Cashew Grove Beach Resort

After a kayak ride of about 15 minutes, we reached Lakdayan Beach and had a great time. Since kayaks are free, we decided to stay five nights after all. On our first day, the remote location felt too far from everything and we thought there’d be nothing to do. Renting a motorbike made it possible to head to Coron proper or drive north, especially to OcamOcam, and it turned out to be a beautiful place. We’d first booked 10 nights, then asked the manager to shorten it to three. Ms. Tin kindly agreed and said she’d contact Agoda, since our booking was nonrefundable. We’d overreacted on day one. This is a good choice for people or couples looking to get away from busy Coron, where there are no nearby beaches and it’s mainly a base for island hopping. My one complaint is the restaurant food prices, which seemed high for the location, and I didn’t think the taste justified the cost. Still, I’d definitely recommend the place 🙃

The owners and staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and Maui and the other pets were hard to leave behind. This would be my pick for a laid-back, much cheaper stay than other resorts on this side of the island, if you want to relax and enjoy the surroundings. It’s very remote, so be ready to take it easy. Getting there and back costs quite a bit because private car is the only option. We stayed two nights at the end of our trip, after time in corona town proper. Paying a little extra for a beachfront room is worth it: you can open the doors, stay in bed and look out at the sea and beach. The food was average, with a standard breakfast that worked for us, and prices were a bit higher than usual, though the location is remote. The pool wasn’t usable during our visit, which was a shame since the sea isn’t really suitable for swimming. Free kayaks were handy for heading out to the deck to snorkel if you have your own snorkel gear.

We stayed at Cashew Grove as a couple and went diving with Dugong Dive Center. The staff were lovely, and WiFi worked in the restaurant and our private room. It was easy to communicate with the dive center because someone was around several times a day. A room right by the sea costs more, but I think it’s worth paying extra. You can enjoy the quiet, though it might feel a bit too silent if you don’t go diving. Go and enjoy your stay :)

The food situation was frustrating. There’s nowhere nearby to eat or shop, so you’re stuck with the hotel restaurant, where the menu is limited and overpriced. With no reliable WiFi, booking trips, taxis or motorbikes was difficult, and we felt limited to the hotel’s overcharges. We chose this quiet place knowing it was remote, but booked because it advertised WiFi, electricity and air conditioning. WiFi in the room was unavailable, and access in the dining area or surrounding countryside was very limited. Electricity to our room was switched off daily from 9am-7pm without anyone telling us. We found out when the bedroom lights and air conditioning stopped working, and it happened two days in a row. The electric meter box was open and appeared to have been tampered with. There was no one available in the lobby, so I had to call staff from the kitchen whenever I needed something. They gathered in the kitchen away from guests, and a sign there said 'do not enter!' We weren’t given any point of contact during our stay, which made the divide feel even bigger. The hotel was dirty, poorly maintained and old, with a strange atmosphere around the staff. It felt unloved and stuck in time. Extremely disappointing.