Resort Review: Sophia's Garden Resort (Coron, Palawan)

Date of Stay: October 13-15, 2017

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: ********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: ********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: *********

Value for Money: ********

Sophia Garden Resort

As its name would suggest, this cozy, family-friendly boutique hotel, located in the middle of paradise called Coron, has a lush, spacious and nice central garden area with bamboo groves, mangroves and lots of trees (mango, duhat, casuy, etc.), a reflection of the owner’s love for gardens and landscaping. The name “Sophia” is derived from his granddaughter Ms. Annika Sophia Tiotangco.  

This modern, Spanish-style, 5,000 sq. m. resort has 22 rooms (14 of which were built just this year) – Superior (PhP4,500, good for two pax), De Luxe (PhP5,800, good for two pax), Dormitory (PhP8,000, good for four pax), Honeymoon Suite (PhP8,500, good for two pax) and Family Room (PhP10,000, good for four pax). 

Room 17

The spacious and clean airconditioned room that I stayed in (Room 17) was decorated in a Minimalist style and was elegantly furnished with a very comfortable bed a flat-screen cable TV, a wardrobe, work desk, mini fridge, coffee and tea making facility,  in-room safe, free bottled water and a patio with views of the garden and pool. 

The nice en suite bathroom had a rain shower head with hot and cold water and comes with a hairdryer and free bath amenities.

Patio

Sun loungers

Hallway

It also features a multi-colored outdoor swimming pool, kiddie pool and a heated jacuzzi, all opened till 10 PM, picnic gazebos and sun loungers. 

Both poolside and lush, well-kept gardens offer a relaxing, serene vibe and, thanks to its large garden space, Sophia’s is a perfect venue for garden weddings. 

Currently, the resort is undergoing a big expansion that will open up rooms facing the ocean, have a floating restaurant, beach front and dock for island hopping and pick up, so a little noise was experienced during the day.

 

Outdoor swimming pool

Children's Pool

Heated jacuzzi

Internet in Coron isn't the fastest or most reliable and can be pretty spotty.  Free Wi-Fi, though available, is much better at the reception area than in the rooms (which is limited to one gadget per person only).  Complimentary private parking is provided. Sophia's Garden Resort operates a 24-hour front desk that can assist with laundry and ironing services. Guests can enjoy a barbecue session with the provided facilities, or request for full body massage services (book in advance). Weather permitting, bonfires are lit every 6 PM. Round trip airport transfers are included in the room rate. They also have a gift shop and rents out bicycles.

 

Poolside picnic sheds

Its charming El Comidor Sophia Restaurant, with its Spanish-styled interior, serves a mixture of delicious international and Filipino (can be served boole style) cuisine. The food, prepared by Corporate Executive Chef Francis Christian "Janjie" Ocoma (the "Lakwatserong Kusinero"),  was very good.  Breakfast (tocino, dried fish, fried rice, scrambled eggs, salad, cereals, etc.) is included in the room rate. 

A bar is also available and room service is provided. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the service provided was excellent. The package tours that they provided through resort-affiliated Amika Travel & Tours, with guide Mr. Jonel Vergara, were very good too. Security was superb.

El Comidor Sophia Restaurant

The hotel is only a 6-min. drive to Baywalk and Busuanga Airport is a 17/km./45-min. drive away.  It is also easily accessible to some of Coron’s must-see destinations, being 950 m. (5-10-min. drive) from the Coron Public Market, 3.8 kms. from Maquinit Hot Spring, 6 kms. from Twin Lagoon and Lake Kayangan,  and 1.1 km. from Mt. Tapyas.

Check out "Maquinit Hot Spring" and "Lake Kayangan"

Reception Building

Reception Area

Bonfire Area

Since its opening in 2012, this sister resort of Kamia Bay Resort (Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa City), received the Award of Excellence from Booking.com in 2014 and the Golden Globe Annual awards for Business Excellence as “Best Spanish Inspired Resort” and the Traveller’s Choice by Trip Advisor, both in 2015. Experience home away from home at Sophia’s Garden Resort.

Gift Shop

Gazebo

Sophia’s Garden Resort: 5 Dinagpan Rd., Sitio Jolo, Brgy. Poblacion 5, Governor's Dr., Coron, 5316 Palawan. Tel: (048) 723-1871.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 543-5775 and (0939) 915-0274. E-mail: sophiasgardenresort@gmail.com. Website: www.sophiasgardenresort.com. You can also follow them on Facebook: Sophia’s Garden Resort