Pawikan Hostel El Nido

The rooms are on the small side, but the staff more than made up for that with their big hearts and constant smiles. They were always ready to help, and our four nights there became a memorable stay. I’d happily come back again for the way they treated us.

Even on a tight budget, we had a good room and really friendly, helpful staff. There was free coffee, bread, and breakfast each morning. One staff member even cooked for us at 4:00 am and packed free sandwiches before we checked out. I’d recommend this hostel.

The location is handy for the port and ferries, and they can arrange motorbike rentals and tours. Breakfast is included, and the dorm beds are comfortable. The air conditioning is loud, though I liked the white noise, so it may bother other people. There isn’t much of a shared hangout area, and a small garden or outdoor space would improve the atmosphere. The WiFi was pretty poor, which seems common in town, and the water pressure was very low too, possibly a local issue.

The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to be hospitable. You also get fast free WiFi, hot breakfast, and instant coffee at any hour. The rest is fairly mediocre: rooms are small and plain, with plywood between them, no cable TV or intercom, and no toiletries. The tankless shower has hot and cold water, and the bathroom is okay. The towels are worn, and the bedsheets are too. Fine if you’re not fussy.