Tag: beach

N9 In Straya Series: BRIGHTON BATHING BOXES – Iconic & Photogenic Bathing Boxes Found In A Coastal Melbourne Suburb

Over the last few weeks, I shared with you some details of our walk-a-thon around the City of Melbourne. I talked about the places we’ve been to in the city, mostly parks & gardens, heritage sites, hipster laneways & communal spaces. Melbourne is such a walk-able city – most of the places to visit can be reached by foot. I mentioned in one of my previous posts that my friends & I also went on day trips outside the city to see what the Victorian state has to offer.

One of the day trips, or should I stay half day trips, we took is a morning at the Brighton Bathing Boxes site. The iconic Brighton Bathing Boxes are located in Dendy Street Beach in Brighton, Victoria. These boxes played an important role in the seaside bathing culture in Melbourne in the 1900’s. Out of the thousands of bathing boxes present in the costs, only 82 of them remain. All these 82 bathing boxes are found at the Dendy Street Beach. Up to now, these boxes are licensed by the local government council as bathing boxes; although some of them are no longer functional.

The Brighton Bathing Boxes have become a popular tourist attraction outside Melbourne. Visitors flock to this site to see & have a photo with the colorful & uniquely-designed boxes. These boxes sport the intricate Victorian architecture with its original wooden materials. A photo with the bathing boxes is perfect for your next Instagram post or your Facebook profile photo. This place may be out of the way, but it’s definitely worth the visit.

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Access

Going to the Brighton Bathing Boxes is very easy. From Flinders Street Station, take the Sandringham Line to Sandringham. Get off at Middle Brighton Station & walk for about 15 minutes to Dendy Street Beach. The boxes are located on this beach. Take note that the nearest station to the bathing boxes is Middle Brighton Station & not Brighton Station.

The Sandringham Line was under repair / redevelopment during our visit. Public Transport Victoria provided free bus rides to Sandringham from the Parliament Station. These buses stop at every station on the Sandringham Line. We rode these free buses to Brighton & back to the city. It also helped us save some cash. Make sure to check the Public Transport Victoria website for service interruptions / maintenance.

Looking for a place to stay in Melbourne? Check out Flinders Backpackers. This hostel is affordable & has a great vibe. Know more details about the hostel by clicking this link.

Brighton Bathing Boxes

The 82 Brighton Bathing Boxes are positioned as one line on Dendy Street Beach. Visitors have 82 boxes to choose from for their best photo. We went there around 10-11 in the morning on a public holiday & oh boy, there were a lot of people. There were only a number of people swimming in the beach due to the relatively cold but sunny weather.

Brighton Beach

My friends & I decided to check out Brighton Beach since we were already in the area. Brighton Beach is about 15-20 minutes walk (about 1.2 kilometers) away from the bathing boxes site on Dendy Street Beach. Brighton Beach was quiet compared to the bathing boxes site. There were close to no one swimming because of the cold winds. We took the ride back to the city from Brighton Station.

This sums up our brief morning visit to Brighton & the Bathing Boxes site. Is this place worth going? Definitely. Will I visit the place again when I fly back to Melbourne? I don’t know. Seeing the boxes for the first time is great & that’s it. There’s nothing else to see in the area.

Have you been to the Brighton Bathing Boxes? What is your favorite bathing box? Were there a lot of people during your visit? Share your experiences & trips in the comment section below & let’s engage in a discussion. Do you have any questions about Melbourne & Brighton in general? You can also post them in the comments below or send it to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for taking your time to read my post. Watch out for my upcoming stories about our Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island & Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tours. It should be posted on this website soon!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute

A trip to Sydney will never be complete without a visit to the famous suburban beaches. Sydney, or New South Wales in general, has a long list of beaches. The city is also home to one of the most famous beaches in the world – the Bondi Beach. My friends & I, together with our new found friend Hari, went to see this beach & Coogee Beach on our last afternoon in Sydney. We didn’t go swimming because the weather was a bit cold.

Bondi BeacH

Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most popular beach. The beach is located about 7 kilometers away from the Sydney central business district. Locals & foreign tourists go to this beach to relax & have a quick swim while surfers enjoy the big waves. People also go to the famous Bondi Icebergs tidal pool to have a good view of the beach. For those who don’t want to swim or surf, there are nice cafes, restaurants & pubs along Campbell Pde which you can visit.

In case you missed it, my friends & I went on a walkathon around Sydney. We walked around a number of heritage sites & modern city icons. Check out the individual posts here – part 1 & part 2.

The Kanzler… Aus Jus Burger with a glass of German beer for lunch 😋

[L-R] Hari, Shane, Leng & myself at The Bavarian having lunch 😎

My friends & I had our late lunch at The Bavarian Bondi Beach (menu here) as it is one of the only few ones open during that time. Some stores close during down time (after lunch) & open again for dinner. The area also has some shops where you can go shopping for food & goodies. Bondi Beach’s area is relatively commercialized that those of the other beaches. The beach has a common amenity & a changing area for those who enjoyed the beach.

How To Go To Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is very accessible to the public. From Central Station, one must take the local train to Bondi Junction. This train ride takes about 13 minutes. From Bondi Station, one should go to the Bus stands & take either Bus 333, 379 or 380 from Bus Stand A or B. Get off in front of Bondi Beach. The bus ride should take about 10-15 minutes.

Coogee Beach

My friends & I also went to Coogee Beach that day. Coogee Beach, compared to Bondi Beach, is relatively more relaxed & more laid back. This small beach is located in the eastern suburb Coogee, about 8 kilometers away from the Sydney central business district. This broad beach appeals to both local & foreigner swimmers & surfers. The beach also has a natural rock pool area which was closed to the public during our visit.

Coogee Beach has beach side pubs, bars, cafes & restaurants that offer alfresco dining. The place has lesser establishments & shops compared to that of Bondi Beach. The establishments in this beach area are closer to the beach. This beach also has a shower & changing facility for those who went swimming & surfing.

Coogee Beach’ rock pools 😍

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How To Go To Coogee Beach

View of Coogee Beach from the start/end of the coastal walk

There best way to go to Coogee Beach from Sydney CBD is by bus. There is no train line / link servicing this area. The buses to take from the city area M50, 370, 372 & 374. The bus ride from the city should take about 30 minutes. This beach is also accessible by taking bus 313 or 314 from Bondi Junction Bus Stands K or F. This ride will take around 15-25 minutes.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

One of the most popular to-do at these beaches is the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This 6 kilometer cliff top coastal walk features awesome views of beaches, parks, rock formations & rock pools. One way walk takes about 2 hours to complete. They say the track is relatively easy with a few stairs. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach or vice versa. This is already in my to-do list when I fly to Sydney!

Did you know that I also spent a weekend with my families in Brisbane? Check out the places we visited in this post.

BOUNCE HOSTEL SYDNEY

I was about to write about my 2 night stay in one of Sydney’s highest-rated hostels – Bounce Hostel Sydney – for the Hostel Of The Day feature but I found out that it recently ceased operations. Apparently, the government bought the site early this year & they are planning to do something to enhance Sydney Central Station. Bounce Hostel Sydney’s building & the rest of the buildings along the street will be demolished early next year. It’s so sad to see nice hostel close. Thank you Bounce Hostel Sydney for the fun 2-night stay & for the memories. Let me share to you first some photos I took during my stay at Bounce.

So sad to know Bounce Sydney Hostel has closed 😭 

Beautiful Sydney skyline over Sydney Central Station from Bounce’s rooftop 😍

Back to the beaches.. That pretty much sums up our short trip to two of the many Sydney suburban beaches. I want to go back to these two to finally swim & also to try the coastal walk. Have you been to other suburban beaches in Sydney? Are there other beaches which are worth-visiting? Share your experiences & thoughts in the comments below.

Do you have any questions about Sydney or budget travel in general? Feel free to send them via email to to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Check out my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Watch out for our Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour & Scenic Blue Mountains Trip in the next N9 In Straya Series posts. Thanks for your time & have a good day! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Resort Of The Day: BRAVO BEACH RESORT SIARGAO – Reasonably Priced Shared Luxury Accommodation in Paradise Island

Two weeks ago, my friend & I went to Siargao for a quick 4-day break from the busy metro life. I know I’ve just been to Palawan last month, but I wasn’t able to resist the promotional ticket I got last February. We stayed at Bravo Beach Resort in our 4 days in Siargao.

Hostel Resort of the day: Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Bravo Beach Resort is a highly-rated luxury (island standards) resort in Siargao. This resort features a traditional x modern rooms, a garden, an on-site bar & restaurant, a swimming pool & beach access. The resort basically provides everything a guest needs. Technically, this resort is not a ‘hostel,’ but they have dormitory rooms for those who want to share rooms & meet new people during their respective trips – one of the reasons why I’m featuring this resort in my site.

Location & Access

Bravo Beach Resort is located along Tourism Road in General Luna. The resort is located by the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is 3 kilometers away from the world-famous Cloud 9 Surfing Area.

Inside Bravo Siargao – on the way to the rooms. 😍

The nearest airport to Bravo Beach Resort is Sayak Airport (also known as Siargao Airport) located in Del Carmen, Surigao Del Norte. From the airport, one can take a public van transfer to town for only ₱300. The van driver will drop you off in front of the resort. You can also hire a tricycle from the airport to General Luna for ₱500 per way. Same rates apply for transfers from the town to the airport.

The resort reception offers airport transfers for a higher fee of ₱400 per way. If you want a hassle-free & door-to-door private transfer, feel free to contact the reception.

Surf Bunk Room

Bravo Beach Resort offers 3 types of luxurious accommodation rooms – Garden Room, Double Room & Surf Bunk Room. The first 2 room types are private rooms while the surf bunk room can be shared with other guests. You can head over to the resort’s website for more details about the rooms.

Inside Bravo’s Surf Bunk Room

My friend & I decided to stay in the surf bunk room for 3 nights. A night stay in this 4-bed dormitory room costs ₱1,200. It may be double or triple the price of a regular dormitory bed accommodation (usually ₱300 – ₱500 per night on average) in Siargao but I tell you, the expensive rate is worth it.

That’s me in front of the mirror – shower room’s in the left & toilet’s in the right

The air-conditioned surf bunk room has 2 bunk beds with 4 individual beds. Each bed features a pillow, clean sheets, bath & pool towels, a plug & a reading light. Each guest has his / her own locker. The rooms have a separated shower area (with hot water) & toilet, plus a balcony / small lounge area outside. Daily complimentary breakfast is included in the rate. Breakfast time is from 7:00 am to 10:00 am only. Take away breakfast is not allowed.

Breakfast is served – so good!

Breakfast menu – you can personalize your meal!

We showed our bunk room to some of our friends who were not staying in Bravo & they all said that the ₱1,200 daily charge is worth the price. It may be expensive compared to the island’s standard rates, but we had a relaxing, luxurious & mosquito bite-free stay in this surf bunk room. I’ll definitely stay in this bunk room again when I go back to Siargao in the future.

Resort Amenities

Resort’s swimming pool – also open for restaurant guests!

All guests have access to the resort’s beach & swimming pool. The beach is just okay for swimming, but definitely not the best in the island. I mean, the beach view while eating your breakfast or drinking a bottle of cold beer is already enough. The swimming pool is located by the restaurant.

Resort beach – not the best in the island but the view will do 😍

The resort offers free Wi-Fi access all throughout the property. The reception, rooms & bar & restaurant all have Wi-Fi. The connection was good during the first 2 nights. We had a hard time connecting on our last night – we don’t know what happened.

Bar & Restaurant + Sunday Night Party

Bravo Siargao also has an on site Spanish restaurant. The restaurant offers a wide range of international dishes such as tapas, paella & the likes. The food price is not cheap but is reasonable. Food servings are big – could be good for sharing if you’re a light eater. The restaurant sometimes has live music by a band or an artist during dinner time.

Bravo Restaurant at night 😍

Bravo also has an on-site bar which offers beers, cocktails, wines & hard liquors. They have a very famous drink called Pomada. It’s a combination of gin, calamansi juice & sugar. A glass costs only ₱60. My Swedish friend who stayed in Siargao for over a month told me this drink is very cheap & addictive. I think I had more than 20 glasses of that in the whole duration of our stay.

Slow Cooked Coconut Pork Curry (₱290) & a glass of Pomada (₱60) for lunch

Bar parties in Siargao rotate every night. Bravo Beach Resort hosts this bar party every Sunday night. At 9:30 pm, the restaurant turns on a bar with a dance floor in the middle. The resort hosted an epic Sunday night party during our stay.

Bravo’s famous drink & also my favorite – Pomada! No party photos, sorry.

Bar & Restaurant operates everyday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, with the exception of the Sunday bar which closes at 12:00 am to cap off the party.

Tour Desk

Pool & beach view from the resort’s restaurant – so relaxing!

Bravo Beach Resort Siargao also offers daily tours. The tour desk is located in the reception area. The tour dates are updated regularly. I was not able to get the updated tour rates but as far as I can remember, the 6-hour x 3-island tour with lunch costs ₱1,000 per person. Sugba Lagoon tour costs around ₱2,000 per person. Feel free to send the resort an email for the updated tour prices & the tour schedule.

Bravo Beach Resort may not be the cheapest accommodation option in Siargao but their surf bunk room provides a luxurious but affordable experience a guest can get. Surf bunk room guests also get to enjoy the amenities the private room guests have access to. Believe me, it’s worth it. I’ll definitely stay here again when I go back to Siargao.

Feel free to contact the resort & ask if there are availabe rooms / beds for your planned stay. See contact details below:

Bravo Beach Resort Siargao
Address: Tourism Rd, Barangay 5, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines 8419
Phone Numbers: +63 999 877 8518 (Smart) & +63 905 395 5493 (Globe)
Email address: stay@bravoresort.com
Website: www.bravosiargao.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/bravosiargao

Everything in this resort is so beautiful! I’d love to go back soon. 😍

Have you been to Bravo Beach Resort in Siargao? How was your stay? Planning to fly to Siargao soon? Consider staying in this resort – you’ll surely have a good time. Do you have any questions or thoughts in mind? Feel free to post them in the comments below. You can also send those thoughts or questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or feel free to contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Don’t forget to check out the other hostels of the day in this website –  Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach, The Stay Sapporo & Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido. Thank you for reading & until the next HOTD post. ✌

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

A little over a year ago, I went on a weekend trip to a less known-place called Port Barton. This small fishing village in San Vicente, Palawan is located 3 hours by land from Puerto Princesa & about 4 hours from El Nido. I shared with you all the details of my trip – click this link to take you to that article. That Port Barton blog is actually one of the most read posts in this website.

Inaladelan Island at its finest 😍

Last month, my friends & I went to Port Barton for 2 full days or 48 hours – that’s after a quick visit to El Nido. We only went to El Nido for Nacpan Beach & that’s it. It was a good call to go to Port Barton after because weather in El Nido was pretty bad. It was raining all day & all night.

Since my last visit, Port Barton has remained to be ‘relatively’ unknown to the Filipino traveling community. There has been already a handful of Filipino visitors; but the majority of the tourists are still foreigners – mostly those who are traveling around the Philippines for a few weeks. I loved the fact that this place is still untouched, unpopular & very basic.

Instagram-worthy photo in one of the beach huts in Inaladelan Island 😍

In this post, I will talk about how we spent 48 hours in Port Barton. I’ll talk about how we went there, where we stayed & what we did there during our stay.

El Nido To Port Barton

The most comfortable way to go to Port Barton from El Nido is to take the scheduled van trips. There are 2 to 3 scheduled trips per day – 7:00 am, 8:00 am & 1:00 pm. Fare per person ranges from ₱500 to ₱700, depending where you book your ticket.

In our case, we booked it through Outpost Beach Hostel & the fare per person from the hostel tour desk is ₱700. We took the 8:00 am trip. Travel time from El Nido is around 3.5 to 4 hours. The road to Port Barton has improved since my last visit. There are still parts which are under construction, but most of the roads have now been paved.

Island view 😍

Environmental Fee

As mentioned in the previous post, the local tourism council collects ₱50 environmental fee from all guests visiting Port Barton. This environmental card is given to the visitor after signing the guest log book & paying the small fee. This card is valid for 10 days & is required in taking the boat / island tour.

Deep Moon Resort

Welcome to Deep Moon Resort!

My friends & I stayed in a beachfront resort named Deep Moon Resort. I have a friend working there so I asked for his help in getting a place to stay. We stayed in fan bungalow for 3 people for ₱1,100 per night. The bungalow features a double bed in the ground floor & a single bed in the mezzanine. Both beds have mosquito nets. The bungalow has a private toilet & shower & a balcony. It is located at the back of the beachfront bungalows.

Our fan bungalow for 2 nights

Deep Moon Resort offers free Wi-Fi in the common areas. They also have an on site bar & restaurant which we weren’t able to try. The resort is located right in front of the Port Barton village beach. The staff were nice & helpful, they helped us & our new-found friends book our island tour.

Inside our fan bungalow – I slept in the bed located in mezzanine

The resort recently opened their dormitory rooms under the name Dragon House Dorm. They have 8-bed & 10-bed dormitory fan rooms for those who are traveling on budget. All guests also have access to the facilities of Deep Moon Resort. A dormitory bed costs around ₱400 – ₱450 per night. Not bad, right?

Port Barton Village Beach

Port Barton village beach – right outside your doorstep!

Port Barton is a fishing village that is located by the beach. The first to-do when visiting this beautiful place is to enjoy the village beach. My friends & I immediately went swimming after check-in. This place is very quiet & relaxing.

View from Deep Moon Resort’s Moon Bar

Island Hopping Tour

Jump shot with the whole island tour crew!

Just like El Nido & Coron, Port Barton also has its set of island hopping tours. We asked the help of my friend working in Deep Moon Resort to secure our spot in the sole Lonely Planet-recommended tour guide. The whole island hopping tour still costs ₱700 per person – no price change since last year. The rate includes picnic lunch & boat fees. It doesn’t include the ₱100 per person entrance fee in Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island).

Inaladelan Island from the beach 😍

This island tour had a slightly different itinerary from that of last year’s. Instead of having lunch in Paradise Maxima & Exotic Islands, we spent more time & had lunch in Inaladelan Island. We still visited the Twin & Paradise Reefs & still swam with the famous turtle (now two of them so turtles!). We didn’t go to the I-forgot-the-name-of-the-island & instead went to Long Paradise Island. We were the only visitors in this island. The experience was quite cool. The tour’s last stop is still the Luli Island, now known as Starfish Island. The tour started little past time & ended around 4:30 in the afternoon.

What’s for lunch? 😋 This meal is included in the island tour fee

Let me share to you some photos my friend & I took during the island tour.

Twin Reef

Turtle Point

Inaladelan Island (formerly German Island)

Long Paradise Island

Paradise Reef

Starfish Island

Sunset Watching

The ‘best’ sunset we had during our stay – weather was not at its best!

Port Barton boasts a very beautiful sunset. I’ve witnessed what sunset view this village has to offer last year. Unfortunately, the weather during this trip was not at its best. Nonetheless, this is one of the best things to do in this very relaxing place.

Native Bo Reggae Bar

Spent our last night in Native Bo Reggae Bar – had a fun night with these people!

Last year, my friends & I went to Jungle Bar & had a great time. I’d love to bring my companions to this place but we didn’t have the luxury of time. We opted to enjoy the night at Native Bo Reggae Bar. It’s the reggae bar located by the village beach. This bar offers affordable drinks & a very social atmosphere. They even have a buy 1 get 1 on selected drinks from lunchtime until 7:00 pm. My friends & I plus the ones we met in the island tour went here on our last night in Port Barton.

Other Things To Do

48 hours in Port Barton is not enough to visit everything this place has to offer. Just like my trip last year, I missed out on a few places like the White Beach (because we already a lot of white beaches in the trip?), Pamuayan Falls (again) & the San Vicente Long Beach (this is really far). I also found out that they now offer a tour to the nearby mangrove conservation area.

Port Barton After A Year – ANYTHING NEW? 

It’s been a year & a few months since I first went to Port Barton. Last time, I shared with you some facts about this not-so-famous place. This time, I’ll share with you what has changed after 15 months of not visiting this place.

More Accommodation Choices

Last year, there were only less than 10 accommodation choices available online. Most accommodations can only be contacted via call or text. After 15 months, there has been a boom in the number of accommodation choices in Port Barton. There are already a lot of hostels, guesthouses & homestays available in websites like Booking.com & Agoda. Rates also have increased a bit; though some have retained the rates they had since last year.

More Restaurants & Eateries

There has also been an increase in the number of restaurants & eateries in the village. The growing demand forced the locals to open more restaurants & local eateries. My friends & I still opted to eat at Gacayan Restaurant – they still have the cheapest food in the village. It was not as crowded as it was last year.

Had dinner in Gorgonzola Pizza – one of the new restaurants in the village

Electricity Hours

Port Barton still doesn’t have 24-hour electricity supply. Power supply is only available from 5 pm until 12 midnight & now from 10 am until 12 noon. Make sure to charge all your gadgets & equipment in these power hours.

Still no ATMs

The village still doesn’t have ATMs. The nearest money dispensing machines are located in El Nido, Puerto Princesa & Roxas. Make sure to withdraw enough cash before going to Port Barton. Credit cards can be used here but only for a handful of establishments. Cash is the preferred & the widely-used mode of payment.

Village Clinic for Medical Emergencies

There is a small clinic or health center in the village; it’s located along Ballesteros St near the school. Take note that the nearest hospital in the village is located in Roxas, which is around an hour away. Don’t forget to stack up on medicines before going to the village.

Limited internet connectivity

Port Barton still has limited internet connectivity. The fastest mobile internet connection can be found near the beach & it doesn’t even give you a 4G connection. Plan out all your emails & internet usage before going to this village. Best to also take this trip as a disconnection from the usual internet-dependent routine.

This pretty much sums up our 48-hour Port Barton trip last month. My friends & I made the right decision of leaving El Nido & heading to this paradise where the weather was good. 48-hours was not enough to discover everything this place has to offer. I look forward to staying longer in my next Port Barton trip.

With Maanne & Yana in Palawan. Thanks for the fun weekend! 🙂

Port Barton is starting to gain attention from the local tourism industry. Locals have started to visit this place, unlike last year when it was all foreigners. I hope this place remains the same in the next few years. I can easily say that Port Barton is my current favorite hideout from the busy metro life. I would like to also take this chance to thank my friends, Maanne & Yana, for the fun weekend in El Nido & Port Barton. The trip was short but very memorable.

Can’t get over how beautiful Inaladelan Island is! 😍

Are you planning to go to Port Barton soon? You should! Have you been there? How was your trip? Will you go back soon? Don’t forget to share some details of your past or upcoming trip in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Port Barton? Feel free to send an email to  contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via these social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading & until the next 48-hour trip! 🌴

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11 & HTC Re. Shout out to Maanne for letting me use some of her photos.

 

Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL NACPAN BEACH – Beach & Party In One Place

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’re aware that I always stay in hostels. Yes, I am a big fan of hostels. Staying in hostels saves me some money & also gives me the opportunity to meet & interact from people all over the world. Most of my previous blog posts mention short information & reviews about the hostels I’ve stayed with in that destination.

I was on a trip with friends last weekend in Palawan & I randomly thought of introducing a new section for my site. This section will feature / review the hostels I’ve been to or stayed with in my previous trips. It will also mention relevant information about the hostel like location, access, nightly rates, amenities, etc. I will call this section Hostel Of The Day.

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach it is!

The first hostel of the day is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach in Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan. Mad Monkey Hostels Group is a famous party hostel chain in Southeast Asia (& has recently expanded in Australia) which brings together people from all over the world to have a good time. This hostel chain is famous for their beach / pool parties & their hourly free shots at the bar. What I like about this hostel chain is they employ locals & help out local businesses where their hostels are located. They also host / participate in environment-friendly activities such as clean-up drives.

File photo of Nacpan Beach back in 2014 when it was sunny! Weather was pretty bad last weekend so I didn’t have nice photos.

Another file photo of Nacpan Beach in 2014.. Beautiful place!

One of the recently opened branches of Mad Monkey Hostels is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. The hostel is located along Nacpan Beach, about 30 to 45 minutes from El Nido Town in Palawan. Tripadvisor placed Nacpan Beach as 10th Best Beach in the World in 2016. I’ve been to Nacpan Beach several times already & I can say this beach is indeed one of the best I’ve been to. I previously stayed in Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay (article to follow) in 2016 so my friends & I decided to visit their Nacpan Beach branch last weekend when we were in El Nido.

Access

The nearest airport to the hostel is 12 kms away – El Nido Airport (airport code – ENI). From the airport, you can take a tricycle to Nacpan Beach for ₱500-600 per way. You can also fly to Puerto Princesa Airport (airport code – PPS) & take a 5-6 hours land (van or bus) trip to El Nido town for ₱500-₱600 one way. From El Nido town, you can hire a tricycle to Nacpan Beach for ₱600-₱700 per way.

Who doesn’t love Mad Monkey, eh?

The cheapest way to go to Nacpan Beach is by taking the scheduled trips of Discover El Nido Tour Company. They have hourly trips from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. One way trip costs ₱350 while return transfers cost ₱600. You can book your transfers online by clicking this link. Hurry, seats fill up really fast!

View from the hostel bar & restaurant

We took this scheduled van transfer last weekend; the rate was worth it. If you are staying in town, they will pick you up & bring you back to your hostel / accommodation. They also use new & air-conditioned vans which make your trip comfortable & hassle-free.

Tip: Make sure to have enough cash during your stay in Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. The nearest ATM is in town which is 16 kms away.

Accommodation Choices & Rates

Luke, one of the heads of Mad Monkey Hostels in the Philippines, showed us the accommodation options they have in Nacpan Beach. Note that all the rooms do not have air-conditioning. I can assure you that all these rooms are clean & well-maintained.

The upper bunk beds in the 6-bed dormitory room

The beachfront hostel has a 12-bed basic dormitory room & a 6-bed dormitory room. Each bunk features a power outlet, a mosquito net & a secure storage space (bring your own lock). Rooms have fans & have easy access to communal shower & toilet. Shower areas & toilets are clean & well-maintained. A night stay in the 12-bed dormitory room costs ₱700 while a stay in the 6-bed room costs ₱800.

The camping tents at the back of the dormitory rooms

If you want some privacy, you can book their loft double accommodation for ₱2,000 per night for 2 people. This accommodation choice includes a spacious queen mattress, a wall fan & electrical sockets. Guests also have a private balcony space & have a view of coconut trees outside. If you’re up for some adventure & basic stay, you can stay in a twin tent for ₱1,000 per night for 2 people. The camping tent is only a place to sleep. Guests still have access to lockers. Just like in dormitory rooms, shower areas & toilets are common for all guests.

Screenshot from the hostel website re: rates per night

I checked a random day for next month & saw the following rates in the Mad Monkey Hostel website. I think the 6-bed dormitory room is the best choice for me. You just have the right number of people to share in a room plus you get to enjoy all amenities for such an affordable rate.

Beach Bar & Restaurant

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach has an on site beach bar & restaurant which boosts affordable & tasty food choices & reasonable alcohol prices. I took a photo of the restaurant’s menu – see below.

The hostel also sells alcohol. Local beers are sold for ₱80 (reasonable considering the location) per bottle while cocktails are available for around ₱200 per glass. I recommend trying their signature Nacpan Beach branch drink called Pacquiao Punch for only ₱200. It’s the counterpart of Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay’s famous Boracay Bomb. The hostel also serves free alcohol shots every hour from noon (correct me if I’m wrong) to 12 midnight. Make sure you’re ready for a lot of alcohol intake when you decide to stay in this hostel.

Free shots at the bar!!!

Nacpan Beach’s signature drink – Pacquiao Punch!

Bar Manager, Harley, preparing the next round of free shots at the bar

Tours & Activities

The hostel may be secluded from El Nido town but guests can still do a lot while staying in Nacpan. Aside from having cold beers, free alcohol shots & unlimited beach swim, guests can also play beach volleyball, have bonfire, go snorkeling & paddle boarding. The hostel also has a stunning view of the sunset. Too bad we were not able to witness it last weekend; but friends we met there said the sunset was one of a kind.

Jam-packed bar & restaurant on a Saturday lunch! Rule number 1 when in a Mad Monkey Hostel – Socialize.

According to the hostel’s website, they also offer an island hopping tour to the Big & Small Lagoons, Secret Beach & Hidden Beach for ₱2,200 per person. Tours happen every Wednesdays & Saturdays. Head over to the hostel website for more information about the tour.

Nacpan Beach is right in front of the Mad Monkey Hostel premises

This pretty much sums up everything you need to know about Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. This is the place to be if you’re looking for a nice quiet beach with party nights! If you’re into beach life & parties, I recommend staying in this fun hostel. YES, STAY HERE!!! If you have questions about the hostel, feel free to contact them in the details provided below.

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach
Address: Nacpan Beach, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines 5313
Contact Number: +63 945 412 2369
Email Address: nacpanbeach@madmonkeyhostels.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/madmonkeynacpanbeach

PS. Mad Monkey Hostels Group is set to open a new branch in Cebu City in September & another branch in Siargao early next year. Watch out for these new branches soon!

Shout out to Luke, Harvey & to all the kind & accommodating staff & crew of Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. Thank you for the warm welcome, the drinks & the great stay. You guys made our day trip fun & memorable. Until next time! I hope to come back & stay there for a few nights.

Enjoyed our Pacquiao Punch.. That was hell of a good drink!

Wondering how I get awesome accommodation deals when I travel? I posted a blog how I do it. Click here to know the pattern in getting the best accommodation deals when planning for your next trip. I also previously wrote about the ups & downs of staying in hostels. Head over to the article & check if staying in hostels is your thing or not.

This is Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach!

If you have any or questions, feel free to leave a comment below. You can also reach me via email by sending it to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter. Until the next Hostel Of The Day!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11. Thanks to my friend Maanne for allowing me to use her photos.