Hostel industry in the Philippines is a big thing nowadays and not just ordinary hostels but posh hostels. Admit it, there are those times when you’re really tired of having a low standard bed, a fan-room, and stinky shared bathrooms during your travels. El Nido, Palawan, despite the luxury island resorts, still had numerous options of accommodations from backpacker hostels, transients, inns, and hotels.A new player on this game is SPIN Designer Hostel, located at the corner of Balinsasayaw Road and Calle Real.
You can easily spot the hostel with its orange logo and the lush environment that surrounds the place. I didn’t have prior reservations and arrived at the front desk around 6 in the morning. Luckily, there are available rooms but standard check-in time is 2PM. I left my backpack at the front desk and went directly to the common area with one major motive, to recharge my GoPro and phone.
A guide from Northern Hope Tours picked me up at SPIN around 9AM to have my inland tours and staff gladly took care of my belongings. When I arrived from Nacpan Beach, past one in the afternoon, they informed me that I can now move into my bed. I availed an overnight stay in a mixed dorm room for me to meet and mingle with like-minded people.
SPIN Designer Hostel has 3 room types: Private for solo travelers who want to enjoy exclusivity but can eventually fit up to 2 persons, Mixed Dormitory, fun bunking with fellow travelers, gents, and gals, good for four, and an All-Female Dorm, that respects ladies’ nights and girl things. In addition, if you’re in eight or more group, you can ask for the connecting rooms for more fun bonding with your gang.
Private rooms.
The beds in the mixed dorm are actually queen-sized beds that are super comfortable with the hotel quality linens. In case your roommates want the temperature of the room to be freezing cold, the thick and cuddly comforter will be your friend. Every bed has its own reading light, side pockets that can be used for storing small stuff, wall outlets for charging, and a locker. Locks can be secured from the front desk in case you forgot to bring one for yourself. The air-conditioned rooms are also secured by a key-card access, and free bath and beach towels are provided without additional charges.
I was superbly impressed by the way they maintain the shared toilet and shower. They have four cubicles each for the two. Hand soap is available in the bathroom sink with hand towels regularly being replaced by the working crew. For the private rooms, no worries in sharing the bathroom with a stranger as the rooms have their en-suite bathrooms.
Aside from these perks, free WiFi connection is available in common areas, front desk is also available to assist you from 6AM to 10PM (they’re also humans folks), self-service laundry and pantry, and a light breakfast for free. For groups, you can coordinate with the staff if you plan to cook your own food during lunch or dinner. They can also assist you with some inland and island hopping tours.
SPIN Designer Hostel was indeed designed for travelers to meet new friends with the bunch of common areas available. The Nest is the ultimate hang out space in the hostel where you can find the best chairs in town plus the small area in the middle serves as venue for some board games like Monopoly and even Boogle. The Burrow, on the ground floor, is a great place where travelers can lose oneself by reading books that are actually being swapped and exchanged. Upper Ledge is an awesome spot for some sunbathe or just hang out with your crew.
Going down to The Burrow.
The Table, with the 51-inch LCD Plasma TV with digital library, is also a good place to munch some light snacks. The pantry serves coffee and water on your entire stay, for free. Meanwhile, The Deck, just outside the door from The Table, is the ultimate venue for some jamming nights and drinking sessions with your group and new found friends. This is also where the famous BBQ nights happen in the hostel. If you plan to immerse with nature, The Woods will be your refuge with the towering trees and green plants used to landscape the area.
Don’t hibernate, mingle with strangers in The Nest.
The Deck and The Woods.
Aside from these common areas, SPIN Hostel offers to its guests, the idea of having a themed event every night of the week is amazing. Monday nights for movies, coco leaf and ping-pong for Tuesdays, barbeque nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, beer pong on Thursdays, bingo night on Fridays, and jamming night during Sundays. They also organize picnic by the beach in Nacpan on Mondays and Thursdays and the crew takes the guests to Nacpan via the funky SPIN Mobile.
It was a short stay in SPIN Hostel but I really enjoyed every bit of it and every moment with new found friends. Talking to strangers and getting to know them and their stories, given that traveling is your common ground, is a satisfaction on my part as a traveler. Add to that the very unique and stylish ambiance of the entire place plus the very friendly, accommodating and cool crew and staff. Next time I visit El Nido, I hope I can stay in SPIN Hostel longer.
Book your stay in SPIN DESIGNER HOSTEL to experience a unique stay in El Nido. Click the link to check affordable rates.
SPIN DESIGNER HOSTEL
Balinsasayaw Road cor. Calle Real
El Nido, Palawan
Email: spinhostelph@gmail.com
Website: http://www.spinhostel.com
hi 🙂 was intrigued with your post. How much is the room rate per night? based on your accomodation.
And was the place near also? I mean coming from PPS to El nido trip. Thanks
I availed a bed at a 4-bed mixed dorm at Php1000 last November 2015. The hostel is along the highway, near the old bus terminal.
RJ, I booked this hostel because of your good review and I hope to also enjoy my stay! Photos are nice and it looks lavish for a hostel.