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TRAVEL TO SABANG BEACH, PALAWAN,PHILIPPINES

Palawan Island is a popular destination for many international tourists who visit the Philippines.  Usually, they flock to Coron Islands or El Nido Beach. Recently, Sabang Beach has become a go-to destination because of its beautiful beach and its proximity to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the  New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Sabang Beach is located about 100 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa. To reach Sabang Beach from Manila:  Fly to Puerto Princesa Airport (estimated fly time: one hour) and book a minibus going to Sabang  ( approximately 2 hours ) from Puerto Princesa Airport.

TRANSPORT:

It is definitely advantageous and convenient to book your transport with your hotel before arriving in Palawan.  Minibus fares costs around $10 per person. The place is remote and rural but the roads are well paved and wide.

Usually,  it costs around  $300 to fly roundtrip from Manila to Puerto Princesa  (PPS). We wanted a better deal so we waited patiently until Philippine Airlines had its Seat Sale. Patience always pays so we bagged our tickets for $100 each!

When we fly local, we prefer Philippine Airlines because of the service, choice of flights and the overall quality of the airline. Other airlines who fly there are Air Asia and Cebu Pacific.

HOTEL:

We booked through Agoda.com and opted to stay at the Sheraton Beach Hotel, a 4-star hotel in Sabang.  Rates were around $100 a night when we were there. There are other less pricey options in the area but we figured the facilities ( pool, garden, rooms, restaurant)  would make us happy.

The hotel’s electricity is run by generators  24/7 but there are constant interruptions during the day that lasted a minute or two. The rooms were clean and had good wifi although some of our companions thought some rooms look dated. Food was good at their restaurant so we did not have a need to leave the property.

The hotel’s pool is touted to be longest in Palawan. It had a  good kids area and a pool bar in the middle.  It was clean and not too chlorinated and not too crowded so it was very relaxing to hang out there.

The topography: there were beautiful majestic mountains in the back of the property and a long stretch of beach in the front. It is in a quiet rural remote area and it is definitely conducive to relaxation.

The beach is only a few meters from the hotel and our kids played in the sand for a huge part of the morning and had so much fun. The best time to go is from October to March but we were there in June and it was great weather despite the fact that it was rainy season in the Philippines (lucky us!).

ACTIVITIES:

There are many activities for families like kayaking, boarding, zip lining, ATV, farm and mangrove visits and of course, the Underground River.

Our family decided early on that it was best to spend more time at the beach  and enjoy the water, the sand, the wind, and each others’ company. And we did. Spending quality time with family in a beautiful and quiet area made all the difference in making our travel so meaningful and restful.

Overall, visiting the Sabang Beach was a good vacation choice.

When it Rains in Manila, What do we do?

The Philippines has two seasons- dry and wet.  The wet or rainy season starts in May and ends in November. The rest of the year is the dry season, but really is not, because it rains, too!

Traveling to Manila during the wet season, although not impossible, has its challenges.

There are massive traffic jams in the city including in the air. It took our plane almost one-hour circling the Manila International Airport before our pilot got the go signal to land. (We have heard stories where the plane circled for two hours!) When we finally landed and loaded our luggage into the car, it took us another one hour to leave the airport parking due to the massive car congestion within the parking area. Luckily for us, once we left the lot, all was smooth sailing. I guess it was only because it was 2 am by then.

There was a monsoon rain that became a typhoon when we were there.  The gentle short showers became massive long downpours.

The next few days, traveling by car in Manila was slow and difficult.  Note to self: Bring a water bottle so you are constantly hydrated (very important as it can get very hot oftentimes) but It is best to limit your liquid intake before a trip- as much as your bladder can take it. You never know when you get stuck in traffic and there is no bathroom nearby. It is also a good idea to bring small snacks with you. You do not want to be “hangry“.

Streets were flooded and if your errand or meeting was not too crucial, it was best to stay indoors. That was what we decided to do.

However inconvenient, rain has something good to offer.

The constant dripping on the window pane or just the sound of the loud downpour can be surprisingly calming.  The sound of rain reminds me of memories when we were kids and childishly, we prayed for more rain so our classes would be suspended by the school and city officials and we can stay home and play!

For many, there is no better time for a good read or maybe coffee with friends, old and new when it is raining.

Rain helps one focus inwardly. A quiet chat with one’s self rewards you with inspiration and often, better creative output.

My Earliest Travels started early. I must have been 5 years old.

My earliest Memory of traveling was lying comfortably in both my parents’ laps during bus rides visiting relatives, who lived a few hours away from our Mountain city.

I remember the distinct obnoxious petroleum smell from the bus and how it made me nauseous all the time.  The bus zigzagged through the mountain roads to get to the lowlands fast and all I could do was lie down because I was just too dizzy to be upright.

Finally, upon reaching the lowlands, a huge throng of vendors boarded the buses. With a loud cacophony, they sold food items like peanuts, chicharron or pork rinds, boiled corn, quail eggs, and myriad other things. It was a long arduous ride.

Arriving at relatives and friends homes, we would immediately be served a  bountiful feast of newly prepared foods- both steaming and cold. In no time, we would be doing fun activities like climbing trees and eating new fruits and playing with cousins. We visited beautiful beaches and ate at wonderful restaurants serving local delicacies.  Despite being uncomfortable because of the heat ( we were from the highlands/mountains), it was a treat. Traveling to me then meant going through difficult bus rides and then getting rewarded with new marvelous experiences that made long-lasting memories.

Back in the present, my love for travel persists.

When we travel, our commitment to our environment  does not take a vacation.

The world produces more than 11 million tons of garbage a day. Here’s what you can do to reduce waste for Earth Day and every day.

Source: 5 Ways to Green Up Your Life

Itinerary

What to Pack

Reminders

Where to Stay