We departed for the domestic terminal in Manila around 7:30 in the morning, concerned about the possibility of a two-hour journey from Makati to the airport during rush hour. To ensure we didn’t miss our flight, we decided to leave very early. Surprisingly, the trip only took us about 20 minutes, leaving us confused as to why people had mentioned such long travel times online. Upon arriving at the domestic terminal, we realized that we had left too early. Unlike the international terminal, the domestic terminal was in a completely different building and had limited amenities. We felt a bit disappointed about leaving so early, but at least we had free access to the internet. Lesson learned: remember that the domestic and international terminals are separate, and be mindful of your departure time to avoid unnecessary waiting.
Getting to Coron town from the airport
The flight to Coron was a short 40-minute journey. The plane was nearly empty, likely due to the impact of the coronavirus. The views from the windows were absolutely stunning! As we soared above numerous paradisiacal islands, it felt like we were flying over the Maldives. It was then that I truly realized the beauty of the Philippines.
Upon landing in Coron, someone from the hotel quickly picked us up and led us to a van that would take us to our accommodation. Only vans were available outside; there were no private cars or taxis. It seemed that hotel transfers were arranged upon arrival, and these vans were not owned by the hotels but served as shared shuttles, dropping people off at various hotels.
The road to Coron town was quite bumpy and winding, and we experienced some motion sickness during the ride. If you are prone to motion sickness, I recommend taking some medicine beforehand. Despite feeling a bit nauseous, we managed to make it through the journey and enjoyed the rest of the day.
Hotels
It took us around 30 minutes to reach our hotel, the Sunlight Guesthouse, located just outside of Coron town. It’s considered one of the better hotels on the island, but to be honest, there aren’t many luxurious options available in Coron. For those seeking an ultra-luxurious experience, staying on a private island might be the best choice. However, that wasn’t feasible for us as we only had a 2-day stay, with one day dedicated to a boat trip.
The hotel itself was decent, though the rooms were on the smaller side, and the beds felt as hard as rocks. We requested extra mattresses, and the receptionist readily accommodated our request without any hesitation, leaving us with no complaints. The only drawback was the room’s view, which was obstructed by a wall, ooffering no scenery at all. Nevertheless, since we didn’t spend much time in the room, it didn’t bother us much.
The pool area, on the other hand, was absolutely charming, offering a beautiful view of the sea. It was the perfect spot to relax on our first day, where we enjoyed the breathtaking sunsets and sipped cocktails while the chairs around us lit up in various colors. It was a wonderful way to unwind and appreciate the island’s scenic beauty.
On the second day of our stay, after the day trip, we decided to visit the hotel next door, the Two Seasons, for dinner. We were genuinely impressed by the hotel’s interior and the restaurant’s ambiance, both of which added to the enjoyable dining experience. The restaurant not only served delicious food but also had a well-designed interior, making it a pleasant place to dine. However, the wine we had at the restaurant was not up to our expectations. It appeared that wine might not be as commonly consumed in the Philippines, as the quality of the wine we ordered wasn’t great, and it was quite expensive for what we received. Despite this, we had a pleasant overall experience at the Two Seasons Hotel, and we truly appreciated the positive aspects of our visit.
Coron Town
On the first evening, we decided to explore Coron Town and have dinner at a live music venue. The hotel receptionist recommended a place called Sharks, and we were genuinely impressed with our experience there. The singer’s performance was outstanding and what astonished me even more was that many Filipino tourists joined the singer on stage and sang along, and they were all fantastic! It seemed like a common talent among Filipinos to have great singing skills.
Although we didn’t stay at Sharks for too long, as we had to wake up early the next day for the boat trip, we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent there. The food was quite good, and the atmosphere was lively. It appeared that many other visitors had similar plans, as they also left early. Overall, Coron City itself wasn’t the most beautiful, but it was better than I had expected. The lack of pavements made walking a bit challenging and nerve-wracking, especially with the tricycles driving around recklessly.
One thing that surprised us was the limited availability of regular stores. Instead, there were mainly kiosks and small shops. Bringing your own sun lotion is essential on this island, as it was hard to find anything lower than SPF 30. While you may think SPF 30 is too low, it suits my skin type to get some tan. Despite this, I was surprised by the abundance of restaurants in Coron town, many of which looked quite appealing and inviting.
My overall impression of Coron island was quite positive, even though it might not be the best place in the Philippines to stay if you’re specifically looking for beautiful beaches. While there are likely beaches on the island, they might not be conveniently located within the town area. However, the real beauty of Coron lies in its stunning islands accessible by boat, and I believe that’s the main reason why people come here. The next time I visit Coron, I’ll make sure to choose a hotel located on one of those private, paradise-like islands!
Tomorrow, I’ll write more about our day trip on the second day of our stay and all the mesmerizing sights we encountered.
Anyah Mroz 