katrinarG6687GF
Google
My partner and I stayed at Fox and the Firefly in Loboc, Bohol from May 6–8, 2025, as an early birthday celebration. While the natural surroundings were serene and peaceful, the service, hospitality, and professionalism left us deeply disappointed.||||We arrived around 4:23 PM and were checked into Room 1 ("Oy?"). The place initially gave off a calm and tranquil vibe. After settling in, I inquired at reception about yoga classes, but was told it depended on “the owner” with no further information. I then asked about massage services since we had traveled 38 km via motorbike, and booked a session for 6:30 PM.||||The masseuse arrived early and headed to one of the massage cottages, but the other cottage had a man loudly scrolling social media on his phone right outside. I told the receptionist I was uncomfortable having a stranger (later revealed to be another massage therapist) so close, especially in a supposedly peaceful setting. He was eventually asked to move, and the massage itself was good.||||However, when it came time to pay, I was told they only accept cash, allegedly because half the fee goes to the therapist—something guests shouldn’t have to worry about. When I insisted I only had online payment options, another receptionist eventually revealed QR codes for GCash and bank transfer. This inconsistency in information was frustrating and unnecessary.||||At dinner, we ate on the upper deck. My partner had the Bicol Express, which was tasty but had tough, chewy meat. I had the Spaghetti Aglio Olio—flavorful, though the garlic was over-toasted. One male staff member stared at me inappropriately throughout the meal, which made me very uncomfortable. When I got up to smoke, he followed and asked in Bisaya if my cigarette was already lit—despite me speaking English. Not all guests speak the local language, and this interaction felt intrusive and odd.||||The next morning, we decided to stay another night. The front desk couldn’t confirm availability. I decided to book via Booking.com and showed the confirmation. We were moved to Cottage 4, as our original room was already booked.||||Unfortunately, the new cottage smelled strongly of dead bugs. I discovered several trapped in the net curtains of the bathroom door. I asked the front desk if they had any bug spray—they said they didn’t. I asked again if housekeeping had anything, but was told there was nothing they could do. I ended up buying mosquito spray from their souvenir shop, only to find that it had a foul, expired smell.||||To make matters worse, there was construction ongoing next to Cottage 4, making it hard to rest or relax during the day.||||Later, a staff member came looking for a flashlight charger I had accidentally packed from our first cottage. While I understood the urgency, having multiple staff lingering outside our cottage felt excessive. Around noon, I overheard the same inappropriate staff member from dinner cursing loudly saying "ang tagal ang puta" as he passed by. When he noticed me, he gave a grin that made me even more uncomfortable. I reported this to the front desk, but nothing meaningful was done.||||Breakfast on our last day was also disappointing. I ordered the "Good Morning Sunshine" smoothie bowl, which was watery and not well-made. My partner had “Pride of the Philippines” served to our cottage—the beef tapa was dry and overly chewy. When I raised this with the staff, the cook simply said, “Matigas talaga ang tapa”, which tells me they don’t care much about food quality or guest feedback.||||What struck me throughout our stay was the recurring mention of “the owner” being the reason behind inconsistent services, restrictions, and policies. It felt like the staff were afraid or unwilling to provide basic hospitality because they were limited by the owners' preferences—such as the lack of flexibility with payments or booking extensions. That’s incredibly unprofessional in the hospitality industry, where guest experience should be a top priority.||||To top it off, on my way back to the breakfast table one morning, a woman who seemed to be the owner placed her handbag directly on the table I had just set up—without a word. I quietly moved to another table, but it was clear that guest consideration wasn’t part of the culture here.||||Pros:||||Naturally beautiful and tranquil location||||Massage was relaxing||||Cons:||||Inconsistent and unclear policies||||Staff behavior made me feel unsafe and uncomfortable||||Uncleanliness and poor room maintenance (dead bugs)||||Lack of professionalism in both service and communication||||Poor food quality with dismissive kitchen responses||||Disturbances from nearby construction||||Owners seem to prioritize control over guest experience||||While the property has potential due to its setting, the overall management and hospitality are lacking. Sadly, we left early and cannot recommend Fox and the Firefly based on our experience.
