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Blessed with beautiful natural sceneries, Matinloc Resort is located in Matinloc Island, Palawan, Philippines. Matinloc Resort is attracting attention for the best spot for family vacations as well as business meetings. This family-friendly resort takes enjoyment to the fullest with premium guestrooms with ocean view, along with private beach, extensive pools, luxurious massage facility, beach-side restaurant, bar, conference room, gym, and library equipped with not only books and computers but also recreation facilities Various marine sports to enjoy on the private beach and the resort's exclusive boat to explore the islands of Palio Sea guarantee Matinloc Resort as the best place to enjoy Palawan's attractions.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mountain View
Lagoon View
Location
Matinloc Island Barangay Bebeladan, El Nido, Palawan Island 5313 Philippines
Stayed a week in January. The suite high on the cliff and 'beautiful, spacious and with a terrace with breathtaking views, the flaw is that you have to make a hundred steps to get to the top and would need a renovation even if you can't' define old, yet not even new or recent. Beautiful swimming pool in front of the sea, nice restaurant where breakfast and meals are served. The beach is quite small, being a bay and the sea in front not really ideal for bathing, however there are free kayaks to reach a beautiful beach not far (5/10 minutes by kayak) where they will accompany you or escort you in kayak even if you do not want to go alone. Food like that. Excursions at astronomical prices. Also during our stay among the guests were a group of American men accompanied by local "friends", who drank impressive amounts of alcohol from breakfast to dinner, used the restaurant and pool together with the guests, which also included families. The promiscuous situation was too obvious and invasive for the other guests, all annoyed to share such a small environment on a small island, with a group of flashy-dressed "ladies from the coast" and their boozy old hosts. Exclusive at that point there was nothing left. The cutest thing was the monkeys that live in the forest behind the Resort and show up looking for food, and the big buzzards that you see early in the morning on the beach and in the gardens. If you want to stay here Maximum Recommendation 3/4 nights also because on the island there is 'only this small Resort, and absolutely nothing to do (apart from sunbathing and bathing, and excursions from exorbitant prices as already mentioned).
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Suite nei giardini, non camere. Massimo 3/4 notti.
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.
5 star service, the staff went the extra mile. I would have to give a shout out to Jed who made our stay extra special, but Ian, Jason, Vin, David and the others were also great. The food for me was exceptional, they had a wide variety of cuisines and I was there for 5 nights and didn't have a bad meal while I was there. Breakfast is included but you have to pay for lunch and dinner, it is more expensive than you would pay on mainland El Nido but we felt the food price was very reasonable given the location,service and quality of food. On average meals for 2 people came to around 3,500 to 4,000 peso per day. We had the beachfront rooms and it was the best place we have ever stayed. Rooms were HUGH, you can watch the sunrise in the morning from your bed. We really wanted to relax on holiday as we had done a lot of activity before we got there. The resort offers kayaking and snorkelling which is all complimentary, you can pay for additional excursions. There is a bit of a mark up on the excursions from the hotel Vs if you booked them on the mainland, we ended up booking the sunset cruise where you take a speed boat the the other side of the island and watch the sunset, again this experience exceeded my expectations we were accompanied by David who had exceptional knowledge on the area and the history and watching the sunset it to the vast sea was a very moving experience and I would highly recommend. The reason I had to give a 4 star and not a 5 star is that it looks like some of the facilities were damaged (I believe the resort was hit hard by the typhoon having only just come out of Covid) so it's understandable but once management are able to fix these issues such as, caution tape on one of the pool ladders, uneven floorboards next to the pool, windows a bit grubby. Once these slight issues are fixed this resort will absolutely be 5 stars in my eyes. Tips: *Buy alcohol before you get to the island as they do not sell alcohol but if you bring it yourself they will serve it for you. The staff will actually offer to take you to a shop before they take you to the island *Enjoy the free activities, snorkeling and kayaking *Resort provided unlimited bottled water so no need to take your own *Try the chicken adobo!!
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:This resort is for travellers who are looking for a slow pace and switch off, if you are looking...
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 will start by saying I was cautious on this place given some of the reviews but wow, I am glad we pulled the trigger and selected Matinloc. With a little bit of extra work on our side, we were well prepared for an awesome stay at the resort. Pickup at the airport was super easy and quick. We asked the driver and one of the hotel staff that came with him to stop in town at one of the supermarkets so we could stock up on beer, wine and liquor as we knew they did not serve on the Island. Again, super easy and cheap. The hotel staff helped us get what we needed and packed everything up for the trip to the island. Then we continued on the the boat and across to the Island we went, about a 15-20 minute boat ride. We were greeted by the front desk and a cool tropical beverage which was delightful.
We paid a small upgrade for a beach front room and for sure that was completely the right choice. The rooms on the beach are ENORMOUS and beautiful inside. Probably the biggest resort room we have ever stayed in ever, and we travel a lot. For dinner we met Vin, who unknown to us would be our server and guide for the rest of our stay. While it wasn't said, I think they assign a staff person to each guest so Vin was there for us breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as on any of the excursions. It was cool to have consistency as we learned about Vin as the week went on and formed a bit of a bond. He was awesome and made sure whatever we needed was taken care of.
The location is hard to beat. Private island, beautiful scenery, great beach, fish and coral right off the beach, fantastic support staff.
Well done Matinloc. Your team and location were just what we needed to start our vacation in the Philippines.
Special call outs to Vin who kept us well fed and attended, along with Jeb, Dave and Joel. And to Lawrence at the activities desk who supplied us with awesome snorkeling, kayaking and lazy beach days. Great team.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Get alcohol in town before you arrive if you enjoy cold beer on the beach and wine with dinner.
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.
Matinloc Resort: What They Don’t Tell You 1. No Booze on the Island: Matinloc is a dry resort—no alcohol for sale. Bring your own if you want to drink, but plan ahead! 2. Avoid the Rip-Off Supermarket: Don’t waste your money at the overpriced, limited-choice supermarket the Matinloc team stops at on the way. No decent wine, no bubbly, no cider—just a bad deal. Stock up on your favorites in town before you go. 3. BYO Cocktails: We brought rum, ordered smoothies and virgin cocktails at the resort, and mixed our own drinks. Cheaper, tastier, and way more fun. 4. Skip the Mountain Villa: The villa at the top is a nightmare unless you’re a fitness junkie. 200 steep steps, no working lift, and pure exhaustion. Go for a lower villa—you’ll thank yourself.
Plan smart, drink happy, and enjoy your stay!
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:See review for tips. Plus the tours are on the expensive side beware! What you can do is book a...
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.
From the moment we arrived, we were treated to an exceptional experience. The staff welcomed us with a refreshing drink and a warm smile, setting the tone for our stay. The personalized tour they gave us was a thoughtful touch, allowing us to familiarize ourselves with the resort’s amenities.
Their friendliness and attentiveness made us feel right at home. The beach resort itself was stunning, with pristine sands and crystal-clear waters that provided a perfect backdrop for relaxation.
They have a karaoke room which we took full advantage off and a free breakfast buffet which was excellent. They offered tours which were a bit more expensive than you would find on the mainland but it is to be expected as the cost of being on a secluded island has its ups and downs.
Definitely recommend this for people who want to get away and not be bothered with the busyness of daily life.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Might be a bit difficult to book group tours you are better off doing private ones
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 booked our stay at the Mantiloc resort for our honeymoon. We had high hopes going in but ended up leaving 2 days early disappointed.
The staff, and the hotel itself are both lovely. The food is not great (honestly, it’s just bad) and it’s double or triple what you’d pay in El Nido. My wife and I are vegetarian and there were very few options for us. Every other hotel we’ve stayed at all over Palawan were extremely accommodating, so if you have dietary restrictions… beware.
There are monkeys, lizards and large bees on the island. One morning there was a large group of giant bees hanging from the patio right outside our door.
The shower didn’t have hot water, the room didn’t have WiFi, the TV had only a few channels and given the wifi issues streaming was very limited.
Finally, the island is 25min boat ride from El Nido and trips cost $1000 PHP per person. So if you’re traveling with a partner expect to pay $2000 PHP each trip you make to the island.
At the end our stay we requested a refund given our experience and that we were on our honeymoon. The resort denied our request citing their no refund policy. We would have given three stars if we got a partial refund or even a sincere apology.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
A group of 4 of us stayed 3 nights/4 days at Matinloc Resort and loved every minute. Remotely located 25-30 minutes away by resort owned boat from the busy town of El Nido you are greeted by some of the friendliest people anywhere in a stunning setting. The beach and sand bar (a short 10-15 min kayak trip away) are very beautiful. It was a great place for snorkeling too. The resort was the right size for us—not too big and not small. Only about 33 to 34 units, some units appeared to be under renovation. Many of the rooms require you to take stairs, up to 100 or so. We actually welcomed the exercise. The staff took our luggage to/from the room. Food options were plentiful and tasty. They serve non-alcoholic drinks. We’re not big drinkers, so no big deal. For those who want alcohol, pick some up in town and take with you before heading to the resort. The boat transfers were easy. They arranged a shuttle transfer back from El Nido to Puerto Princesa. An extra 500php than what we paid when we were picked up by another company going to El Nido from Puerto Princesa, but it was worth it as everything was conveniently arranged with no hiccups. There are some island hopping tours offered by the resort. However, we did not do any while staying at the Matinloc as we did 2 private tours before heading to this resort. If you’re looking for a lot of excursions and activities, you may want to look elsewhere. This place is mostly for relaxing and getting away from the busy scene, although there are a few activities available. If you’re looking for a more quiet setting with a few activities/amenities with a couple of stunning beaches, book here.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
The location is fantastic, we stayed in a mountain villa with a beautiful view. The villa blends with the surrounding nature and is very quiet, i had the best sleep. The room is clean and equipped with complementary water and amenities. The staff is amazing, Jhonna and Joy at the front desk are always ready to help. Angelo and Benjamin at the restaurant are quite attentive. The menu offers local and international dishes and the portions are satisfying. The beach is a clean and the water is crystal clear, it is like swimming in an aquarium. You can also get a complementary kayak and paddle to a nearby sand bank and feel like you are alone on the island. I recommend it.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip 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.
Staying at this resort was like living through an extended episode of Fawlty Towers. In a place that purports to be 5 star - (1) We got a room with no hot water, and could not find a staff member who could care less. After standing at the front desk and refusing to leave till we got a new room (over several hours), we were begrudgingly moved. 2) The food was pretty awful - often not cooked through; often the food that was meant to be hot was actually cold; and the food meant to be cold - like milk and butter - was warm. (3) Stained towels (4) Getting in the boat on the way over, the crew told us that they didn’t have enough life jackets so they were just giving them to the passengers who the coast guard could see from his office. (5) There was so much mould around the bathroom window that you couldn’t actually open it. (6) Paint peeling off furniture and walls. The list goes on. If this was a 3 star place, you mightn’t mind so much. But for the price… A beautiful location, but needs a serious re-think.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
You’re paying for access to the private beach. Food is bad AND double the price what you’d pay in town, rooms don’t cool down enough, no hot water in the shower, huge bees and flies everywhere, aggressive monkeys that aren’t afraid to bang on your window and show teeth, no bar like the trip advisor description says, didn’t see a library or rec room, the gym didn’t have aircon, ferry hours are limited, and you must pay $1000 PHP minimum if you want to go back to town during your stay. I’ve stayed at other resorts in El Nido and around Palawan, and I can confidently say you can find better comfort elsewhere. We felt misled and so uncomfortable to the point of leaving, but no refund for the nights we didn’t stay. I understand and agreed to the no refund policy before staying, but I was also being sold on a different experience/accommodation/hospitality/etc.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Bring a book because WiFi doesn’t usually work, and there’s no cellular data
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.
Depending on the boat they send for you - the ride can be around 20 min or as long as 40 min or so. When we went, we had the smaller speed boat. Be prepared to get a little wet on the ride.
Metro Manila, Philippines29 contributions6 helpful votes
I think the WiFi can be counted on to be spotty at best. Weak signals and slow connection throughout the country. Resorts surely will not give out hi speed internet, if they had, for free.
Hi - I honestly can’t remember the pricing for the lunch and dinner menu - it couldn’t have been that bad. One thing to note - the menu does not change. I preferred the lunch menu over the dinner menu. The food was ok - nothing special. In terms of the staff - I thought they were extremely responsive and helpful. They tried their best to address any concerns that we brought forward. I hope I was able to answer your quetations. It is a beautiful spot and can be a great resort if they tweaked a few things.
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