El Nido Beach Hotel

As at many other budget properties in the neighborhood, the reception area at El Nido Beach Hotel is just a small front desk opening directly onto the street. There is an open hallway around the corner from the main entrance featuring a few tables and a couple of vending machines, but no lobby per se. A small fence at the end of the passage separates the hotel grounds from a narrow sandy beach offering striking views of the bay and Cadlao Island. The building itself feels a bit like a motel, with exterior hallways lined with room doors and air-conditioning units, and few common spaces aside from an airy breakfast room overlooking the ocean. The crowd here is mostly young couples and solo travelers drawn by the hotel's oceanfront location, and the vibe is laid-back and friendly. 

El Nido Beach Hotel is located on a beach just outside of central El Nido town. The area is mostly quiet, but restaurants, bars and shops are all a short walk away. Although the on-site beach is sandy and features stunning views, swimming is not recommended here, as a large pipe discharges dirty water directly into the sea just a few feet from the hotel’s gate to the beach. Those looking to swim or snorkel can take a tricycle or cab to one of the island's many famous beaches, some of which can be found within a 20-minute drive of the hotel. The hotel offers island-hopping tours, including day trips to some stunning tropical stretches of sand. Driving to the airport takes about 15 minutes. 

The hotel has 15 rooms, all featuring large windows, most opening onto balconies furnished with a wooden table and two chairs. Some overlook the street, but many have stunning views of the ocean, Cadlao Island, and the sunset. Wooden floors and nipa stools add some local charm, but decor is overall simple, with basic wooden furniture, thick yellow curtains, and bare walls. Most rooms are showing wear and tear, and amenities are a little underwhelming for the price, including rusty mini-fridges, (sometimes malfunctioning) air-conditioning, small flat-screen TVs, and safes. Wi-Fi is offered free throughout the property, but connectivity is limited in some rooms. Spacious bathrooms are decent, but wet room-style showers are not for everyone, and floors need fresh grout. Toiletries are not provided. 

All rates include daily breakfast buffet with a few Filipino and international items served in an airy room with panoramic ocean and island views. The quality is just average and limited options include instant coffee, a couple of main dishes, fresh fruit, and vegetables. The restaurant does not serve any other meals, but guests are allowed to sit there in the evening with drinks bought on-site. Wi-Fi is also included in all rates, but it is faster and more reliable in the reception area and the restaurant than in most rooms. The hotel also offers island-hopping tours and airport transfer services for a fee. There is no pool on-site.