El Nido is loud. If you’ve spent any time on travel forums lately, you’ve probably heard the complaints about the construction noise, the chaotic trikes, and the constant hum of generators in the town center. That’s why Lime Resort El Nido has become such a weirdly polarizing topic for travelers heading to Palawan. It’s not in the middle of the backpacker grit, but it’s not quite a secluded private island either.
Honestly, choosing where to sleep in El Nido is a high-stakes game. Pick wrong, and you're staring at a concrete wall for $200 a night. Pick right, and you get that postcard-perfect Bacuit Bay sunset right from your bed.
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Location: The Corong Corong Trade-off
Most people assume "El Nido" means the town. It doesn't. Lime Resort is actually located in Corong Corong, which is about a 10-minute tricycle ride from the main ferry terminal. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily.
The town center is cramped. Corong Corong is where you go for the views. Because Lime is built into a hillside, the elevation gives you a perspective of the limestone karsts that you simply cannot get from the beach-level hostels. You're trading immediate access to the "party bars" for a bit of breathing room.
The walk down to the actual beach from the resort is short but, let's be real, Corong Corong beach isn't for swimming. It's for boats. If you want white sand and turquoise water you can actually wade in, you’re hopping on a boat anyway or heading to Nacpan. This is a crucial distinction. Don't book here thinking you’ll be doing laps in the ocean right outside your door. You’re here for the infinity pool.
The Design Language: It’s "Grammable," But Is It Functional?
Let’s talk about the vibe. It’s loud. Not loud like noise, but loud like aesthetics. There is a lot of lime green—obviously. It feels very contemporary, bordering on "influencer-bait," which might turn off travelers looking for a traditional Filipino bamboo hut experience.
The rooms are surprisingly slick. Most feature floor-to-ceiling glass. If you snag a sea-view room, the transition from your pillow to the horizon is basically seamless. But here is the thing: the "Mountain View" rooms are a gamble. Sometimes "mountain view" is code for "looking at the back of the building or a steep dirt wall." If you are going to spend the money here, pay the premium for the bay view. It makes or breaks the experience.
- Sky Villa: The top-tier choice.
- Deluxe Seaview: The sweet spot for value.
- Standard: Fine, but you’ll spend all your time at the bar to avoid looking at the lack of a view.
That Infinity Pool (And the Sunset Situation)
If you have seen an ad for Lime Resort El Nido, you have seen the pool. It’s a rooftop setup. It overlooks the bay. When the sun starts to dip around 5:30 PM, the sky turns this ridiculous shade of violet and orange that looks like a Photoshop filter.
It gets crowded.
Because the resort is popular with the domestic tourism crowd and younger international travelers, the pool area becomes a photoshoot zone. If you want a quiet, meditative swim, do it at 8:00 AM. By 4:00 PM, the DJ usually kicks in. It’s a vibe, for sure, but it’s a specific one. Think "Ibiza-lite" rather than "Zen Retreat."
The cocktails are decent. Prices are higher than the local sari-sari stores, but you’re paying for the real estate. Expect to pay around 350 to 450 PHP for a decent drink.
The Logistics of Island Hopping from Corong Corong
The biggest mistake people make is thinking they have to go into town to start their tours. You don't. Most boat captains can pick you up right from the Corong Corong shore, though sometimes you have to wade through knee-deep water to get to the boat depending on the tide.
- Tour A and C are the essentials. Big Lagoon, Secret Beach.
- Private Tours are always better. If you can swing an extra 2,000 PHP, get a private boat.
- Early Starts are non-negotiable. If your guide says 8:00 AM, tell them 7:30 AM.
Lime Resort usually has a desk to help with this, but honestly? You can often find better rates by walking down to the beach and talking to the local operators directly. Just make sure they are Coast Guard accredited.
Why the Service is "Filipino-Style"
In the Philippines, service is warm but rarely "snappy" in the way a New York business hotel is. Lime is no different. The staff are incredibly kind—they’ll remember your name and how you like your eggs—but things might take fifteen minutes longer than you expect.
The Wi-Fi is also a point of contention. El Nido’s infrastructure is notoriously flaky. The resort has Starlink now, which has stabilized things significantly, but don't expect to run a high-def 4K livestream while a tropical storm is rolling in. It’s just the nature of Palawan.
Food and Dining: Beyond the Buffet
The breakfast buffet is massive. It’s a mix of Filipino staples—longganisa, garlic rice, dried fish—and standard Western fare. It's solid. It's filling.
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But for dinner? You’re better off exploring. Corong Corong has some of the best food in El Nido right now.
- Bella Vita for pizza that actually tastes like it came from Italy.
- La Plage for a high-end sunset dinner.
- Sava Beach Bar for the nightlife.
Staying at Lime means you’re within walking distance of these, or a very cheap trike ride. Don't get stuck eating every meal at the hotel restaurant. It’s good, but El Nido’s food scene is too good to ignore.
The Sustainability Question
El Nido is a protected area. The town has a strict no-plastic policy. Lime Resort follows these protocols, but as a large concrete structure on a hillside, it has a larger footprint than the smaller eco-lodges.
They use glass bottles. They try to minimize waste. However, if you are a hardcore eco-traveler who only stays in solar-powered huts made of reclaimed driftwood, this isn't your spot. It’s a modern resort. It uses electricity. It has air conditioning that actually works (a godsend in April when it’s 95 degrees with 90% humidity).
Is it Worth the Price Tag?
Prices fluctuate wildly. In the low season (July to September), you can snag a room for a steal. During Peak Season (Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter), prices triple.
If you want:
- A hot shower with good pressure.
- A bed that doesn't feel like a wooden board.
- A world-class sunset view without leaving your balcony.
- A lively social atmosphere.
Then yes, it’s worth it.
If you want:
- Total silence.
- Authentic "off-the-grid" living.
- A private beach.
Then you should probably look at the El Nido Resorts properties like Pangulasian or Miniloc, but be prepared to pay four times the price of Lime.
Real Talk: The Small Annoyances
Let's be honest for a second. The elevators can be slow. Since the hotel is vertical, you’ll be using them a lot. Also, because of the hillside location, there are stairs. Lots of them. If you have mobility issues, you need to make sure you’re booked in a room that is easily accessible from the main lobby levels.
Also, the noise from the hallway can bleed into the rooms. The doors aren't exactly soundproof vaults. If a group of excited travelers is headed to a boat tour at 7:00 AM, you’re going to hear them. Pack earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.
How to Do Lime Resort Right
Don't just show up and hope for the best.
First, email them ahead of time. Ask for a room on a higher floor. The higher you are, the better the view and the further you are from the street noise.
Second, book your airport transfer through the hotel if it's your first time. The El Nido airport (Lio) is small and charming, but grabbing a random trike with three suitcases is a headache you don't need. The van is worth the extra couple of bucks.
Third, check the weather. If it’s monsoon season, the rooftop pool is often closed for safety if winds get too high. This is the main draw of the hotel, so if it's closed, you're missing out on 50% of the value.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Check the tides: Use an app like Magicseaweed or similar to see when the tide is high in Corong Corong. It makes the beach much prettier for photos.
- Book direct occasionally: Sometimes the hotel website has "resident rates" or "long stay" promos that Agoda or Booking.com won't show you.
- Rent a scooter: There is a rental spot just down the hill. For about 500 PHP a day, you can skip the trike fees and ride out to Lio Beach or Duli Beach on your own schedule.
- Water Proofing: Buy a "dry bag" at the stalls near the hotel. You will get wet. Your phone will thank you.
- Currency: Bring more cash than you think. While Lime accepts cards, many of the best local bars and boat captains in El Nido are still cash-only, and the ATMs in town are notoriously unreliable.
Staying at Lime Resort El Nido is about balancing comfort with the ruggedness of Palawan. It’s for the traveler who wants to explore the lagoons all day but wants a cold beer and a clean, air-conditioned room the second they get back. It’s not perfect, but as far as mid-range luxury in the Philippines goes, it hits the mark more often than it misses.