5mins. It is hard when you need to use the lavatory at night. Lack of security - not having a security guard on the premises keeps me up at night especially when the dogs starts barking in the middle of the night. The beach could be dirty at times especially where there was a typhoon! Debris from neighboring islands seems to end up on this side of the beach. Lots of plastic bottles, broken glasses can be found on the beach which is ashame otherwise the beach is prestine. No wifi signal in rooms. Not a lot of activities on site apart from a karaoke. No sun bed nor sun lounges to relax on the garden and on the beach.

Staff are all helpful, food are amazing. Beach is so beautiful, white sand, very calm & clean.

Toilet is missing inside each room.