Guest Policies

These policies apply to direct reservations and stays at Gypsy and the Hippie El Nido. By making a reservation, checking in or signing the guest registration form, a guest accepts the terms supplied at the time of booking. For OTA reservations, the payment, cancellation, amendment, refund and no-show terms are those displayed by the applicable OTA and in the guest’s OTA booking confirmation; all other policies — including registration, occupancy, conduct and house rules — continue to apply, and every guest must sign and accept them at check-in.

Direct-booking prices are tax-inclusive and include the 1% staff service charge, shown in the price breakdown. Breakfast is not included. Direct bookings normally have a one-night minimum, although longer minimum stays may apply on selected peak dates. Special-date pricing may apply; the current price is shown in the booking engine. Dorm rates are per bed per night and private-room rates are per room per night.

Accepted advance electronic payment methods are credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, GCash, Maya and Alipay. Cash is accepted only for on-site payments, including walk-ins, the cash security deposit and incidentals.

During our soft-opening period, advance online payment is currently limited to PayPal, bank transfer and credit card; cash remains accepted at the property.

A non-refundable 30% deposit is required at booking. The remaining 70% must be paid no later than 48 hours before the scheduled 2:00 PM check-in, using El Nido local time.

A cancellation made more than 48 hours before arrival forfeits only the 30% deposit. A cancellation within 48 hours of arrival is charged at 100% of the confirmed reservation value.

The booking is eligible for one date change requested before the 48-hour deadline, subject to availability, minimum-stay rules and the rate for the revised dates. Minor corrections to guest details do not count as the date change. If a timely amendment reduces the price, only the amount paid above the non-refundable 30% deposit is refundable, less unavoidable unrecoverable transaction fees. Any increase must be paid.

A guest-name transfer is allowed until the 48-hour deadline when requested by the original booker, the reservation is fully paid and identity verification is completed.

If the 70% balance is not received by the deadline, the hostel sends a reminder and allows a 12-hour grace period. After the grace period, the reservations officer may cancel the booking at their discretion and retain the 30% deposit.

The rate is fixed at 10% below the Standard Direct Rate and requires 100% payment at booking. It is non-refundable from confirmation.

One date change is permitted when requested at least seven days before the scheduled 2:00 PM check-in, using El Nido local time. The revised arrival must be within six months of the original arrival date and is subject to availability. A higher price must be paid; a lower price produces no refund or credit.

One guest-name transfer is allowed until the same seven-day deadline when requested by the original booker, the reservation is fully paid and identity verification is completed. The transfer does not change the original rate conditions.

A reservation is held until 10:00 PM on arrival day unless the guest contacts the hostel. Late arrival must be fully paid and arranged in advance. At 10:00 PM, the entire reservation of an unnotified no-show may be cancelled and released, including all remaining nights, while 100% of the reservation value remains charged or retained.

After check-in, all unused nights resulting from early departure are non-refundable for every direct rate.

For a Standard Direct booking affected by the actual cancellation of the airline, ferry, bus or van service required to reach El Nido, the 30% deposit remains non-refundable and the remaining 70% is refundable when the guest contacts the hostel before 10:00 PM on arrival day and supplies official proof identifying the passenger, date, route and cancellation. Delays, missed connections, advisories without an actual cancellation and personal itinerary changes do not qualify. The exception never overrides a Non-Refundable Direct Rate.

Booking.com, Hostelworld and other OTA reservations are governed by the payment, cancellation, amendment, refund and no-show terms displayed on the applicable OTA website and in the guest’s booking confirmation. Questions about funds collected by an OTA must be directed to that OTA.

Reception operates from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Check-in begins at 2:00 PM and regular check-out is 11:00 AM.

Early check-in is a direct-booking-only benefit and may be approved at any time before 2:00 PM when the assigned room is ready. Late checkout is also direct-booking-only, subject to availability and confirmation:

• Free until 1:00 PM when there is no succeeding guest
• 50% of the applicable room rate after 1:00 PM through 4:29 PM
• One additional full night from 4:30 PM

A refundable PHP 1,000 cash security deposit is collected per private-room booking and per dorm guest/assigned bed. It is returned in cash after inspection, less approved charges. Departures before 6:00 AM must be arranged by 10:00 PM the previous evening.

Luggage storage is limited and first come, first served because space is small. Early arrivals and same-day departing guests may wait in the second-floor hangout area. Guests remain responsible for their belongings.

Every overnight guest must register and present valid government-issued identification. Guests may use only their assigned room, bed and locker. Dorm beds are single occupancy.

Children aged 0–3 stay free in a private room only when sharing existing bedding; no crib, extra linen, towel or amenities are included. Guests aged four and older count as adults. Guests under 18 may not stay in any dormitory, including a privately booked dorm. A minor may stay in a private room with a parent, legal guardian or authorized responsible adult, subject to appropriate identification and written authorization.

Sexual activity is prohibited in dormitories. Each involved guest is charged one night at the applicable dorm-bed rate, required to leave and receives no refund for unused nights. Dorm air-conditioning is switched off daily from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM for ventilation.

Registered in-house guests may use the café/first-floor area and second-floor lobby. Walk-in visitors must provide their names at the first-floor bar, may remain only in the first-floor pool/bar area until 10:00 PM, and may not enter the second floor, guest rooms, dormitories or guest-only areas.

The swimming pool is restricted to registered in-house guests. Pool hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; there is no lifeguard and guests swim at their own risk.

The bar may serve registered walk-in visitors and in-house guests who are of legal drinking age and present valid ID. Staff may refuse service because of intoxication, misconduct or safety concerns. Non-alcoholic options are available.

Quiet hours are 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Pets, illegal drugs, unlawful activity, threats, harassment, violence and seriously disruptive behavior are prohibited. Serious or repeated misconduct may result in removal without refund.

Smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes are permitted only in the designated beach smoking area. Smoking inside a guest room is a zero-tolerance violation. Balconies, hallways and other non-designated areas are non-smoking.

Outside food is allowed only in the guest kitchen and second-floor lobby. Drinking water is allowed in rooms. Bath towels are included. Beach and pool towels may be issued in exchange for accepted identification and must be returned.

Guests are responsible for intentional or negligent damage, missing property and exceptional cleaning caused by themselves or persons for whom they are responsible. Normal wear, equipment failure, routine housekeeping and documented pre-existing damage are not charged. Charges must be evidence-supported, manager-approved and itemized. Unlisted damage is charged at documented fair-market repair or replacement cost, including necessary labor, installation and reasonable transport to El Nido.

The following fixed charges apply:

• Lost key: PHP 500
• Verified smoking inside a guest room: PHP 25,000
• Urine contamination requiring extraordinary sanitation: PHP 4,000
• Vomit contamination requiring extraordinary sanitation: PHP 5,000
• Additional evidence-supported repair, replacement or exceptional-cleaning costs may apply when relevant.

Room 3 is the Seaview Queen Room. Room 7 additional-guest charges are PHP 900 Low, PHP 1,000 Shoulder, PHP 1,200 High and PHP 1,400 Peak.

A group booking is three or more rooms or four or more dorm beds. Group bookings receive separately quoted payment, amendment and cancellation terms and do not automatically use the Standard Direct Rate rules.

The hostel collects registration and identification data, contact information, reservation and stay records, payment and refund records, security-deposit acknowledgments, incident and damage records, complaints, marketing choices and common-area CCTV footage for reservation administration, identity verification, guest services, payments, security, incident investigation, fraud prevention and legal compliance.

Information may be shared as needed with Cloudbeds, booking channels, payment providers, service providers, professional advisers and government or law-enforcement authorities where required or permitted. Records are retained only as long as needed for their purpose, legal obligations and claims. CCTV operates only in common areas.

Privacy requests and formal complaints may be sent to owners@gypsyandthehippie.com. Guests may exercise applicable data-subject rights and may complain to the Philippine National Privacy Commission.

Service, safety, billing and privacy concerns should be raised promptly. The booking confirmation and the terms supplied at booking form part of the reservation agreement. Booking, checking in or signing the registration form confirms acceptance. Nothing limits a right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded.