Rosanna’s Cottages was ranked as the top budget pick in El Nido by Lonely Planet, and had praises all over the internet. That made it one of our top picks, so we went around and checked other places first, and ended up deciding that Rosanna’s was going to be our home for the next days to. We got their deluxe room on the 2nd floor, with a private balcony overlooking the beach and Cadlao Island.
Location – it’s a little off center, nearer to the edge of the road leading to the highway than it is to the center of town. El Nido’s a small town though, everything’s within a 5minute walk. It’s in a less crowded hence more quiet part of the beach. From the street, it’s right across Balay Tubay – one of my personal favorite hangout places in town. The location is excellent, if you ask me.
Facilities – the reception area (a counter by the main gate) has some maps and books. The staff can happily arrange tours for you too. Best thing about the location is that they have a beachfront, with a gate opening right on to the beach. The room itself has a large dresser, electric fan and a table with a couple of chairs. Another set of chairs are available out on the balcony too.
Bed – We had 2 beds – a queen size and a single. The beds were really so-so, it was a little lumpy, but the sheets were clean and the pillows were ok enough. Again, this isn’t a deluxe hotel - don’t expect goose down pillows and heavenly mattresses. No need for a mosquito net here for the bed, the entire room has screens guarding the doors and windows, keeping the notorious mosquitoes of Palawan away.
Toilet & Bath – it’s a sparse comfort room, with your basic shower, toilet and a sink. Again nothing fancy here (no bathtub, if you’re wondering). The water pressure in EL Nido is adequate, I wouldn’t say strong. There was one brief moment when water disappeared while I was in the shower, but it went back on a full force after a couple minutes.
Budget – we paid P900/night for the deluxe room – now that’s a little steep for El Nido, where you can find places for less than P200 a night. But for the comfort, peaceful atmosphere, to die for view and that island getaway vibe – I think this is a price you can’t beat.
Overall, I highly recommend the place. The location is perfect if you want to rest and get away from the busy crowds. For breakfast we order from Balay Tubay and have it served by the balcony. The best part really is that balcony opening out to a majestic view of the beach, the sea and Cadlao Island – it’s just your picture perfect El Nido escape.
Contact Information:
0920-6054631 / 0929-7063647
*please note that the numbers listed for Rosanna's in Lonely Planet and the Jens Peters guide are incorrect
