Our Palawan Experience

I am a Filipina married to an Italian. Sorry if I write our experience in english becuase my Italian is not perfect. Me and my husband decided to spend our holiday in Palawan island hoping that we could spend a perfect holiday. Unfortunately, our holiday turned out to be the opposite as we expected. Our itinerary was to stay in Summer Homes Resort, Port Barton for 10 days then go to Puerto Princesa a day before our flight back to Manila and stay in Puerto Pension, Puerto Princesa. Our vacation started as we stepped in the plane of Philippine Airlines with a non accommodating crew instead of giving us a smile she gave us a frawn. Then as we arrived in Puerto Princesa Airport we waited for our baggage for 45 minutes, then van that we hired was already there waiting for us and instead of giving us aircondition he gave us heater…Upon arrival in Summer Homes Resort, they gave us a welcome drink and the key to our room without explaining where it is located (go and find your own room…) and no assistance was given. The real problem started when public electricity (P.E.) stops at midnight (P.E. Daily schedule from 6pm-12mn) and the generator as promised to be open as soon as the public electricity stops, was not true. Defenitely we had no electric fan, hot water and light from midnight till the following day at 6 pm. When we tried to have our dinner, we discovered that they have so much food listed on the menu but they have nothing on the kitchen…No food, no dinner only drinks…So we settled for a fresh mango shake but they served only that one on can…

When we decided to go on an island hopping we discovered that all the extra expenses aside from accommodation are to be paid in cash and not credit card. After 3 sleepless nights we decided to leave the the resort and upon getting the bill the manager told us that we have to pay additional night and they charge 6% more for payment made with credit card.

Then with a 4-6 passenger capacity boat we arrived in El Nido after 4 long hours, we found Lally and Abet Resort with aircon and generator working for only 4 hour. The resort has a european price but with a bad service. After our first night of stay, we requested to have a change of room and so they did transfer us to a smaller room and charged us with the same rate of the bigger room. Then we planned for an island hopping, we made clear that the price listed on their flyers is all inclusive like assured by the resort manager. On the last day upon getting the bill we found that there were extra charges added to our bill and the same 6% charge for credit card payment. Finally, we arrived to spend our last 3 days in Puerto Pension, Puerto Princesa. Nothing particular but the same 6% more charge. Lastly, we could say that Palawan is only a place with a nice nature but with bad service. And ONLY in Palawan they charge 6% for credit card payments.

Dear friend, if you want go to Palawan just be prepared for a surprises…