Siargao

Best vibe I have encountered so far as it is Philippines' holiday island. Everyone is so chill, surf vibe, people are here to enjoy.

2 coworking spaces so far, both equipped with Starlinks and generators (in case of power cuts which are kinda frequent).
Accommodation is relatively ok price wise though not the cheapest.
Food is pretty good, not the best of SEA but definitely OK.

I’ve come to expect a few challenges, but General Luna (including Back Road, Cloud 9, and Malinao) takes it to another level. The people are lovely, the food is ok, housing can be pricey.

TL;DR: If you want to work reliably, find a place with fiber internet and solar power, or a generator that can run all day. Which are the more expensive places.

First off, forget about maintaining a regular work schedule. Power cuts, blackouts, and brownouts are the norm here. Whether planned or due to local incidents, the power goes out often. Repairs are fairly swift, but explaining the next 10-hour blackout to clients can become a headache.

The island's power system is woefully under capacity, and everyone knows it. Don’t expect this to change anytime soon. Some hostels, like Laxias, have generators, which are worth their weight in gold.

Even when the power is on, StarLink internet can be unreliable. It might drop out due to reasons nobody knows, or just because it’s a cloudy day. Patience is the only remedy here. Or find a place that has fiber.

If you manage to have both power and the internet, a good night's sleep is the next hurdle. At night, power cuts, or fluctuations, often stop the AC from working, so your bedroom gets hot.

If it’s none of the above, it's probably the noise. People blasting loud music from 6am (locals) or until 3am (guests) are not uncommon. And if that’s not the case, the local dogs will ensure you’re up at odd hours with their barking.

On the bright side, there aren't many mosquitos! So, there’s that.

All in all, not the best spot for getting work done, but if you can roll with the punches, the charm of the place, and surfing might just win you over.

Siargao is a vibrant Island. Known for its beautiful surfing beaches, both for beginners and professionals Siargao also offers some great parties, almost every night and a nice mix of restaurants. You will see many people in General Luna, but the Island doesn’t feel too crowded, even in peak season. Internet is not great, but you can find places with 100-200/mps

Good surfing on this island. More experienced surfers head to Cloud 9.