When El Nido first crept onto my radar about three years ago, it’s unearthly beauty had me spellbound and I knew I had to find a way to get there. Images of dramatic limestone kasts, spectacular beaches, amazing snorkeling and crystal clear lagoons danced in the background of my mind as I waited patiently for a flight that wouldn’t cost the earth. My patience was rewarded late last year when an unbeatable deal came up on Cebu Pacific from Sydney to Manila. I snapped it up in a heartbeat. After booking my (rather expensive) internal flight to El Nido on Airswift, my mind turned to finding the best place to stay in El Nido. After dreaming of her charms for almost three years, I was completely underwhelmed when I started researching hotels in El Nido Philippines. After checking every option for accommodation in El Nido and sifting through hundreds of horrendous reviews, I settled on One El Nido Suite to be our home away from home for our three nights in town. Read on for all the details ……
Cost of Hotels In El Nido Philippines
I’m all about travelling in luxury for less and Asia generally offers exceptional value. 5 star hotels can be booked for a fraction of the cost of their Australian counterparts and I had hopes of securing a deal on one of the few luxury island resorts that El Nido boasts like Miniloc El Nido. A quick search revealed I would be up for a minimum of $1000 a night. I don’t know about you, but if I’m dropping a grand a night on a bed it needs to be exceptional and the concerning reviews I read of ordinary food and overpriced everything did little to make me want to part with my hard earned. At the other end of the spectrum was a tent on the beach for $11 per night. Yeah, nah. You can call it ‘glamping’ all you like but if I don’t have my own bathroom it’s a no go for me. Basic rooms in the town centre range from around $30 – $70 a night, but I wanted more. When I searched for the next level, I noticed a cavernous gap between the $70 and $1000 per night price point. Thus my dilemma. If I had dollars to invest I would build a decent 4 star hotel in El Nido that covers this middle ground perfectly. After doing as much travel as I have, I figure I have a pretty good idea what appeals and I would deliver in spades.
The Pitfalls Of Accommodation in El Nido Palawan
Palawan is considered ‘the last frontier’ of the Philippines and is generally less developed than other parts of the country. Palawan has lots of things to do, but El Nido is not yet completely saturated by mass tourism and it still retains an air of rusticity. And I love that! I really do. I just want a comfortable place to sleep each night after exploring the sights. Never in a million years did I expected finding decent accommodation in El Nido to be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. I admit I left my run a little late and only started looking for the best place to stay in El Nido about four weeks before our trip. My budget was set at $150 a night and I can usually secure something spectacular for that in Asia. I mean, did you see my amazing hotel in Hanoi and where I stayed in Hoi An, both of which were under $50 a night? After my first glance at the accommodation in El Nido I was uneasy. My uneasiness turned to dismay when I started reading the reviews. I know you get what you pay for and these rooms are by no means expensive when compared to Australia, but the value in El Nido was way off for Asia. My stomach churned as I trawled though page after page of disgruntled travellers spinning their tales of woe; overcharging, raw sewage, cockroaches, bed bugs, paper thin walls, no electricity, no hot water, salt water showers, dodgy or no aircon, leaking plumbing, holes in walls plugged with paper, no wifi, slimy pools, rude staff, inept housekeeping, inedible food, unclean bedding, rock hard mattresses, threadbare towels and constant construction were common themes. I was truly horrified. So much so that I actually started considering Buhol as a replacement for El Nido. In the end it just didn’t have the lure of El Nido so I called in reinforcements. The Hubs usually trusts me implicitly to plan our trips. Sometimes I show him the itinerary, but more often than not I just go ahead and book it. After 25 years of marriage I know what he likes and I haven’t messed up yet. In despair, I asked him to come up with a short list of accommodation in El Nido and I would do the rest. And then I braced myself for his reaction. As I watched from the other side of the room, his face went from calm, to questioning, to alarm after reading only a handful of reviews. ‘What the f@%k sort of place are you taking me to?’ No hot water? No electricity? Bedbugs? You gotta be sh!tting me? F@%that! I’m not going’. I had to laugh. If the trip was going to be salvaged it was clear it was going to be up to me. I painstaking reviewed every single hotel in my Expedia, Agoda and Google search results to find something, anything, that wasn’t a compromise too far. I’m no princess, but one thing was clear, El Nido certainly hadn’t warmed to my concept of travelling in luxury for less. I had all but given up ever finding something to appeal when I stumbled upon One El Nido Suite. Granted it wasn’t in my preferred location in the centre of town. Granted it was brand new so had zero reviews. Granted it was overpriced for Asia. But when faced with the alternatives I figured we didn’t have much to lose and hit ‘book now’ before I got cold feet.
Read More: 15 Luxury Hotels In The Philippines (That Will Blow Your Mind!)
Getting to One El Nido Suite
When our AirSWIFT Airlines flight landed at El Nido airport it was pouring rain. Howling winds, typhoons and drenching downpours was the norm for our trip to the Philippines so we shouldn’t have been surprised. We hadn’t arranged transport so were at the mercy of the three tricycle drivers waiting for arrivals. Luckily the plane was almost empty and we were third in the line of the eight couples who also hadn’t organised transfers. Clearly it was not the time to bargain so we agreed to the requested fare of 350php clear in the knowledge that we were being ripped off before someone behind us could offer more and take the last ride. It’s $9, whatever. The only way to keep somewhat dry on the 20 minute ride to One El Nido Suite was to hold an umbrella out the side which the driver helpfully supplied. The tiny cabin was rather cramped with three people, two large backpacks and two small backpacks, but somehow we managed to squeeze in. Our driver didn’t know where One El Nido suite was. We later learned this was the norm because it was so new and compensated by having a map or directing them to the nearby Abot Kaya Commercial store which they all knew. I doubted we would get there at one point, but luckily my data kicked in as we approached the town so I could show him on Google Maps. I suspect if the internet gods hadn’t decided to bless me with connectivity his plan was to simply drive around randomly until we spotted it.
One El Nido Suite Overview
One El Nido Suite doesn’t look grand from the outside. The low key entrance has a wicker lounge and a small desk which we thought was where we would check in. Nope. We were told by the security guard to proceed to the third floor to reception. When we stepped in the lift, I had a giggle at the cute ‘day’ mat. I often lose track of the days when travelling so this was a very prominent reminder. I will point out though, the mats are not changed at the stroke of midnight. I know this because we checked out at 5am on departure and it was still showing the day before. When the lift doors opened we entered a massive space which belied the modest entrance. One El Nido Suite is brand new. So new in fact that was in ‘soft opening when we visited in October 2017. Despite being only October the first thing I noticed as I moved away from the lift was the plethora of Christmas paraphernalia which served to remind me just how under prepared I was for the big day. The smiling staff at the reception desk greeted us warmly with a welcome drink and dispensed of the paper work in a flash. The lobby is huge for a boutique hotel. The whole middle section under the expansive glass ceiling is currently filled with tables and chairs which serves as the common area and makeshift breakfast room while the restaurant is under construction.
One El Nido Suite does not have any outdoor space, but there is a very small landing at the rear which offers pleasant views across the water. While researching accommodation in El Nido many reviews mentioned constant brown outs (as opposed to black outs) where hotels would purposefully turn off electricity during the middle of the day to conserve power, but we never had a problem at One El Nido Suite. There was two things I found particularly odd during our stay. The first was that I had to haggle to get a second room key. The receptionist was insistent that only one could be provided. I explained that despite being married, The Hubs and I were not chained at the hip and absolutely required a key each. She was unmoved. It was only when I asked to see a manager that a key was produced. It seriously did not need to be that hard. The second was that beach towels are not offered. Given almost every guest will take one of El Nido’s famous tours and most won’t have their own towels this was a rather large oversight. The very helpful reception staff offered to provide two extra bath towels which we could take on the El Nido Tour A we had booked if we left a 200php deposit in case we lost them. We did, but the logic in this is lost on me. We could have simply taken the bath towels from our room without paying a deposit and turned them in for fresh ones on our return. While these quirks were strange, they pale in comparison to some of the issues in the reviews I read so I thanked my lucky stars that was the worst we had to deal with.
One El Nido Suite Rooms
The first thing I noticed when entering room 8106 was how light and bright it was despite it being dusk on a dreary day. The floor to ceiling glass panels covering one whole wall had a big part to play in that. There is one tiny window amid the fixed glass panels which can be opened to get a bit of fresh air. Our outlook was over the rear of the neighbouring buildings and hardly awe inspiring but if you press your head hard up against the glass and look far right you get a little glimpse of the bay. As night fell and we turned to artificial light the place was lit up like Crystal Palace. I have no idea what Crystal Palace is, but my Mum always used to complain when I had left all the lights on that it was like being in Crystal Palace so I’m guessing it is very well lit wherever it is. My pet peeve is hotels that skimp on lighting so this was a big tick in my book. As we explored the room we found that the fridge was not turned on. No biggie. With a bit of maneuvering we (i.e. The Hubs while I watched) dragged it out and attempted to plug it in. No go. The fridge was clearly not a local model and a quick trip to reception to get an adapter sorted the issue. While the fridge is empty, El Nido One Suite does have a larger fridge in reception where you can purchase drinks at reasonable prices (50 pesos for a coke, 75 pesos for a beer).
The bed was rock hard. So hard that I actually lifted the sheet to make sure there was a mattress. I’m guessing this is in part because it brand new and has yet to be softened by the weight of a thousand bodies resting their weary bones. Despite fearing the worst, I actually slept pretty well thanks largely to the fantastic pillows and didn’t wake up sore and numb like I always do in Thailand. The very loud tick tick ticking of the bedside alarm clock did more to hamper my slumber so I took the battery out on night two. Problem solved!
For a brand new hotel the decor was just a little bit off. The large room felt rather sparse and slightly unfinished but everything was immaculately clean. The bedside tables, bed frame, wardrobe, TV console and fridge housing are all the same functional blonde MDF but the furniture handles, chairs, tables and 70’s net curtains are a complete mismatch. The TV console is huge and could have easily incorporated a work desk but they missed this opportunity. I did fashion myself a makeshift one by dragging a chair over but the shelf underneath, lack of a power point and the too low chair didn’t make for ideal conditions. Overall I think they just missed the mark and the room felt just a bit too budget for the image they were aiming for.
The Hubs had a little trouble using the in room safe and set off the piercing alarm a number of times alerting every one in a 50klm radius. We finally worked out the code actually needs to be three digits not the 4 – 6 stated in the instructions. I’m not entirely sure why he bothered given the safe wasn’t bolted down and anyone could just pick it up and walk away with our valuables had they been so inclined. The weather was atrocious for our three days in El Nido and we spent more time in our hotel than expected. Luckily the aircon was exceptional to fight the oppressive humidity and the TV came equipped with a variety of free movie channels but the reception was sketchy so the picture quality was not great.
The bathroom was compact and the vanity had me nostalgically reliving the 80’s. There was zero room beside the sink to lay out toiletries but I used the shower shelf while The Hubs hung his on the back of the door. Water pressure is an issue on many islands and El Nido is no exception but at One El Nido Suite the showers are powered to compensate. There are three faucets to pick from (overhead, handheld and spout) and I initially thought the knee high spout was a strange addition given there was no bath; until I realised how manky your feet get trudging around El Nido in the wet and how nice it is to rinse off the dirt before flopping down on the pristine white bed. The toilet paper rolls are tiny. Like super tiny. And only one is provided. I had to ask reception for more on multiple occasions during our three night stay.
High humidity and constant rain can leave a room smelling dank and unpleasant, but not at One El Nido Suite. Our room smelt fabulous at all times thanks to the high tech room fragrancer (probably not a word but I’m going with it!). This little green topped miracle was a god send and while a little noisy I wouldn’t have been without it for the world. The complimentary thongs were a nice touch and the thoughtful staff packed our breakfast to go given we checked out very early plus provided us a complimentary transfer to the pier which was lovely.
One El Nido Suite Breakfast
Breakfast must be pre-ordered the night before and is served in the large open area near reception. You can choose between Filipino or Western and there are a handful of choices within each. The Hubs didn’t care for his ‘ham’. The butter was ice cold and unspreadable, he would have preferred his eggs scrambled and the ham was just weird. He did like the banana though. My pancakes were delicious. The promised juice never arrived though. The breakfast tables have a large centre stand which makes it very difficult to get your legs underneath and get close enough to your plate. If breakfast didn’t fill you up, head to Trattoria Altrove El Nido for the best pizza I have ever eaten.
Is One El Nido Suite The Best Place To Stay in El Nido?
As you can see One El Nido Suite has a few kinks to work out during their ‘soft opening’ period but these pale in comparison to the horror reviews I had read elsewhere. All in all El Nido One Suite delivered on all my expectations. The room was immaculate, we got a decent nights sleep, the free wifi worked well, the staff were helpful, the water was hot and we had zero power outages. It’s not the ritz, but it doesn’t claim to be and for the price we paid it was great value. Would I stay again? Absolutely! Unless of course I got a banging deal on one of those fancy island resorts ?
If you think you have found the best place to stay in El Nido, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. I’d also love to hear you stories of nightmare stays in hotels in El Nido Philippines if you have any …
Until Next Time …
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I paid for my stay at One El Nido Suite in full. As always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links which will earn me a few cents to contribute to the running of this site if you make a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you.
Kurdapya08 says
Hi!
Planning to visit El Nido this coming May and I am having the same dilemma looking for a decent place to stay . ? Hopefully they’d worked out some of those kinks by May. If breakfast fails, I’ll definitely take up your suggestion for pizza. ?
Allison Smith says
I hope it works out for you! Pizza at Altrove was amazing!
Vicky and Buddy says
Wow, after all of those horrible reviews, I’m glad you were able to find a decent place to stay. It sounds like they still have a few things to work on, but that’s expected at a new hotel. Like you said, it could have been a lot worse.
Paige says
It’s interesting to read that Palawan is considered the ‘final frontier’ of the Philippines because so many people seem to visit. However, it looks like they’ve done pretty great on the luxury front, especially for $100/ night. I tend to do more of a budget to middle range type of travel, but this would be the perfect splurge for a special occasion!
JM says
This is completely a honest review which is very helpful for future travelers to El Nido. I have not been there yet and I might consider this hotel since you had quite a good experience there. Thanks for sharing!
JM
Anne Slater-Brooks says
Gosh I know what you mean about the prices in El Nido. We went to the Philiipines in 2016 and I was planning to go there until I started doing my research. I was astonished at how expensive everything was. It looks as though you found a great place though and I love those flip flops.
Alli says
El Nido sounds absolutely divine! It’s too bad that finding accommodation is difficult in this area, but I must say it’s great that you wrote this post for others to bookmark for when they are looking for accommodations when traveling here. One El Nido Suite seems like a very great find 🙂
Shweta says
I had no idea that Palawan is this crazy expensive. At 1000 USD a night, I rather go to the Maldives. Good on you for scoring a new hotel. I will take a few kinks to get a clean, neat space.
Suma says
Hahah the perils of travelling, even though I do not want to splurge too mich on accommodation, like you I prefer to stay in decent place which offers value for money. Have spent hours scrolling through the web looking for good hotelswhile travelling less touristy locations. Ignoring the little issues with the newly opened hotel, glad that One El Nido Hotel was a good find after all the disappointments.
Paula - Gone with the Wine says
You have managed to get nice pictures of the hotel even though it was a bit off as you described. Sorry to hear about the bed being so bad, I had one of those in Japan and every time I switched sides it really hurt. I guess people get used to them over time.
Bruce Schinkel says
This really does seem like a great place to stay. Every hotel seems to have it’s quirks,and some of these ones are pretty mystifying. Overall I agree that this seems like a great place to stay for the price! I’ll definitely check it out when i’m next in the area.
sherianne says
I’m still giggling at your husbands response to your hotel options. I would have given up. Good for you that you found a decent place and moved ahead!
Allison Smith says
You should have seen his face … priceless lol. I’m so glad I persevered though because El Nido is stunning!!!!
Claudia says
You certainly had a rainy start to your time in the Philippines! It seems that despite some kinks, the One El Nido Suite supplies the necessary comforts for a decent price. Glad to read that it was clean and airy bright, that’s always important!
Hannah says
It certainly pays to scour the internet for reviews and compare your options. Shame you don’t have the spare cash to build that mid-range hotel! It sounds like the One El Nido Suite was the best of a bad bunch, and I’m sure they will learn a lot during their soft-launch time – especially with feedback such as yours. It can be quite disappointing to visit a highly anticipated destination, but not to have the appropriate accommodation to live up to the rest of the visit!
Christina says
Seems like a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to this hotel. I understand it is a soft opening so I too will cut them some slack. Fighting for an extra key I’m sure was interesting. It is interesting to hear just how big the gap is between economy and luxury is there. Maybe I will also invest in a 4 star hotel there ;).
Brianna says
Finding a decent place to stay can make or break a trip. I hope El Nido One Suites irons out their kinks, it seems like they definitely full a needed niche in El Nido.
Kavita Favelle says
Gosh, it’s very good to know that accommodation options for reasonably priced luxury in El Nido are sorely lacking! Like you, I plan all our trips (23 years married here, so we’re 2 behind you) and the husband trusts me implicitly, but often laughs at my intensive research on the hotel side. But the result is that we nearly always love the hotels we stay in, and they are usually great value. This place does not really live up to the price tag and as you say, not the kind of luxury you can so easily find in South East Asia elsewhere.
Sự Đinh says
Great post! It’ll be so wonderful to visit there. Hope to go there soon.
Rohini says
Have heard a lot about El Nido . This is a great post about the hotel situation in there . Very informative . I totally agree with the fact that how small things can make big difference in our holiday stays . Reminds me of a over expensive hotel where the room was just fine , but the bed made noises at night and to worsen when I entered the room , i could see the waste bin forgotten to be cleaned from the previous night! . Day Mat sounds great as it is quite common that we lose track of the days 🙂 and I guess that is the purpose in itself …
Yogita says
I knew in El Nido the hotels were expensive but this didn’t realize it was this bad. Thank you for an awesome post and all the ideas on finding accommodation.
Shaily says
Even we prefer luxury hotels and generally end up paying high prices. I’m glad you found El Nido Suite in budget and it turned out to be a decent hotel. The room looks nice and clean. Breakfast is not that great, however, those pancakes look delicious.
Susanna says
I am so glad you found a great location! I really struggled with this where I’m currently staying. Everywhere seemed to have poor reviews, but I ended up finding a good little spot. It can make or break your vacation with a good night sleep. We will definitely keep this accommodation in mind if we make it to the area.
Aisha says
Ugh there’s nothing more taxing than traveling to a destination where good accommodation options are limited or where the options that exist have no online presence so you can’t research them properly. Great to know you ended up finding a very reasonable option in El Nido Suite. While as you noted there are some kinks to be worked out, it looks like an overall ideal option!
Allison Smith says
It did work out well Aisha. Not perfect but absolutely acceptable. I would have no hesitation staying again.
Raghav says
A lovely, honest, entertaining, and full of information post. I have heard a lot about Philippines coming up as the next big destination and they certainly are trying their best to entice visitors from far and wide. El Nido looks like a wonderful little corner on Earth and certainly worth a trip.
When it comes to staying, i’m pretty much like you in the sense that I need some luxury at good price and small expectations like cleanliness and a separate bathroom are important. The El Nido Suit looks a lot like the many three star hotels we have in smaller towns of India. They are clean with good comforts, but as you mentioned still come with certain “kinks” that if worked on can make a huge difference.
Thanks for all the detailed information which hopefully I get to use when I visit this part of the world.
Allison Smith says
Thanks so much Raghav! The Philippines is definitely up and coming. I imaging they will have a big increase in visitors over the next few years.
Suzanne says
I really empathize with your desire to find a decent and well-fitted room in El Nido that’s also worth the price. I guess because it’s still developing as a tourist destination, there are still some knots to untie. El Nido One Suite looked comfortable enough and I really laughed when you said it looked like a “crystal palace” when you turned on the lights. Your mom must have been so funny!
Allison Smith says
I’m sure my Mum thought she was funny Suzanne lol. Crystal Palace was one of her favourites as was ‘If you don’t stop crying I’ll give you something to cry for’. ???
Gina says
The reviews had me a bit uneasy when I started reading this, but it looks like the hotel turned out to be fantastic! The room looked super clean and the breakfast looked simple but delicious. I’m glad El Nido is still on the last frontier and still retaining that rustic Philippines feel. I can’t wait to go there myself!
Allison Smith says
I love that it’s not completed developed as well Gina but there are a few comforts I do enjoy like clean rooms, hot fresh showers, wifi and 24 hour electricity which One El Nido Suite delivered on so I was very happy with our stay. If they worked out a few kinks it could be exceptional.
neha says
One El Nido suite looks like a gem that you had to discover from inside a heap of other costly and not so worth the money accommodations. Given the fact that it is difficult to experience luxury on a budget in this region, I am going to bookmark your post which will help me save a lot of work and sweat on finding the right accommodation when I head here.
Allison Smith says
It worked out well for us Neha. It was clean, had hot showers, reliable wifi and 24 hour electricity, something I take for granted but is not the norm in El Nido. I would have no hesitation going back.
Nuraini says
Man, so much of this is so familiar to me. I love the Philippines, but I’m with you – there are quirks there I found typical across mid-range local market accommodation that I just don’t understand haha.
The inhospitable processes whose need for existence is inexplicable, the just slightly missing-the-point feel of furnishing selections, but juxtaposed against pleasant staff and tidy housekeeping…
I didn’t realise how difficult it can be to find accommodation in El Nido, though! I do know that the hostels are party hostels though, from a friend who has been.
Allison Smith says
Yeah we were never going to be in a hostel party or not Nuraini. I did that in my early 20’s but these days I expect a little more from my accomodation. While One El Nido Suite is not the 5 star that I am used to, it served our needs well for our three day stay. With a few changes it could be exceptional.
Jessica Esa says
Great post, I’ve never even thought of travelling to this are and this has been super interesting for me! Also, a great heads up about the hotel situation.
I love your writing style by the way!
Allison Smith says
Thank you Jessica! This is honestly the hardest I have ever searched for accomodation. I’m so glad we found One El Nido Suite in the end. It met my expectations and didn’t blow the bank!
lisa says
We were there in September and ended up moving from our first accommodation to a second and it ended up being the best place! At the end of Carong Carong Beach where you see the best sunsets is a place called Las Cabannas. They are directly in front of the small island where you zip line. We ended spending so much time there, the staff are helpful and the bungalows were perfect!
Allison Smith says
So glad you found somewhere awesome Lisa. We were originally trying to find somewhere in the centre of town but nothing appealed. One El Nido Suite was a little way out on the main road so we had to trike in our out (50php) but it was worth it to stay somewhere decent ?
Mel Butler says
I was in the Philippine last year but only for 4 days working in Bohol but I really want to go back and spend more time there. El Nido might of been a nightmare getting somewhere to stay at first but gee it looks so beautiful there. Though saying that I can’t believe you could of paid up to 1000 per night that is crazy. Like you I am more of a 4 star hotel kinder of girl 🙂 I would stay in your hotel if you definitely invested in one over there
Allison Smith says
Yay my first customer lol. Now I just need to find the money to build it ?
Constance says
Wow El Nido has been on our radar for awhile so we’ve heard tons of great things from family and friends. But we had no idea how bad the hotel or lodging situation would be so this is definitely an eye opener! I’m so glad you wrote this so we now know what to expect on our budget, or rather what not to expect.
Allison Smith says
Don’t let it scare you Constance, El Nido is stunning. Just be prepared to search hard for a hotel that suits your needs (and budget!) ?
jen says
Wow my boyfriend and i had the same problem when we first came to El Nido. Everything was either fully booked or too expensive. We wanted something for our anniversary. Good thing we found a newly constructed hotel which offered special prices. We were lucky. Good to know that people have extra option for comfy in El Nido
Allison Smith says
We took a gamble on the new hotel on the block too Jen with zero reviews but it worked out for us and we didn’t have many problems at all.
Amanda Kendle says
Goodness! I have never been to El Nido but it’s on my radar as a cool place to go … but I never realised the accommodation situation was like this! Very thorough review and at least if I ever get there I now know what to expect. I love their branded thongs I must say!
Allison Smith says
The thongs were cute Amanda. The Hubs brought them home but mine were a bit big lol
Yukti says
From your post El Nido looks so beautiful but to find a good hotel is really a tough task. It is good that you finalized the deal for a 100$ per night for El Nido One Suite . As you are saying it is brand new hotel but it looks old type of hotel with slightly outdated decor. But you managed well by dragging pieces of furniture and arranging other amenities.
Allison Smith says
It was the hardest I have ever had to look for a hotel Yukti! So glad we finally found something to suit our needs!
Heidi says
I almost hate reading travel site reviews because the next thing you know, you’re scared to death of what you picked. It looks like everything worked out even with all the work and effort it took for you to find the perfect place and that you had a wonderful time in El Nido. Maybe next time you’ll land an amazing deal at one of the expensive ones!
Allison Smith says
The reviews were brutal Heidi and not just at the really budget hotels which ai would expect. So glad we found One El Nido Suite.
Iulia says
While I have not visited El Nido until now, I am oscillating between never going and looking really forward to it 🙂 Your post is very thorough… I think you would make a great hotel critic 🙂 🙂 I really like the fact that you put both pros and cons in the post and basically left people to decide for their own what they want to do. Although it might seem subjective here and there, the post is actually very objective and this is one of the things I most appreciate in these type of posts. Safe travels and better hotels for the future! 🙂
Allison Smith says
One El Nido Suite actually met all my expectations and so was very glad we didn’t face any of the dramas other travellers detailed in their reviews. I would definitely stay again!
Dada says
I have been to El Nido in 2011 and as we are not a luxury traveler and we are very adventourous the 11$ tent by the beach sounds like a dream to me!? Actually that is what I regret not doing while in El Nido after hearing from people having a camping adventure on deserted islands…but my husband had badly stomach flue so we checked in on a hotel by beach. A tiny but clean and very cosy room with shared bath room.
One El nido suite sounded…boring! And that breakfast dont look very interesting…atleast the banana and the pancake were good! ?? But as you wrote…it could have been much worse! We all had have some horrible hotel experiences…our was in Singapore! I hope you guys will have a much better stay next time you are out travelling!
Allison Smith says
Dada while it may of been a little bland I’ll take that over the horror reviews I read any day lol I did like the idea of camping in the deserted islands on the boat tours but the one in El Nido itself did not appeal at all. Different strokes for different folks I guess ?
Medha Verma says
I think its luck that I’ve come across your post at this time because I’m planning a trip in March and I was facing the exactly same problem! There are some REALLY nice water bungalow resorts but they cost about $1000 a night, something I cannot afford and the ones which are in my budget have HORRID reviews. I hadn’t come across El Nido Suites in my search or maybe I didn’t pay attention but now that you’ve confirmed a good review, I think I have a solution, thank you!
Allison Smith says
Check it out Medha! I hope One El Nido Suite works out for you!
Mimi & Mitch says
Heard so many things about El Nido and how beautiful it is! Totally didn’t know accommodation was hard to find though! Good thing you ended up finding something you liked, One El Nido Suite looked like a good bargain for you in the end!
Allison Smith says
It was around $100 a night which is by no means a bargain for Asia but El Nido is that sort of town if you want something a step above a hostel. We were happy to pay a little extra and have no dramas
Lisa says
Oh wow, I’d read about the sky-high prices in those El Nido resorts, but I didn’t think they were true! I love your honest in this post, and One El Nido Suites certainly looks like the top choice! I like luxury too, but yes, $1000 a night on accommodation is a lot, and you have to expect a lot in return!
Allison Smith says
I have (and no doubt will again) paid $1000 a night but for that I want exceptional and the resorts in El Nido just seemed to miss the mark a little. We paid $100 a night at El Nido One Suite and it met my expectations. I would stay again if I find myself in El Nido again.