Planning a trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan soon? Let me share with you our recent trip there including all information about pocket money, budget, hotel, tours, and many more!
We were booked a flight May 6th-May 10th. Airfare varies different times of the year, and you know the drill - the earlier you book, the cheaper the price.
For the hotel and the tours, we got the It's All In Package from Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa. What this includes?
-4 days and 3 nights stay
-4 tours
-full board meals (all meals covered)
-this package is inclusive of the hotel rate
The rate depends on WHICH type of room you'll be getting. Mark and I had the Water Villa during our stay and here are the following rates:
WATER VILLA RATE PER NIGHT (included in It's All In Package) - Php 34,900.00 net per person
WATER VILLA RATE PER NIGHT (without It's All In Package) - Php 27,000.00/night
WATER VILLA TOTAL RATE FOR 4 DAYS (included in It's All In Package) - Php 34,900.00 net per person X 2 = Php 69,800.00
Here's a room tour of the villa, perfect for honeymooners!
I loveeeeee our villa so much and I miss it!!! We were greeted with a fruit platter upon our arrival. The villa comes with a desk, flat screen TV, the most comfortable bed everrr, ceiling fan, *airconditioned*, closet, bathroom (I love the mirror!! And the his and hers sink), rain shower, and outside JACUZZI overlooking the sea, a hammock, and a tanning bed. Grabe, it was all so perfect!
Beneath the water villa is also the water!!! Our view was breathtaking--especially in the morning when the sun rises. I had a reason to wake up early every day because of that! We also had a view of the sandbar (walking distance from our villa)
Here are the other rates of the IT'S ALL IN PACKAGE (different room types):
PRINCESA CLASSIC - Php 15,800.00 net per person
SUITE ROOMS - Php 16,600.00 net per person
PREMIER POOL - pHP 20,200.00 net per person
WATER VILLA - Php 34,900.00 net per person
You may view these rooms at the website: http://www.princesagardenisland.com/
***DAY ONE:
Travel from Manila to Puerto Princesa (took over 1 hour)
Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport. We were picked up by the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Van. The resort is only 5 minutes away from the airport--so conveniently located!
Welcome drinks will be served upon arrival.
Everyone was so nice at the hotel! Filipino hospitality at its finest!
After settling down, Mark and I decided to hit the beach (sandbar) before the City Tour! You'll see in the video how the water was still so high (HIGH TIDE), the water usually goes down around 3-4pm and you'll get to see the sandbar in full view!
First tour included in the It's All In Package - CITY TOUR!!!
We went to the Crocodile Farm, Palawan Wildlife and Rescue Conservation Center, Rancho Mitra, Baker's Hill, Butterfly Garden and Tribal Village, Plaza Cuartel. We also stopped over at a pasalubong place - where you can buy lotsa stuff (they have a LOT of cashew nut varieties available!!)
Extra expenses: crocodile sisig PHP190.00 (no rice), refreshments (water/shakes/halo halo), entrance fee at the Butterfly Garden (I forgot if it was 50/head or 100/head)
After the city tour, we had our WELCOME DINNER (included in the package) at Rice. Yummy food, we stuffed ourselves silly! They had a grill night that night--ang sarap talaga!
Mark and I capped off our night in the jacuzzi! It was so relaxing!
DAY ONE - You can watch the vlog here:
***DAY TWO (Underground River Tour)
Beautiful sunrise, look at this guys...
We had to wake up early because of our tour. Mark and I had breakfast (included in the package) at Rice *let me just say that Rice's breakfast buffet is one of the BEST I've tried. They have everythingggg available. And being the Filipinos that we proudly are, Mark and I again, stuffed ourselves preparing for the long day ahead!!
We were picked up by the tour guide by 7AM. We passed by different hotel too, picking up other guests included in the tour. :)
It was a long, bumpy road to the port.
Stop over at Buenavista View Deck (CR Break, refreshments *buko 30php)
UNDERGROUND RIVER TOUR for Day 2!
We got to the Subterranean River National Park, waited a while for our turn for the boat ride.
Boat ride took more or less 15 minutes to the Underground River.
Upon arriving, more waiting time. Peak season = a lot of people!
We were each given an audio device before entering the cave. (Noise is not allowed inside the cave)
The underground river tour was really awesome--it was worth the wait! And definitely a great thing to experience.
We had lunch at a nearby eatery (lunch included in the package) after the tour.
Mark and I went to the sandbar (LOWTIDE) and we saw lotsa starfish!
Dinner at Tomato Basil Restaurant - ugh, sobrang saraaaap the food!!! This is probably our favorite restaurant inside the resort. Again, this dinner is included in the It's All In Package!
Mark and I capped the day off with night swimming!!! :)
DAY TWO - Watch the video here:
***DAY 3 (Island Hopping!)
It was raining in the morning!!!
Breakfast at 6AM (included in the It's All In Package) at Rice.
Tour guide picked us up by 7AM!
EXTRA EXPENSES: Aquatic Gear 150/pair of shoes; 150/snorkeling device (I suggest you bring your own) these are for RENT, if you lose it, you'll pay for it. Also, 15php for the bread (fish feeding food)
First Island - Starfish Island! We went snorkeling! Not much footage because we forgot the waterproof cam.
Second Island - Luli Island (Lulubog Lilitaw) BE CAREFUL OF JELLYFISH, one of the guests got stung! Mark and I enjoyed strolling around, instead :)
Third Island - Cowrie Island *We had lunch here! Included in the It's All In Package, buffet meal too! Mark and I enjoyed buko by the beach although kinda pricey 50php per buko. We also went kayaking 200.00php per hour!
Back in the hotel, Mark and I had dinner at Sala Lobby Lounge, one of the restaurants at the resort. We enjoyed the food! Dinner is included in the It's All In Package! :)
Mark and I felt so sleepy afterwards that we fell asleep!!! Too tired from today's activities!
DAY 3 - Watch the vlog here:
***DAY 4 (Last Day - FREE TIME + Firefly Watching)
No need to wake up early because the tour today wasn't until nighttime :)
Breakfast included in the It's All In Package (at Rice Restaurant)
Lunch at Rice included in the It's All In Package (at Rice Restaurant) *you can actually choose which restaurant you want to dine in at for the meals! Either Rice, Tomato Basil, Sala Lobby Lounge, or Golden Elephant*
I love the sampaguita plant right outside our villa, sobrang bango everytime we pass by!
Mark and I went kayaking (complimentary use for the water villa guests) It was so fun!
We also spent hours at the sandbar, where the water was so clear, the sand was fully out, lots of star fishies around. It was perfection!
Tour for the day - Iwahig Firefly Watching!!!
We had dinner first (included in the It's All In Package) at Kain Nato. Yummy Filipino food!
It was around 30-40 minutes from the hotel to the restaurant/iwahig firefly watching area. Make sure you wear mosquito repellent!
I especially LOVED this tour because of the phyto luminescent stuff in the waters - it was the water light up! Mark and I road 1 bangka with a tour guide. It was so relaxing, quiet all over, starry skies above. And we were lucky enough to spot a few trees with fireflies!!! (Pag mainit, there's not too much of them)
DAY 4 - Watch the vlog here:
***DAY 5 (LAST DAY - Flight Back to Manila)
Breakfast at Rice Restaurant (included in the It's All In Package * last meal included!)
Mark and I walked around the resort to check out the other facilities like the gym, giant chess, game area (darts, billiards), biking station, kiddie pool, function halls, ballroom hall, and the church/chapel.
This was also the day Mark and I went swimming! We had the pool to ourselves! The pool at the resort is heated at night, and nice and cool in the morning--one of my favorite things about this resort.
We also had one last outdoor Jacuzzi session before finally packing and leaving for the airport!
Lunch at RICE! We had the best meal before leaving, just look at this spread:
12nn check out at the resort.
EXTRA EXPENSES: Terminal Fee of 200.00 pesos per head upon leaving Palawan airport.
DAY 5 - Watch the vlog here:
It was one heck of a trip! We enjoyed it so much! Special thanks to Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa for the invite! Here's a special treat for you guys:
PROMO CODE: 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL ROOM TYPES FOR YOU GUYS - Use the code 'PRINCESAGARDEN' upon reservation
Go book those trips and enjoy as much as we did! http://www.princesagardenisland.com/
