Best Cheap Hotels in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

El Nido Four Seasons Resort is a budget 20-room property offering decent value in a quiet beachfront area a five-minute drive south of El Nido. Basic, dated rooms and average food make this property a better pick for those looking to spend the day island-hopping or exploring Palawan than for guests planning to stay on-site, but the atmosphere here is friendly and relaxing, and there is a small pool with beautiful ocean and sunset views.

The 10-room A Place To Remember is a value hotel in the laid-back town of El Nido, set a couple minutes' walk from the wharf. It offers the basics: A place to sleep and eat, and a base for exploring the fantastical scenery visible from the hotel’s restaurant terrace. Although the beach area is not suitable for swimming due to boats and debris, better stretches of sand can be found within a 10-minute drive. Rooms are small, many lack windows, and there's lots of wear and tear; however, they come with modern-looking bathrooms and flat-screen TVs. Guests have reported weak Wi-Fi and unpleasant smells.

The nine-room Tapik Beach Park Guest House is light on conventional amenities -- including hot water and 24-hour electricity -- but it's a charming and secluded property with budget rates. Located along a sandy beach far from the tourist traps of El Nido, this two-pearl hotel is way off the beaten track. Guests can stay in spartan, but romantic, huts and cottages. All rooms face the sea, but not all have private bathrooms. A bar and restaurant serve Filipino fare, and water sports are available for rent. The staff can arrange excursions around the archipelago, as well as massage treatments.