Impeccable as always! Despite the pandemic and typhoon, everyone gave their best. Thank you to the whole team of El Nido and to Benjie Ganidez who took care of us al throughout the trip! Service with heart💙
My wife and I had booked a ten-week trip, covering 11 countries, for our 40th anniversary. Part of the trip included a 17 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia and, even though that was the highlight of the entire trip, we knew we would need some relaxation time immediately after such a hectic tour. I had worked with guys from the Philippines and they had told me I should visit Palawan if I ever got the chance, so I selected it for a week of relaxation and we were not disappointed. Apulit Island is very small and the resort is the only occupied part, meaning it was extremely peaceful and just what we were looking for. There are only 50 cottages in total and, of these, 30 are Water Cottages which can only accommodate two people, while the other 20 are Loft Water Cottages and can accommodate four people. The Loft Water Cottages are to the West of the main buildings, which include reception, bar and dining area, and are built on two levels with direct ladder access to the sea. The Water Cottages, to the East of the main buildings, do not have direct access to the sea, but this isn’t an issue, given the very short distance to the pool and beach areas. After checking on Trip Advisor, I noted that only the Water Cottages to the East offer a view of the sunset, so we chose one of those and I’m glad we did. The reviewer I contacted told me that, even though he had paid extra for a Loft Water Cottage, he had asked to be ‘downgraded’ to the Water Cottages simply to have the benefit of the sunset each evening. We were in Number 46 and I’d highly recommend that one or any other close by. There is a laundry service available and it was excellent, with a price list in the room detailing the charges for individual items. The laundry bags were picked up from the room and dropped back there on the following day. Safes can be put into the rooms on request, but are not fixed to the walls. This is not really important, given that only residents or staff could possibly get into the rooms. The room had excellent air conditioning, plus a ceiling fan. There was a large television, which was handy for catching up on news or chilling out if we wanted and early night. The staff were excellent and very friendly and a large group of them are on the jetty waiting to greet you upon arrival. They are also there to bid you farewell when it is time to leave. They also provide any entertainment at night, such as local songs and dances. The food was excellent and plentiful and, once again, the staff provide excellent table service for drinks. Even tough this is a tiny island, there is plenty to do if you don’t like the idea of spending all day, every day, lounging by the pool or on the beach. They have a Dive Shack and the prices for Scuba Diving were very reasonable. You can also take a kayak out into the sea for a trip around the bay. For the more adventurous, there is a 60 metre high limestone cliff at the east end of the island and, with a guide, you can climb it in the evening and rappel / abseil back down to the sea level. There are opportunities to do this every day. In addition, you can explore the island’s caves, if that takes your fancy. There are also organised trips off of the island and the Guest Activities Co-ordinators will arrange any of them for you. The pool is an infinity pool and, though not huge, it was seldom very busy hen we were there. That seemed to be mainly because many of the other guests were Chinese and they are not big on sunbathing, or even being exposed to the sun. The beach was also very quiet and getting a sun-lounger there was never a problem. The bar is small, but friendly, and is open-air, with a selection of games available such a darts, table tennis and pool. Drinks were reasonably priced, but remember to let the bartender know if you’re taking drinks to the pool or the beach, as they will be brought to you and will be in plastic tumblers. One thing to note is that “Happy Hour” is from 5pm – 7 pm and we made use of this to order drinks for taking to our Cottage to watch the sunset from our veranda. One other thing worth mentioning is that getting to Apulit is not a short journey. As we had flown in directly from our tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, we stayed overnight in a hotel near to Manilla Airport (The Belmont), and in the morning we took the Air Swift flight to El Nido, which was followed by a 90 minute drive in a van to Taytay, and then a further 1 hour in an outrigger boat to reach Apulit. The outrigger trip was enjoyable, but the 90 minute drive was our least favourite part of the journey. Obviously, the same journey is required when travelling back to Manilla at the end of the stay. All-in-all, it was a great place for us to relax and unwind, before we continued our trip by travelling onwards to Tokyo. The sunset views make it worthwhile selecting a Water Cottage, if there are only two of you, and I’ll upload several photos to show what I mean.…
This was a gift for my mothers birthday. We absolutely loved every minute of it. The water, the Island, its just gorgeous. The food was good too. Having my coffee in the morning sitting our balcony is one of my best memory. I hope to return one day. Thank you Apulit Island.
We stayed here for our honeymoon and the resort and staff are fantastic they looked after us from start to finish. It’s one of the most beautiful place i have ever stayed, all the staff are so nice and helpful well done. Special thanks to: Heidi - Very hell and courteous manager made our stay easy and very special Billie - very helpful and knowledgeable Benji - great tour guide learnt a lot very friendly and helpful Dr Pearl - very attentive and lovely doctor helped me with my jelly fish sting Romi - Great bartender super sweet and nice man. I hope the virus end fast and this place gets back up and running a true pleasure to stay at. Would give more stars if I could
My husband Jeff and I first stayed at Apulit in 2017, when we were still dating. Nearly three years later, we returned to Apulit as a family of three! Apulit was amazing then and it is even more beautiful now. Both times we chose to stay at their water loft cottage, because it has stairs that lead you right to the ocean. Then and there you can go snorkeling and see a wide variety of sea life. Baby sharks, parrot fish, stingrays - these are common sightings! On our first day during our most recent trip, we saw baby black-tip reef sharks, stingrays, a spotted eel, a giant clam, a baby barracuda, and on land, three monitor lizards and a random hedgehog. As our vacation unfolded we saw even more- including the ever elusive sea turtle! We knew we made the RIGHT choice going back to Apulit (instead of flying over to the Maldives). The staff are friendly, they make you feel at home. During our boat trip to Pabellon Lagoon, our guide Joe went all-out to make sure we had an amazing time. During my husband's fishing trip, the boat crew was extremely helpful in teaching and showing him how to catch a fish, Pinoy style! (Joe and one of the other staff members also sing well- Apulit please get them to sing more often!) On our last night, Apulit surprised us with a private dinner, complete with the perfect beach set-up. This was the icing on the cake, as we spent the day snorkeling and had a magical moment where suddenly, different kinds of fish in all sorts of colors surrounded us while we swam above an endless stretch of corals. The sudden surprise of a private beach dinner really made our last day magical! So thanks Apulit for the hospitality and for remembering we stayed with you guys before! (Even the chef knew we were returning visitors!) See you soon!…
Overall experience is excellent!!! Service - 5stars Staff - 5stars (acccommmodating and respectful) Food - 4stars Cleanliness - 5 stars Would recommend to friends and relatives and would like to comeback.
We’ve stayed in Apulit resort for 7 days. Absolutely amazing unforgettable experience! Staffs are very friendly and polite! Food are super ! Rooms are clean and comfy! We feel like at home. One of our best experience in Philippines. I’ll highly recommend this resort for everyone and we’ll certainly come back. Thanks for unforgettable stay
My husband and I stayed from Feb 16-18, 2020 at Apulit Island for our honeymoon. I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. Everyone was friendly and accommodating. The food was great! The ambiance was just perfect if you are seeking for serenity. Most of the guests that we have encountered were on their honeymoon as well. They have the best coral reef snorkeling sites. Book their Isla Blanca and Nabat reef trip - be sure not to miss it! At first I was hesitant, as I have this fear of deep sea, but with the help of their guide - Dean - I forgot my fear and just enjoyed the majestic reefs. We also had the PERFECT private dinner in the island - so romantic and the best we have ever had.
Gorgeous island and a 5 star property. The advantage of this side of El Nido (Taytay) is that there are no other resorts in the area. You are always alone on trips to small islands or diving. Water activities are easy, such as snorkelling, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding. There are also many on land activities, such as hiking, rock climbing. We stayed in the loft unit area. It was a nice run in the morning along the shoreline and into the west beach. The beach is deserted, just you and the nature.
We had an awesome stay at this resort. The place was a small slice of paradise. Comfortable rooms, great food, nice beaches and beautiful waters. Here are some of the highlights and good tips. First off, getting to Apulit was kind of a bear but not as difficult as we thought. We flew from Manila to El Nido, then drove from the airport to the dock and from there took a boat to the resort. Each leg of the trip took about 90 minutes. Personnel from the resort were at the destination airport to greet us, grab our bags and ensure a smooth travel process from El Nido to the resort. So if you're thinking about going to Apulit resort, just let the resort know when you fly in from Manila and they will take care of the rest. All the condos are over the water during high tide. We stayed in one that had a back balcony that accessed directly to the bay. It was awesome. For these condos, you share a bay access point with your next door condo neighbor. It's more like a townhome because there is a shared wall. Noise from the neighbor was minimal. Food was excellent. Big buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lots of food with decent variety. Plenty of fresh fruits. Tasty desserts. I would rate the food 4/5. Surprisingly good for buffet style on an island. Staff was super friendly. They were accommodating and quick to help out when needed. No complaints here. Special shout out to Jon who helped Shari V when she got sick on the boat. Overall, Apulit resort was fantastic. I would definitely repeat.…
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing