The Bellevue Resort
by the TopOfHotel team
The Bellevue is a 5-star beachfront resort on a long white-sand beach that pairs an infinity pool, a coral garden off the sand, and warm service at a price you can actually reach — it sells value and staff everyone agrees on, more than big-budget polish.
The Bellevue is a 5-star beachfront resort on a long white-sand beach that pairs an infinity pool, a coral garden off the sand, and warm service at a price you can actually reach — it sells value and staff everyone agrees on, more than big-budget polish.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture opening your room door onto a green tropical garden that runs out to fine white sand as far as you can see, with the low sound of waves behind it and water blue and clear enough to catch the shadow of coral not far offshore — that is the first impression The Bellevue Resort gives you. This 5-star resort sits on Doljo Beach at the northwestern tip of Panglao and has stayed near the top of Bohol's rankings on Tripadvisor. It is built as low-rise buildings spread through a seaside garden, which feels open and in tune with the surroundings rather than a tall solid block. Rooms and suites are decorated in warm, easy tones, focused on comfort and on opening up to garden or sea views, and many have a balcony or terrace where you can sip morning coffee to birdsong and surf. What gives the place its own character is the white-sand beach running more than 420 meters as the resort's front yard — soft sand, clear water, and fewer crowds than the busy tourist beaches.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is time spent with the sea and the pools. The highlight is the infinity pool, designed so its edge blends into the horizon and the sea, perfect for an evening soak with a view, while families with kids get a separate pool. A step further down is Doljo beach, where beyond strolling and sunbathing you can pull on a mask and snorkel the coral garden right off the sand for colorful fish and coral — an activity nature-minded reviewers especially love. On food, the breakfast buffet is what many reviews praise, both for the range of international and Filipino dishes and for tasting good. Through the day there is a seaside restaurant for a drink or an easy meal with a wave view, plus a spa and fitness center to unwind. You could spend the whole day inside the resort without going anywhere, or trade it off with island trips outside.
Location and getting there
The Bellevue sits on Doljo beach, a quieter and more natural corner than Panglao's busy side, so you get a beach break without jostling crowds. The beachfront coral garden is right there to snorkel, and the resort runs its own reef-conservation project, a sign of the care put into this stretch of shore. The grounds are tropical garden and calm, but not so far from the fun — Alona Beach, the hub of restaurants, bars, and dive operators, is about 15-20 minutes by car, while Bohol-Panglao airport is roughly 25-30 minutes away. That lands The Bellevue neatly between private quiet and easy access, a base to head out snorkeling with whale sharks, see the Chocolate Hills, watch tarsiers, or cruise the Loboc River for the day before coming back to the beach.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. First is the tide: at low tide the beach in front of the resort goes shallow and exposes coral rock and hard-packed sand over a wide area, so walking in to swim is awkward at times — check the tide times ahead, plan swimming and snorkeling around high tide, and bring water shoes. Second is the buildings: the resort has several and some are older than the newer zone, with a few reviews noting wear on certain rooms or facilities and a design that is not sleek and modern throughout, so flawless polish seekers may find some spots ordinary; ask for a refurbished zone when you book. Last is privacy: this is a large resort that draws families and groups, so in high season or on holidays the pool and common areas can get fairly busy, and anyone after very quiet seclusion may not get the privacy of a small villa resort. Understand those three and there is little to be disappointed by.
Our take
After reading through hundreds of real reviews, The Bellevue Resort is a 5-star property that sells value with full confidence — a long, pretty white-sand beach, a sea-view infinity pool, a coral garden to snorkel off the sand, and, above all, warm staff service that reviewers agree on almost unanimously, all at a price gentler than many luxury resorts in the same area. If your trip in your head is waking up to a morning beach walk, snorkeling the coral at high tide, then closing the day in the infinity pool at sunset, it serves both couples and families well and kindly on the wallet. But if you expect a resort that is sleek and modern down to every square inch, or want the quiet seclusion of a standalone villa, this may not be the closest fit. Overall we give it 8.8/10, best for families and couples who want a well-rounded beach break on a reachable budget.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The Doljo beach in front of the resort is fine white sand running about 420 meters, with clear water and far fewer crowds than popular beaches like Alona. It is easy to stroll the shore or sunbathe, and many reviews call it one of the prettiest and calmest beaches on Panglao.
- The infinity pool is designed so its edge blends into the sea, ideal for an evening soak with a view, and there is a separate pool for families and kids. That covers both couples after a romantic corner and families traveling with children.
- A coral garden sits right off the beach, so you can walk in and snorkel among fish and coral without taking a boat out, backed by the resort's own reef-conservation project — a touch that nature-minded reviewers single out for praise.
- Staff service is what reviews praise most: friendly, smiling, and genuinely helpful, to the point that many guests say it is the main reason they would come back and stay again.
- The breakfast buffet is varied across international and Filipino dishes and tastes good. Combined with the beachfront location, full facilities, and a price gentler than many 5-star resorts in the same area, the overall package feels like strong value.
- At low tide the beach in front of the resort goes shallow, exposing coral rock and hard-packed sand over a wide area, so walking in to swim is awkward at certain times. Check the tide times in advance and bring water shoes.
- The resort has several buildings and some are older than the newer zone. A few reviews note that certain rooms or facilities show wear and the design is not sleek or modern throughout, so if you want flawless polish in every corner some spots may feel ordinary. You can sidestep this by requesting a refurbished zone at booking.
- This is a large resort that draws plenty of families and groups, so during high season or holidays the pool and common areas can get lively and busy. Anyone after a very quiet, private atmosphere may not get the seclusion of a small villa resort.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Check the tide times before planning to swim in the sea — at low tide the beach goes shallow with coral rock, so swimming and snorkeling are much better and easier at high tide. Pack water shoes.
- Ask for a room in a refurbished building, or one facing the sea or garden, when you book, since the resort has several buildings of different ages and you will get the best room condition and setting.
- Snorkel the coral garden off the beach in the morning when the water is clear and crowds are thin, then save the evening for the infinity pool at sunset — that way you get both the activity and the atmosphere in one day.