Sito Lawi, Concepcion, Philippines
On a slope overlooking beautiful Pearl Bay
Contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and balconies
Two-bedroom villas with outdoor patios and private pools
Infinity pool with gorgeous sea views and loungers
Three bars and restaurants include one on the beach, plus room service
Two spas offering a variety of treatments, and a small gym
Small beach and water sports available
Marina for seaplanes and boats
Free Wi-Fi and on-site parking
A 90-minute drive from the airport
Beach and fitness center are tiny
Generic room decor
Room service not available around the clock
Located on the southern end of Coron Island, the four-pearl Busuanga Bay Lodge is a boutique resort with 38 rooms plus three villas with plunge pools. All rooms have modern tech features and balconies, and most have lovely views out over the ocean. Facilities include a small fitness center, a couple of spas, three bars and restaurants with room service, a marina for boats and even seaplanes, and plenty of opportunities for water sports. There's also an infinity pool and the resort sits right on a small beach. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities at El Rio y Mar Resort, a similarly sized resort on the northern part of the island with a more attractive beach.
Scene
Bayfront boutique resort popular with vacationing couples
Busuanga Bay Lodge is a a resort-style boutique property located on a forested slope overlooking picturesque Pearl Bay. Guests register in a bright lobby area with dark wicker chairs and sofas before heading out to the open, sloping grounds characterized by stone and cement pathways flanked by trees and shrubbery. The beach and rooms are a bit underwhelming, but it's the widespread views of the sea and rolling hills -- from the infinity pool, restaurants, and rooms -- that take center stage here. The vibe is generally peaceful and elegant, equally attracting vacationing couples and families.
Location
Coastal location, a 90-minute drive from the airport
Busuanga Bay Lodge is located on the southern part of Busuanga/Coron Island, in the western part of The Philippines, a 15-minute speed boat ride from South Cay Island. It's around 90 minutes by car or shuttle van to the Francisco B Reyes Airport, which receives regular flights from Manila as well as charters from Boracay and Puerto Princesa. Alternatively, travelers can take a ferry to Coron (an hour away by car) from Manila and El Nido.
Rooms
Modern rooms with neutral, somewhat generic decor and balconies
The Busuanga features 41 rooms across six categories, all with contemporary, if a bit underwhelming, decor. The streamlined design includes off-white tile floors, dark-wood cabinets, desks, and beds, and neutrally hued linens offset by red-and-gold patterned throw cushions. Some add colorful artwork and decorative sculptures. Bathrooms have glassed-in walk-in rainfall showers, beige tiling, and long countertops with vessel sinks, and some have separate soaking tubs. All rooms come with minibars, individually controlled air-conditioning, iPod Docks, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs.
The smallest rooms at Busuanga Bay Lodge are the 32-square-meter (105-square-foot) Clubhouse Superior units, which have balconies and views of the bay or garden. At 35 square meters (115 square feet), the standalone Bayview Bungalows are only slightly larger and have balconies with views of the ocean. Other options include 47-square-meter (154-square-foot) Hilltop Suites with great views and double showers in the bathrooms, Waterfront King and Twin rooms with ocean views, and Clubhouse Suites with separate living areas.
The hotel also offers three large Two-Bedroom Villas (with one king bed or two queens in the rooms). Each of these 187-square-meter (614-square-foot) rooms has its own ocean-facing balcony with lounge chairs, a patio table with chairs, and a private infinity plunge pool.
Features
Infinity pool, spas, marina for boats and seaplanes, and small beach
The Busuanga Bay Lodge offers a wide selection of amenities for a smaller hotel. The calm beach is tiny and has just a handful of loungers, but there's a sleek infinity pool on a gorgeous bay-facing deck with lots of sunbeds and incredible views. There are also a couple of spas offering massage services, and a tiny gym with free weights and a couple machines. The resort also offers a water-sports center, a marina for boats and seaplanes, mountain bikes for guest use, a small conference room, and a boutique stocking toiletries and souvenirs. On-site parking and hotel-wide Wi-Fi are free.
Dining options include Pavilion, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (but closes for a few hours between meals), South Cay Beach Club, which serves cocktails and buffet-style meals throughout the day, and Seahorse Bar & Grill, which offers drinks and food in the evenings. There's also a manager's happy hour here on Tuesdays and Fridays with free hors d'oeuvres. Room service is available from early morning until evening.