Following my Puerto Prinsesa blog.
In our case, since its already our third time, we decided not to take any tours anymore but stay in our accommodation for the entire three days. We stayed at Astoria Palawan.
Astoria Palawan is 1 1/2 hours bus ride from downtown (city proper of PP) and if you plan to join the city tour or underground river tour, I would not recommend that you stay in Astoria. However, if you plan to not do anything, as in nothing, then this is the place to be in Palawan. Let me count the reasons.
Before I start counting, once you arrive their gates, their friendly guards will greet you and hop you into their electric mini shuttle (I don't know how to call it).
Once you reach their reception, you will be welcomed with their signature necklace (feeling nasa Hawaii lang) and then their welcome drinks. Since we arrived 10:30 in the evening, we decided that our welcome drinks be served upon check out.
After checking in, we were briefed by the reception officer about the entire resort (that it was a 4 hectar mango farm) and we were introduced to the ammennites that we are entitled for.
Then we were cordially escorted by Sir Eric up to our room and gave every detail about the room that we will be staying. I am not sure if it was protocol for resorts and hotels but sir Eric toured us inside our room from where our key card should be placed, how to use the safety deposit box until up to the channels of the TV. I know that those are basic information that a person with common sense can easily comprehend (without asking) but hearing these instructions and guidance from Sir Eric made me feel special, like a VIP. More than the guidance, its the feeling of being taken cared of that wowed me!
Let me share with you what our room looked like.
This is was a great and comfy table set where we worked at while on vacation.
Our two queen sized bed, of course we used just one and the other one was the bed for our luggage.
Our side table.
If you noticed our headboard, it has a great texture with those uneven woods. If you noticed there were lights behind the woods and what is so amazing about that is it can be pulled out off the wall and it's an instant lampshade when you want to read while lying in your comfy bed.
In the room was a mini kitchen, we have our mini fridge with utensils with it.
We have our microwave and our little kette for our morning coffee.
Our clothes rack, with our own safe, slippers and digital weighing scale.
Bathroom essentials.
I hope they can also include an inspect reppelant on the list.
Let me go back to my list of reasons.
First, its secluded, there were not much tourists in the area and so you will definitely enjoy your own view of the beach.
Yes they have a beach front but although it's not white sand, you will still enjoy the sand, sun and salt water because they have some activities that you can enjoy like Kayakking and beach volleyball.
It also has a mini playground for the kiddos out there and they will not be bored.
Aside from the beach, they also has their infinity pool where you can stay and relax, whether it's cooling down in the water or just plain sun bathing. Once you are there at the pool area, Kuya will hand you your own pool towel, yes that's a separate towel from your bath towel.
You can also take your breakfast at the poolside.
If you are not a water person and you like it indoors, aside from staying in your Pod, they have a game room that you can visit. What do I mean with game room? Yes you are thinking it right, they have video games, not the oldies type of video games but Kinect and Wii.
They also have iPad Mini that you can utilize if you don't want to use their Kinect and Wii. For the Non techy out there, they have board games that you can use and it can all be played by an entire family.
Bookworms out there, you also have a place here, there are books available (though not that many) that you can borrow and read at the game room area, reception or your room. I am just not sure if you can also bring the books at the pool and beach side.
For the frustrated singers like me, yes I admit that, they also have a videoke room that you can use. The room is big enough to accommodate a max of 15 - 20 people. And if you are celebrating a special occasion, you can order food from the restaurant and bring there at the videoke room.
They also have majong table if you want to play.
For the buff ones, they have a gym that you can use complete with gym equipment and paraphernalias. There is also a billiards table and a table tennis table that you can use. Though the gym is like 5 minute walk away from the reception its still quite a view, or you can use their mountain bikes going to the gym and yes its free.
All of these amenities are for free but is a first come first serve basis. You can use them from (I hope I'm right) 6am to 10pm.
Last but not the least is their stylish restaurant that offers mouth watering entrees!!
Everything that we ordered was great - I don't have any complaints about the food -- it was worth all the penny we paid for.
To summarize our stay in Astoria Palawan is 7/10.
Note: this is Palawan and there are insects + it was a mango farm. So if you are sensitive to insect bites better bring along with you your mosquito repellant. :)
To have an idea which side is Puerto Princesa this is, its along the way going to El Nido.
Xoxo
In our case, since its already our third time, we decided not to take any tours anymore but stay in our accommodation for the entire three days. We stayed at Astoria Palawan.
Astoria Palawan is 1 1/2 hours bus ride from downtown (city proper of PP) and if you plan to join the city tour or underground river tour, I would not recommend that you stay in Astoria. However, if you plan to not do anything, as in nothing, then this is the place to be in Palawan. Let me count the reasons.
Before I start counting, once you arrive their gates, their friendly guards will greet you and hop you into their electric mini shuttle (I don't know how to call it).
Once you reach their reception, you will be welcomed with their signature necklace (feeling nasa Hawaii lang) and then their welcome drinks. Since we arrived 10:30 in the evening, we decided that our welcome drinks be served upon check out.
After checking in, we were briefed by the reception officer about the entire resort (that it was a 4 hectar mango farm) and we were introduced to the ammennites that we are entitled for.
Then we were cordially escorted by Sir Eric up to our room and gave every detail about the room that we will be staying. I am not sure if it was protocol for resorts and hotels but sir Eric toured us inside our room from where our key card should be placed, how to use the safety deposit box until up to the channels of the TV. I know that those are basic information that a person with common sense can easily comprehend (without asking) but hearing these instructions and guidance from Sir Eric made me feel special, like a VIP. More than the guidance, its the feeling of being taken cared of that wowed me!
Let me share with you what our room looked like.
This is was a great and comfy table set where we worked at while on vacation.
Our two queen sized bed, of course we used just one and the other one was the bed for our luggage.
Our side table.
If you noticed our headboard, it has a great texture with those uneven woods. If you noticed there were lights behind the woods and what is so amazing about that is it can be pulled out off the wall and it's an instant lampshade when you want to read while lying in your comfy bed.
In the room was a mini kitchen, we have our mini fridge with utensils with it.
We have our microwave and our little kette for our morning coffee.
Our clothes rack, with our own safe, slippers and digital weighing scale.
Bathroom essentials.
I hope they can also include an inspect reppelant on the list.
Let me go back to my list of reasons.
First, its secluded, there were not much tourists in the area and so you will definitely enjoy your own view of the beach.
Yes they have a beach front but although it's not white sand, you will still enjoy the sand, sun and salt water because they have some activities that you can enjoy like Kayakking and beach volleyball.
It also has a mini playground for the kiddos out there and they will not be bored.
Aside from the beach, they also has their infinity pool where you can stay and relax, whether it's cooling down in the water or just plain sun bathing. Once you are there at the pool area, Kuya will hand you your own pool towel, yes that's a separate towel from your bath towel.
You can also take your breakfast at the poolside.
If you are not a water person and you like it indoors, aside from staying in your Pod, they have a game room that you can visit. What do I mean with game room? Yes you are thinking it right, they have video games, not the oldies type of video games but Kinect and Wii.
They also have iPad Mini that you can utilize if you don't want to use their Kinect and Wii. For the Non techy out there, they have board games that you can use and it can all be played by an entire family.
Bookworms out there, you also have a place here, there are books available (though not that many) that you can borrow and read at the game room area, reception or your room. I am just not sure if you can also bring the books at the pool and beach side.
For the frustrated singers like me, yes I admit that, they also have a videoke room that you can use. The room is big enough to accommodate a max of 15 - 20 people. And if you are celebrating a special occasion, you can order food from the restaurant and bring there at the videoke room.
They also have majong table if you want to play.
For the buff ones, they have a gym that you can use complete with gym equipment and paraphernalias. There is also a billiards table and a table tennis table that you can use. Though the gym is like 5 minute walk away from the reception its still quite a view, or you can use their mountain bikes going to the gym and yes its free.
All of these amenities are for free but is a first come first serve basis. You can use them from (I hope I'm right) 6am to 10pm.
Last but not the least is their stylish restaurant that offers mouth watering entrees!!
Everything that we ordered was great - I don't have any complaints about the food -- it was worth all the penny we paid for.
 |
| Fried Lamayo Fish |
 |
| Home made Chicken Tocino |
 |
| Roasted Crab Cakes |
 |
| Twice cooked Bicol Express |
Note: this is Palawan and there are insects + it was a mango farm. So if you are sensitive to insect bites better bring along with you your mosquito repellant. :)
To have an idea which side is Puerto Princesa this is, its along the way going to El Nido.
Xoxo
