Francisco Inn

For the price, I don’t think you’ll find anything better in El Nido. The inn was clean and comfortable, with good air conditioning, though there was no hot water. It was only a few minutes’ walk from the beach, night market, and main street. The welcoming couple who ran it did their best to help with our needs. They even let us leave our bike outside and locked it up so it wouldn’t get stolen.

We liked staying at Franciscos. We were there for 5 days, and it was a very economical place for El Nido, with a good price compared with other local options. There are rooms with air conditioning or just a fan. The rooms were clean, and the staff were nice and helpful. The internet was slow, though it seemed to be that way everywhere in El Nido. They had a generator for power cuts, and hot water for coffee was available on the terrace every morning. There’s no hot water in the bathroom, but it’s hot in El Nido anyway, so a cold shower is fine. Don’t expect luxury, it’s not a 5 star hotel.

The water was the biggest problem for me. It smelled really bad, whether from the taps, shower, or sink. I took a long time to bring myself to brush my teeth with it, and even after reaching Coron, I could still smell it. The room window’s lock was broken, and since it faced the next building’s rooftop, I felt it could be unsafe if someone climbed over. The stairs were narrow, so you had to watch every step. The place is small, but does have budget-friendly rooms. Most are fan rooms, so if that’s not for you, try somewhere else. Francisco Inn is near El Nido port, a few minutes from the van terminal, close to the Municipal Hall of El Nido, and near many souvenir shops. For me, it’s a no unless they fix the water.

The only real plus was the low price, and I wouldn’t stay here again. The room was shabby and not very clean. The sink didn’t work, so I had to wash my hands in the shower. I paid extra for air conditioning, but it didn’t work, and neither did the TV.