Melo Villareal
Casa Kalaw Hotel Review
My idea of a vacation is staying in a luxurious hotel, surfing the Internet, and having coffee while looking at the early morning cityscape fron your 10th-floor balcony. But when I recently got to stay in Casa Kalaw (resort info) in the LiO Eco-Tourism Estate in the beautiful municipality of El Nido, Palawan, my idea of the perfect vacation totally changed.
LiO is the first integrated resort community to open in El Nido. The estate is 325 hectares wide, and its location in the seaside, its eco-tourism theme, and natural landscape, do promise a lot of wonderful opportunities. Casa Kalaw, the hotel where I stayed in, is a boutique hotel inspired from Filipino traditions. It is the first hotel to open in the property.
Location
Casa Kalaw is magnificently placed in between the sea and the mountains. Being inside the natural landscapes of the eco-tourism estate gives it a nice, close-to-nature ambiance that has elegance greater than being in a high-rise, luxury hotel.
The entire boutique hotel is just two storeys high, giving it a comfy, close-to-home feel. The surrounding coconut trees and gardens make the atmosphere very pleasing and relaxing.
Room
This boutique hotel has 42 aesthetic rooms. I stayed in Deluxe Room 01 right next to the reception area. It was equipped with an air conditioner, hot-and-cold shower, a safety deposit box, a coffee and tea making facility, and several conveniently-placed wall sockets (very effective for gadget freaks like me). Since I was near the reception, I was also given the bonus of having faster Internet access. My room had a private veranda facing the access road.
One of the other things I liked about the hotel is that they were very active environmentalists. They used only refillable liquid soap and shampoo ceramic containers. I just wish that they would also use refillable glass water bottles too for their service waters. That would be awesome!
Facilities
Some of the facilities of the hotel include an Activity Pavilion, an outdoor pool, and an Activity Center for the younger guests. There were also two restaurants that offered not just excellent food, but also an amazing and relaxing view of the sceneries. There is also a spa that is run by therapists who pamper guests to perfection.
There were plenty of things to do with the amenities, but staying inside my room and just walking around the shore to enjoy the environment already made my stay perfectly satisfying.
Activities
A short walk from the hotel will take you to the beachfront of El Nido, which is home to a few cafes and a spa house as well. If you walk around a bit you will find the bike rental store, which offers bamboo bikes for rent! A few short strolls away is the lagoon, where you can rent a kayak on the peaceful waters in the estate.
For Island hopping, make sure to contact www.skippercharter.ph for faster and most convenient way to visit various islands and pocket beaches in El Nido.
You can end your day by waiting for the sunset (which is excellent here, by the way, since the area directly faces the sea), or go star gazing as well. Just make sure to bring insect repellant!
Food
Since the hotel is inspired from the Filipino culture, the two restaurants serve Filipino dishes. Kalaw Café serves breakfast, ranging from vegetables, meat viands, bread, cereals, and hot soup. Freshly sliced fruits are served for dessert. On the other hand, Kalaw Bar serves Filipino classic snacks, as well as drinks.
Accessibility
Although Casa Kalaw is located in its own pristine paradise, its accessibility is not affected. Traveling to and from the hotel was easy. It’s just a few minutes away from LiO Airport (also known El Nido Airport) if you book a flight with Air Swift, which is currently the only airline flying into the airport.
Casa Kalaw (resort reviews) is also accessible via Puerto Princesa. It takes 6 hours to travel from the capital city to El Nido. Travelling by sea is also an option; a ride via Montenegro Shipping Lines in Coron will take one to El Nido in approximately 3.5 hours.
Verdict
Staying in a hotel that is very close to nature is one of the best things I have ever done as a traveler. It’s not as luxurious as some of the hotels I’ve stayed in, but staying in a place where the sea is your neighbor definitely has an incomparable beauty.
The overall theme and atmosphere was very friendly, and it is very fitting for their primary target market of families or large group of travelers. Comfort, peacefulness, a surprisingly fast Internet speed, and being close to nature… what more can I ask for?
Casa Kalaw
Book Online via Agoda
Address: Lio Tourism Estate, El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines 5310
Telephone: (02) 902 5969
Also Read:
- 25 Photos and Reasons That Prove Palawan is the Best Island in the World
- The Hadefe Beach Cottages in El Nido Palawan
- El Nido Palawan Travel Guide
