The Worlds best Island 2016

I believe you may be meaning Nido, a small island at one end of Palawan, where the eponymous resort is expensive but only by Philippine standards - you'd pay a lot more for less elsewhere. Away from Puerto Princessa, Palawan isn't especially safe for a white skinned long nose such as thee or me, there have been a few attacks and kidnappings. Nido provides its own transportation for getting guests from the airport and city hotels.

Palawan, El Nido to be more accurate, is on the itinerary for our (hopeful) trip to the Philippines in February. Reserved three nights at Mahogany Beach Resort. A quarter of the price of El Nido Resort, but with excellent ratings.



Also carrying out a whistle-stop four day visit to Baguio, so that I can stop sweating, and Melody can see the flower festival.

Fingers are crossed!

Yep, that's the resort I would also choose to stay at too, Chris. You need to be in possession of a gold Amex card to stay at the El Nido. About the only significant differences between the El Nido and Mahogany Beach are their relative locations and the marques and ages of their respective transfer minivans.

Baguio will be quite beautiful in February but do pray for a dry spell. The mountain highway can be very treacherous during and after heavy rain and if you are of a nervous disposition, don't sit next to the window on the bus! As a matter of fact, Victory Liner runs two distinct services: in addition to its normal aircon buses with limited legroom, there's a VIP service carrying half the number of passengers with (IIRC) meal and drinks service in comparative luxury at a modest increase in fare. The normal service stops several times, the VIP one is (or was) non-stop.

Managed to be in palawan on a budget. 2 days in Puerto princessa and 3 days in el nido for a total cost of php7k per person. Included hotel, flight (from davao), underwater cave and firefly tour and transport. Had to shell out extra for el nido island tours and food but still lower than php10k per person.

Of course we didnt stay in an expensive hotel but we were outside 12 hrs a day so i thought its a waste of good hotel.

Im of the same persuation, if the hotel isn't going to be somewhere you are spending time then a cheaper alternative makes sense. Looks really nice. One for the bucket list.

I meant it figuratively but it would not surprise me if you'd be given that certain look if you presented a Visa or MasterCard, regardless of their metallic status. It strikes me as just that sort of place.