El Nido Cove Resort

El Nido Cove Resort offers a peaceful, relaxing retreat away from the hustle and bustle of El Nido town. The hotel is set amid wild tropical grounds full of flowers, palm trees, and plants that meet a small, narrow beach overlooking Bacuit Bay and Cadlao Island. The lobby and the restaurant are housed in a large traditional pavilion with soaring wooden ceilings, pitched roofs, and huge windows that keep the indoor spaces fresh and airy. The reception area itself is simple but cute, as is the rest of the hotel. Wooden accents and rattan couches stand out against the white lobby walls and dove-gray floors, but the highlight here are the views of the tropical gardens and the sea beyond. Sunsets from the property are particularly stunning, making the hotel a favorite among couples on a romantic getaway. Rooms are housed in one-story buildings with a similar design, and have shaded exterior entrances that sometimes double as terraces.

El Nido Cove Resort is located on a small beach in northwestern Palawan. The area is quiet and secluded, and there is little within walking distance aside from a nice stretch of sand a bit closer to the airport. All other famous beaches can only be reached by car, tricycle, or boat, and most are at least 25 minutes away. Restaurants, shops, and bars can be found in the busy city center, located a 20-minute tricycle ride away. The airport is about a 10-minute drive away, and the hotel offers a transfer service for a fee. 

The hotel has 20 clean, spacious rooms with garden, forest, or bay views. Decor is simple but cute, with wooden floors, local touches such as Nipa accents, and basic wooden or rattan furniture. Dark green bed runners with leaf designs add some color to the otherwise neutral palette, and large closets offer lots of storage space. Amenities are basic for the price, as rooms only feature ceiling fans, air-conditioning units, and eco-friendly toiletries. There are no TVs, electric kettles, safes, or mini-fridges here. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, but it is mostly nonexistent outside of the lobby. Bathrooms are clean and have either glass-enclosed walk-in showers or wet room-style showers, but there have been complaints of poor water pressure. Beachfront Lofts are the largest units here, with two double beds (one of them in a lofted area), and can sleep up to five adults and a child. These units also offer stunning ocean views. 

The hotel's restaurant serves tasty local cuisine made with produce and herbs grown in the hotel’s own greenhouse. Prices are reasonable -- especially if compared to restaurants in the city center -- and outdoor seating is available on a wooden deck overlooking the ocean. Free breakfast is offered at the restaurant every morning, but although some hot items can be requested, most guests consider the selection to be somewhat limited. 

The beach is sandy but narrow, which makes it better for swimming than for sunbathing. There are a few loungers on a patch of grass above the beach, and sea kayaks and snorkeling gear can be requested free of charge at the front desk. Island hopping tours and day trips around El Nido can be arranged at front desk. A tiny bar offers drinks and snacks throughout the day in an area between the beach and the pool. The pool is small but pleasant, and features panoramic ocean views, a few loungers, and free towel service. Free but spotty Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the hotel has a small parking lot that guests can use free of charge.