Coron Bancuang Mansion — Hotel in Coron

It’s about half an hour's drive for the airport, which is no bother when you’ve got air con blowing in your face!

There’s a security guard outside, who helped with our luggage, as you have to walk a flight of steps to get to reception. We only saw 2 guards, during our stay. The elder man was very polite, always said hello and seemed happy to help; the other never uttered a word and looked like his wife had just left him. Maybe she had?

Reception staff, spoke English but most of them had poor attitudes and were quite blunt when they didn’t understand, as if it was our fault they didn’t know. As we were checking out and coming downstairs, the receptionist was asleep on the desk and they tried to charge us for other people's orders at the bar and charge us twice for 2 boat tours we booked through them, but were told to pay the tour guides on the day, which we had. One evening as we entered, we were requesting for more toilet paper and she picked up a random room key 416, I think and handed it to us. We told her this was not our key and she took it back. So be warned if you leave your key with them....

We stayed in 415, which is apparently “the honeymoon suite” (it was our honeymoon), we asked if they could do anything to make the stay special, they just advised us were to go out. Okay, so to get to the room... You have to walk up 7 flights of steps to get to it and the view is mostly some shacks, where people live with roosters!! All the time these little guys are making noise! Eventually it blended into the background but still really annoying at times. It’s knackering getting up to your room if you’ve been out all day. Luckily you past the bar and the pool along the way if you need a drink and to cool off. The room itself: Air con – yes. Worked brilliantly. WiFi – very touchy, don’t trust it. Safe – no! And seeing how flippant they were to handout keys without checking, this is a big concern. Fridge – yes. The bed – 2 single mattresses on a double bed stand. Kettle – yes, with coffee, tea etc... TV – yes, with working USB if you have your own with some films you want to watch. Laundry service – yes. It’s 65Php per kilo. It’s good but we were in that day hiding from the sun and they just left it sitting outside our room after they cleaned it. Room service – no. Onsite restaurant – yes. I recommend the burger and chips, or nachos. Both really nice. The view – rubbish. About 20% was nice that looked on to the water and mountains in the background. Pool – yes. However, we didn’t use because there’s nowhere to laze about! They have benches and stony floors around the pool.

Just across the road is a restaurant called “Sharky’s”, I recommend this place. It’s got a nice vibe, a large selection of food and cocktails. They have live music at times too. It’s reasonably priced and the food is really delicious. Despite the ribs tasting nice, I don’t recommend because it was lot of fat and grizzle. The pasta was exquisite. Their Long Islands was about 99% alcohol and 1% coke, which is great 🙂

Coron Mansions isn’t a terrible place to stay, mostly it was pleasant. As I’ve said, some of the staff were rude, where others were really nice. It’s located on the main street, opposite and very busy petrol station which the restaurant/bar looks down on to but beyond that is pretty. You can easily walk into town, or get a tricycle outside. Be warned, the hotel staff say it’s 10Php per person, but tricycle drivers told us that’s for locals only, so some may try and take advantage. The most we paid was 50Php, but like I said it’s a quick walk into town and it’s got a nice vibe to it. Just be careful you don’t get run over. Lots of souvenir shops and funky weird things to buy. Alcohol is really cheap from some of the convenient stores – a litre of...

The staff here more than earned a 5-star review, the front desk staff went out of their way to always accommodate us and help us with any requests. Have laundry? They offered in-house laundry, for a fee, or recommended a laundry service just up the road (flat rate of 300 pesos for a load up to 8 kg). Rather than just point us in the right direction, they took our laundry and went to drop it off and pick it up afterwards on our behalf. Need ferry tickets? They also went to purchase ferry tickets for us and just asked that we reimburse them later. They always greeted us with a friendly smile and made genuine efforts to ensure that we enjoyed our stay. The gentleman sitting out front in the evenings and overnight as security was courteous, always greeting me with a “good morning, sir” or a “good evening, sir.” The cleaning staff were also polite and greeted us whenever we passed by.

The hotel itself is nice enough, though there are notably some minor inconveniences. Some examples include too few coat hangers in the closet (we were two guests and only had three hangers). There was a lack of counter space in the bathroom and only one towel rack inside of the shower - we wished there could have been a few more hooks in the bathroom to hang our wet clothes after island hopping, and also to hang a towel for drying our hands after washing. The wifi was a bit of a drag and could be improved, so I ended up using my phone as a hotspot to connect my laptop and other devices. Without the ability to do this, it would have been quite problematic. I’m not sure whether this is a common theme in the area as I’ve noted reviews for other hotels noting similar concerns.

Nitpicking aside, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The location is good, only a 10 minute walk to the heart of town proper, though there were plenty of restaurants, bars, convenience stores, ATMs, a pharmacy, and a McDonald’s all reachable in under 5 minute walking. There are plenty of 3-wheeler taxis constantly driving by too, so we often paid 40 pesos to save ourselves the short walk, and never had to wait more than a minute or two to hail a taxi. We didn’t eat at the hotel until our last night but wish we’d tried it sooner - we found the price point to be more reasonable than many of the restaurants in town and the food wasn’t too bad. We never spent any time in the pool but saw others enjoying it - it looked nice and there were private bathrooms right next to it which is convenient.

All things considered, I’d gladly stay at this hotel again...

Bancuang Mansion in Coron offers a unique blend of old-world charm and modern convenience, making it a compelling choice for travelers seeking a comfortable and centrally located base for exploring this beautiful island paradise.|| ||Exemplary Customer Service: The staff at Bancuang Mansion truly sets the place apart. Their attentiveness and genuine desire to ensure a pleasant stay are truly commendable. From the moment you arrive, you are greeted with warm smiles and helpful assistance, making you feel instantly welcome. This personalized service is what truly elevates the experience and makes you feel like a valued guest.|| ||Well-Appointed Rooms with a Touch of History: The rooms themselves are well-appointed, reflecting the mansion's rich history. While the furniture and décor exude a classic elegance, the shower area could benefit from a modern update. However, the spacious rooms and comfortable beds ensure a restful night's sleep after a day of exploring.|| ||Delicious Food and a Stairway Challenge: The food served at Bancuang Mansion is a highlight, with delicious and authentic Filipino dishes that satisfy the palate. The only minor inconvenience is the staircase, which can be a bit of a challenge for those with mobility issues. However, the friendly staff is always ready to lend a hand.|| ||Ideally Situated for Exploration: The mansion's location within the city proper is a major advantage. It's within walking distance to dive centers, restaurants, shops, and other attractions, making it easy to explore Coron's vibrant heart. The accessibility to everything you need ensures a convenient and enjoyable stay.|| ||A Few Notes on Amenities: While the rooms are well-equipped, it's worth noting that toiletries are limited. Bringing your own is recommended to avoid any inconvenience.|| ||Overall: Bancuang Mansion offers a charming and comfortable stay in Coron, with exceptional customer service that truly steals the show. The well-appointed rooms, delicious food, and convenient location make it a great choice for travelers seeking a unique and memorable experience. While the shower area could use a refresh and the stairs might pose a challenge for some, these minor drawbacks are easily outweighed by the mansion's many...