I had a bit of a dilemma figuring out where to stay in Coron. Finding accommodation in Coron to support my mantra of travelling in luxury for less was more challenging than I anticipated. This was my first trip to the Philippines and I expected luxury hotels in Coron Palawan to be thick on the ground like other parts of Asia but sadly that was not the case. We only had two nights in Coron with lots to do so I started my search for places to stay in Coron in the city centre. After a quick glance at the options (and the lack lustre reviews!) and I expanded my search field to discover a new waterfront hotel minutes from the port. The Sunlight Guest Hotel Coron offered everything we needed and while not exactly a bargain by Asian standards, it certainly didn’t break the bank. Read on for all the details …
Deciding Where to Stay In Coron: Location Location Location
We are walkers. We generally spend hours trudging the dusty backstreets discovering all the hidden nooks and crannies in a city so location is always a primary consideration and it was no different when we were deciding where to stay in Coron. Second to location, is of course quality. Coron is a sleepy little place and has a smattering of accommodation in the heart of town but they were all a little too rustic for us so we decided to compromise on location and expand our search area. We knew we wanted to stay on the main island so while Club Paradise Resort looked impressive it was ruled out. Two Seasons Coron Resort & Spa caught our eye but the inconvenient location was a compromise too far. Bluewave Hotel was on the short list for quite a while but it seemed just a bit too austere. Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel was a strong contender until we realised Sunlight Guest Hotel (which was right next door) was half the price. Done!
READ MORE: 15 Luxury Hotels In The Philippines
Places To Stay In Coron – Sunlight Guest Hotel Overview
I’ll admit to being fickle and once I had a short list of where to stay in Coron, decor did play a part in the decision making process so it might come as a bit of a surprise that Sunlight Guest Hotel Coron was the victor. Despite being one of the newest hotels in Coron Palawan, Sunlight Guest Hotel is not the slick and modern affair I usually favour. The best way to describe the design concept is Spanish Hacienda meets Tuscan Villa and it’s just a little strange. The distinctive bright yellow facade on the three story building is hard to miss and certainly stands out from the other places to stay in Coron. We arrived in Coron on the Montenegro fast ferry from El Nido and sidestepped the horde of tricycles at the port to walk the 5 minutes to the hotel. The reception is light, bright and airy and we were greeted warmly by the reception staff. We arrived well before check the official check in time of 11am and as expected our room was not ready, but the helpful staff gave us an upgrade to a room that was available which was very much appreciated. While the Sunlight Guest Hotel was outside of our initial search area, it was still only a 15 minute stroll to town and we did it multiple times. If you are not as keen, simply hail down a tricycle for the tiny price of 30php (70c) for 2 people. The waterfront location was superb and views of the sunset from the back deck were incredible. The only sticking point was that at low tide a distinct smell wafted through the hotel. Sunlight Guest Hotel is currently building a private jetty to take full advantage of their absolute waterfront location. It’s a shame we weren’t there a few months later as it would have been awesome to start our private Coron Island hopping boat tour of the stunning Coron lagoons right from the hotel rather than having to trike into town.
READ MORE: Getting to Coron on Montenegro Fast Ferries
Rooms At Sunlight Guest Hotel Coron
Our room (323) was right at the end of the third floor corridor. The same sunny yellow paint adorns the internal walls but in contrast the furniture is dark which feels a little incohesive. The room was quite spacious and the generous storage was more than adequate for our meager belongings. The King size bed dominated the room and I was disappointed to find it was as hard as a rock. We stayed in six different hotels during our two weeks in the Philippines and this was by far the worst sleep we had on our trip. Sunlight Guest Hotel does not offer a mini bar, but the compact fridge was sufficient for our needs. The balcony overlooking the pool and across the water towards the town was narrow but I always love having a bit of my own outdoor space and the sunset views are almost as good as they are from the back deck. A compact desk is available for those who need to work but I just laptopped from the bed. Unfortunately for me only one side of the bed comes with a power point and The Hubs snagged it. It’s seriously the quick and the dead in our house and I always seem to lose out lol. Unlike other hotels in the Philippines, the plug is not multi-fit and you will need an adaptor. The bathroom is an odd mix of modern and faux vintage. The modern shower is brilliant but it is paired with a rather out of place looking vanity.
Facilities At Sunlight Guest Hotel Coron
Coron is hot and humid, particularly in the ‘ber’ months and very few hotels in Coron Palawan have pools. If you are travelling to Coron with kids, a pool is a must and the stunning pool at the Sunlight Guest Hotel Coron sealed the deal when we were deciding where to stay in Coron. It was a little chilly but it didn’t stop me diving in for a refreshing dip every day we were in residence. There is a pool bar in the far corner, but I didn’t actually see anyone manning it. The gym at Sunlight Guest Hotel is small but will suffice for those keen on keeping up their fitness routine. All hotels in Coron Palawan have their quirks and the Sunlight Guest Hotel is no exception. I guess stolen towels must be a thing (why people????) because pool towels must be specifically requested from reception. They are free to use in the hotel pool but I was outraged that they charged us 150 pesos per towel for our boat trip. This is not a security deposit like we were charged at One El Nido Suite. They refer to it as a ‘rental’ charge and I have never heard of anything more absurd in my life. The look on my face and tone of my voice left them in no uncertain terms how I felt, but even though they apologised profusely they refused to waive the charge. I was even more annoyed when our private tour actually supplied towels so we didn’t actually need them. You will need to re-enter the 16 digit code for the free FiWi after 60 minutes of non activity which got old really quick. We were thrilled to find that our accommodation in Coron offered free airport transfers and booked ourselves in on the day before our departure. Our Cebgo flight from Coron to Manila was at 1.10pm and we were initially told our pick up would be at 12pm. I remember thinking this was very tight given the airport was a 30 minute drive away but I figured they do this daily so they know best. Minutes later the phone rang and it was moved to 11.30am. Then they rang again and moved it to 11am. At 8am the best morning we got another call saying our transfer was ready. In my half asleep state I though we must have overslept before I realised the time, told them there was a mistake and crawled back under the covers for a few extra minutes slumber. We checked out and were ready and waiting at the agreed time of 11am but we were sharing a ride and had to wait for two other guests who took their sweet time which of course is no fault of the hotel. We were finally on our way at 11.20am and made our flight in plenty of time.
Breakfasts in Hotels in Coron Palawan
One of the biggest disappointments about our accommodation in Coron was breakfast. There is no other way to say this so I am just going to be blunt. Breakfast was abysmal. We had breakfast in house on both days because it was included in our booking and it seemed a shame to waste it. The first day they asked us for breakfast vouchers on entry which we did not possess. We headed back to reception who seemed to have no idea what we were talking about and told us just to walk in so we did. The hot dishes on both days were not to my taste. Dried fish, steamed cabbage and 5 kinds of rice anyone? On the first day the only thing I could eat was toast and fruit. The white bread was super sweet but it was better than dried fish. On day 2 I resigned myself to the same fate but they thwarted me because there was no butter. Are you kidding me? There is simply no excuse for running out of something so basic in my book. Why someone could not simply duck across the road to the mini mart and get some is beyond me. Luckily there were two cereals that were not there on day 1 so cornflakes it was. Despite the no butter situation, I grabbed a soft roll. It was so dry I resorted to dipping it in the left over milk from my cereal. The egg station which was in operation on day 1 was not manned on day 2. The Hubs has to have his eggs and was about to panic when he spotted some scrambled in the warmer to go with his dry toast. Food in Coron is not all bad though, we had an amazing Pizza at Trattoria Altrove which is just a short walk away.
The Final Word – Accommodation In Coron For Next Time …
Finding places to stay in Coron is tricky so despite the issues at the Sunlight Guest Hotel I wouldn’t rule out a future stay. If I did stay again I would look for a deal sans breakfast given whatever cost was built into the nightly rate was not worth it for a piece of toast and a bowl of cereal. I would definitely check the prices again at Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel next door which looked lovely but I still wouldn’t pay double. At the end of the day the pros outweighed the cons but the Sunlight Guest Hotel has some definite kinks to work out.
Have you been to Palawan? Do you have a favourite place to stay in Coron? I would love to hear about it in the comments below.
Until Next Time …
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I paid for my accommodation in Coron in full and 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.
Nathalie Salcedo says
I’ve been to Palawan, El nido in particular but haven’t visited yet Coron.
I liked your hotel based on your experience, it seems luxury to look at and very posh to take photos with.
Paige says
Sunlight Guest Hotel looks so beautiful! That breakfast looks amazing. Those Southeast Asian sunsets are just pure magic, aren’t they?
Rosemary says
Coron is a beautiful island and apparently a popular destination to visit. I’m saddened to hear about the poor service. The whole idea of logging in every 60 minutes of non-activity is irritating. Charging for beach towels is not cool, though the overall accommodations look great. Great honest review and thanks for the various hotel options!
Megan Jerrard says
Thanks for such an honest overview of the pros and cons – ultimately Sunlight Guest Hotel could be a bargain considering it was half the price of the rest of the luxury hotels on the island. But it does sound like it came with it’s costs – I’ve never heard of a hotel charging for towels either, that’s a little absurd! And the WiFi thing would annoy me – lol it annoys me having to log in once a day at some hotels. I would consider the hotel though since it’s on the waterfront and the rooms look comfortable and spacious. I usually skip breakfast, so that’s not a big dealbreaker for me.
Sandy N Vyjay says
Love the location of the hotel. Being on the waterfront, I am sure you have lovely views. I loved the look of the balcony. Could spend hours relaxing there and enjoying the views. The rooms too look pretty spacious and comfortable.
Marcus and Mel says
We are not familiar with Coron, to be honest, are quite ignorant of the Philipines in general. The sunset pictures do look beautiful. Like you, we are not a fan of rustic and do look somewhere nice at the end of the day, in that heat you definitely need a hotel with a pool. What was that with the towels, I hate it when hotels have these stupid little quirks, there must be a trade in international towel smuggling.
Medha Verma says
I call this perfect timing because I am right now, as I am writing this comment, researching a place to stay in Coron during my March trip and although I have come across the exactly same hotels as mentioned by you (Two Seasons, etc), I am still not happy because none of them seem to tick all my boxes. I need a good location and beach front because I am going to be by myself and I really want to spend some good time on the beach, just reading a book or something. I will now check out Sunlight Guest Hotel, hopefully it’ll still be available and not expensive on my travel dates!
Kavita Favelle says
Travelling in luxury for less is a mantra I can get behind! Like the look of the Sunlight Guest Hotel, I love sunshine yellow walls and that huge shower is definitely my kind of bathroom. Of course, the views from your room and balcony are the big prize! Shame about the breakfast though, and the unpleasant wafting smell!
Parnashree Devi says
I really liked the location for a quiet holiday. Though the balcony seems to be quite small , but the view is what I am sold for. Though the breakfast scene is disappointing I must say that. But I think that the interior and other facilities are good enough to consider the resort for holiday. I liked the pool a lot.
Adrenaline Romance says
Perfect timing! We are planning to go to Coron this summer for some scuba diving and island hopping adventures. We’re looking and this is really good timing. The resort looks fabulous!
Samah says
Sounds like you caught a nice location and the views look beautiful but your breakfast experience really throws me off since I can barely function without having a hearty breakfast. If the hotel booking includes breakfast then it better be good! I would not be happy if I had to settle with cornflakes and I agree, running out of a basic thing like butter is odd, and it kind of shows they don’t even care about providing a good breakfast. Thanks for this informative review!
antonette says
I never thought there would be little luxury in Coron. I’ve not been there (yet) unfortunately but I’ll keel this in mind in case I ever get there. The hotel looks very classy! And like you I’m a walker, the best way to explore is definitely on foot!
Hannah says
I love the balconies and being so close to the port must be useful for coming off the ferry. But I agree, the interior is an odd mix of faux-vintage and new – but if you’re only there to sleep, right? When looking for hotels, it’s often about making compromises around your desired price point, and the benefits of this hotel certainly look like they outweigh the negatives.
Fairuz says
When I book a hotel, breakfast is one of the most important thing for me, since I don’t eat lunch (I have snacks) when I travel, and without a proper breakfast I can’t function. Given your experience at Sunlight Guest Hotel, I’ll probably look for other place to stay when I go to Coron/Palawan. I must say, the view from the balcony is beautiful tho.
Indrani says
Looks like a good stay option but for few glitches there. Paying rentals for the towel is new to me, I can imagine your irritation when you got another set. When you stay in 6 hotels in a short span there is more scope to find the pros and cons of each. Location of hotel matters to me too. Hopefully I get to Coron some day, I can then put this blog to good use.
Ami Bhat says
You got that right with the location bit. And the rooms and the facilities are bang on in this case. The breakfast spread is perfect to get you started on the day. I like a hearty one especially if I am going to be out the entire day. Cheers
aditi says
I haven’t been to Coron yet but would love to visit and might give this hotel a try, I guess they have recently opened so hence facing some teething issues, but lets hope they get better in time to come. must admit that the hotel room offers a fantastic view and I would definitely love to stay at such a place
Martha says
A great review, but I’m going to drool over the balcony. The balcony was by far the best part of this accommodation. The view of the river and boats below, you definitely can’t put a price tag on that. This is a gorgeous place and I would stay at the hotel for just that balcony!
Rachelle says
Such a bummer about the hotel breakfast. I always go in with high hopes, especially in exotic locations, and am most often times disappointed. Hopefully you were able to score some delicious street food during your walks!
Lisa says
I’ve not yet been to Coron but heard many great things about it. That breakfast doesn’t look appetitsing, I hope they improve that for the guests soon! This looks like a decent stay for Coron, and there’s no mistaking that bright yellow either!
Paula - Gone with the Wine says
I love these photos! I agree, location is a major factor when choosing a hotel. Sometimes it’s worth spending some extra to a room in a good spot, and save money by being able to walk to places.
Teja says
Wow, between El Nido and Coron, you’re alerting me to the need to budget more than I expected to, for when I get around to doing this area of the Philippines. I guess I kinda assumed since it’s within Southeast Asia and a tourism draw, it would be cheap through sheer competition. Noted! And good heads up on the niggling unnecessarily annoying bits that will require some degree of ‘traveller zen’!
Jessica says
You’re introducing me to so many awesome places in the Philippines to visit! The hotel looks absolutely lovely and that view is spectacular! Shame about the breakfast, I love breakfast but it’s so often the case that the breakfast isn’t worth getting up for.
Sounds like a lovely place to talk around though.
Neha says
Just like you we are also walkers. We love exploring the place we go to on foot as much as possible. And thus, we like to stay closer to the heart of the city. Sunlight guest hotel would have been our choice as well. And it looks quiet decent and comfortable. Good find!
Tom says
Haha I totally feel you I had exactly the same problem and you totally nailed it. Really detailed info! Also really like the pictures, the sunset ones are gorgeous! This place is so photogenic. I have to tell you though that pictures load pretty slow just for your info.
Heidi says
That huge bed did look comfortable, it’s a shame it wasn’t. The Sunlight does certainly seem eclectic for sure. We always find hotels breakfast lacking but it really sounds like this one was beyond the usual point of bad. At least you were decently close to town and could enjoy the island.
Raghav says
For me, it is always the general cleanliness and the bathroom that matter the most when deciding on a place to stay and Sunlight Guest House ticks both those boxes off quite well. Add to that the amazing views and you’ve got a real bargain. Sorry to hear about the breakfast, which is my favourite meal, but hopefully they take in your suggestions seriously and make changes.
Swati Jain says
Visiting Philippines has been on my list and Coron too. This a lovely blog you made as I find it quite useful for my trip. I will definitely refer to this whenever I plan to visit here 🙂
Krupa says
This place looks really nice for staycation. The Breakfast looks delicious huh.. Looks like you got the perfect stay option in coron. and would love stay here for sure.
Aneesha Rai says
I really liked the hotel. Just had a look and it seems to be at a really good price point as well. I love your pics as well, South East Asian sunsets are truly the best.