Our Perfect Palawan Honeymoon
Planning a trip makes me so excited that it often results to over planning, anxiety, and mental exhaustion. Luckily, my sister and I had the "honeymoon talk" which gave me the right mindset as I planned for our romantic getaway. She helped me understand that (1) a honeymoon is not solely about being intimate with your spouse - although that is a big part of it; (2) a honeymoon is not the time to go full-on "turista" mode and obsess about visiting all recommended sites in the area; and (3) a honeymoon is not a one-time event, but a transition from a BF/GF relationship to husband/wife.
So, how do you plan for a perfect Palawan honeymoon?
Airfare
Gian and I were very fortunate to find really cheap airfare for our Palawan trip. Cebu Pacific had a seat sale at that time and we were able to purchase round trip tickets for only PhP 1,630 (yes, about $31 for both of us). The key to securing cheap airline tickets is to buy early. We bought our tickets 4 months in advance which gave us plenty of time to focus on the details of our wedding instead of worrying about where to spend our honeymoon.
Travel Dates
We left the day after our wedding and spent 6 days in Puerto Princesa. We didn't originally plan to stay there for that long but because of the APEC Summit we had to re-book our flight and come home a few days later. I wasn't at all devastated because it meant a few more days of relaxation. But personally, I think 4 days is a good amount of time to spend out of town. 2 days allotted for travelling to and from our destination and the other 2 days to relax and have fun.
Accommodation
Because it was a "honeymoon," deciding on where to stay was a big deal for both of us. Although we wanted to keep it relatively cheap, we didn't want to compromise comfort either. After much deliberation, we decided to stay at Subli Guest Cabins in Puerto Princesa. The rate was PhP 1,193 ($23) per night. Our stay there was amazing! The location was very private and it wasn't a typical room-in-a-big-building accommodation. We specifically chose the place because it was very provincial with individual cabins, an outdoor swing, big trees, and a homey atmosphere. That may not be your preference, but remember to pick a place where you can relax, lounge around, and have the option to stay outside instead of being cooped up inside a hotel room.
Activities
With the right purpose in mind, we wanted our trip to be about the two of us rather than scurrying from one destination to another. So we decided to just stay in Puerto Princesa for the whole duration of the trip. There were only two things that we really wanted to do in Palawan anyway. One was the Underground River Tour and the other was the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (Crocodile Farm). Everything else we did after that was just by intuition (and a few ideas from TripAdvisor). My point is that you don't have to overbook your day with activities. Give yourself plenty of time to stroll around, eat, take long naps, and have lengthy conversations.
Food!
For us, the success of a trip is greatly influenced by the quality of the food we eat. We do not mind spending a little bit more for a really good meal. Besides, I've always believed that you never truly experience the culture of the place you're visiting until you try their food. So, to start you off on a satisfying food trip, here's a few recommended restaurants that you should visit:
1. KaLui Restaurant - We actually just found this place through TripAdvisor, and then we later realized how famous it was throughout Puerto Princesa. You probably need to make a reservation before going there because it gets packed with people. We were lucky because we were already there before they even opened so we got a table without a problem. The place was just amazing and the food was superb. The best part is that it wasn't hard on the wallet. It was actually very affordable.
2. Noki Nocs Savory House - Their halo-halo is to die for! I don't even know how to explain how good it was, so just take my word for it. It will change your life.
3. Bona's Chaolong Restaurant - Did you know that Vietnamese food is a thing in Palawan? We learned during our trip that a great number of Vietnamese refugees stayed in Palawan after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 which influenced the island's culinary history. That's why there's Vietnamese food everywhere and we didn't want to leave the place without giving it a try.
4. Baker's Hill - We didn't really have a meal there. We just heard that they sell the best hopia and so we bought some. We were not disappointed.
Budget
I'm usually very good with money, but when I'm on a trip... I tend to forget budgeting rules. I am not proud of it, so I'll just say this instead: Stick to your budget but don't let it ruin your trip. You should be making memories not bookkeeping. I guess the only budgeting rule I stick with when travelling is that you should always have a little extra in case you need it.
The ultimate key to planning the perfect honeymoon trip is to remember that the destination does not really matter. Gian and I could have stayed in our apartment instead of going to Palawan and we would have enjoyed each other's company just as much. Coz' when you think about it, it's not really the place that matters but who you are spending it with.
Airfare
Gian and I were very fortunate to find really cheap airfare for our Palawan trip. Cebu Pacific had a seat sale at that time and we were able to purchase round trip tickets for only PhP 1,630 (yes, about $31 for both of us). The key to securing cheap airline tickets is to buy early. We bought our tickets 4 months in advance which gave us plenty of time to focus on the details of our wedding instead of worrying about where to spend our honeymoon.
Travel Dates
We left the day after our wedding and spent 6 days in Puerto Princesa. We didn't originally plan to stay there for that long but because of the APEC Summit we had to re-book our flight and come home a few days later. I wasn't at all devastated because it meant a few more days of relaxation. But personally, I think 4 days is a good amount of time to spend out of town. 2 days allotted for travelling to and from our destination and the other 2 days to relax and have fun.
Accommodation
Because it was a "honeymoon," deciding on where to stay was a big deal for both of us. Although we wanted to keep it relatively cheap, we didn't want to compromise comfort either. After much deliberation, we decided to stay at Subli Guest Cabins in Puerto Princesa. The rate was PhP 1,193 ($23) per night. Our stay there was amazing! The location was very private and it wasn't a typical room-in-a-big-building accommodation. We specifically chose the place because it was very provincial with individual cabins, an outdoor swing, big trees, and a homey atmosphere. That may not be your preference, but remember to pick a place where you can relax, lounge around, and have the option to stay outside instead of being cooped up inside a hotel room.
Activities
With the right purpose in mind, we wanted our trip to be about the two of us rather than scurrying from one destination to another. So we decided to just stay in Puerto Princesa for the whole duration of the trip. There were only two things that we really wanted to do in Palawan anyway. One was the Underground River Tour and the other was the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (Crocodile Farm). Everything else we did after that was just by intuition (and a few ideas from TripAdvisor). My point is that you don't have to overbook your day with activities. Give yourself plenty of time to stroll around, eat, take long naps, and have lengthy conversations.
Food!
For us, the success of a trip is greatly influenced by the quality of the food we eat. We do not mind spending a little bit more for a really good meal. Besides, I've always believed that you never truly experience the culture of the place you're visiting until you try their food. So, to start you off on a satisfying food trip, here's a few recommended restaurants that you should visit:
1. KaLui Restaurant - We actually just found this place through TripAdvisor, and then we later realized how famous it was throughout Puerto Princesa. You probably need to make a reservation before going there because it gets packed with people. We were lucky because we were already there before they even opened so we got a table without a problem. The place was just amazing and the food was superb. The best part is that it wasn't hard on the wallet. It was actually very affordable.
2. Noki Nocs Savory House - Their halo-halo is to die for! I don't even know how to explain how good it was, so just take my word for it. It will change your life.
3. Bona's Chaolong Restaurant - Did you know that Vietnamese food is a thing in Palawan? We learned during our trip that a great number of Vietnamese refugees stayed in Palawan after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 which influenced the island's culinary history. That's why there's Vietnamese food everywhere and we didn't want to leave the place without giving it a try.
4. Baker's Hill - We didn't really have a meal there. We just heard that they sell the best hopia and so we bought some. We were not disappointed.
Budget
I'm usually very good with money, but when I'm on a trip... I tend to forget budgeting rules. I am not proud of it, so I'll just say this instead: Stick to your budget but don't let it ruin your trip. You should be making memories not bookkeeping. I guess the only budgeting rule I stick with when travelling is that you should always have a little extra in case you need it.
The ultimate key to planning the perfect honeymoon trip is to remember that the destination does not really matter. Gian and I could have stayed in our apartment instead of going to Palawan and we would have enjoyed each other's company just as much. Coz' when you think about it, it's not really the place that matters but who you are spending it with.
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