Let’s start with the check in. We landed in El Nido according schedule. The surprise was when nobody was showing up for securing the transfer. I sent a couple of mails to the resort and called them 4 times. No answer, no phone calls return. After 40 minutes of waiting, a guy, with the worst tricycle you can imagine, was showing up for the first leg of transfer. 2 checked bags, 2 carryons, 2 guys and the driver in a tricycle. I think you get the picture. Anyway, after a 30 minutes long trip with the dying tricycle towards El Nido, we have arrived to the beach for the second leg of the transfer. A very small canoe was ready for getting us to the boat except this time wasn’t one driver, but two paddlers. They pushed the canoe in the water, we barefooted ourselves, and hit the road (sort of a road). Happily, was just a 5 minutes transfer to the big boat, a good and safe one. Another waiting of 40 minutes for a package has happened here. Nothing to be noticed during the boat transfer. Arriving at the resort was from the same movie, dropped off in the water, no one to meet us, but this time the surprise was the stairs to climb to our villa. 220 very abrupt steps, carrying by myself 2 bags, 8 kilos each. Very good for working out exercising , not so good for relaxation. The entire process of transfer between airport and resort took 3 hours.
Briefly what’s next:
- the resort has absolutely no WiFi, there is only a phone with a data plan, used as a hotspot when needed. No continuous access. After complaints, they provided us a portable router with a limited data plan, asking us to turned him off when not needed. It was working with ups and downs. After 7 days (from 10) the internet has disappeared for ever. That was very strange. They told us is because of the network operator, but during the boat transfer when we left the area, after 100 meters, on open water we were able to get a 4G straight signal using my own roaming.
- If you have to work, be aware that the internet is not reliable. Sometimes there isn’t cellphone signal.
- The owners have their own network, but don’t expect to share anything with you
- The toilet was clogged. We realised after no.1 and no.2
- No tap water for the whole night and logically, no shower.
- When tap water is available, no hot water. They told us to wash ourselves using a bucket with warm water provided by the staff.
- The amenities are very poor quality, no shampoo or conditioner.
- No daily housekeeping. First one after 4 days. Only 2 during our 10 days (very)long stay. Linens and towels changed only on request
- No air conditioning (On Booking.com it seems they have).
- No pool (On Booking.com it seems they have)
- No Spa and Wellness centre as Booking.com said
- No credit or debit card accepted
- On Booking.com are tons of lies presented about this accommodation
- We met the owners in the same night. When we presented him our complaints he became very rude. He treated us with his back all the evening and the next day.
- No excuses from nobody
- The food and drinks at the restaurant are very expensive, 2-3 times more then the luxury resorts from Boracay. You have to pay extra for everything 10% service charge and 12% taxes. Food has very good taste.
- You don’t have any choice. Is the single restaurant you can eat and drink.
- My wife is vegan, fact mentioned in previous mails. They charged her food 10% more, because is ‘special food’. 500 pesos+taxes for a fresh salad!!! We were told that the ingredients for her food come from Puerto Princesa and Manila.
- The first night we were forced to hear till 01:00am yelling, laughing and noisy talking from the restaurant. Do it by the owners and some friends. The same in the last night except this time the owners were alone.
- We discovered the very next morning how noisy a resort from the middle of nowhere can be. And I’m not talking about birds. Starting 7:00am all I heard was boat engines.
- Return transfer from El Nido was 9600 pesos (160Eur). And that was an offer! Now if you check Hotels.com you will see that they are asking 200USD one way per room. 400USD return. This price is not from your country of residence! As much as I know from Boracay this kind of trip, private, with locals tricycle and boat, wouldn’t have cost you more than 1500pesos one way.
- The activities are very expensive, 20000 pesos for a day tour (A,B,C or D). The same private tour from El Nido, with the same inclusions, costs:7500 for tour A, 7900 for B, 8300 for C and 7500 for D. So, if you’re doing all of them, from the resort you’ll pay 80000 pesos, vs from El Nido 30200 pesos. For the cheapest transfer, to the closest beach, a 10 minutes one, we were asked to pay 3000 pesos.
- We saw snakes on the beach. When we informed the manager she told us to stay far from them. Previously we were told that there are no snakes in the area.
- The beach is not exactly a beach. No sand, is rocky and grey, and it was still under cleaning process. A lot of weed in the water. It’s impossible to swim.
- No fridge, iron, drier inside the room.
- Absolutely nothing to keep you busy or to entertain you anywhere within the resort. Not for free, anyway. Is very, very boring. Even the snorkelling gear and the canoes or paddle boards are not for free.
- We saw inside the room all kind of insects starting with bugs and finishing with big lizards. Because this resort is in the middle of a tropical forest this is ordinary.
- Before checking in, I sent them an email asking if I need to bring cash. They didn’t bother to answer. When the time of settling the bill has come they asked us to pay by cash, telling us that credit card are not accepted.
- Checking out was about the same, except this time we were asked to pay for the tricycle.
My final conclusion is:
If you are looking for a resort where to pay 5 times more than you get this is exactly the place you wannabe. You will pay a large amount of money for something which is far from what they advertise on specialised websites. Tons of differences between picture and reality.
Good fortune
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