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Friday, 4 December 2015

Hotel and Inn Review: The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido (Palawan)

Date of Stay: December 4-7, 2015

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)
Location: ******
Rooms: *********
Condition and Cleanliness: ********
Staff Performance: ********
Room Comfort: *********
Food and Beverage: *********
Other Amenities: ********
Value for Money: ********

The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido

The beautiful, 8-hectare  The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido is located in the heart of fantastic Bacuit Bay in  El Nido, one of the most beautiful places in the world. From Puerto Princesa Airport, it is a 238-km. (5-6-hour) overland drive, along a lot of dizzying zigzag roads, to the resort with a stopover for lunch at Halfway Coffee Shop and Restaurant.



Hotel reception area
The author with resort
mascots Toffee and Truffles
Upon arrival, each of us was warmly welcomed with a super delicious and fresh coconut drink and a cold towel.  Also on hand to welcome us was Mr. Angelo “Gelo” Retuya, the Hotel Operations Manager, plus dogs Truffles and Toffee, the resort’s friendly mascots.  From the lobby, we didn't mind climbing the 72 steps of a beautifully made stairs (beautifully lit at night) that lead up to our rooms as it was good cardio exercise. The view from the lobby to the rooms was to die for as it was perched on top of a hill. Upon reaching the top, we had panoramic views of the surrounding rainforests and plantations.
View of tropical forests from the top of the hill
Forest View Suite
bathroom
Suite furnishings
The resort currently has 20 tastefully decorated and furnished (all white with hardwood furnishings), airconditioned rooms – ten 25 sq. m. Forest View Suites (PhP5,000-7,000), eight  30 sq. m. Bayview Suite (PhP8,500-10,000) and two Bayview Suites with private lounging pools (PhP10,000-12,000). 
All have ensuite private bathrooms with bidet and hot/cold shower from 3 shower heads; refrigerator; safety deposit box; hair dryer; tea/coffee making facilities; comfortable seating area and windows that provide ample natural lighting, all exuding an atmosphere of total peace and harmony.  The rooms were spacious but homely, with super comfortable beds, blankets and pillows.
Forest view Deluxe room

The 10 Bayview Suites have, aside from the aforementioned, aluminum sliding doors that open into private wooden deck balconies with a hanging wicker porch swing, hardwood deck furniture and, best of all, a breathtakingly panoramic, million dollar view of the gorgeous sunset and the tropical forests, islands and beaches across Bacuit Bay. It was quiet and relaxing at the same time and truly priceless.


Bayview Suite
Bayview Suite with private lounging pool
The Bayview Suite's private balcony
The gorgeous view
Hanging wicker porch swing
Breakfast buffet
Restaurant interior
Our breakfast each morning at the Narra Restaurant, further up the hill, was delicious and provided us with a variety of options. Both their local Filipino and international cuisine can also be enjoyed on request, with generous servings. For alternative dining options, barbeque facilities are available. Honeymooners can also book romantic “sunset dinners” by the sea. By next year, the infinity swimming pool (also with a great view of Bacuit Bay) and a bar will be opened.  According to Dang, 40 additional rooms will also be added in the future.

The resort's restaurant
The staff was very friendly, courteous and caring, welcoming us with a big smile, greeting us politely if they happened to pass by in front of us and attending to our needs and requests. 

The customer service was truly superb from the moment we arrived up to the moment we left.
The white sand Las Cabanas Beach
The resort also has a 24-hour front desk and a private white sand beach area on Las Cabanas beach (a 5-min. walk or 69 steps down the hill) with their own bar. Free WiFi access is available in the common areas. Every day, to be environmental friendly, the resort turns off the electricity from 10 PM to 2 AM. Friendly staff can arrange for motorbike rental, land tours (Nagkalit-Kalit Falls, Bulallacao Falls, Nacpan Beach, etc.) and water-sport activities including island-hopping (Snake Island, Matinloc Island, etc.), kayaking (Small and Big Lagoon), snorkelling and scuba diving at extra charges. The hotel also offers massage, laundry/ironing services and free parking facilities.   


Sunset over Bacuit Bay
From the resort, El Nido town proper is a 10-min. tricycle ride (Ph150) away (in the evenings, there's a free hotel van service).   The resort provides free shuttle service to ITI (Island Transvoyager, Inc.) Airport which is just a 20-min. drive away.  
If you want to relax and escape life away from the maddening crowns of the metro, I would recommend this dream getaway. The little oasis called The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido, a slice of heaven in El Nido, truly deserves a five star commendation. 


The Resort Bayview Hotel: Sitio Marimegmeg, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313, Palawan.  Tel: + 66(0) 76 281 406. Fax: + 66(0) 76 384 369. Mobile numbers: (0915) 250-7368 (Globe) and (0920) 975-8690. E-mail: theresortelnido@gmail.com. Website: www.elnidobayview.com.

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