I visited the island of Siargao in the Philippines – this is why it is the closest that you will ever be in paradise

There are not much finer tribute that you can give a hotel than saying: “I just spent two hours with the bartender who invents a cocktail.”

But here it is here, in the beautiful Bijou, non-Exactgoed-chole, seriously all-inclusive idyll that Nay Palad Hideaway is, on the near-paradise island of Siargao, in the Philippines.

I’m afraid I can’t tell you the cocktail recipe; I hope to patent it sharply. I can tell you that the bartender and I decided to call it the ‘bobbini’, in honor of the owner of the hotel and the chairman: Bobby Dekeyser, a one -off professional football player who was a furniture Mogul who became expert luxury hotelier (his hotel was recently called the 15th best in the world.)

The Ethos of Nay Palad is ’boutique and customized’. On the edge of his own curve of Shining Blue Bay, it consists of only ten swishy wicker bamboo-en-mahogany villas.

There are Enid-Blyton-in-a-Daydream-Boomhuizen and huge hardwood beds in powdery sand next to the surf. Much of the furniture is unique – the hotel was originally conceived as a design vitrine. But after a devastating typhoon in 2021, the Dekeyser team decided: GA Upmarket.

And they did. Folded in the pre -paid luxury is good first -class food and service. Nay Palad has a gifted Thai-German chef (the Mediterranean dishes are mainly MMM).

There is always someone in the hand to take you sailing, snorkeling, padel games, kayaking, sea fishing, cocktail invention or paddleboarding by serene blue-green mangrove lagoons, just a three-minute walk from the kitchen garden of the hotel.

Of course even the most beautiful resort outside needs diversions, and it is here that Nay Palad is staggering, just a touch.

Sean Thomas Visist the serious all-inclusive idyll who is Nay Palad Hideaway, on the near-paradise island of Siargao, in the Philippines. The bays around Nay Palad hide all kinds of seductive islands, coves and bays

Every season is a good time to visit this safe, quiet, happy corner of the glittering Filipino archipelago. The sun is shining, reliable, with the strange refreshing tropical shower, like a immersion bath of the weather

Everyone with a love for surfing stands for a treat: fifteen minutes away, near the friendly, hedonistic Backpacker -Stad General Luna, is a famous surf pause called Cloud 9

You can go diving, but there is better diving elsewhere in the Philippines. The snorkeling is fine, but not exactly head-spinning.

On the other hand, the bays around Nay Palad hide all kinds of seductive islands, inlet and bays. And if you feel like a naked sunset -picnic -with that lush, all – -inclusive wine -on a private sandbar, that can be arranged. What you prefer, sir.

In the meantime, everyone with a love for surfing stands up for a treat: fifteen minutes away, near the friendly, hedonistic Backpacker -Stad General Luna, is a famous surfing break called Cloud 9. It is so celebrated that they have international tournaments here. But be careful – it can be gnarly.

Nay Palad also works well as part of a wider Filipino tour. A short flight to the north takes you to the spectacular Samar Natural Park, with its caves, gorges, cataracts and diving green rivers – the home of the critically endangered Filipino crocodile.

Moreover, most of these are available all year round. Unless you are unlucky to hit a typhoon, every season is a good time to visit this safe, calm, happy corner of the glittering Filipino archipelago. The sun shines, reliable, with the strange refreshing tropical shower, like a diving pool of weather.

On my last day, reluctant to leave my womb-like, palm-arced sanctuary, I have a breakfast on the beach with a new friend, Jenny.

She looks particularly relaxed, even according to Nay Palad standards. I ask her why. She says: ‘Oh, I just put yoga in the seapagode’ – a beautiful, wicker wooden platform, outside of it in the waves. I ask her how it was. She thinks a bit, closes her eyes and then says: ‘Heaven. It was like I was in heaven. ‘