My family and I are lovers of summer so even though it’s already June (the start of rainy season) we decided to do one last summer vacation and headed to El Nido, Palawan last week.
If you follow me on Instagram you know by now that we had a hiccup during the early part of this trip. I won’t go into details here but I’ll share more about it on my YouTube video that I’m currently editing. Hahahuhu. Hopefully I get to post the link here within the week. Anyhow, it was our first time in El Nido so we were all excited! We stayed at Frangipani Boutique Hotel conveniently located in Corong, Corong. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Lio airport.
It was the owners’ dream to put up Frangipani.
We ourselves are discovering how we want Frangipani to be, as we go along and let it bloom. It is still very much in its infancy. It is our new baby, after our 3rd boy, Finn. One day at a time, we are loving how it is unfolding and we are just so excited to share it with the world!- Pam, Frangipani El Nido
One of the owners has a local boat building company named Trevally Boats and also has an island tour service called Skipper Charters. I think it was only natural for him to open a boutique hotel given he likes to build things and has a hotelier and F&B background. As for the name they were thinking of something unique that would spark curiosity so they called their new baby Frangipani (aka kalachuchi) which also happens to be a flower their sons would pick–every chance they get whenever they’re outdoors– and give to their mama.
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Check-in is at 2 P.M. and check-out is at 12 noon. If you want early check-in or late check-out it would depend on the room availability. Airport transfers are free of charge for all staying guest.
Frangipani has six suites, three on the same floor as the receiving area & Rubra Lounge and three on the pool area & Cala Restaurant which is one floor down. They also have one family suite (good for at least 4 adults) located on the topmost floor of the hotel. Each suite is equipped with a TV with cable, safe box, mini bar/refrigerator, bluetooth speakers, blow dryer, and water heater in the shower. Smoking is prohibited in the rooms and hotel premises and is limited to room patios/balconies.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS
Can I just say I looooove Frangipani’s bed, bed sheets, towels & robe?! Like of a 5-star hotel, they’re plush, soft, and super comfy! So much so that even my kids had a hard time waking up early (they’re early risers whenever we’re at the beach!) because as what they said “the sheets are so soft and comfy, mom!”
Another thing to love about Frangipani is their environmental efforts.
-linens can be changed upon request. As well as towels placed in the hamper or on the floor.
– toiletries are in refillable bottles.
-you may request for toothbrush, toothpaste, cotton buds, swabs, sanitary bag and shower cap.
-potable water is served in a carafe along with two drinking glasses.
-the hotel is equipped with a wastewater treatment facility for proper sanitation.
-they refrain from using plastics–they use bamboo straws among other things!
LOVELY INTERIORS
Frangipani is sort of my dream home peg. Minimalist. Wide-spaced. Playful use of wood and concrete. They use E. Murio furnitures and kept it simple with bare walls with touch of greens to spruce up the place. It feels like home with a service of a hotel. Shoutout to the very efficient and friendly staff because of the effort they’ve put while we were out the whole day–they saw that one of our kids decided to sleep on the couch on our first night–we came back with the couch transformed into makeshift bed which made both kids wanting to sleep there. 🙂
The Cala Restaurant that overlooks the beach has communal and open seating. It’s leaves room for guests to interact with each other or to just watch the sunset and take in all of nature’s beauty. We had dinner there during our first night and loved the beef kebab and pita bread!
Relaxing after dinner at Rubra Lounge.
Frangipani Lounge area is goals! <3
Decked in E. Murio furnitures.
The Rubra Lounge is where you can enjoy a peaceful morning sipping coffee or cap off an eventful day with cocktails. Either way it’s one of Frangipani’s Instagram-worthy spots.
Meanwhile, this is my favorite morning coffee spot.
It has an overlooking view of the pool & the beach.
Breakfast at Cala Restaurant (or you can request for room service) is available from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM daily. Each room comes with breakfast for 2 (suites) or 4 (1-bedroom/family suite). Extra breakfast is Php 550/person.
As a first timer in El Nido we didn’t really know what to expect of the place. Aside from the famous limestone formations that surrounded the island, crystal clear waters and friendly locals, we were pretty much open to discover its beauty. Begs suggested we see some of the famous beaches of El Nido so off we went to Nacpan Beach and Lio Beach.
Voted as one of the best beaches in the world, Nacpan Beach is a long stretch of white sand beach with multiple establishments offering dining options and places to stay. You may opt to rent a private SUV for Php 4,000/both ways. 
The 4km long beach is beautiful which left me and lil’ Ms. JG with heart eyes, literally. Heehee.
Love how it is preserved despite the influx of tourists. The sand is fine and the water is clear. There are a handful of establishments where you can dine and stay but they’re not close to the shore–one of the things I like because it lets you enjoy the beach even more.
We stayed at Sunmai’s beach front and rented two sun beds with an umbrella for Php 500. Our kids played with the sand, Mr. JG swam along with the big waves while I enjoyed a book while sipping fresh buko juice. It was an ideal way to enjoy some beach time.
How can you not love Nacpan? 🙂 Cellphone signal is wonky at Nacpan beach but I wasn’t complaining because it’s the perfect excuse to just enjoy some offline time. If you really want that island vibe life Nacpan is the beach to visit.
We had lunch at Sunmai. We ordered Chicken Carbonara Pasta, Pork Ribs, Sisig, and Spicy Squid for lunch. No photos but I think I was able to get some video clips? Shucks so hard trying to blog and vlog while on a vacation! :p
Next beach we went to was Lio Beach.
Lio Tourism Estate is an integrated community by Ayala Land that offers a unique vacation experience. Whether you’re out to explore nature, embark on new adventures or just looking for a relaxing getaway, Lio offers endless possibilities with every visit – from exciting activities, culture and nature encounters, unique shopping and dining experiences, to peaceful retreats and relaxing accommodations.
It’ll take about 25 minutes from Frangipani to get to Lio Estate. You can also rent a private SUV for Php 1,500/both ways. There are also a handful of establishments here–from restaurants to shops and hotels too. We didn’t get to explore the rest of Lio Estate because we wanted to enjoy the beach more.
Lio Beach is also a 4km beach that has fine sand and clear waters just like Nacpan. Aside from swimming and chilling, you can also rent a kayak, a paddle board or a skim board.
Love that despite being a budding commercial community, the beach itself is well-preserved. 
Look at that no-filter beauty.
Capped off a whole day at the beach with dinner at Republica Sunset Bar just a few steps away from Frangipani Boutique Hotel. It’s a restaurant bar that offers Spanish cuisine. Service was great and food came in faster than I expected. We ordered Chicken Lollipops thinking this is what our kids will eat but to our surprise they enjoyed the paella as much as we did.
Get this Banana Orange Gin drink! Yum!
Full bellies after a good meal at Republica Sunset Bar. It’s known not just for their paella but also for having the best view to watch the sunset. 😉
I would’ve ordered another drink at Rubra Lounge but decided to just hang (medyo literally) around before calling it a night.
Aside from visiting different beaches you can also do kayak or SUP paddling adventure. Kayaks are available for free at the beach front for all staying guests while a paddle board can be rented through El Nido Paddle Board Co. for Php 500/half day or Php 700/whole day. From the hotel (where I’m standing) you can leisurely paddle out or kayak to Papaya Beach or & Commandoes beach. I would’ve wanted to do that had we have an extra set of hands to watch over our kids. Perhaps it’s a good excuse for us to go back? 😉
So glad that my kids love the beach as much as I do. We love bringing them on trips and seeing new places. Somehow they want more trips than things now (yeeeees!) which is why it’s such a delight to see them appreciate the beauty of the places they visit.
Aside from chillin at different beaches (there’s Nacpan, Lio, Maremegmeg, Duli and Sibaltan beach) around El Nido you can also explore the cultural/historical side of the island through the Ille Cave and Pangko Museum. But one of the things El Nido is know for is its different kinds of islands. This is where Skipper Charters comes in. I think a trip to El Nido isn’t complete without some island hopping adventure so this is exactly what we did. I’ll write another post about Skipper Charters experience. 😉
Ending this post by thanking our gracious host, Frangipani El Nido. Begs, Pam, Monti, and Monica thank you for showing us the beauty of El Nido and for making our first visit truly a memorable one. Congratulations on your new baby! It was a pleasure being one of your first guests. We hope to be back!
Frangipani El Nido is at National Highway, Brgy Corong Corong, El Nido Palawan. For more information you can visit their website or get in touch with them through 0917-8336063.
[…] of the things that made our El Nido vacation fun and memorable is being able to explore some of the best islands of Northern Palawan. […]