Most of the people I met during my journeys were surprised to learn that there are (female) people who travel solo. My trip to Palawan was no different. People I met there have yet to warm up to the idea that women do make trips by themselves without the usual qualms attached to female travelers. And the tourism industry reflect this collective notion about solo travel. Most rooms – at least in the Philippines – are billed for double occupancy. This makes it doubly challenging to find rooms where you need not pay for that extra bed space.
Knowing that accommodations typically eat a huge chunk of travel budgets, I was determined to stretch my less than US$250 over a 15-day period, or I would have resigned to only one out of my three planned destinations, or pack up home after only five days. But I wasn’t willing to forgo El Nido for the Underground River, nor would I not want to stay long in Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital.
So armed with nothing but online references and information on the ground (and unlimited airtime on cellphone calls), I snagged what I thought to be the cheapest accommodations in a destination fast becoming expensive for its newly-found international celebrity status.
Research, Research, Research
Like any conscientious traveler, I was diligent on research when it came to accommodation. I left my itinerary to luck, but finding a place to stay was something I hunkered down to before the trip.
Weeks before my planned arrival in Palawan, I have been calling and emailing around for room rates. I didn’t care whether the room did not come with cable TV (who needs TV when she would be outdoors most of the time?) or air-conditioning or even ensuite bath. All I looked for in a room was a place to hang my hammock if need be. If it came with a bed and a fan, then I considered it a bonus.
My effort paid off with what I believe to be the cheapest accommodations in Palawan – indoors. (If it were not for the fact that solo women backpackers are prey to wandering “evil spirits”, then I would have strung my hammock wherever there was thick foliage and sturdy branches.) If you find anything cheaper, please let us know in the comments.
Cheapest Accommodation in Puerto Princesa City
Like any rising urban hub that is the center of tourist activity, Puerto Princesa is fast becoming expensive itself if you are not patient enough to scratch deeper. Rooms come at a standard rate of P500 (US$12.50) per night for two persons. But since I was traveling solo, I was hesitant to pay for that extra space. I could spend it instead on activities, and yes, food! So I snooped around some more until I found the figure I had in mind and was willing to spend.
When I validated some of my earlier leads for even cheaper room rates (P180), they turned out to be more expensive (I was quoted P500 for their cheapest) and out of the way, which would have made me spend more on transportation.
At P250 (US$6) a day for single accommodation, I thought I snagged a great deal.
I was lucky to have stumbled upon Duchess Pension (a tip from a travel blog), one of Puerto Princesa’s pioneer in accommodations industry.
I consider my find value for money: I had no fancy expectations of hot showers or utter privacy. All I was hoping for my P250 a day (they have P350 for double occupancy) was some level of security (so I could stash my belongings by day and sleep safely at night), a modicum of cleanliness and some peace and quiet so I could get decent sleep.
Duchess Pension Facade
Duchess Pension is situated along Valencia Street, a road perpendicular to Rizal Avenue which is the city’s main thoroughfare. It was about 10 minutes away from the airport by tricycle (P20 or US$0.50) and about three to five minutes from other conveniences (stores, eateries and service centers). I was also pleasantly surprised when I discovered by accident (I’m simply lost with maps and my spatial intelligence is below average at best) that Palawan Museum, the main city artery and the local market are just a few blocks away. One of the town’s best eats – chao long or Vietnamese noodles – is a short tricycle ride (P8) from the pension (in the Philippines, pension in accommodation means ‘small scale’).
Some Inconveniences, But You Get What You Pay And Then Some
Because Duchess Pension is located right by the roadside, it can get busy during rush hour which can be heard indoors if you choose a room fronting the street. I had the fortune to have been assigned a room away from the street, but got one right beside a residence. So what I lacked in traffic noise was made up for by household commotion like crying babies, surprise birthday song and dance and the occasional midnight bout of coughing.
Dining Area
Garden Area
Single Occupancy Fan Room
I had to share the toilet and bath with others on the same row, but I always found the amenities vacant whenever the need arises, a real bonus considering my no-frills accommodation. The toilet and bath were sufficiently clean and exceeded my (modest) expectations.
I was also delighted to find that the garden downstairs was quite airy and well-lit and rarely filled with guests. It was a pleasant (and quiet!) setting for a simple breakfast of coffee, rice and dried fish and an oasis from the hustle and bustle in the reception area.
Accommodation for Groups and Room Rates
Room Rates
For bigger groups, double occupancy for air-conditioned room is P850 (plus P100 for extra person and another P100 for cable TV); triple sharing is P950 and quad-sharing is P1,300 (P250 for extra person). Air-conditioned accommodation for 6 persons is P1,900. As room rates can change without prior notice, always check with the front desk for the most up-to-date prices.
Duchess Pension also offer tours to Honda Bay, Underground River, El Nido and Puerto Princesa City so you may opt to book directly with them especially if you are doing a group tour and would want to skip the hassle of travel planning.
Cheap in Price But Not in Quality
All in all, I found my experience at Duchess Pension a real delight. I was able to sleep soundly despite the aforementioned residential distractions; I always emerged clean and fresh after a day’s “toil” under the sun; and I managed to enjoy some alone time in a public area to get me ready for the day ahead.
Duchess Pension gets filled fast, so it helps to book way ahead of time especially during peak season which started in December and ends in May. (Room attendants I talked to report that even during the off-peak season, rooms get filled quickly.) Reservations can be done online at http://duchesspensionpalawan.com/. Or, call or text them at 63-48-4332873 or 63-917-553-0605 (for international calls) for further inquiry.
Click here for next article (Palawan series) – Photo Essay: El Nido, Palawan >>
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
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Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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