REVIEW: Busuanga Bay Lodge – Palawan, Philippines (Part 1)

Arrival

Transit in MNL was actually a lot less painful than I had been expecting, we exited the international terminal and made our way over to the domestic terminal where our itineraries were checked before access to the check-in area was granted.

MNL has a policy of only allowing people with valid itineraries to enter the airport and this is primarily down to security concerns. There is a lot to be said for the resulting reduction in footfall within the terminals, given how busy the domestic terminal was, I doubt it could have handled a doubling in the number of people, assuming conservatively that every departing passenger has a single well-wisher alongside them.

Our flight with PR was really enjoyable, in as far as that can be said for flying on a proper plane. We were driven to a bus gate and given a chance to experience the warmth of the Philippine sun as well as our first breath of fresh air in nearly a day.

The crew was outrageously polite and friendly, insisting on helping us with our carry ons and asking us all about our trip and our impressions of the Philippines so far. There was even a brief snack run where we were all offered bootleg Oreos and water.

I’d be lying if I said I wished this flight would never end but I definitely enjoyed it, particularly given the fact that nobody on that flight was there for business. Everyone was upbeat and ready to travel to paradise.

Our flight was blocked for one hour but ended up arriving half an hour early at USU.

Cebu air is the other major carrier which flies this route. Gotta love the livery.

The airport is definitely somewhat on the rustic side and unmistakably SE Asian.

Baggage claim was certainly unique. We all walked off the plane into the arrival hall and stood behind a low wooden table/barrier.

The ground crew then brought our bags over by hand.

Despite our early arrival, the driver from Busuanga Bay Lodge (BBL) was there waiting for us. He said that the flights usually arrive early and only arrive on time if they’re late!

We drove for around one and a half hours along some seriously bumpy roads and even avoided one particular turn as it appeared that an armed militia was manning a makeshift barricade at the end. As you can imagine I was not overly inclined to take pictures.

The Philippines is a poor country with certain areas in the South of the country classified as being as dangerous as Syria, in the eyes of the British home office.

The island region of Palawan with its hubs in Puerto Princesa and Coron is one of the more tourist friendly in the country and has been put on the map by the El Nido resorts (which we briefly considered visiting). However, we wanted to try something different. Chain hotels don’t exist here, I felt wonderfully liberated, picking a resort on its merits rather than a complex web of external ramifications relating to bonus points, upgrades, qualifying stays etc.

As soon as we arrived we were warmly greeted by a cohort of staff wearing khaki shorts and bright blue polo shirts. The initial impression from the lobby was striking almost as impressive as Alila Villas Uluwatu!

View from the lobby of BBL.

The main lobby and restaurant building.

The pool at the lobby.

We were in paradise. Not one I had ever imagined or seen before. A lush and verdant paradise of low lying hills, so brimming with plant life that the foliage touched the ocean.

Our Room – Clubhouse Suite

There are several room options at BBL, none of which break the bank. We opted for the best available room: a Clubhouse Suite. Whilst the standalone casitas also looked appealing we liked the idea of the the sweeping views, unobstructed by foliage and being close to the pool.

As you can see, there aren’t exactly any bad room options at BBL.

Kamara walking amongst the Casitas.

The Clubhouse suites are located one floor beneath the lobby and pool and the view is no less impressive.

Quilted leather headboard, ottoman, dark wood, in-built reading lights. Very nice for an unknown resort in the middle of nowhere.

A window into the bathroom. A divisive feature which I personally like, as it opens the room up immensely and really allows you to enjoy the full expanse of the magnificent vista. To the right, behind the bed, was the wardrobe and the tea and coffee making facilities… which I just now realised I didn’t photograph!

The indoor sitting area (which we really only used as a dumping ground for our clothes).

We slept with the curtains open every night. This is what morning looked like from bed.

The bathroom had a very modern and open design, with designer free standing bath tub and sinks. Thankfully, the toilet was not open plan.

Showering each morning was a joy. The nearest foot path was stuck to the building and a good 15ft beneath this window, so there were no issues at all with privacy.
Not only a stupendous view but also an enormously refreshing and powerful shower.

The view into the bedroom, which has the possibility of being just as impressive as the view outside… let’s face it, nobody is coming here to share this room with their grandma or a business associate!
All the usual amenities were provided; the brands were local to the region.
One of my favourite parts of the room was the outdoor terrace, where I whiled away an hour or so each morning before Kamara woke up, reading my book, eating the Bakkwa I bought in SIN and drinking coffee. The only noises I heard, being those of boat propellers gurgling gently through the bay.
We would also spend time out here in the evenings until the sky got to more or less this colour.
Which meant that it was time for happy hour at the bar on the water’s edge…

Food and Drink

The bar is that thatch roofed building, conveniently located at the bottom of the path beneath our room.

The bar staff were ludicrously friendly and polite and the price of happy hour drinks? $2 for a gin and tonic potent enough to give Oliver Reed pause for thought. Not that we would have quibbled too much over higher prices, given the setting.

This is the kind of sunset that’s worth travelling for. Every day was this good, or as you’ll soon see; sometimes far better…

Our room rate included breakfast which was served buffet style alongside a number of a la carte options. It included a variety of western options as well as a large number of delicious local dishes.

The staff got to know our preferences very quickly and would immediately bring a French press as well as two double espressos for us as soon as we sat down.

We took it in turns to sit facing outwards.

Continue on to Busuanga Bay Lodge : Palawan, Philippines – Part 2