Orchids Resort — Hotel in Malay

We have been to Orchids twice already and this is our third visit. We loved Orchids resort and I have always raved about how nice and rustic the cottages are, how you cannot beat the affordable price and breakfast included...to me it was really the best of Boracay...how you can still visit paradise at an affordable price. This year we came back. And sadly, things have deteriorated for this beloved resort. The rooms smell bad, as in really bad. I can't place the smell but maybe the beds and beddings need to be changed or the whole room renovated...it was quite unpleasant and i am not being picky or a snob -- remember its our third time here and we loved the orchids-- the place probably does really need some repairs or upgrading done to it. the doors to our room need fixing, they removed the breakfast inclusion and i did not know that it was changed...found out only when we arrrived. Not really complaining...perhaps it just wasnt profitable to include breakfasts at that price point anymore...too many cats in the dining area/kitchen...i dont hate cats but 4 or more cats pestering you at the table and even the kitchen during meals was really stressful. Staff were still nice but i found it weird that they had a drinking session right there in front of guests on our first night...it just didnt feel right that they were drinking there on the job. We cut our stay short and moved to a different place. I could have lived with everything else but drew the line at the bad smelling rooms and the broken door...i am really sorry this happened to the orchids. Perhaps they just need to be renovated and management needs to wake up or something. Just sad to have seen this deterioration to a beloved vacation place. But i still wish them the best and hope the situation there improves for the sake of other holiday "returners" like us who had/have such good memories...

Pros: Away from the noise and crowd About less than 5 minutes away from the white beach! Sari sari stores nearby Staff are very friendly and really helpful! Comfy bed (like, reallllly comfy! I've never slept so well in years!) 24/7 generator hot/cold shower 2 floors (bedroom on the 1st floor) Has safe lock Complete amenities (you can cook!)

Cons: You'll have to walk uphill from the reception area. It's about more than 20 wide stairsteps to the villa so if you are with an elderly, I wouldn't recommend this. My grandma had a really hard time each time we head back to the villa (going down was easy). She had to pause every 5 stairsteps to catch her breath. Great for kids, teens, and adults 40 and below. Too dark at night, there are only a few lights on the stairs going to the villa so it's kinda scary when you're alone

Well, I'm in my 30's and a little introvert who loathes crowded and noisy places and enjoys a little privacy so I'll still give it a 10...

There are 4 individual villas 2 floors around 60m2 with 2 balcons, furnished kitchen, aircon and hot water, they also have individual native aircon cottages. We are on our 4th month stay. The resort has to exert effort regarding the towels and has to renew the bed mat, full of bedbugs, and furnish better kitchen utensils, especially casseroles, dangerous aluminium metal coming out mixes with food while cooking. The members of staff lack training, formation and organisation. Lots of reparations and investments to be done in the four villas. Faucets leaking, ceiling leaks, very old and used refrigerator not working properly, no regular garbage collection, problem of water supply twice a day, surroundings not...