Snapshot Review: Zenvea Hotel Coron, Philippines

Having just checked out from Marina del Sol Hotel in Busuanga, it was time to check into Zenvea Hotel, Coron - the main town on the island of the same name. While it is still considered quite a rural area, it was positively congested compared to the tranquilness of Busuanga.

Zenvea is a newer hotel having opened during the pandemic and has a more modern design than many of it’s local peers. Prices for one room are around GBP60-70 per night in lower season.

Upon arrival, the exterior of the hotel looked unfinished and in need of a splash of colour outside grey.

Thankfully, things picked up a bit in the reception inside with a splash of turquoise and the welcoming touch of the hotel’s staff. A randomly designed ‘cage’ reception can be found just around the corner where you can check-in.

The ground floor of the hotel is home to the main amenities, namely a large swimming pool with plenty of sunloungers to relax. Surrounded on most sides by walls makes the space not particularly beautiful, but makes it a sun trap and exceptionally warm.

I’ll also note in this photo how the thinness of the steps didn’t particularly inspire much confidence throughout my entire stay - which the unfinished design probably didn’t help with.

A small sauna is in operation from 16-21h daily which seems an odd addition in a climate as hot and humid as the Philippines. There is no gym or fitness suite facility.

While I’m sure the design would be described as ‘industrial chic’, it came across as unfinished and in need of some colour across the whole building to bring a bit more personality.

This theme carried onto the room, where we stayed in one of the Family Suite rooms featuring one large double and two single beds. The photos probably make the rooms look worse than they are, but the grey colour scheme on the walls doesn’t really do it justice.

The two single beds were physically separate from the double bedroom making it more private than I had expected. Sufficient light streams through the windows, although these were kept closed most of the time to keep the room cooler.

While it may continue the grey theme, the bathroom was surprisingly nice and the best part of the entire room. With plenty of space to move around, good temperature and pressurised water, it made the room a lot better when compared to the unfinished nature of the main areas.

A small relaxation area with armchair rounds off the room. Next to this you’ll find an area where the kettle and instant coffee is found, which is replenished daily, just above an in-room safe.

Opposite on the first floor, the Enclave restobar can be found. It’s a nice space where you are served a la carte breakfast daily, as well as other meals during the rest of the day.

The offering is very similar to other Filipino hotels with both local options, including tapsilog (beef with fried egg and garlic rice), and foreign items like pancakes on offer.

As there’s a plethora of food outlets available within a reasonable walking distance, you really don’t need to confine yourself to eat at the property exclusively. If you’re not into walking, you can get around on a traysikel at a low cost. Beware, foreigners will likely be charged a higher price and there is no meter system installed.

Zenvea Coron is located centrally to key destinations in the area. We were able to hike to the peak of the main mountain looking over the town within a hot and sweaty thirty minutes.

Conclusion

Zenvea is a comfortable and fair value, modern hotel in Coron, Palawan. While the industrial design is not my cup of tea, the hotel was a good option to easily navigate around the town and surrounding sights on Coron while having easy access to shops and food outlets. If you can nab yourself a good price, it is one of the better options available in the town.