Dos Palmas Resort Palawan - Unbridled Beauty and Luxury

Riding on a boat into luxurious Dos Palmas Resort is like stepping into a candy-coated dream. Everything is set to stoke your senses. A group of welcoming revelers queue at the foyer, dressed in floral shirts and skirts. A few of them play what would seem like indigenous percussion instruments. This thumping sound always signals the arrival of guests. Then as you steady your sea legs on to the concrete path that leads to the resort lobby, you are handed a drink of Four Seasons with miniature paper umbrellas, a slice of orange, or a chunk of pineapple sitting atop your glass. This is a common scenario every time.

On my third visit to this resort (I can’t seem to deny myself the pleasure every time I am in Puerto Princesa), nothing has changed much. Day tour guests are ushered into the restaurant where a 15-minute briefing is conducted by a resort staff. This time, it was a girl named Maricel. You have to be patient and hear them out coz this briefing actually saves you time. It will tell you what activities you can partake; what facility you can use or how much. It also saves them time rather than receiving individual queries. This briefing will optimize your stay on the island. Payment for your day tour is expected at the end of your stay before taking your boat back to mainland Puerto Princesa, although I suggest you pay the soonest possible time. You don’t want to miss your boat back just coz you were belatedly paying at the counter.

Calm and pristinely blue, the Honda Bay waters sparkle...

ABDUCTION AND DEATH IN THE SEAT OF LUXURY

Dos Palmas Resort sits on a 20 kilometer island called Arrecife. It emerges among 10-15 major islands and sand bars that dot the pristine waters of Honda Bay, almost an hour of travel from mainland’s Santa Lourdes wharf. It’s also farthest from the bay after Fondeado Island. This accounts for its security vulnerability, contributing to why several years ago, the Abu Sayaf bandits were able to sneak in and abduct tourists from the resort. They have since addressed that freak incident! For a good reason, the management never seems to address queries about that unfortunate incident. But this tack is a bit irresponsible, if you ask me. Another unfortunate incident was the death of teen actor Rico Yan (he died in his sleep over acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis). During the “cottage tour”, we were told they are not allowed to discuss queries on which particular cottage the beloved actor died. “Malas daw sa negosyo,” (It’s bad for business) we were told.

Having mentioned those two incidents, it is important to note that Dos Palmas is a well secured, albeit expensive haven. Would I visit it repeatedly, despite its limiting rates if I didn’t think it was safe? Usually, I am happy with a single visit. But I love being left all alone in Dos Palma’s sister-islet, Isla Putting Buhangin, aka Area 6.

FLOWER OVERDOSE

Here are a few of the activities to be enjoyed at this luxurious resort – kayaking, diving or snorkeling, waddling at their swimming pool, massages at their zen-styled spa (with flowers artistically spread all over tables, walls, bathrooms, posts, mirrors, couches - ridiculously everywhere! You do tend to wonder if they never run out of fresh flowers if they over-decorate the whole resort on a daily basis. I am not complaining, but I have to mention that this practice is a bit extravagant. I am nevertheless more than impressed.

DON’T FORGET YOUR TOWEL – RATES IN DOS PALMAS

Visiting Dos Palmas is an expensive endeavor especially if you have your family with you. It is, after all, a luxury resort for the well-heeled. For example, if you suffered a bout of momentary idiocy and forgot your towel and you wanted to rent one, they would charge PhP500 ($10) for it. Their published rate is as follows (on a per person per night basis):

Bay Cottage – These are the front cottages standing on stilts in mid-sea. These are also ideal for honeymooners.

Single PHP 14,500.00 ($296)
Double PHP 12,000.00 ($246)

Beach Villa – These are the land-based cottages, facing the sea.
Single PHP 13,500.00 ($276.50)
Twin PHP 11,000.00 ($225)

Triple/Quad PHP 10,000.00 ($205)

Child Rate PHP 3,000.00 ($61.50) for children 6-5 years old. Younger kids are free of charge.

Package Inclusions
• Accommodation in an air-conditioned cottage or villa
• Full board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) per night stay
• Scheduled roundtrip land and boat transfers (city-resort-city)
• Picnic lunch at nearby island (minimum 2 nights stay)
• One DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING per person per stay (for non-divers) inclusive of diving gear OR One FILIPINO MASSAGE/HILOT service from our Paranarian Island Spa (for a minimum of 2 nights stay)
• Complimentary use of the following facilities and equipment:
- Swimming pool and Jacuzzi
- Children’s playground
- Ocean kayaks
- Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins)
- Courts and equipment (tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, beach badminton)
- Recreation center (darts, billiards, table tennis, videoke and mini-library)
- Resort bikes
• Speedboat transfers to nearby snorkeling and picnic sites
• Complimentary coffee and/or hot tea throughout the stay
• Welcome drink.
• Services of a guest officer and marine sports guide.
• Service charge and applicable government tax at time of booking

DAY TOUR OR STAY-IN?

Having mentioned the rates, it is instructive to say that it is best to just get the day tours that usually start with a bus ride from mainland’s NCCC grounds. Dos Palmas buses wait for reserved guests until 7 AM, then leave for Santa Lourdes wharf. Guests are then ushered into a boat and ferried to the island. This boat ride is a very comfortable 1 hour ride. The boat leaves Dos Palmas and back to mainland Puerto Princesa at 3:30PM. Don’t lose yourself in your frolic by missing the afternoon ferry.

Published rate for a day tour is as follows:

ADULT PHP 2,500.00 ($51)

CHILD PHP 1,200.00 ($24.50)

Package inclusions
• Scheduled roundtrip land and boat transfers (city-resort-city)
• Lunch
• Use of the following facilities and equipment:
- Children’s playground
- Ocean kayaks
- Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins)
- Courts and equipment (tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, beach badminton)
- Recreation center (darts, billiards, table tennis, videoke and mini-library)
- Resort bikes
• Speedboat transfers to nearby snorkeling and sites
• Complimentary coffee and/or hot tea throughout the day
• Welcome drink
• Service charge and applicable government tax at time of booking

OFF-PEAK PROMO – THE NO-TV ZONE!

This aforementioned rate gets cheaper during off-peak season so it is better to plan ahead. They charge PhP1,800 ($37) during off-peak. Their lunch buffet is to die for and we shall feature it at a separate post.

It is my favorite part of the visit. Their stay-in rates include all meals. We do have a warning. All their cottages and villas have no television! Nope, you cannot idly lie back and watch your cables. Their reason for this is that they believe it will encourage their guests to try out the other services that the resort offers because, after all, “why go on a holiday if all you do is watch TV?” But I do believe there are dead hours where you do absolutely nothing on an island. Those hours after dinner before bedtime. Those twilight hours at sunrise before a hearty breakfast. I think it is a lame excuse not to invest in cable television. For a stupendously expensive resort, I think its guests should have the prerogative to watch their tv or not! Other than that minor detail, Dos Palmas should be perfect!

WHAT FANTASIES ARE MADE OF

Isla Puting Buhangin (which literally means “white sand sland”), otherwise known as “Area 6” is a 15-minute speedboat ride north of Dos Palmas. It is an isle barely 1 hectare in size. There are no facilities to speak of, but you can stay there, gather your thoughts, do your soul searching – on your solitary self! My previous visits were special. I instructed them to take me there and for 2 hours, I would be left alone. There were no other people. I was stranded on a beautiful small island and it felt like the ultimate getaway from everything! Isn’t that what fantasies are made of? I loved how the wave patterns shifted in the afternoon - when sandbars changed form. On my third visit, however, they have set limits to visit the island. A guest can only visit Area 6 if they have a minimum of 2 overnights. Otherwise, you pay PhP4,000 for your short visit! Isn’t that ridiculous? For an island with no facilities to speak of, they will charge you $81.60!

NAMING A RESORT

Dos Palmas derives its name from the iconic twin palm trees that grew at the center of the island prior to its development (allegedly by the same group that developed Davao’s Pearl Farm Resort). These days however, only one palm tree stands – and it is a dead trunk! We took a hike to get there. It is situated behind the Beach Villas, a few walks behind the Housekeeping Building. It is Dos Palmas no more, except for the vestiges of its being. Isn’t it sad?

Arrecife Island is supposed to mean “8 reef”.

If you are planning for a day tour, reserve for a spot at least a day before your planned visit. I booked mine (by calling) from Manila through a guest officer named Elvin who suffered a bout of stupidity. When asked if they pick up guests from Casa Linda (I stayed in 4 different hotels for this trip for a constant change of environment), he replied by rationalizing, “No, we don’t, because it is out of the way.” Last time I was in PP, I stayed in ultra-posh Asturias Hotel which is OUT of the way. But guests from Asturias Hotel enjoy an exclusive pick-up service (I had the van all to myself. Even my boat ride only had 4 other people in it.) at no additional cost! You see, Casa Linda is along Rizal Avenue, so if you believe that your guests don’t know their maps, then you are an idiot to think that I would take your word when you say that it is out of the way. Hotel Asturias is out of the way, not Casa Linda. Use a more logical excuse – like “you’re not staying at an affiliated hotel.”

Welcome drinks for the arriving guests. A resort staff beats his drum.

The resort's main runway to the front desk.

Bay cottage

Dos Palmas area map

Briefing area at the restaurant.

Randomly arranged flowers in every space available.

Bougainvillia entry into the swimming pool area.

Mangrove poetry.

Foot path to a hidden cottage.

Kayaking

The PhP14,500 (per person per night) Bay Cottage. Yup, that's $296!

A chapel.

They grow their own vegetables, as well as their own pigs and chicken (photos of them next post).

Hiking path some 20 minutes from the lobby. I wanted to roam the whole island, but as i went further, i heard livid barking from 2 dogs. And I hate stray dogs, so I went back and took another wavy path.

Desalinating plant.

Una Palma. The remaining palm tree, located at the back of the Housekeeping Building, is dead and rotting. Dos Palmas no more.

Sumptuous lunch buffet - my favorite part of the PhP1,800 off-peak rate.

Resort Spa's swimming pool

Spa's main lobby (above) and their curvaceous rattan chairs (below), spread all over the resort.

Front desk - this is where you pay your entrance fee. Pay well ahead before departure (best after lunch).

This photo, the aerial view (3rd photo) and the maps below only courtesy of http://www.dospalmas.com.ph/accommodation.php.

Puerto Princesa is a 50-minute plane ride from the capital of Manila, and about 45 minutes from Cebu City. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to and from Davao City, the country's 3rd most influential city.

CONTACT DETAIL

Dos Palmas business office is located at 89 Lacao Street, Puerto Princesa City 5300, with telephone number (+6348) 4343118. They have a Manila office along Julia Vargas in Ortigas Center (+632) 637-4226, 637-4236), but it is more advisable to call their PP number for a more direct and faster result at no additional expense (except for the long distance call). Get the name of the person you’ve spoken to – for reference. Their email address: info@dospalmas.com.ph for further inquiries.

In this post, we feature an overview photoblog of the resort, but there’s more to come next blog for those who are considering an overnight stay. If you have the urge to splurge, this is your perfect holiday getaway!

Food, fruits and flowers in Dos Palmas Resort - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/09/food-tripping-and-flower-overdose-in.html

More photos: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/09/images-from-dos-palmas.html

Puerto Princesa Airport - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/10/puerto-princesa-airport-chaos-in-small.html