Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
La Salangane
33 Serena St
T
0916 648 6994,
W
lasalangane.com; map p.385.
Enticing French
restaurant and hotel combo with a choice of accommo-
dation ranging from a beachfront suite (P4300) to
premium (P2300) and budget doubles (P1500), all of
which have hot water and wi-fi. They also have four
apartments with
kitchen
(P1500) on Caalan Beach next
to
Golden Monkey
.
P1500
Marina Garden Beach Resort
Calle Hama
T
0917
519 7722,
E
mgelnido@gmail.com; map p.385.
Ver y
popular resort (booking essential) in the middle of
the strip, with a few “family cottages” with shared
bathrooms, a couple of slightly better fan rooms (P1070)
and modern
beachs
ide (P2290-2690) or streetside
(P1750) rooms.
P780
Rosanna's Cottages
Calle Hama
T
0920 605 4631;
map p.385.
Formerly a top budget choice,
Rosanna's
has
moved a little upmarket, but still offers friendly service
and beachfront roo
ms, thes
e days with a/c, wi-fi and solar-
powered hot water.
P2500
Tandikan Beach Cottages
Calle Hama
T
0919 944
6312; map p.385.
Rustic resort in a fine location
with sea and mountain views. The nine cottages are
simple, but the service is friendly; you'll wake in the
mornin
g to fin
d a flask of hot water on your balcony for
coffee.
P1200
Kalinga
T
0921 570 0021; map p.387.
One of the few
affordable options on pretty Caalan Beach. There are a
variety of attractive rooms and huts set in a garden just
back from the beach, all of which have cable TV and hot
water. If you want a/c you j
ust add
P500 to the room price.
Free wi-fi in the restaurant.
P1700
CORONG
CORONG
Dolarog Beach Resort
South of Corong-Corong
T
0927
420 7083,
W
dolarog.com; map p.387.
Peaceful beachside
accommodation with thatched cottages and rooms in a
grassy coconut grove on a quiet and rather isolated stretch
of private beach. The resort is well run, serves excellent
meals and is easy enough to reach from town by tricycle
(P20/person) or bankga (about P200/boat
). You
can also
arrange for staff to meet you at the airport.
P4000
Greenviews
3km south of town
T
0921 586 1442,
W
palawandg.clara.net; map p.387.
Popular resort (P20 via
tricycle or a 25min walk from town) with a range of room
types, free wi-fi and gorgeous sunset views all year (El Nido
gets them May/June only). Owners Dave and Tina Gooding lay
on handy free buses from town (9pm-mid
night) -
a nice
touch. Kayaks are P700/day or P350/half-day.
P1000
7
BACUIT ARCHIPELAGO
★
Lagen Island Resort
T
02 894 5644,
W
elnidoresorts
.com; map p.387.
Operated by
El Nido Resorts
, this private
island paradise has superb beaches and diving, with stylish
tropical accommodation in fan-cooled or
a/c cot
tages.
Package rates include meals and watersports.
P22,000
★
CAALAN BEACH
Golden Monkey
T
0929 206 4352,
W
goldenmonkey
elnido.com; map p.387.
Peaceful little British-Filipino
owned resort with well-constructed garden and beach-
front (P4500) huts and smart rooms with views in the
main blo
ck. They
also have kayaks for rent (P500) and
free wi-fi.
P2000
Miniloc Island Resort
T
02 894 5644,
W
elnido
resorts.com; map p.387.
The other
El Nido
resort, very
similar to
Lagen Island Resort
(see above), wit
h equally
stylish, high-quality accommodation and facilities.
P22,000
EATING AND DRINKING
Dining and nightlife in El Nido are generally very relaxed affairs, with a handful of laidback
beach bars
offering simple
food and cold beer, a few more sophisticated places that have opened in recent years, and cheap local places on Calle Real
and Rizal St behind the beach.
Balay Tubay
Calle Real
T
0916 730 7266; map
p.385.
Historic wooden house and restaurant that hosts
regular jam sessions on native instruments, reggae and
other live music, as well as offering well-prepared Filipino
food; choose fresh fish or squid and they'll grill it outside
(mains P100-150). There's a smaller branch on Calle Hama.
Daily 5pm-midnight.
Bhing's Bizz Curry House
Calle Real
T
0915 624 4590;
map p.385.
One of El Nido's best-kept secrets, at least for
those craving Indian food - the chicken curry (P350) serves
two and is as authentic as you'll get in this part of the
world.
Bhing's
is a great place to eat or just chill out with a
book when it rains; it doubles as a spa and handicraft store.
Daily 8am-9pm.
El Nido Boutique and
Artcafé
Serena St
T
0920
902 6317,
W
elnidoboutiqueandartcafe.com; map
p.385.
The heart of El Nido's traveller scene, thanks to its
excellent travel centre (see opposite), the café itself offers
friendly service, superb breakfasts, home-made bread,
yoghurts and brewed coffee. Lunch and dinner features
well-prepared salads, seafood, pizza (P260-300) and
pasta. Vegetables are sourced from the café's own organic
farm, 7km away. The bar also has live music every night
except Tues.
Daily 6.30am-11pm.
Habibi Restaurant & Shisha Café
Calle Hama
T
0905
484 1764,
W
habibicafe.npage.de; map p.385.
This
German-owned place is justly lauded for its delicious food,
an eclectic mix of fresh fish, some of the best coffee in town
★
★
