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Welcome to the Alternative Beach Cottages! We invite you to our beloved island, and the exclusivity and luxury it offers. Here, you will experience genuine island serenity and ambience as you are woken up by cicadas and birds in the morning; roused by the brilliant morning sunlight; amazed by its lush forests, white sand beaches, colorful corals during snorkeling, mysterious cave systems, and untouched wildlife. Please, come and let us impress you with our delectable organic food and pleasant, experienced staff. We invite you to join our tours, discovering and enjoying, what El Nido has to offer; also, we set up the most wondrous barbeque lunches! Relaxation and fun on your holidays, this we assure you. Being a Filipino family-run island accommodation, we aim to provide the best and most memorable Philippine vacation you can experience. In our island, we provide quality service during your stay, like: evening electricity (6PM to 12AM) for your electronics; free WiFi internet service; round-the-clock staff service; daily housekeeping service; breakfast, lunch and dinner service (you may also request by-the-beach kind of set-up); access to the island bar and drinks; touring around El Nido islands with inclusive beach lunch; organizing special events (i.E. Beach weddings, baptismals; and many other activities in ensuring a full island experience! We will always be at your service to make sure you have a memorable stay in El Nido, and by extension, in the Philippines.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Ocean View
Mid-range
Location
Cudugman Point, Brgy. Bibiladan, El Nido, Palawan Island 5300 Philippines
I always review hotels as I rely on the reviews of others.
In this case I feel the review especially important as the information otherwise available is scant and other reviews tend to be succinct and not descriptive.
So to help you here goes:
Overall
The location is fabulous, the views exceptional and the peace and serenity first class. The beach cottage is the best property and is located on the shoreline, on what is its own part of the Alternative Beach private beach. Nobody lands here apart from the occasional fisherman peddling his catch. This is tranquility. There are three cottages, two family cottages and a duplex cottage that is essentially two guest rooms. Full to busting there will be 12 guests, 4 of which would be children. However that is unlikely, more likely in high season 3 couples.
The whole place is shabby chic. It’s what we love but don’t expect manicured beaches, teak loungers and unblemished sheets and towels. It is clean and there is a daily maid service. It is comfortable.
We stayed in the beach cottage so I shall review that. It has a balcony 5 steps up from the beach. It possesses one bedroom containing two double beds. A shower cubicle, a WC, a changing room with a sink. It has a daybed on the beach, a hammock and use of a kayak and snorkelling equipment.
It is adjacent to the bar area and a decking area that stretches from the bar out over a rock that separates the beach cottage beach from the beach containing daybeds for the other properties.
The other rooms sit slightly above, but not far above, the bar area along the cliff ledge.
The beach is lovely, fine sand and there is a reef and good snorkelling within 50-100m of beach cottage.
There are times We felt that the family are a little penny wise and pound foolish, they could make a little more very easily and save a little less but that’s a part of the charm.
The staff are charming, Arial the guide, waiter and barman is first class, speaks good English. The cooks are very amicable and the boat guys are proficient and humorous. Run by Alex helped by his sister Erika, both of whom are efficient, professional and friendly, you should expect a warm welcome.
It’s what we hoped for, perhaps a little expensive if you take a family cottage for two people but it is uniquely situated and unspoiled, the sort of place increasingly hard to find. The cottages are shaded all day and the sun is on the beach from dawn until mid afternoon so it’s lovely to sit and play cards on the balcony.
It is full board, after all it needs to be! There are no menu choices but the quality of ingredients is very high, the cooking good traditional Philippine home style with the occasional potato salad. It’s mainly rice, fish, pork, prawns, veg and fruit and you will be served far more than you can eat!
Positives
@ Location and views @ Tranquility @ Friendliness and helpfulness of staff @ Food and cooking quality @ Unobtrusive service @ Nice people go to Alternative @ There are only a few mosquitos and sandflies @ Tours are far better than those from El Nido as they visit the same places but are essentially private - only those from Alternative yet cost pretty much the same
Gripes
@ We were double booked and lost a day of our planned 9 days at Alternative. It could have been worse. Their booking system seems not to work too well. We were compensated with a case of beer. @ Alternative’s own boats are good but if they are in use it is a lottery. One boat we toured on was, frankly, rubbish! @ Power is off 9-5 @ Wi-fi is slow and inconsistent @ There is no menu choice at all though they do ensure you are not served what you cannot eat and oblige by repeating favourites @ After rough weather the beach has a steep shelf and that can make exiting the sea tricky @ In rough weather the boat cannot be brought to the shoreline so it’s a kayak or a swim. Watching your luggage being kayaked against big waves to the boat on departure might cause a few palpitations @ They ran out of beer and gin while we were there, only for a day or so but nevertheless! @ Alternative is only 45-60 minutes by boat from Corong Beach. However on occasion, if the weather is not perfect, it can become inaccessible. Leave a buffer just in case you get stranded. @ You’ll be met at the bus station in El Nido and walked down to the beach dragging or carrying your cases and you’ll similarly be dropped on the beach on your return so some humping is to be expected
Tips
@ Do you really need Malaria tablets? @ You do need waterproof containers for camera, money, phone etc @ You must have aqua shoes @ You’ll need bathing shorts, vest shirts and a change for dinner, little else! @ Bring factor 50, it’s high UV even on cloudy days @ Trip A is a must but do it as early in the day as possible to beat the El Nido boats @ Take a trike from the bus station to Corong Beach after you rendezvous at the bus station @ Alex and Erika will look after your money but I think it unnecessary. There are no safety deposit boxes in the cottages but the only people here are family and the family’s employees. @ Beach Cottage is amazing
I hope this proves useful
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Alternative Cottages for 3 days in mid April. It is a very small family run operation with only 4 cottages. We chose the hotel for its idyllic location, and real ‘away from it feel’ – it delivers both in spades. The hotel is situated approximately 40 minutes (complimentary) boat ride from Corong Corong beach (not El Nido beach which is 5 mins up the road), and is effectively ‘all inclusive’; supplementary drinks and tours the only things being chargeable. It is therefore significantly better value than the headline price suggests.
The beach in Corong Corong, from where the hotel will collect you, is currently being renovated, but I suspect that in any case it would be difficult to find (note that you want the beach itself as there is not (currently) a pier). It is down an unmarked alley close to (but not opposite - the Caltrex petrol station. It may be worth getting a mobile number for the member of staff who will be despatched to meet you. You may well have to ride a kayak to the main boat depending how vlose to the beach it can be moored. The kids thought this was great fun. Do not be put off by the beach at Corong Corong. It’s pretty grotty, but is a mere stepping-off point.
We were met by the charming and joyful Naomi, who turned out to be one of a host of cheerful staff who enhanced our stay no end. The 40 min boat journey, past some of the incredible limestone escarpments for which El Nido is famous, was smooth and enjoyable. Alternative Cottages is effectively your very own (ok, shared with some future friends) desert island (ok, its technically not an island, but there is no way of accessing it from the mainland with a ‘Crocodile Dundee’ style machete). The cottages themselves are almost invisible from the water, even when you are quite near to it. It is a tribute to the management how well integrated the hotel is.
Continuing its eco credentials, Alternative Cottages do not have a/c, and only have power between 5pm and 8am. However, wifi and (slow) internet access are available within these hours, and outside of them if you have a ‘powerbank’. The lack of a/c was something of a concern to us. In reality the resort benefits from an onshore breeze, and the rooms are fitted with fans so sleep was not the problem it might have been. We stayed in the family beach cottage with two large beds, and which was situated all of 30ft from the sea. Truly an incredible location, with perfectly coloured azure sea, talcum powder sand, and a green carpet of jungle covered limestone framing the whole scene. The rooms are far from the last word in contemporary chic, but it simply doesn’t matter.
All food during your stay is included. There is no menu so you ‘get what you are given’ which suited us fine. That said, staff were more than happy to accommodate our (extremely fussy) daughter and her desire for bland western food like chicken and chips. Meals varied and included; fantastic fish, great chicken, super pork, and incredible prawns. The food was extremely tasty, and plentiful in quantity. There was suitable amounts of lovely fresh fruit too. We ate extremely well. If I may make one suggestion it is that the hotel considers ‘proper’ filter coffee? I think I am hard-wired to dislike instant coffee…
During our stay we took advantage of the (complimentary) kayaks, and snorkelling. There are a couple of small deserted beaches nearby that you can kayak to in 5-10 mins, or Snake Island is a little further away if you are feeling adventurous. We also took the hotel’s version of ‘Tour A’, that includes the awe-inspiring small and large lagoons, and took in a number of snorkelling sites that ranged from good, to great, to (literally) world class. Some of the coral is as good as anything we have seen diving in the Maldives or Mauritius. The tour was on one of the resort boats that we shared with other guests. Arielle proved to be an entertaining guide, and lunch was a really lovely BBQ of fish, pork, and chicken. The enhanced tour cost PHP1500 p.p. This seemed a bargain compared to the PHP 1200 charged by the operators in El Nido itself for what is, inevitably, a far less personal and memorable experience.
The Alternative Cottages gave us a really wonderful experience which will probably stay with us forever. The staff are fantastic, the food great, the tour magical, the location storybook desert island. That most of the guests come from repeat visitors, or recommendations is no surprise at all. If you are looking for somewhere to stay that will live long in your memory – and who really remembers the Philippe Staark designed bathrooms in a hotel? – then Alternative Cottages should firmly be on your short-list.
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Date of stay: April 2018
Value
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:They're all great but the beach rooms are the best
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The beach house is located in the White Rock area. It takes about 45 minutes by boat to get there from El Nido town. It is the only accommodation on a nice beach, surrounded by picturesque cliffs. Very private and secluded.
Our personal chief cooked all meals for us, fresh and delicious. Our personal boat was always ready to get us to any place we wanted to visit. Incredibly helpful and always smiling, these guys made our stay very pleasant and comfortable.
After dinner the local team left our site, so we enjoyed unforgettable time together: just two of us, soft sand under bare feet, sea breeze, whispering waves and stars. Serenity.
The house perfectly fits into the environment and looks fantastic from outside. Inside is a slightly different story. The interior is dated, there are some cracks on the walls. Toilet flashing didn't work. The water pressure was low. And the hugest disappointment for me - there is NO HOT WATER. To be honest I didn't check it before I made a booking, because I assumed that if I am paying around AU$360 per night, I can expect some touch of luxury in the accommodation but not be lacking such basics like hot shower.
There is a generator on the site, so it is possible to have as much electricity as you need. Unfortunately, it is very load so we switched it off as soon as we could, just to listen to sounds of nature around us, but not the industrial noise.
This place is definitely for people who value personal service, privacy and outside beauty more than everyday comfort.
When I planned this trip I did not find enough information and pictures of the private beach house, so I made several myself to show what is this house inside.
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Date of stay: March 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waiting since 2 weeks for any contact, transport organise by the owner caused flight delay and extra costs of 1k euro, no sorry nothing, no contact, During 4 days we have cold water in shower, rats running around. No recommendation or if you like to have risky holidays you welcome. To expensive like for this standard.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What better place to wake up on Christmas morning than what feels like your own private island - sun glistening on crystal clear waters, limestone cliffs amongst you, lapping waves, caves to explore, white sand and 84 degrees...
We had always wanted to venture to the Philippines and had to curate a trip that would touch on many experiences. Palawan/El Nido was on the checklist. Initially, the go to was to check one the El Nido Resort properties but given the high season, they were unavailable and that was a blessing in disguise. After scouring TripAdvisor, we came across Alternative and immediately were intrigued. Simple and easy booking process and very good pre-arrival communication with Alex. We stayed 3 nights but could easily have stayed a few more! If only...
Upon arrival into ENI airport, we took a trike to town to have a quick liquid lunch (no time for food . ha!) then another trike to our meeting point near Corong Corong Beach. Our banca boat was waiting along with another family from the UK. We cruised to paradise albeit through a stormy journey.. made for quite an adventure and arrival. Soaked, we headed straight to our room to change and then the bar where we were greeted with a heaping plate of Pancit. YUM!
Room - we stayed in the Cliff Cottage which was a duplex of sorts with another one next to us. Very roomy, clean, functional and good ventilation to let the natural air in (no A/C). Large terrace perched in the trees but still with good vistas to the sea. Electricity was on average from 5p-8a though sometimes turned on earlier and off later (so more electricity than promised). Never a shortage of hot water in the shower as I think it was gas. Shower did run 'hot' or 'cold' but we learned quickly how to rinse expeditiously during the sparse 'warm' in between phase ;) We loaded Globe SIM cards so we had excellent access to data and coverage was flawless. As noted, the WIFI is in the lobby/bar area. I wish I could have truly disconnected but work obligations require otherwise.
Property - there really are no words to describe the locale or workers who seem more like friends, peers or family. Everyone looks out for you, nothing goes unnoticed and smiles abound. Everything is kept clean and tidy. For a property this quaint I wondered how I missed seeing someone service our room, but that is the level of relaxation, intimacy and detail that takes place. It was amazing being able to have 'barefoot' dinners, take a nap on the beach beds, take the kayak out and just truly chill.
Food - OMG. I just can't... the food was just incredible. Simple, prideful, tasty, fresh. Presentation was always on point. Never reached for seasoning - well I did reach for hot sauce once for my scrambled eggs and actually preferred it without since they were so good on their own. Flavors so pronounced. Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, ham one day, bacon another, fresh fruit and pancakes. I'm not a pancake fan (granted these were GOOD), so we requested a Filipino breakfast on our last morning and was easily accommodated. Let me say.. Tosilog - first time ever having it. Best garlic rice ever. Sought out the garlic rice and tocino through the rest of our travels and were continually disappointed. Attempted to make garlic rice last night - delicious but still not the same. Lunches were grilled. The first a beach picnic on Christmas day. The second on the boat as we took an excursion. Dinners were fabulous to say the least. Whole grilled or steamed fish, roasted pork, crab, rice (Filipino power), banana flower curry, etc. It was endless and we were always satiated and felt 'healthier' as nothing was processed.
Tips - we took the kayak to Snake Island. Easy paddle over and went to the floating beach bar. We left early and were the only ones on Snake Island. So tranquil. Buko Rhum (fresh coconut water and rum) was a new experience and so delicious. Be sure to take a tour with Alternative. We saw other tours with 2-5X more people per boat. Bring a dry bag for water activities and get waterproof phone pouches. You can swim with them and take pictures galore!
Ariel was a gentlemanly host and excellent tour guide. Reysha was charming and we taught her how to bartend our drinks .. lol! I think we used a ship's worth of ice! Erika was lovely and shared many stories.
All in all, just absolutely flawless. It was interesting how as guests we felt more like family and accordingly felt naturally more inclined to take care of the space, mind our consumption of resources, be integrated which led to overall more relaxation. We are always respectful guests, but it was a different feeling - more like being at home than an entitled traveler which I think we all lend to whilst about in new locales.
Until next time..
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Date of stay: December 2017
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was a truly wonderful experience, and I can't sing their praises enough. I only wish we had stayed here longer. I am a vegetarian, and the food here was exceptional. My Filipino husband is not, and he had great food as well. He enjoyed the stuffed squid and the civiche. We had a buffet one night when we were there and that was really great, a lot of options for me as well as him.
I think what made this so great was Erika, Kei, and their mom. It is a family run business, with the emphasis on family and not business. We are a gay couple, and I wanted to make sure they knew that when we made our reservation. I gave them the dates, so they could have just said that they did not have space. Instead, Alex, who I dealt with before we got there was very warm in his emails. When we got there Alex and his wife were not there, we were greeted very warmly by Kei. After we settled in, we had a delicious meal, and then spent the day hanging out at the beach. Erika, who was leading the tours when we were there, came back later and it was great getting to know both her and Mei.
I told Erika our agenda, we were going to Miniloc from the Alternative Beach cottages, so I asked her if we should go on a tour with her the next day. We talked for a bit, and then after getting a sense of who we were, she said, just stay and enjoy the beach at the Alternative, it was just going to be us there the next day, so we had the beach all to ourselves. We met Erika and Kei a few days after we left The Alternative while we were on tour, and they were just as warm and gracious as when we were staying with them.
A couple of things to know. Their web site tells you this as well. There is no air conditioning. My husband, who doesn't really like the heat, was fine. There was a nice breeze and we were comfortable the entire time. We only booked a few nights there because we (he) were concerned about the lack of air con. It truly was not a problem for us. Also, they only have electricity from around five at night until seven or so in the morning. One again, that was not a problem for us. We were happy to leave the room and just enjoy lounging around the beach. There are things to do there, and we snorkeled some. They also invited us to take the kayak to snake island, but we were really happy just playing in the warm water sitting on the white sand beach.
We did stay at two other places in El Nido, the Miniloc, which was over three times the price and just not worth it. I'll review that as well, but the difference for me was the warmth of all the staff here at the alternative. It is really a small place, and they really did treat us like family in all the best ways. They seemed to really want us to be comfortable and enjoy our time with them, and they did a great job of making us feel welcome. I dream of going back there.
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Date of stay: May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Alternative Beach Cottages are located in an impossibly beautiful setting with staff that go above and beyond creating a perfect atmosphere to make lifetime memories. Alex, Becky, and the crew have put together quite an enticing package that should be strongly considered by anyone visiting the area. Not only are they located a picturesque 30 min boat ride from El Nido, but upon arrival you realize your stay will be on a private island! Our stay included breakfast, crowd-beating tours of the area, lunch with drinks, jaw-dropping snorkeling in hidden locations, and transportation to and from Puerto Princessa. I cannot stress enough how impressed everyone in our group was by the beauty of El Nido, the accommodations, and the staff at The Alternative Beach Cottages. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the quality of the food the chefs prepared every day. Morning, noon, and night our group was treated to fresh fish, filipino specialties, and gorgeous salads. We were consistently amazed. It's impossible using words to describe our experience. Send Alex or Becky an email to get things started you won't regret it. Thank you Alternative!!!
ps - no WiFi and no power during the day (just the way we wanted it!)
- Always Chris and Andrea from Florida
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Date of stay: May 2015
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Place, food, service and other amenities are All excellent in an average rate. All in one place. We enjoy zipping coffee at the terrace while enjoying the nature sounds; beach waves, trees, birds, crickets, etc. We had fun both staying in an exclusive beach (day1) and Island hopping (day2). My family and I had a great experience and quality time together while enjoying the ambiance. We love it and decided to share couple of photos. We’ll definitely come back.
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am so excited about this place that it is hard to stay focused to write this review. I 1st have to say how wonderful Alex was in answering my many, many questions before we booked and arrived. I thank you for that. Our group was 2 families of mom, dad and 9 and 10 yr old daughter. I had in my mind pictured what it was to be like when we arrived to the Alternative,but wow, I did it no justice, We were greeted on the beautiful beach by Alex, the manager and son of Becky, who owns this resort. He and the other staff were so welcoming. Our friends took the cottage on the beach which is great, We got the newer cottage on the cliff. It is so perfect....2 very large and comfortable beds,toilet room, shower room and counter and sink.. The cottage is actually built around a piece of the cliff so there is a large rock in the room..very cool. There are big windows that open up to let the breeze blow through and fans to cool you off at night. There is a lovely bar with a table and bar stools where Alex or his sister Erica will make cool cocktails. Turned out to be one one of my favorite spots as I could watch Becky cooking our most amazing meals while visiting my new friend. Becky's cooking is FABULOUS!!!!!! She makes mango pancakes that our 10 yr old devoured every morning. Slow cooked pork, curry dishes, seafood, chicken....OMG! every dish as spectacular as the last. Alex, Raymond and Eric took us out on each and every tour we did...which was all of them as we were lucky enough to be there for 10 nights. There is not one that we did not totally enjoy because of the customized service that they gave us.. It is so beautiful that it takes ones breath away. Then there is also the great meals the men prepared for our lunches daily....:) As said, we had 2 young girls with us, but I have to say, it was so easy for us parents to enjoy our days, as Alex and Raymond, took it upon themselves to watch over our daughters. I had NEVER felt for a minute that they were not in the most capable of care. It was almost like a unspoken rule, that the girls safety came first. Be it on a beach, in the water or even on the streets of El Nido. That in itself was worth every penny spent. From the baby turtles hatchimg on the beach to the monkeys in the trees, to the flowers blooming, meals prepared and served to us on the beach with torches around us and the absolutely terrific staff ....honestly, it is hard to pick just 1 thing that tops my list. So glad I do not have to. I would recommend this paradise to anyone who wants to visit El Nido and does not want the business and cement of the El Nido township. I promise that you will not be sorry.. I know that we will return. I can go on and on, but will stop here. Thank you all at The Alternative for the most special vacation. Jo Jo, Marlin, Eric, Erica, Raymond, my friends Alex and Becky and all the rest of the great staff....We miss you and will never forget our time spent with you.
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Date of stay: March 2016
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:There is no bad room here.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place would be perfect if it was not for the run down accommodation. We had an island cottage, which was situated on a private island, great food, amazing tours and the best staff you could ask for! The fact we had a rat nesting in the villa wall, a toilet that did not flush and a sink that dripped all night did take a little shine off the experience... If your looking for a flawless experience then dig deep and go with the el nido resorts, if you don't mind being at 1 with nature and basic accommodation the alternative is a great choice and last minute deals are fantastic value for money! Thank you Alex and team for an all round great experience!
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hello.we have been to the phillipines a few times and the one constant is delayed flights.they can pick you up for the beach cottages but if it is different from their set times they may charge an extra fee.they are wonderful to work with so I can't imagine there would be a problem with any allergies.have a great time!!!
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