Four Points By Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa

The restaurant could be quicker, and the long waits put us off the pasta and pizza. Still, I enjoyed the steak and poolside snacks, especially the sliders. Breakfast was generous, with lots of options even after 9:45. Amel kept our room spotless each day, and Engin greeted us with a big smile at breakfast. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and the pool area was fantastic. The beach beds stayed clean and were never crowded, whether by the pool or at the beach. A relaxing stay with friendly staff and beautiful surroundings, and I’d come back.

The baking kitchen might see me again. I loved the desserts and breakfast baked goods, and the rooms had soft beds and pillows. Some staff were great, especially the medical staff and security. But the savory food, including breakfast and main courses, was terrible and not worth the price, even though it was included in our stay. We ended up eating outside, as many guests seemed to do. Nearby restaurants served good food, and we didn’t wait hours for it. At Four Points, food could take so long that our drinks were finished first, and sometimes the drinks never came until we asked more than once. The coffee changed taste every morning, sometimes sweet, sometimes bland, sometimes strange. It really bites back. The hotel is very pricey per night compared with nearby places, despite offering more services than a five star. For a five star hotel, I’m shocked. I’d rate it three stars instead. The bathroom towels were so rough they felt like tree bark, while the pool towels were softer. The balcony had old moss by the roof and bird droppings, and wasn’t cleaned. It feels like they care about the inside but not the outside. The passion has died with this lodge.

The pier for the cave underground river tours is just a short walk away, five minutes or less. The property has lovely facilities, including a large pool with a swim-up bar. Rooms were clean, comfortable and modern, and seemed recently renovated. There’s only one restaurant, but it has a varied menu. Everything I tried tasted good, especially the breakfast pancakes, pasta and pizza. Breakfast runs until 4:00 p.m., handy if you like to sleep in. I highly recommend the hotel.

The rooms, beds and pillows were nice, the beach and pool were fantastic, and the staff were very friendly. The Spa was very good, though pricey, and the Kids Club had very good staff. Internet was very slow. Food was the frustrating part. At breakfast, the later you arrived, the less was left. Whether ordering at the pool bar, in your room or at the restaurant, food took at least 40 minutes. The quality fell far short of expectations. The chef would be sentenced to death in Italy for that “bruschetta.” Anything that isn’t American fast food was barely okay at best, or a disaster. The much-praised buffet looked good but was below average and quite expensive. We tried at least 10 different dishes and kept being disappointed. Every restaurant we tried within walking distance served much better food for half the price.