Pems Pension and Restaurant

The hotel feels dated, but the rates are very affordable. I started out in a solo room, where the air conditioning wasn't working properly. When I asked to move, the staff responded quickly and were very accommodating. They promptly switched me to a larger room with working air-con. They also kindly offered cold water to refill my tumbler, which I appreciated. For the price, it was a practical choice and a satisfactory stay despite the older facilities.

The food was great. I had two meals here, both very good, and the staff were polite and friendly. I stayed just one night on my way to El Nido, mainly for the convenient location for a quick visit to the fort. The room was basic, with a bit of a musty smell, and the shower was pretty useless. The bed was comfortable enough.

The owners were very nice, and the food and service were on par with most resorts of this kind. I liked being able to order food to the dining area on my front porch. The grounds are pleasant, and the cute cottages are sheltered from road noise, which alone makes this a five-star stop in Taytay. It works well if you're traveling from ElNido toward Port Barton or Puerto Princessa. Nearby, there are awesome waterfalls and a peaceful lake. Taytay also has a big market with all kinds of things you don't find in most small towns. I found a motorcycle helmet and the hardware I needed. Pem's is very good value. I can't see how anyone could complain about a private cottage costing about as much as two Starbucks coffees in the US.

We got hot water for our noodles, and they saved our helmets from the rain. The service was okay, but the accommodation itself was a letdown, so we can't recommend it. We stayed two nights because El Nido was overcrowded and fully booked, and we wanted to save time on the way back to Puerto Princesca. The room felt old and musty, the mattress was super thin, and the bed was really uncomfortable. The bathroom needs renovation. It seemed as if nobody had stayed there for a long time. Wi-Fi was advertised but unavailable. There was almost no water apart from the shower, and the boiler didn't work.