Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel - Palawan

The Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel - Palawan is a city hotel for divers who want a straightforward base in Puerto Princesa rather than a remote beach address. You get air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi, a restaurant, bars, pool facilities and a fitness centre, with the airport very close by. It is the sort of place where the useful details do the talking: somewhere to sleep properly, eat without a complicated plan and leave your luggage in safe hands while you look beyond the hotel.

The atmosphere is more practical than barefoot-island. That suits a travelling diver who may be arriving late, flying out early or using Puerto Princesa as the starting point for a wider Palawan itinerary. A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, room service and an on-site bar mean you can keep the evening simple when your legs have had enough of boats, roads and seawater.

The address is Rizal Avenue Extension in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. Puerto Princesa Airport is about 0.1 miles away by road, and the hotel provides airport pick-up for arriving guests when arranged in advance. That is a useful advantage for an early flight or a late landing; there is little need to turn the airport transfer into a separate expedition.

This is not a hotel on the beach. Pristine Beach is about 1.4 miles away by car, while Honda Bay is roughly 8 miles away. The city is the immediate setting, with restaurants close by, including Ongs Maki House, Tio Rods Restobar Lounge and Kinabuchs Grill & Bar. Palawan Museum is about 0.7 miles away, and the hotel can arrange an Underground River Tour for a day away from the water in front of you.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and sleeping flexibility you want. The Deluxe Double is the uncomplicated couple’s option, while the Deluxe Twin suits two divers who would rather not negotiate bed territory after a long day. Premier rooms give you more room to spread out, and the King Suite adds a sofa and a super-king bed for a more relaxed stay.

For a family group, the family room combines a king-size bed with two single beds. Interconnecting rooms are also available, which can be more useful than trying to make one room do every job. A twin room with a walk-in shower is available for guests who need that arrangement, and facilities for disabled guests are part of the hotel’s offer.

Every room is air-conditioned and non-smoking, with a private bathroom, bidet, bathrobes and slippers. You also get a flat-screen television with cable channels, a kettle, a minibar and a desk. Soundproof rooms are available, a small but welcome detail when the next morning starts before your preferred wake-up time. Daily housekeeping, free WiFi in the rooms and room service keep the room functional rather than merely decorative.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, giving you the sensible option of eating properly before a morning departure rather than trying to assemble a meal from whatever survived in your luggage. The named Anibong All-day Dining Restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, so the hotel can handle more than just the first meal of the day. Room service is also available when changing out of wet kit and finding a table elsewhere feels like unnecessary administration.

You have three named places for a drink: Balayong Grill & Bar, Daluyon Pool Bar and the Lobby Lounge. The pool bar gives the afternoon a natural stopping point, while the lobby lounge is the easier choice when you want a drink without changing into anything more ambitious than dry clothes. The hotel also has a second restaurant listed among its main facilities, as well as a bar, minibar and tea and coffee-making facilities in the rooms.

Families are catered for with a child-friendly buffet and children’s meals. Wine and champagne are available, and the hotel can prepare packed lunches for days when your plans take you away from the dining room.

The hotel gives you two ways to get wet without booking another excursion: an indoor pool listed among the hotel facilities and an outdoor pool on the hotel’s own facilities list. Pool towels and sun loungers are available, so you can make the afternoon as active or as lazy as your shoulders allow. There is also a fitness centre for keeping the legs moving when the rest of the day has been spent sitting on a boat.

Massage is available, including full-body massage. That is the relevant sort of leisure after several dives: no timetable, no special clothing and no need to pretend that a gentle horizontal position is not already a perfectly respectable activity. The hotel also has a business centre, should work insist on following you to Palawan.

For a day away from the hotel, an Underground River Tour can be arranged. Palawan Museum is about 0.7 miles away, and Capitol Park Square is roughly 0.4 miles away. The surrounding city also gives you nearby restaurants and bars when you want to step outside without planning a full evening.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. The hotel asks you to give your expected arrival time in advance, which matters particularly when you are using the airport pick-up. The service is complimentary from Puerto Princesa Airport and can be arranged with your flight details. Private parking is available on site, and car hire can also be arranged.

The front desk operates around the clock and can help with currency exchange, concierge requests, luggage storage and laundry. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel, and the property has a lift, key-card access, 24-hour security and a safety deposit box. Cash is not accepted, so plan to use an accepted card for settling your hotel account and other services.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots can be requested for very young children, while extra beds are not available; the family room and interconnected rooms therefore matter if you are travelling with children. Pets are not allowed. The hotel can also arrange transport services, with the details handled directly at the time of booking.