Harolds Mansion Hostel

I couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay in Dumaguete. Harold’s Mansion has the perfect mix of comfort, community, and adventure. The rooms were clean, well-kept, and surprisingly spacious for a hostel. The staff went above and beyond—everyone was friendly, helpful, and genuinely made me feel at home. The location is unbeatable: close to restaurants, cafes, and the waterfront, making it super easy to explore the city. The rooftop common area was a highlight—great vibes, amazing views, and the perfect spot to meet other travelers. Their dive trips and tours were also incredibly organized and affordable, which made exploring Apo Island and the surrounding area so much easier. For the price, the value is honestly unmatched. If you’re heading to Dumaguete—whether you’re backpacking, diving, or just passing through—Harold’s Mansion is the place to stay. Highly recommend and would absolutely come back!

Harolds Mansion is close to the heart of Dumaguete. Most of the shops, restaurants, and cafes are within walking distance. The hotel has improved a lot since I last stayed here pre-Covid time. The room I stayed is very modern, comfortable and clean along with basic amenities. Light local breakfast is provided at the rooftop which gives a scenic peak of the surrounding areas. Also, a good place to wind down after a long walk. The staff is friendly as always. Harold, the owner is also very friendly and very accommodating to the guests. I went for a day of diving in Dauin and a day of Diving in Apo Island. Glad to know that all their diving equipment are up to date and well maintained. The dive instructors and dive guides are very professional and friendly. Needless to say, the boat was comfortable for inter-island trip between Dauin and Apo Island. It was another short trip to Dumaguete and quick diving tour. For sure I'll be back again, knowing that I'll have a great time without breaking the bank.

My stay at Harold's was exceptional from start to finish. The staff provided warm, attentive service that made me feel very welcomed, and every detail—from the beautifully decorated rooms to the impeccable cleanliness—reflected true luxury for my stay in DGT. The amenities were amazing, with relaxing common areas, excellent dining options nearby, and thoughtful touches throughout. I was especially impressed by the professionalism and hospitality of the team, especially Harold who went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable. I would highly recommend staying here to anyone seeking a flawless, unforgettable experience!

I’ve enjoyed my stay at Harold’s Mansion every time I visit Dumaguete. My room is always quiet, and the twin room is just the right size for one or two people. For my son and I, it truly feels like a home away from home. The staff is wonderful, the place is clean, and the atmosphere is incredibly relaxing. After a long day out, coming back to the room feels comforting—there’s a certain charm to it that practically lulls you to sleep. A bonus, there are a lot of food options nearby.

The rooms are okay, free Wi-fi and the location is good but Front desk staffs/ Managers are not friendly and not approachable. We booked a reservation but the rooms were given to walked-in customers. Took a lot of arguments before they can give you alternative rooms.

Harold the man. The place is wonderful so much fun. The environment is friendly and welcoming, thanks to the staff. Would happily leave a 5-star hotel review and staff review. Excellent choice for anyone seeking fun, style and comfort.

The manager Harold is so organized and runs this place very professionally. The staff are also the sweetest people ever and made me feel so welcome. They keep the place so clean and I just enjoyed my stay here overall.

Highly recommended 🤌🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼❤️The owner is very approachable and always check on us, the staff is a 5star rated because they are so kind and very friendly also very helpful, I can say that the room is very nice, very net and very comfy, it has a big space and the toilet is nice, grabeee kanice sa service and near the mainroad pajdt and just 5 mins drive padung boulevard❤️❤️❤️

Harold's Mansion is one of the older accommodations in Dumaguete city and is widely popular with both local and international tourists due to it's affordable rates, cheerful environment and in house arranged adventures (dives, snorkeling, and treks). The place is currently undergoing facelifts in their bathrooms and caters to all sorts of people, from backpackers, to volunteers and adrenaline junkies, offering dorm style accommodations, single, and twin/double rooms.

My wife and I have stayed at Harolds mansion twice, once around 2012 and again in the winter of 2017. The two experiences were very different! In 2012, everything was great and I would have given it 5 stars based on that experience. The double room we had was nice and clean and we had a very pleasant stay. Their dive gear was also relatively new at the time and we enjoyed about 6-8 dives with them at Oslop, Sumilion, Apo, and Dauin. Also, Harold was actually there overseeing everything in 2012. (He was certainly not there during our second stay.) "EXPIRED" DIVE GEAR & BAD POLICIES AND SERVICE When we returned in 2017 everything seemed a bit more drab and worn than it had been. The dive gear was in very bad condition. All of the BCDs and regulators that I saw were ready for retirement. At the beginning of one dive the divemaster, my wife, and I all noticed that one of the buckles on my wife's fin was broken. It was possible to buckle it, but it was not fully secure. They didn't have a spare fin available, so we had no choice but to use the damaged fin. Unfortunately, it wound up coming off during the dive and was lost in a strong current. When we returned to Harold's, rather than apologizing for giving us broken rental gear, Harold's dive shop tried to charge us 3,000 pesos for an old, broken fin that had clearly been used several times a week for years. The divemaster even told the office that the fin was broken BEFORE the dive, but they didn't care. All they cared about was getting 3K pesos. STOLEN MONEY: Two days into our stay we changed rooms, and when we did I accidentally left my wallet in the room we moved out of. When I realized I left it there I found one of the cleaners in the hall and asked her if she would let me into the room to retrieve it. I was surprised that she knew exactly what I was talking about and told me the wallet was at the front desk. When I got to the front desk 2-3 employees who were there also knew about my missing wallet. One of them pulled it out from behind the desk and gave it back to me. When I checked the contents I immediately noticed that quite a bit of money was missing. (At the time I thought they only took 1,000 pesos, but after thinking about it and doing a cash inventory I realized they actually stole 2,000 pesos!). None of the employees could explain to me why they didn't just return the wallet to me instead of keeping it at the front desk. My name was printed on the credit cards in the wallet, and they could easily just look in the guest log to see which room I was in. The only logical explanation is that they were hoping I would check out and leave the wallet and all of the money behind. BOTTOM LINE: Someone from Harold's Mansion stole 2,000 pesos from my wallet, and their dive shop tried to charge us for an old, broken fin that needed to be replaced anyway. Also, the whole place is more worn and drab than it was in the past. I have the distinct impression that whoever is managing that place is a big part of the problem. While Harold lives in L.A., his mansion in Dumaguete is going down the tubes. BETTER OPTION! After leaving Harold's we went to "Insular Hotel," which was excellent. It was nicer AND cheaper than H.M.! The restaurant right next door, called Kri, is pretty good, too. I will update this review if I hear from H.M.