How Rich Do You Have To Be To Afford A 3D2N Vacation In Amanpulo?
Hint: It won’t come cheap.
While scrolling through your Instagram feed lately, you might have stumbled upon beach photos of a couple of local celebrities taking a much-needed breather after months of being on lockdown. Sarah Geronimo and Mateo Guidicelli, Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez, Sue Ramirez, Erich Gonzales, and Enchong Dee are just some of them.
One of the most strikingly beautiful destinations these personalities have gone to recently is Amanpulo, a luxurious resort in Pamalican Island in Palawan. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Aman,’ which means ‘peace,’ and ‘Pulo,’ the Tagalog word for ‘island’. With pristine white sands and magnificent views of the sea and the sky, there is no way to take a bad photo of this romantic getaway destination for the rich and famous.
But just how rich (or famous) do you have to be to afford a quick vacation in Amanpulo? How much do you need to shell out for a 3-day-2-night vacation if you’re a group of two adults and two kids below 11 years old? We give you the lowdown.
Airfare – at least US$ 1,580 (approx. Php 79,000)
Located approximately 360 kilometers on the south of Manila, the island of Pamalican can be reached exclusively through private flights that land on the resort’s own landing strip.
The chartered plane can accommodate up to 15 passengers at a time, and the flight from Manila to Pamalican may take up to 70 minutes. A roundtrip ticket costs US$ 495 per adult (approximately Php 25,000) and US$ 295 (approximately Php 15,000) for kids ages 2 to 11. Infants below 2 years old are free of charge, but must fly on their parent’s lap.
The flight allows a luggage allowance of 20 kilograms per adult passenger and 10 kilograms per child 11 years old and below. Infants share their parent’s luggage allowance.
Accommodation – at least US$ 3,200 (approx. Php 160,000)
You can expect to live the high life while staying in this luxe beach resort: impeccable services, first-class amenities, breathtaking sceneries, and privacy. Of course, it all comes with a cost.
Accommodation rates range from US$ 1,600 to US$ 7,900 a night, depending on where you stay.
Their hotels are called ‘Casitas’ which offer a spectacular view of the turquoise sea and quick access to the beach via sandy footpaths. Each Casita, which can accommodate up to 3 persons, has a private deck, a king-size bed, personal bar, large bathrooms, Wi-Fi, television and sound system, and outdoor his-and-hers divans, to name a few.
The least expensive of their hotel rooms is their 68-square-meter Hillside Casita with a standard rate of US$ 1,600 (approximately Php 77,000) per night, excluding taxes and other fees. The Beach Casita, which has additional amenities such as wooden sundecks and beach side hammocks, is the most expensive at US$ 1,900 (approximately Php 92,000) for its standard daily rate.
Meanwhile, Villas are for larger groups of guests. Each Villa has its own private chef and butler, an indoor pool, and provides the use of a club car.
The One-Bedroom Villa has 119 square meters of indoor area that opens to wide, open spaces leading to the pool or beach. It can accommodate 3 guests and costs US$ 3,500 (approximately Php 170,000) a night, excluding tax and other fees. The 351-square-meter Palawan Villa, which has 4 bedrooms and a capacity of 12 guests, can be yours for a night at US$ 7,900 (approximately Php 380,000).
Meals – at least US$ 446 (approx. Php 22,300)
A la carte breakfast for two is included when you book any casita or villa. If you fancy a particular dish, the resort has three restaurants that can cater to your whim, with dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options.
Breakfast rice bowls at the Clubhouse cost Php 1,000 each, while sandwiches start at Php 1,150 per order. They also have go-to Filipino favorites like Salmon Belly Sinigang (Php 1,350), Pork Belly Adobo (Php 1,600), and Lumpiang Shanghai (Php 1,350) on the menu. Each order is good for one person.
Experiences - Optional
While vacationing in Amanpulo, there are several activities you can do to make your stay more enjoyable, among them:
- Green and Hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings (US$ 60 or almost Php 3,000). The island is known as a favorite nesting site of these sea turtles. Through the resort, you can experience seeing firsthand the release of hatchlings, which usually happens between the months of March and October.
- Sunset Canvas (for US$ 76 or almost Php 4,000). A perfect activity for people who love to paint and want to capture the stunning sunset of Amanpulo in a canvas. It comes with a complimentary glass of wine, too.
- Sunset Cruise (for US$ 115 or almost Php6,000 per person). Catch a sight of the changing colors of the sky while cruising around Pamalican Island.
- Two hours of fishing (for US$ 385 or almost Php 20,000 per person). The seas around Amanpulo are open for fishing activities. You can reel in Lapu-Lapu, snappers, wahoo, and tuna, and even ask the chefs to cook your catch the way you want it for lunch or dinner.
- Two-Hour Honey and Coconut Milk Hydration Journey (for US$ 288 or almost Php 15,000.00). It begins with a body scrub using crystallized sugar, followed by a warm honey body wrap, including a facial mask and scalp massage. A hydrating coconut milk bath concludes it.
In summary, a 3-day-2-night stay in Amanpulo for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids) from Manila will cost you at least US$ 5,226, or approximately Php 261,300*.
Ready to take a vacation of a lifetime? Remember that it’s not where you go but the company you keep that makes a trip memorable. If you’ve got your heart set on Amanpulo, you may reach them through their website.
* Amount shown is an estimate.
This article originally appeared on OneLife.PH
