Doublegem Beach Resort and Hotel

We liked being in the quieter part of El Nido, especially the views from the pool. If you want a calmer beach setting than the busy, chaotic port area, book a beachfront room and get used to the AC. Ours faced the street and was noisy from the nearby road, but after island hopping we were tired enough to sleep, with the AC providing some white noise. The sheets and linen were clean and dry, and the room didn’t feel damp. We left the AC and bathroom exhaust on the whole time, which may be why. The rooms need better Wi-Fi coverage and dusting. They were cleaned well, but the furniture and cupboards are very dated, with a thick layer of dust on top. For what we paid, upkeep and maintenance were lacking. The staff were helpful and hardworking, but I hope the owners put the money toward refurbishing and upgrading the rooms for a more comfortable stay.

We spent four days here while exploring El Nido, and it worked perfectly for us. It’s quiet but close to everything, right by the beach, with beautiful views and a rustic feel. There are enough amenities to enjoy without the high-luxury vibe. If you like nature, water, beaches, and sunsets, it’s a romantic spot. I’d suggest choosing a cabin over a hotel room. You get much more privacy, though the rooms are smaller and less luxurious. The staff were very helpful.

The staff were very nice and helpful, and our ground-floor room made it easy to get to the pool. The location also worked well for nearby beachfront restaurants like Bella Vita and Lion, with a 12-minute trike ride to El Nido proper. But if you need a reliable connection, be warned. This was the worst connectivity I’ve experienced anywhere. Wi-Fi failed about 90% of the time, and I had little success getting a signal through three different eSIM providers or roaming with my Canadian carrier. If you want to disconnect from the world, this may suit you. Warm water for morning showers was sporadic, and breakfast was limited and below average.

The villa we paid extra to upgrade to had unreliable hot water throughout our stay, and no one explained this clearly at check-in. Its front door wouldn’t lock fully, which felt unsafe, and the cleanliness wasn’t what I’d expect from an upgraded villa. The billing issue was disappointing too. I had booked and then canceled outside the cancellation window, but still chose to stay when I arrived. We were first assigned a room across the street, then I paid extra cash for Villa 4 on the main beachfront property. I also referred another family who booked and stayed. Even so, the hotel charged $455.38 for the original reservation and wouldn’t work toward a reasonable solution. From my perspective, this wasn’t a no-show or lost booking: I stayed, upgraded, and spent more at the property. When I raised the problems, management wouldn’t take accountability and focused on enforcing charges instead of addressing the guest experience. I gave the hotel several chances to resolve it privately before writing this. My issue isn’t with a policy existing, but with how a hotel treats guests who stay, spend more, and bring it more business. It felt as if collecting fees mattered more than a quality stay or fair resolution. There are many good options in El Nido, and I’d choose somewhere that values transparency, guest experience, and reasonable service recovery.