The only place in Puerto Princesa which offers a true all-inclusive island getaway is Dos Palmas. This 4-star island resort is the perfect place if you want to get away from it all. All you’ll need to do is just show up at the airport’s arrival area and the hotel staff will do the rest for you. From carrying your luggage to the car, to your welcome drinks at the reception, down to your butler guiding you to your beautiful and spacious villa – everything will be hassle-free and effortless, a true sense of a VIP experience.
Dos Palmas is a luxurious resort with its own private island. The one-hour boat ride to the island is nothing short of mesmerizing with sparkling sapphire waters and isolated islands along Honda Bay. This 20-hectare secluded and exclusive paradise is home to a diverse wildlife and healthy ecosystem with 300 species of corals, fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. There are also at least 95 species of both migratory and non-migratory birds and 3 turtle species.
Nowhere else in Puerto Princesa can you find a resort at this caliber. Princesa Garden may be more luxurious but it doesn’t have the beach that Dos Palmas is offering. Blue Palawan has a beachfront but it is not as luxurious and the beach is not good for swimming. So, if you want to experience a bit of living off-the-grid lifestyle but in a luxurious manner, this is your perfect opportunity.
Dos Palmas provide an excellent all-inclusive kind of service. From the moment they picked you up at the airport until the time that you have to leave, you will be treated like VIP. The staff is very professional and well-trained, and the willingness to help is there all the time.
The whole island is measured at 20 hectares and maintaining it is not an easy task but Dos Palmas is able to keep it clean and orderly. The exteriors might be outdated but it is evident as to how long the resort has been in service.
The rooms are slightly outdated but they are spacious and clean. They all have beautiful views to the sea and are equipped with modern comforts like AC, mini bar, safe and hot and cold shower.
The beach is arguably the focal point of the resort and it is indeed a real beach perfect for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. This stands in contrast to the beach at Blue Palawan and Princesa Garden which is just a bay with mangroves. The swimming pool is big and beautifully designed. There is a kiddie pool and a lap pool as well.
Given that the resort is located on its own private island, you get exactly what you expect. Dos Palmas is far from the city but the location is perfect if you crave for peace and quiet and just want to be close to nature.
Value for money should have been excellent if the amenities and the façade will be updated. The luxury is still evident in the whole place but it has seen better days. Customers will naturally expect more updated amenities all around given that the price is not cheap. But considering the fact that the resort sits on a beautiful island, the price is worth it.
As an all-inclusive resort, Dos Palmas provide a wide array of amenities for comfort, safety and relaxation. It has its own chapel where Catholic mass is held every Monday. The chapel is also perfect for wedding ceremonies. For your safety, security guards are patrolling not only the vicinity but also the water perimeters 24 hours a day. There is also a clinic with an on-call nurse and a doctor and all staff members are trained in first aid if anything happens. The reception area is not open 24 hours which is understandable because the ferry to the island is only until 4pm.
Dos Palmas resort offers spacious and well-appointed villas overlooking the Cerulean sea. Each villa has its own veranda which is half the size of the spacious bedroom. The soothing earth tones reflect the island vibe which is both rustic and fancy. There is an infinity pool fringed with palm trees, a bar, rejuvenating spa, a basketball court, tennis court, videoke rooms and a sea-food restaurant.
There is no TV in the rooms (except the executive rooms), as they aim to give you an off-the-grid experience. Other services include: Wi-Fi (intermittent), a souvenir shop, art center (showcasing local art products) and a number of recreational facilities (board games, basketball and tennis courts, pool table, dart boards, videoke rooms, and table tennis).
The general reputation of the place remained positive for more than 20 years now. Overall feedback across all online travel platforms is really reassuring. In Tripadvisor, there are 549 reviews and general score rating is 4.0. Agoda.com rating is 8.3 with 1063 reviews. There is no account for booking.com but Expedia gave it a score of 4.3 with 138 reviews.
Guests loved the whole island but going to the resort. The journey from the airport to the island is more or less 1.5 hours but it is already included in the room price which is a big bonus. Excellent service from the staff is always complimented. The amenities are very good but somewhat outdated. A lot of guests also stated that the food is very good and very affordable, although some found it a bit lacking and repetitive. Generally, guests would love to come back and will surely recommend Dos Palmas to their friends.
What do guests love about Dos Palmas?
Some of the less appealing aspects are:
Dos Palmas is ideal for couples and honeymooners. This all-inclusive island resort offers everything that you ask for and so much more in between. Much like Princesa Garden, Dos Palmas cares for the natural environment. However, Dos Palmas provides more activities to do. The wide array of things to do in Dos Palmas makes it the only all-inclusive accommodation in all of Puerto Princesa. That is what makes it the best resort for your stay in Puerto Princesa.
The beach villas can accommodate 4 adults. It is 28.74m2 with a large veranda ranging from 13.5 to 20m2. The beds are 1 queen, 1 double and a day bed.
Executive villas can accommodate 5 adults with double or queen-sized beds. These villas offer the best sea and sunset views. There is a living room and an LCD TV with DVD player. The room size is 48.26 sqm with the veranda occupying an additional 37.45m2.
