Lagen Island Resort

oFirst of all, El Nido itself is really stunning with all its lagoons and rock formation so I think wherever you go, you will not be disappointed. But choosing to stay in one of Ayala resorts just completes the package. Everything went smooth from AirSwift check in until we reach the island resort. Once you reach El Nido airport, you feel the exclusivity that their resorts offer their guests. Service was impeccable all through out our 6 days stay. I particularly appreciate how they pay attention to small details like remembering their guests' names, little pastries on our bed everytime we're coming back from dinner and a print out short story about Local culture that my daughter enjoyed reading every night. Staffs are really friendly and I feel they are genuinely nice and happy with their jobs. Special mention to our tour guide Jimmy who never failed to entertain and helped the kids during the tour. We even tagged him as tour guide/babysitter. If there is one thing I can suggest for the resort to improve is maybe their treatment rooms. A real spa with proper spa facilities will add more luxurious touch to the hotel.

one of my favorite vacation escapade.the serene quiet and relaxing ambiance.with clear blue waters that's alluring you for a plunge.its totally a very good place to go.if you want to have a break from the polluted city atmosphere.this should be the right place to go.

We spent 2 nights at Apulit Island, and then because they were renovating we were transferred to Lagen Island for another 3 nights. All I can say is Wow!! Apulit was great because we had an over water bungalow where we could walk down straight into the ocean from our room, and this was a truly amazing experience! The marine life was diverse and abundant. The water was warm and clear and I have never seen so many colourful species of fish in one place. Just this made up for the fact that the rooms were a little outdated. Lagen Island was another class completely. We couldn't walk straight into the ocean from our room but the view from our over-water room was so magnificent I could have stayed there all day. We took the day tour to the famous Lagoons in El Nido which was definitely worth the effort. The lagoons were a bit crowded with boats and tourists which was to be expected but our group went to some secluded coral reefs for snorkelling which was beautiful. We saw the whole cast of Finding Nemo under there, and it was very reassuring to know that there are still some places in the world where there is a healthy abundance of sea life. The food in both resorts was of a high standard and staff were friendly. We even received a private candle-lit dinner by the pool at Lagen for the "inconvenience" of having to change resorts. We are so pleased to have spent a bit more to experience El Nido at it's best.

Yes. If you have the extra money, stay in Pangulasian. For the additional 100usd a night go for it. We visited the other El Nido Resorts properties and they were Spectacular. Rooms in Pangulasian was beyond expectation. Miniloc had the best food among the three. Me and the wife felt like Lagen was too quiet. Food was mediocre at its best day fields because the food was like a spread for a 3 star hotel. Service was a bit slow. I have observed that there was not enough service staff on the floor , or may be they are all in the bussing area all together. There was not even a single manager on the floor. Its a nice place but it lacks something. Its like a soulless resort.

My family of 14 stayed at Lagen for 3 days before transferring to another island. We loved our time there. The workers were amazing, our forest room was very comfortable, the food was delicious, and the tours were awesome. Everyone was very welcoming, always made an effort to smile, greet you and offer help in any way. We had our parents with us who are in their late 70s. My mother who has bad knees had difficulty getting in and out of the boats, but the men always assisted her and even patiently walked her to places. Special mention to Arnel, our guide, Daisy, Jerelyn and Juno. These are just the ones we know by name, but all of them accommodated our needs and wants with much patience and respect. We all want to go back!!

This resort offers an extraordinary view with amazing preserve wildlife and forest, the newly furbished property particularly the rooms and the restaurant gives a warm feeling atmosphere. Wed like to give commend who made our stay a fantastic one to The Resort Manager Ms Jen, Ms Daisy and Chef Carlos. This is the place that we would never forget and will wed love to return soon!

This place has it all,from a beautiful beach, amazing newly renovated rooms and exquisite food with a topnotch service of the staffs from the arrivals to the guides and to the restaurants.Thanks to all the staff of Lagen,you're doing a fantastic job!Words and images can't describe how stunning is the property!

Finally writing my review from my Feb 2017 trip :) Hi! Since the El Nido website is not very helpful, here is my perspective on the difference between the 4 resorts. Deciding between the El Nido resorts: I had the luxury of staying at both Apulit and Lagen resort. Since I only stayed at those two, anything I say about Pangulasian or Miniloc is only an impression, I did not stay at those two. In a nutshell, my sense is Pangulasian is the nicest and most exclusive as it is most expensive (and supposedly has a nice beach), Lagen (newly renovated) is nice but not as expensive and Miniloc is more family friendly with more activities. Apulit (you can read my review there) on the other side of the island is also more rustic and family friendly. Apulit had the best snorkeling although I felt it was a bit overpriced (pre-renovation). The beach that is available at lagen and apulit is ok but not the white sandy beaches in tourist promos. Distance wise, Miniloc and Pangulasian are close together and closer to El Nido. Lagen is further south, maybe 30 min boat to Miniloc. Apulit is a 1 hour shuttle and then 1 hour boat from El Nido on the other side of the island. El Nido policies: Be warned!! 1) if you are not going directly from an air swift flight, they will do a security check of your luggage before transferring you to your resort. Just make sure nothing embarrassing visible! 2) They technically have an alcohol corkage fee if you bring your own alcohol, although they may or may not ask/find. 3) WATER!! This I find a bit outrageous. All beverages are to be charged except for carafe drinking water throughout the day and coffee/tea during meals. I don't mind charging for soda, etc. but this includes bottled water. All bottled water is charged, including during activities. There isn't even the normal complimentary 2 bottles for free at the beginning of your stay. For a tropical resort where you are supposed to be often in the sea and sun and stay hydrated, this is crazy. There is no water refill available either on the activity boats. For reference, a bottle of water was about $1.60 USD, and soda was $2.50 USD. 4) NO readily available Island / snorkeling map, describing underground sites or ocean current/no go areas, resort facilities. They said this was a safety issue? I don't understand how. 5) MINIMAL description of dangerous sea creatures such as lion fish, sea urchins, etc. This is important as when I went snorkeling at Miniloc jack (big fish) feeding, I saw 2 lion fish within 2-3 meters depth, easily accidentally touched by a diving snorkeler. Arrival: All El Nido resorts seem to use a 3 boat transfer process. From pier, you will go to a motor boat, which then transfers you to a banca (philippine boat) and then at other side, transfer to another motor boat. Highly suggest you have some sort of water shoes, ie tevas, waterproof bag, and easy wash clothes. Depending on the waves, you may or may not get wet during this whole process. Rooms: I stayed in a garden room which was nicely appointed and newly renovated. Not much comment. Food: ok but nothing to rave about. I realized that unfortunately Philippino food is not all that great for non Philippinos. Please understand that I am very widely travelled with an appreciation for almost all cuisines. In addition, I stayed 2 nights in El Nido town itself. The best restaurant in El Nido was the local pizzeria with a waiting line 20 deep. I also asked my local El Nido guide and the westerner guide for a good local philippino restaurant and none were nearby. I had more rice in one week than I've had in one year because it was the most reliable food item. Pool: Ok, big enough for simple laps but when I went, lots of people using it. WiFi: I didn't have too many issues but no one's going to be streaming movies. This is a small island resort near another small island. If it truly matters, I also bought an unlimited sim/data card (the resort suggested either SMART or GLOBE network) for about $18 USD for 2 weeks and that also had variable performance. Activities: See my photo for activity list when I went. I really liked the boat tours, it is the same places everyone goes to BUT you arrive earlier and enjoy some peace and quiet before the hordes descend. The best thing was snorkeling with the jack fish feeding at Miniloc island BUT it can also be scary for young children. The fish are quite big and there are quite a few of them. No good snorkeling on Lagen island itself (I really tried). Beach is ok but not the beautiful sandy beach you might imagine. Unfortunately, water visibility was HORRIBLE, apparently February is when the plankton swarm and I averaged 3-8 meters. Best visibility is supposedly June/July but then you go into typhoon season. Full board: I don't remember how much extra it is but it seemed quite worth it. You are stuck on this island so no other food options. And it includes the boat trips which otherwise I think is a small charge extra. Please do not reply directly to this e-mail. This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. If you have questions or need assistance, ask us here TripAdvisor LLC, 400 1st Ave., Needham, MA 02494, USA © 2017 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor, the TripAdvisor logo, the logo of the owl, Travelers' Choice and the logo of Travelers' Choice are registered trademarks or trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the US and / or other countries.

It's been almost a year since the last time we came to this place . I couldn't get enough of it. Paradise !! That is all I can say. From the people to it's scenery. It's just magnificent. Ma'am Jen was not there to physically assist us but as if she was there because Ma'am Jen ( her assistant ) was there who took care of us . We came with friends and we drove from Puerto Princesa . The port looks different, upgraded but the delicious delicacy are still waiting for any people arriving both airplane and Land. We did the tours A and B . We just so loved the places where we went. And even though a strong rain welcomed us in Entalula Island . It didn't stop us from enjoying the island itself . Our lunch was also served there filling our tummy . My kids enjoyed feeding the Jacks. I still enjoyed seeing the big and small lagoons. And doing snorkeling and kayaking . I have enjoyed this resort ever than never , from breakfast to lunch till dinner . Kudos to Chef Carlos for making our food always sumptuous , our tummy is always full. Even our Friends were speechless for what this resort can offer. Kudos to Jake and Lover , our tour guide . We had experienced the surrounding paradise. I did hiking and it was pretty good and challenging while my friends were kayaking . And my kids will not let the day pass by without going into the pool. Expensive yes, but it's all worth it. If given a chance again, we will definitely come back to this hotel .