Coral Gardens Resort & Dive Center is named after Coral Garden, one of the best dive and snorkeling spots in Puerto Galera. Located directly on the beach of UNESCO-protected San Antonio Island and a just short ten-minute boat ride from Sabang, this small VIP resort provides the comfort and elegance of a 5-star resort and the privacy and personalized service of a boutique hotel. The island of San Antonio has one of the best snorkeling spots in the Philippines. The snorkeling area is a short distance from Coral Gardens Resort & Dive Center. The picturesque sunrise view from our rooms will take your breath away and is the perfect way to kick-start your day. The crystal-clear water, the gentle waves, and the altogether tranquil ambiance all set the stage for the perfect, relaxing hideaway. Near the island is where you’ll find the popular Underwater Cave and Giant Clam Shells too.
We spent our first anniversary here and everything was amazing. The highlights of our stay at Coral Garden Beach Resort (Montani Beach Resort) are the food they serve and the island hopping tour. The cooks are very good and we had enjoyed their Filipino dishes such as sinigang, tinola, and adobong baboy. The dishes are a bit pricey but they are good and being served for sharing. So a single order can be shared by two persons.
The island hop tour package costs 1200 Pesos (for two pax already). The guides are great and friendly, so we suggest to give them tips after a tiring tour under the sun and across strong waves. Prepare yourselves for snorkeling (included in the island hop tour package) 'cause this will be your greatest aquarium experience!
The only problem we encountered here was the television with no cable channels. In short, we were not able to enjoy watching TV shows. But this is just a minor issue, maybe they have already worked on their cable connections.
Overall, we had a perfect stay at this hotel.
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Date of stay: August 2017
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Choose the "sea view" rooms
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coral garden in Puerto Gallera turned out to be a fantastic snorkelling experience... Here's why...
1) Shallow waters - this is a pretty large expanse of water, but shallow. Hence al lthrough, the coral and fish were within a meter of me, making it great for close up watching.
2) Abundant and colourful fish - we saw fish of all hues, colours, shapes and sizes. Lots of angel fish, colourful parrot fish nibbling on the coral, cardinals floating around royally with their " topgear" - and loads more. There were always a pair of anemone fish (sometimes mama, papa and kid!) that would turn up.
3) Live coral Despite being so close to Puerto Gallera, the coral here wer alive, lots of thorn coral - blue nad reddish in colour
4) Few tourists Again, despite being so close to PG, there were very few tourists int eh water, hence I could swim and snorkel as and where I pleased!
How to reach / cost? We took a bangka from Sabang beach - you can chalk out your own itinerary. Some bangka captains have a colourful card so that you can choose what you like more. I just told mine to take me to the best snorkeling spots. It cost me 1800 pesos, for the whole day, including snorkel masks, fins and lifevest, sans food (returned at 3 pm) - but I am sure you can bargain it lower.
Cautions - * The water tends to be cold, hence I kept feeling like peeing and had to interrupt my snorkeling every 60 minutes to return and pee. My suggestion? Wear a wet suit or full sleeves clothes so that you can enjoy the snorkelling for longer without discomfort
* There is a CR (washroom) on the beach closeby (keep change handy - it costs 10 pesos to use)
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coral Garden has the best and hospitable staff. Kudos to Ate Cecile and Ate Anne for being very accommodating with their guest and to their cooks that provided us sumptuous food to eat! I will be back for sure!!!
If you will be coming from Manila, ride a bus going to Batangas Pier (P175) then from there ride a ferry boat (there are a lot) (P230) from Pier to Muielle. From there you will need to ride a smaller boat (P100) to Coral Garden Resort.
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I wanted to like this place. I really did. Spent the last night of my long stay in the Philippines here. Thought it would be the right spot for the occasion.
In brief: haggled for snorkeling gear, heavy boat traffic over reef which will pass CLOSE to swimmers, 700 peso penalty if anyone in your party touches the air-con in the room. Poor ventilation in the back rooms.
In length: The stay started off a little strange when i asked for a mask&snorkel so I could check out the reef they tout. I was told that each time I came out of the water, even to have an (overpriced) refreshment at their restaurant, I'd have to pay 100 pesos. "Can I just get one price so I can return it in the morning? I don't want to keep track of how many times I come in and out of the water" The response: "OK... how much you pay?" So I found myself haggling for rental of an old mask like i was buying a carpet an a Turkish bazaar. We settled on a reasonable price. It just felt strange to haggle when the last hotel, which didn't sell itself on reefs, offered me use of a mask for free.
Next issue: While i was snorkeling with my bargained mask my companion apparently turned on the aircon. When the staff saw me in the lobby area they yelled across the room "Sir you use aircon you must pay 700 pesos extra!" I was a little confused by this. So I walked up for an explanation. The receptionist seemed to get the impression I was getting testy so she dropped a little attitude "You don't understand?! You have to pay 700 pesos for use of aircon. Your room is fan only!". "OK," I said, "I'll go up and turn it off." "You still have to pay 700 pesos because you used it." Thus a couple hours into my stay I'm in an argument with staff. "You're going to pay" "No I'm not" blah blah. No thought of future business with bookings of meals crossed her mind apparently. She was determined to get that 700 peso golden egg out of the goose. I walked away from the argument to turn off the aircon and retuned to find another guest interceding for my case. The receptionist, who was complaining to him about my attitude before realizing I was behind her, then turned around and said something about how she'd wave the charge if I asked her nicely. I bit my tongue and smiled. The issue dropped. But I felt masked resentment over that incident the rest of my stay.
You probably won't read the small print if you book on a 3rd party site, and they won't tell you at reception, so let me explain: The difference between a standard room and a deluxe room is the use of aircon. If someone in your party (kid, girlfriend, etc) turns on that aircon while you are away you may get squeezed, as I was, for a 700 peso penalty since you have now upgraded to a deluxe room. So let's say you are OK with a fan. It is by the ocean. and it does get cool at night. During the day, however, the room will get hot. The fan is weak sauce in the power department. Won't keep you cool. Won't blow critters off. This last point is important because their are no screens on the windows. And the back window (if you have a unit in the back) could be easily crawled into from the sloping hillside behind. Thankfully there were few mosquitoes during my visit, but if you come in mozzie season you will have to either upgrade to the deluxe by turning on your AC, bring a mosquito net, or hotbox yourself with closed windows. The rooms in front may be more ventilated. I didn't have a chance to see them.
Now I came here for the reef, which is spectacular. Great coral and lots of fish. The only issue is this is a main passage from transit and tourist boats and they all cut the corner tight and ride right over the reef. I had 3 boats pass within 10 feet of me. one boat's outrigger shot by my head by less than a meter. You can try to listen for them but the sea is cluttered with their rumble and they can sneak up on you. You'd be advised to stick your head up every minute to survey the scene and make sure you are detected. I'd advice wearing a bright orange surfers rash guard or something of the sort. The second time I went out a boat trailed beside me for a good 5 minutes trying to convince me to get on board so he could take me to the best spots. So if you snorkel for the zen of connecting with the sea and forgetting the world above, this is not your spot. These noisy boats, BTW, will be heard from your hotel room all day long.
My advice to the owner:
1. Be more clear about the fan/AC policy. I know it's written down somewhere, but it's not obvious, and I'm sure I'm not the only guy who missed it. You might be scoring some nice 700 peso upsells from people, but you never know how much future business you might lose over resentment of the method. Gaining money on small print is for cell phone carriers, not tiny resorts. Why not just have the staff explain the deal upon check in? 2. Tell your staff to watch loud soap operas in a back room. The crying, yelling, and screaming to sweeping dramatic music doesn't add to the ambiance of a beach resort. Chill music in the front, soap operas in the back. 3. Set a standard fee for snorkeling gear or, better yet, offer free rentals. Little things like that endear your guests to the resort. 4. Train your staff to resolve conflict instead of exacerbating it. Never yell at a guest. Try to view a situation from a customer point of view. 5. Get more power in your ceiling fans or set up extra fans in the back rooms. 6. Talk to people on the island about setting up buoys in the on the outside edge of the reef that direct boat traffic away from swimmers and snorkelers. If you haven't had an incident yet you will one day. I did find a snorkel laying deep on the reef.. maybe that dude got smoked by an outrigger?
You're place has great potential. I really wanted to like it.
Coral Garden looks great on paper, but right now the devil is in the details.
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Date of stay: March 2015
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Back rooms will be hot in the day without AC (which is 700 pesos extra) Back window which you...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I don't usually write reviews on my trips, but this one is different. My boyfriend and I stayed for 3D2N at Coral Garden Beach Resort located in San Antonio island, and I think this is one of the BEST resort in puerto galera. The room is super nice, clean, well maintained, same as the pic shown and it has a great view of the sea, but during our first day we encountered some minor problems, like our 1st room, which is room #1: the air-con is dripping water so they transferred us to room #2: now the problem is cable is not working so they transferred us again to our finally last room, room #4 I told my bf to check on the room because i don't want to transfer again to room #5. lol. nevertheless, I enjoyed our entire stay. Too bad they don't have swimming pool but if you want to, you can swim in Montani Beach Resort in Sabang (sister company) for free, all you need to do is inform them that you were staying at coral garden. .
For the food, it's a bit pricey but worth it because of big serving and not to mentioned their cook is awesome, food is delicious and perfectly cooked. most of their dishes is good for 2. So if you have big appetite I recommend coral garden, really really good food.
staff, are very friendly and accommodating. they even have free glass bottom boat shuttle to sabang and muelle pier. how cool is that? And did I mentioned, coral garden's electric power is generated with solar panels, which is ahhmaazing! very eco friendly.
If you want to stay somewhere quiet and away from hustle and bustle in manila I recommend coral garden beach resort. Perfect for couples.
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Date of stay: March 2014
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coral Garden Resort on San Antonio island, sister resort of Montani Beach Resort in Sabang. Only four rooms but exclusive and superbly located for a relaxing break. Same great food and facilities, noticed all electric power is generated by solar panels complimented by solar heating for the hot water. Fantastic snorkelling just metres away behind the school. Attentive staff and locals very friendly without being intrusive, frequent boat shuttle to Puerto Galera and Sabang but sometimes the feeling of isolation is a welcome to give a well deserved break from the pressures at at home in Europe.
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Date of stay: June 2013
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed for 4 nights and really enjoyed my stay here,and would recommend to all. I have read the poor review by the American. Some things are not ringing quite true here!!! Yes it is 100 peso (apx £1.70)to hire the snorkeling gear but its for the whole day not when you get out of the water. And they were decent enough. But if you are really into snorkeling why would you need to hire, you will have your own????Three of us hired a boat & man for 5 hours and he took all over the place giant clam,long beach ,coral reef and some of his secret hideaways ......1000 peso about £15 for 5 hours thats a bargain!!!!We got to see giant turtles which was brilliant swimming just below you watching there massive eyes just made my day. The food is good and at a good price but may a little slow if its busy. The only negative for me,is its maybe a little quiet after 10pm the place just seem empty but thats just me i like a bit of nightlife. But all in all was a great 4 days.
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Date of stay: July 2017
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Best rooms are 2,3 and 4
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I transferred from their sister resort in Sabang for a bit more peace and quiet than the town could offer and, mostly I got it. The rooms are almost identical to the Montani with one difference, the huge oversize chairs are not replicated :-) The bathrooms are a bit nicer too. My room faced the water and I have to say the view made me forget pretty much everything. The staff are just as nice and it has an even more pronounced family affair feel to it. Anne, Cecile, Jane and Kristian (and the rest of the staff there) are very friendly and helpful. The food is sometimes a bit more limited because of supplies but everything I had was fine and dandy; they accommodated my low salt regime too. You can hire a boat and pilot to take you snorkelling or just view the islands, Kristian knows the area very well and I believe is the councillor for the island of San Antonio. Again, the wifi is poor, just bear that in mind. The locals use the place as a bar at night sometimes hence my (mostly) in the title; Karaoke is the favoured form of entertainment. My advice is join in; I am a self-proclaimed music snob and hate Karaoke but I found myself having a great time with Ariel, Richard and Jan Paolo (great voices in there). Singing is a bit like breathing in the Philippines, they are all at it, all the time and usually the good singers outweigh the tone deaf by some margin. All in all I would easily recommend this place for a few nights or longer if you take advantage of getting out and about on the boats. I will most certainly try to get back here and explore more islands using this as a base.
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Date of stay: April 2016
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â rooms 1/2/3/4 all face the sea
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed for 7 nights of absolute bliss. Friendly, personal service. Great food. Great room overlooking the beach and bay. Felt right at home. Nice and quiet at night with night live miles away. Thanks to all staff for making this an awesome stay.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel is the only one on the island accessible via Muelle Port, far from other hotels like in Sabang and White Beach. Food is good and staff are friendly. You can rent a boat that would bring you snorkeling near by (10 minute boat ride) or scuba diving within 1 hour.
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Date of stay: December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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