We stayed here four nights in the Hillside Bungalow, which I would recommend if you can get it. Dennis, the owner, has only three units (two more are being built) and the Hillside is the most private and quiet. As its name suggests, it's higher up on the hillside which gives you a great breeze at night and a beautiful view of the sea during the day. If you have problems with stairs, then it would be better to get one of the units closer to the restaurant.
Before you book, however, know what you are getting into. There is no A/C, no hot water, and nights can be noisy with the locusts, geckos, and roosters. We were there in January and did not miss the A/C because of the sea breeze. There are no screens on the windows but there is a great mosquito net over the bed. We also did not notice mosquitoes and used no insect repellent while there. Dennis has a few dogs (very friendly) and there are strays that wander around the beach and nearby roads.
If all that is ok with you, then this may be your place. Dennis, his family, and the staff are locals and the money they earn stays in the community. The food is fantastic--the best we had in the Philippines. Dennis is an amazing owner and has done incredible things with the menu and the dining facilities. I had blackened tuna (350 Php) one night and it was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. They were flexible with their menu, too. I wanted fresh mango cut up on my pancakes and they made it even though it's not a part of their menu. (Their pancakes were fantastic!) There was no fruit plate on the menu but when we asked for it, they made it. The chicken adobo and seafood pasta were delicious, too. If Dennis' mother is in the kitchen, I highly recommend the Spring Rolls! Even though the place has somewhat primitive accommodations, the restaurant is attractive, comfortable, and even romantic (candles, tablecloths, decorations). Dennis also has placed loungers around the restaurant so that you can have a drink and view the ocean comfortably. The overall vibe of the place is warm and welcoming.
Ursula is at the edge of the village of Sibaltan, which has become known for its kiteboarding due to the favorable wind conditions. The beach is long and the water clear but it is difficult to swim because of the shallowness of the water. We rented a kayak from the neighboring place for 150 Php an hour and went to a nearby island to swim. Dennis also organized a day trip to an island about an hour banca boat ride away. All of the guests staying there at the time went and it was a great time, snorkeling and swimming.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Get the Hillside Bungalow for a more private and quiet stay.
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.
We had a wonderful stay at this small, cozy beach resort. Tucked away in a quiet spot, it was the peaceful escape we were looking for. The nearby dive sites added a touch of adventure to our days, offering easy access to the beautiful underwater world.
The food at the resort was impressive, with every meal being both delicious and thoughtfully prepared. It was a genuine highlight of our stay.
What really made our experience stand out was the attentiveness and helpfulness of the staff. They were always on hand to ensure we had everything we needed, making our stay comfortable and enjoyable.
For anyone in need of a break and some quiet time, this resort is an ideal choice. Between its serene location, tasty food, and friendly service, it's a great spot for a relaxed getaway.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
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.
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We had a magical stay, which we recommend without hesitation... a quiet room by the sea For the shower, don't expect hot water! But in context it’s almost charming. And then it's not so cold here The staff takes great care The restaurant is excellent, very reasonably priced, they only work with fresh products (we were lucky enough to have crab) We were so sad to leave!!! We already miss this place
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Pensez à prendre des jeux de cartes, des convertisseurs de prises si vous êtes européens...
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.
My partner and I went there for dinner by recommendation. It is a nice looking restaurant with a good view. . However, 2 chicken dishes we ordered didn't taste good, the menu description says chicken breasts and they were surely not. In fact they were very boney, especially my partner barely find any meet in his dinner. We asked for the menu to check and the waitress told us "oh yes we don't have any chicken breast now, I should have told you" We hate food waste therefore we didn't send them back so we ate what we can. I asked for boiled chicken to feed a street dog, and I told them that the dog would be fed outside of the restaurant. They said okay and they didn't bring it until we asked for the bill when we got to leave (at that time I already fed the dog with our leftover food and extra breed that I ordered for him) the waitress went to the kitchen and brought a big chicken leg that was full of meat and served it. We were like, we ordered that 2 hours ago, the dog is already fed, we don't have a fridge to keep this for next day. And she said if you don't pay for it, our kitchen staff will be charged for this!? So we paid what was on the bill and gave the chicken to other dogs in the area. By the way that chicken they boiled for the dog had more meat than both of our chicken meals. Another question mark. For a beautiful looking restaurant, what a disappointing experience...
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Date of stay: March 2024
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Food was not good, make sure you check what you order matches with the description on the menu.
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.
Ursula Beach Club was the ultimate chill, luxurious and relaxing experience. It is located right by the beach, so you can hear the waves when falling asleep. The place is furnished very stylish and modern, which makes the atmosphere comfortable and pleasant.
The staff is very kind and helpful, also in arranging transportation.
The food is very tasteful, and the menu is varied!
Perfect place to stay when wanting to be “near” El Nido, but not wanting to stay in the busy city.
We really enjoyed staying here, and would recommend it a 100%!
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Please note that it is a 1.5 hour drive (with a shared mini van) to el Nido.
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.
What a awesome quiet place to spend a few days. Somewhat remote, somewhat primitive, but fantastic. No A/C but leave the door open for fresh sea air. Dennis and his family, the staff, are very attentive and will bend over backwards to assist in whatever you need. Look no further, this is the place for quiet relaxing
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip 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.
I am Italian and, trust me, they were absolutely excellent. I was terrified to get overcooked pasta but to my my surprise they were perfectly cooked “al dente”.
The environment is also very nice calm and uncrowded. J will surely come back.
Highly recommend!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip 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.
We visited Sibaltan and Ursula in April 2023. Stayed 5 nights (wished we could have stayed longer) and it truely was fantastic. Dennis and his team made us feel so welcomed and the surroundings are top! Nights were hot at times, especially in the beach bungalow but once you got used to it it was fine. We also stayed at the hilltop cottage and the view was stunning!
All in all a very nice experience, and we felt especially LGTBQ friendly vibes here, and that crowned our stay. Food in here was also very nice! Grilled fish was tasty!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip 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.
Definitely one of my best hotel experiences in the Philippines, we were not supposed to come to El Nido but we are so glad we did it, specially after staying at Ursula Beach Resort. Great place, peaceful, amazing sunrise the food is soooo tasty. If you want an excellent breakfast , here you can find it. But.... The best was to have the opportunity to meet the staff, Denis will be here for all you need, from find you a way of transport to book you a tour. The evening staff at the restaurant are 2 great ladies, unfortunately I can't give the name, because I don't know how to spell it but I hope they know they are the best. Of course the morning ladies too. Everyone is just great, you'll see. We were so well treated, we felt like kings. If you are looking for a great time, this is definitely the place.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip 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.
This is my first review on tripadvisor (although I travel a lot) because I cant help myself and I want you to know about Dennis and his place.
It is not directly in El Nido but the 1,5 hour tour on motorcycle or tricycle is worth of it. If you are looking for peaceful, quiet and romantic place - go for it.
To be honest, I am very demanding guest and I was afraid to book this accommodation because of its low price. I reasonably expected the lower standard as well. But I made the reservation in last minute and other chosen resorts were fully booked. So I took the risk and wrote Dennis on FB because he doesn't have any web site.
We didn't know that it is far away from El Nido, so we arrived late at night. A great dinner was waiting for us directly on the beach with candles all around. The electricity is available only for few hours a day but we didn't miss it at all because star are much better seen with no lights around :)
Tell the young owner of resort anything you need or would like to do and he will arrange everything with every single detail. Go for boat trip with him and he will show you beautiful places which are hidden and not known for other tourists. Eat what he recommends you to have for dinner because it means that it is fresh and there is a high probability, that you will like it although you don't know it.
This place made our stay on Palawan unforgettable and we hope to come back. Thank you Dennis and God bless you...
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Date of stay: June 2015
Rooms
Location
Service
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.
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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