Hadefes Cottages

The breakfast was a tiny serving for ₱200: half a thin slice of luncheon meat, an egg, one scoop of rice, and a single slice of fruit. That sums up the place for me, it felt like they were cutting corners everywhere while taking our money. We paid 2,800 a night, and after staying in dozens of hostels around Asia, this was the ugliest and worst-run one I've come across. The room floor was sticky, there was no water in the bathroom, and the sheets smelled so strongly of detergent they burned my nose. The blanket was so thin it was nearly useless. Getting there was a hassle too. It's 1.5 km from town along a rough, sketchy road beside a cemetery. Tour companies charge extra to pick you up, so after island hopping you're left with a long unpleasant walk or an outrageous fee for a short ride. They advertise room WiFi, but we couldn't get any in the room. We had to stand outside for a weak public connection, and staff didn't seem to care when we raised it. Even after we showed our Agoda booking, they kept saying we should have booked through booking.com instead. Joel, the caretaker, and Panie, the secretary, said things like “eh ilang araw na lang ba sila jan?” “Sige paloadan nyo na lang yung router, if wala pa rin yan. Di ko na alam” and “Dito na lang kayo sa resto, may wifi”. If you want a vacation full of stress and discomfort, book here. Otherwise, stay far away.

You can walk to the centre easily, and it is cheap. I just hoped for a bit more comfort. They said things would be quiet after 10 pm, but that wasn't what happened.

We loved the peaceful spot just a short walk outside El Nido town. We've stayed in town before, but this quieter location suited us better. The cottages had a beautiful view right outside the door, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. My partner and I would happily come back.

The sea view from the cottages made it easy to relax, and the rooms were excellent. Joel and the rest of the staff were friendly and supportive, and we enjoyed the breakfast too. For the price, it was one of the best stays I've had in a while. A wonderful way to start our time in Phillipines.