Paolyn Houseboats Coron Island Rooms
Paolyn Houseboats Coron Island Rooms Pictures & Reviews (Banuang Daan, Philippines)
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... In some pictures it appears to have glass enclosure, other pictures it looks like bedroom is open air. Can someone clarify. P.S. My wife is a Mosquito magnet so trying...
Answer from Carlos C
Aug 2022
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Magical place and lovely people
If you are thinking about booking, don’t hesitate just book it. This is a once in a lifetime authentic experience and it was the most incredible place, we didn’t want to leave and wish we had stayed longer.
We stayed for 3 nights in the double room (the cheapest available) and it was worth every penny.
Accommodation:
The level of cleanliness was very very excellent, there was no bugs or spider webs or anything considering everything is made from wood and bamboo.
The bed, sheets, pillows were all very comfortable, and the room was a very good size. They give you everything you need inc shower gel and shampoo.
It is a very eco friendly place, Paolyn works hard to bring fresh water to the houseboat from another island every day. Your waste also doesn’t go in the sea.
Food:
We are vegetarian but we eat eggs, so it was fine for us, we asked them to make us veg fried rice without meat or fish and they were more than happy to. There was another couple here who did not eat meat, fish, egg, onion & garlic. Even they were well catered for and looked after.
You must order your food the day before, as this makes the process much easier, they buy their ingredients from town in the morning.
Tour:
We did the full day tour which i highly recommend, because its a private tour, its at a much more relaxing pace and you get to see everything on your own, no other tourists crowding the place, its amazing!! It is tiring but you get a very long 3 hour break in the middle where you come back to your room and chill out.
The only thing to remember is that the tour will cost much more than you think. It says 2500 per person, but you need to remember to include the fuel charge, plus the entrance fees to each place you visit. For the full day tour, it was basically 300 peso’s per place (we visited about 10 places) so it easily adds up.
However when you look at the private tour costs from town, its the same price, so you aren’t paying more.
Staff:
Majority of the staff are from the local tribe, they are absolutely wonderful and will tell you all about their beautiful land if you ask. All the money you pay goes back to helping their community, and giving them work. They are really hard working and there is so many staff to maintain all the houseboats, so you can appreciate how difficult it is to keep it running.
Safety:
We left our room open and valuables in the room the whole time, even when we were out for the full day tour. It is very safe there and the staff are very respectful. There is also security patrols 24 hours.
I cannot wait to visit again in a few years when we come back, i would highly recommend this place, its worth every penny.
If you are thinking about booking, don’t hesitate just book it. This is a once in a lifetime authentic experience and it was the most incredible place, we didn’t want to leave and wish we had stayed longer.
We stayed for 3 nights in the double room (the cheapest available) and it was worth every penny.
Accommodation:
The level of cleanliness was very very excellent, there was no bugs or spider webs or anything considering everything is made from wood and bamboo.
The bed, sheets, pillows were all very comfortable, and the room was a very good size. They give you everything you need inc shower gel and shampoo.
It is a very eco friendly place, Paolyn works hard to bring fresh water to the houseboat from another island every day. Your waste also doesn’t go in the sea.
Food:
We are vegetarian but we eat eggs, so it was fine for us, we asked them to make us veg fried rice without meat or fish and they were more than happy to. There was another couple here who did not eat meat, fish, egg, onion & garlic. Even they were well catered for and looked after.
You must order your food the day before, as this makes the process much easier, they buy their ingredients from town in the morning.
Tour:
We did the full day tour which i highly recommend, because its a private tour, its at a much more relaxing pace and you get to see everything on your own, no other tourists crowding the place, its amazing!! It is tiring but you get a very long 3 hour break in the middle where you come back to your room and chill out.
The only thing to remember is that the tour will cost much more than you think. It says 2500 per person, but you need to remember to include the fuel charge, plus the entrance fees to each place you visit. For the full day tour, it was basically 300 peso’s per place (we visited about 10 places) so it easily adds up.
However when you look at the private tour costs from town, its the same price, so you aren’t paying more.
Staff:
Majority of the staff are from the local tribe, they are absolutely wonderful and will tell you all about their beautiful land if you ask. All the money you pay goes back to helping their community, and giving them work. They are really hard working and there is so many staff to maintain all the houseboats, so you can appreciate how difficult it is to keep it running.
Safety:
We left our room open and valuables in the room the whole time, even when we were out for the full day tour. It is very safe there and the staff are very respectful. There is also security patrols 24 hours.
I cannot wait to visit again in a few years when we come back, i would highly recommend this place, its worth every penny.
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Room Tip: Bring some snacks incase you want something else that isn’t on the menu
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
We really enjoyed our stay at Paolyn. It is expensive compared to most other places in the Philippines but it does offer a unique experience. The staff are very friendly (as they seem to be all over the Philippines) and place is very clean. The boat trips a very special and having our private boat meant we could adapt and spend the time we wanted at each spot. I would also recommend getting food ordered to your room. Being collected for dinner or having food and drink sent to you by boat is a surreal and great experience. If you can afford it I think you should do it. The one thing I didn’t like was that it felt we were rushed to pay the bill at the end. It is difficult to remember what was ordered for each meal and the amount of each one, that along with the trips and environmental fees does add up I would recommend Paolyn give you time with the breakdown to review and agree or Paolyn give you the figure after each meal or trip and you make a note. All the back up was there it was there it just felt rushed. Also note there is a surcharge for using card so bring cash. This should not be enough to put you off just some helpful advice, if you can afford it do it.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
There simply aren’t enough stars to give to Paolyn Houseboats and their team. What Paolo, April, Tribe Tagbanua, and their team built is a once-in-a-lifetime ecotourism experience. They have several houseboats in the main lagoon close to their restaurant. They have one houseboat in a smaller, more secluded lagoon. We stayed at both. The location is otherworldly and extraordinary. If your definition of luxury is an unforgettable natural beauty, remoteness, fresh food, outstanding service, and amazing people. This location rivals some of my favorite destinations: Ko Lanta (Thailand), Kalau Beach (Kauai), and Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica).
* Location: There is a bit of clarification for those who are not familiar with Coron Island. Busuanga Island is there you fly to. The airport is located in northern Busuanga Island. Coron town is in the southern part of Busuanga Island. Coron Island is a 15-minute boat ride from Coron town port. Coron Island is wholly owned since 1990 by the indigenous Tribe Tagbanua.
* Local Economy: I deeply respected Paolo and April, who built their team primarily of Tribe Tagbanua. Their boat tours are operated by the Tribe Tagbanua whose knowledge of these islands is incomparable. One of my favorite people was Captain Jeffrey who had a thorough knowledge of the island and where to take us. While the tourists of Coron Island visit Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake…and other sites start at 9:00 AM with many people and other tours. Captain Jeffrey started our tour at 7:00 AM. We were the only people on Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake. If that is not what true luxury is, I don’t know what is. It also is great that the boat tour profits support the local Tribe Tagbanua. The chefs, the maids, waitresses, and guides - the majority of them are Tribe Tagbanua.
* Ecotourism: Paolyn Houseboats practices “Leave No Trace” to preserve the lagoons and Coron Island. It is also 100% off the grid with the electricity generated by solar. If these houseboats were to leave, they would leave the lagoons in their natural state. Therefore, there is a way of life that has to be honored. All waste (black water and gray water) is collected daily. There is very little refrigeration. All the electricity is generated by state-of-the-art solar systems. I do advise those to travel here to understand what that is so you set your expectations.
* Food: They have a terrific menu that is Asian, American, and Italian which is shopped daily in the market and then cooked for you. However, if you are looking for a gourmet meal, perhaps a city experience is the best. I highly recommend the fish and veggie route. The chicken Adobo is a must. Their pasta dishes are decent. A tip: The team shops daily for your food. Therefore, I highly advise you to use Notes on your phone and WhatsApp it to them by 7:00 PM. Also, their lunch and dinner portions are very big. For the two of us, we tend to order 1 order of fresh fish and 1 order of veggies. Both come with rice. I ordered two meals for us and it was always too much. In terms of wine, Paolo is Italian and his selection of wine is very good. I recommend any of the Italian whites. Finally, they will boat your meal to your boathouse, set the dining place, and take everything away. It’s Michelin-level service.
* Lodging: We stayed at the Bamboo Suite and East Lagoon Houseboat. Being houseboats, they are luxurious with multiple lounging areas, full bathrooms, and full beds. The Bamboo Suite is very private and has 2 main beds as well as 2 bunk beds. We stayed here because it was the only one that met our dates. It was awesome. It does have air conditioning at an extra charge at night. Remember that it takes a sophisticated electrical solar system to do this, I can appreciate this because we are attempting to build it for a converter van. Trust me - their system is state of the art. It’s a miracle that you can charge your phone. Ladies - leave your hair dryers and hair tools at home. I have very long, heavy hair. Styling and getting dressed up will be the last thing on your mind here. Soak up the extraordinary experience instead. You can swim right off your dock after dinner. Go snorkeling in the morning and see the coral reefs and fishes. Take out the kayaks to see up close the stunning limestone cliffs and tiny lagoons.
* Incredible Team: I want to give you two examples of how amazing and kind Paolo and April are. We were in Siargao before Coron Island. We had no idea what an S-Pass was. Paolo walked us through it. Then our flight was 2 hours delayed from Siargao to Manila to Busuanga. Then we made it anyway. Throughout the entire ordeal of Philippine Airlines, they walked us through all of it and still had a van waiting for us outside the airport. April was waiting for us when we go there and set us up in our suite. The second example was an unforeseen event. My husband doused the deck with fresh water to cool it down. Unbeknownst to us, bees are very attracted to fresh water. They come from the island by boat because there is no fresh water on Coron Island. I am allergic to bees. Even though I insisted that I will be fine (I had Epi-pens with me), April insisted on upgrading us to the East Houseboat at no charge. My husband was deeply anxious about the situation and was deeply grateful. The East Houseboat is AMAZING. We ended up being the only people here until our departure.
To sum it up, Paolyn Houseboat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those seeking luxury ecotourism at its finest. I highly recommend it.
* Location: There is a bit of clarification for those who are not familiar with Coron Island. Busuanga Island is there you fly to. The airport is located in northern Busuanga Island. Coron town is in the southern part of Busuanga Island. Coron Island is a 15-minute boat ride from Coron town port. Coron Island is wholly owned since 1990 by the indigenous Tribe Tagbanua.
* Local Economy: I deeply respected Paolo and April, who built their team primarily of Tribe Tagbanua. Their boat tours are operated by the Tribe Tagbanua whose knowledge of these islands is incomparable. One of my favorite people was Captain Jeffrey who had a thorough knowledge of the island and where to take us. While the tourists of Coron Island visit Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake…and other sites start at 9:00 AM with many people and other tours. Captain Jeffrey started our tour at 7:00 AM. We were the only people on Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake. If that is not what true luxury is, I don’t know what is. It also is great that the boat tour profits support the local Tribe Tagbanua. The chefs, the maids, waitresses, and guides - the majority of them are Tribe Tagbanua.
* Ecotourism: Paolyn Houseboats practices “Leave No Trace” to preserve the lagoons and Coron Island. It is also 100% off the grid with the electricity generated by solar. If these houseboats were to leave, they would leave the lagoons in their natural state. Therefore, there is a way of life that has to be honored. All waste (black water and gray water) is collected daily. There is very little refrigeration. All the electricity is generated by state-of-the-art solar systems. I do advise those to travel here to understand what that is so you set your expectations.
* Food: They have a terrific menu that is Asian, American, and Italian which is shopped daily in the market and then cooked for you. However, if you are looking for a gourmet meal, perhaps a city experience is the best. I highly recommend the fish and veggie route. The chicken Adobo is a must. Their pasta dishes are decent. A tip: The team shops daily for your food. Therefore, I highly advise you to use Notes on your phone and WhatsApp it to them by 7:00 PM. Also, their lunch and dinner portions are very big. For the two of us, we tend to order 1 order of fresh fish and 1 order of veggies. Both come with rice. I ordered two meals for us and it was always too much. In terms of wine, Paolo is Italian and his selection of wine is very good. I recommend any of the Italian whites. Finally, they will boat your meal to your boathouse, set the dining place, and take everything away. It’s Michelin-level service.
* Lodging: We stayed at the Bamboo Suite and East Lagoon Houseboat. Being houseboats, they are luxurious with multiple lounging areas, full bathrooms, and full beds. The Bamboo Suite is very private and has 2 main beds as well as 2 bunk beds. We stayed here because it was the only one that met our dates. It was awesome. It does have air conditioning at an extra charge at night. Remember that it takes a sophisticated electrical solar system to do this, I can appreciate this because we are attempting to build it for a converter van. Trust me - their system is state of the art. It’s a miracle that you can charge your phone. Ladies - leave your hair dryers and hair tools at home. I have very long, heavy hair. Styling and getting dressed up will be the last thing on your mind here. Soak up the extraordinary experience instead. You can swim right off your dock after dinner. Go snorkeling in the morning and see the coral reefs and fishes. Take out the kayaks to see up close the stunning limestone cliffs and tiny lagoons.
* Incredible Team: I want to give you two examples of how amazing and kind Paolo and April are. We were in Siargao before Coron Island. We had no idea what an S-Pass was. Paolo walked us through it. Then our flight was 2 hours delayed from Siargao to Manila to Busuanga. Then we made it anyway. Throughout the entire ordeal of Philippine Airlines, they walked us through all of it and still had a van waiting for us outside the airport. April was waiting for us when we go there and set us up in our suite. The second example was an unforeseen event. My husband doused the deck with fresh water to cool it down. Unbeknownst to us, bees are very attracted to fresh water. They come from the island by boat because there is no fresh water on Coron Island. I am allergic to bees. Even though I insisted that I will be fine (I had Epi-pens with me), April insisted on upgrading us to the East Houseboat at no charge. My husband was deeply anxious about the situation and was deeply grateful. The East Houseboat is AMAZING. We ended up being the only people here until our departure.
To sum it up, Paolyn Houseboat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those seeking luxury ecotourism at its finest. I highly recommend it.
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Room Tip: Houseboat in your own private lagoon on Coron Island. Must do the East Houseboat.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
I had based my whole Philippines trip around staying here. I loved that we were able to be picked up and taken to the houseboat around 9.30am so we got extra use of the kayaks and a coconut upon arrival. The place is absolutely magical and the first day we had the best time, jumping into the water from our room, kayaking to twin lagoon and around another bay where we saw monkeys. Lunch was the best we ever had in Philippines (I had the fish in coconut cream). Super simple to message restaurant from your room for drinks and food.
Now where our experience turned into a disaster.....my husband preordered the pork ribs. After eating them and returning to the room he was violently ill through the night. I ended up having to do a private tour by myself the next morning as he was bed ridden. Spent the day in bed until check out where he was shivering with fever and still being very sick. We were taken back to Coron where he spent the rest of the day in bed. So needless to say, the place is mind-blowing, staff attentive, but the food ruined the whole experience for my husband and myself. Would still recommend, just watch out for the food
Now where our experience turned into a disaster.....my husband preordered the pork ribs. After eating them and returning to the room he was violently ill through the night. I ended up having to do a private tour by myself the next morning as he was bed ridden. Spent the day in bed until check out where he was shivering with fever and still being very sick. We were taken back to Coron where he spent the rest of the day in bed. So needless to say, the place is mind-blowing, staff attentive, but the food ruined the whole experience for my husband and myself. Would still recommend, just watch out for the food
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from April Lyn Cervantes, Owner at Paolyn Houseboats Coron Island
Responded Apr 19, 2024
Thank you for appreciating our place and free early pickup (we always try our best to make sure our guests enjoy our place to the fullest). We are also happy that you enjoyed the quality of the lunch so much. We are really sorry that your husband fell ill with a fever and was unable to enjoy our place. We read in the review that he started feeling ill immediately after dinner where he ate pork ribs (which we first boil and then grill). We checked and two other guests had pork ribs (from the same stock and the same supplier from the municipal market where all the restaurants and hotels in Coron buy their pork) for dinner on the same day and fortunately they did not have any symptoms . We really hope his illness wasn't caused by pork ribs. We are very attentive to the quality of the food and everything we buy at the market is transported in cold storage with ice to avoid any kind of problem. Most of our guests highlight the quality of our food. Many guests also enjoy our raw fish and have never had any problems. Some diseases can appear several hours or even days after the cause (such as the amoeba bacterium which requires incubation for a few days before giving symptoms). On the way to the city we also proposed taking your husband to the clinic where they could check the reason for his illness including the presence of the amoeba and give him a simple antibiotic to cure it and stop the symptoms if necessary, but you politely refused, replying that he just needed to rest in bed as you also responded when earlier we offered you some medicine when you warned us that you were going to the tour alone since your husband did not feel well. Once again, we are especially sorry that, despite all our efforts in logistics, service and obsessive attention to the quality of the food, you were unable to fully enjoy this crazy project in such a location
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is an amazing project, setup by an amazing man with an even more amazing story. A wonderful team and situated in what I can only describe as one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot of places)
We stayed 3 nights only in the half house (forgot the name) , so it was quite pricey ($800 NZD per night). Our entire bedroom wall opens up to the stunning private coral lagoon.
It's such an incredible experience to be able to jump out of your room and straight into snorkeling with so many fish and sea life!
The food was spectacular, including the lobster, local tribe salad and basically everything we had. Prices were extremely reasonable considering how remote and difficult of an operation it is.
The staff are very genuine, kind and down to earth. Some are not as trained as others, but that's to be expected and makes sense when thinking about how this was all set up.
I can go on forever but I highly recommend Paolyn Boathouse and I will be back . A+++
We stayed 3 nights only in the half house (forgot the name) , so it was quite pricey ($800 NZD per night). Our entire bedroom wall opens up to the stunning private coral lagoon.
It's such an incredible experience to be able to jump out of your room and straight into snorkeling with so many fish and sea life!
The food was spectacular, including the lobster, local tribe salad and basically everything we had. Prices were extremely reasonable considering how remote and difficult of an operation it is.
The staff are very genuine, kind and down to earth. Some are not as trained as others, but that's to be expected and makes sense when thinking about how this was all set up.
I can go on forever but I highly recommend Paolyn Boathouse and I will be back . A+++
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I’ve been there twice and both times have opted for the glass house boat. I’ve used both the new and original glass houseboats and both are fantastic. They have a glass enclosure/folding glass doors which you can opt to keep open to let the sea air in or you can close the doors. You can request for the staff to place a mosquito net over your bed if your wife is a mosquito magnet. Last November we kept the doors open and enjoyed the sea air with no worries about any insects, the second visit In July we had to close the doors partially because a few insects were coming in due to the wetter season. No issues with mosquitos whatsoever both times. Bedding is standard as to what you’ll find in hotels in the area. Very comfortable, crisp and clean. Food is a mix of scrumptious home style Italian and local Filipino cuisine.
Contact them, yes they do have a multitude of rooms that will suite your needs. If you really want to experience nature and a totally unique place to just a few people with a sense that you are the only people there. Paolyn Floating Houseboats is for you.