Astoria Palawan is taking work and play seriously. After all, whether you are a mere tourist on a vacation, attending a conference, or on a business trip, you need time out! Astoria Palawan recently announced the completion of two much-awaited facilities: the 1-hectare Palawan Waterpark and the Mangrove Convention Center. These two facilities, added to Astoria Palawan’s topnotch hotel-resort facilities, cater to the business traveler who wants to combine work and play during his stay. Calling it ‘workplays’ (a play on the word ‘workplace’), Astoria Palawan is a definite travel destination that no tourist or businessperson should miss.
All about Astoria Palawan
Located in what is dubbed by an international magazine, Travel and Leisure, as one of the “World’s Best Islands”, Astoria Palawan joins the rest of the Astoria Hotel and Resorts’ growing list of properties strategically located nationwide.
The entire hotel-resort sits on a 5-hectare sprawling mango orchard in Barangay San Rafael, Puerto Princesa, just a 90-minute car ride from Puerto Princesa International Airport. One has the best of both worlds with a beach view on one side and a mountain view on the other. The entire complex was built to blend in with the landscape, exuding a natural and rustic ambience.
The resort has 112 luxurious, spacious accommodations housed in 13 leaf-shaped wood cabin villas and two 2-story structures. Each room comes with individual climate-controlled airconditioning, LCD TV with DVD player and cable programming, electronic safe, personal ref, tea and coffee maker, and a modern bath/shower with complete amenities.
An infinity pool, with a separate children’s pool, with a view looking out into the sea, is one of the best places to relax and swim.
An all-day dining restaurant with airconditioning and al fresco seating serves guests. A musical welcome from the Batak Tribe, one of the last remaining aboriginal tribes in the Philippines, also awaits guests.
Mangrove Convention Center
More and more meetings and conventions are being done outside megacities and Palawan is a favorite destination. Now, with Astoria Palawan’s Mangrove Convention, this will surely attract even more such conferences. The convention center’s modern facilities are designed to comfortably fit small corporate meetings, celebrations, international conventions, and grand social events. The entire space measures 439 sq. meters, with a main convention hall that can accommodate as many as 450 guests. A foyer area with two function rooms feature collapsible dividers for cocktail or sit-down events with a maximum capacity of 200 persons.
Palawan Waterpark
The sure crowd-drawer is the latest addition to Astoria Palawan — the 1-hectare Waterpark — a sprawling water wonderland.
There are 17 cabanas sprinkled throughout the waterpark, with picnic tables for rent, so that groups could stay in the shade while enjoying the view of the entire water complex.
All around the complex are different fun rides and recreation areas
Surf’s Up Pool – Right in the center is the surf pool that produces waves in 6 varying settings — perfect for swimming and enjoyable wave moments with family and friends
St. Paul River Ride – Named after the river of Puerto Princesa that made it to the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the lazy river goes around the entire waterpark. One can ride on inflatables and drift in shallow water all around the waterpark. What a wonderful way to tour the waterpark!
Velocity and Vortex Aqua Slides – These are giant slides. Three are velocity slides where you can take a straight plunge all the way down to the Surf’s Up Pool. If that is too tame for you, try the vortex slides where you swirl and slide down two separate corkscrew slides, each one shaped differently to give two different kinds of rush.
Batak Misters – These colorful and towering structures take inspiration from the Batak Tribe of Palawan, found in San Rafael. This tribe is one of the last indigenous groups in the Philippines. As you pass them, these structures spray you with water. Fun!
Marine Sanctuary – No, it is not real marine life but statues of Palawan’s endemic fauna where guests can take selfies and group pictures. Here you will find bamboo water cannons, jelly fish water geysers, Palawan crocodiles, the endangered Dugong (sea cow), and a blue whale.
Tumbling Buckets Kidzone – Parents need not worry about their smaller children (6-12 years old) because they have their own little waterpark. The Tumbling Buckets Kidzone features smaller versions of the park’s slides, tube slides, a tumbling bucket of water, and a hoop spray tunnel.
Astoria Palawan also offers other in-resort activities such as swimming in Honda Bay, snorkeling in the house reef, soothing in-room massages, movie screenings underneath the stars, beach volleyball, golf cart rides, and mountain bike rides. It also has a game room with local Filipino board games and a karaoke room. It lives up to its name as a premium ‘WorkPlays’ destination in Palawan.
You can find Astoria Palawan at the following sites:
Website: astoriahotelsandresorts.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/astoriahotelsandresorts
You can also contact them at (+632) 687-1111 loc. 8302 or email sales@astoriapalawan.com.