Is it worth booking a private El Nido island-hopping tour? Should you join a group tour instead? These might be the burning questions of those who are planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in one of the beautiful tropical destinations in the world – Palawan, Philippines.
Get ready, Palawan high season is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year where the emerald waters are glittering under the pouring sunshine, fun people are out and about and the nightlife is so alive. Meanwhile, you’re still out there bogged down by the daily grind.
To make the most out of your tropical holiday, make sure to plan your Palawan trip ahead of time.
Here are the top 5 benefits of booking a private El Nido island-hopping tour.
Personalized Attention
You can expect a more personalized service when booking a private El Nido island-hopping tour. It means that you will be treated like a human being by human beings. Your local guide will focus on your needs and is always available to make sure that you get the most out of each tour in your personalized Palawan itinerary. You will never be treated like just one of the many travelers.
Unfortunately, most of the tour operators in El Nido organize group tours designed for young backpackers traveling around South East Asia or for the locals from the city demanding huge discounts. They seem to set the cheap travel trend now. The reality in this part of the world is that you usually get what you pay for. The thing is, most of these travelers don’t really mind to be shoved in a cattle boat because of the low price. Though there’s really nothing wrong with that kind of travel lifestyle, just don’t expect too much from the service.
The great thing is that there’s a comprehensive tour operator in El Nido who aims to take you away from the backpacker crowd. Gone are the days of roughing it, you deserve better this time. After finally having that much-needed break from your job, there’s nothing wrong to splurge a little bit. Live a little.
Safety and Comfort
El Nido is generally a safe place to travel to but make sure you are booking with the right tour operator that ensures your safety and comfort. With a private El Nido island-hopping tour, it’s only going to be you and your friends or family. Be guided by local experts who will give you a personalized attention you deserve. Touring with a small group means you’ll feel more safe and comfortable. In El Nido group tours, the local guide belongs to everyone. You could easily miss the important explanations during the tour because it can get crazy crowded in a big boat.
Your Palawan itinerary specialists will make sure that everything would be convenient for you. They will take away all the confusion by organizing everything for you from start to finish. You’ll have a private and comfortable boat only for your group.
Flexible Itinerary
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience so why not make the most of your Palawan trip? Your holiday, your design. You deserve more than just a mediocre service. You deserve a flexible El Nido itinerary designed around your interest, personality, need, and budget. You get to decide where to go around Bacuit Bay.
You don’t have to succumb to a tyrant tour operator who will box you into a set of predefined island-hopping tours and services. Joining an El Nido island-hopping group tour means that your itinerary is fixed. You’ll go where everyone else goes. You may have to visit a place you are not even interested in. Worse, you’ll travel with strangers you may dislike. Chances are, you’ll see the magical big lagoon splattered with yellow kayaks and orange life jackets. What you want to see is an iconic nature sight in Bacuit Bay in all its glory. Booking a private El Nido island-hopping tour means you’ll have the chance to visit stunning places, if not zero, at least with fewer people.
Hassle-Free Tour
The point of booking a private El Nido island-hopping tour is to save you the time and mental energy. Imagine you don’t have to be cramped in a big boat with strangers. You don’t have to wait for other people to join the island-hopping boat or show up for departure. Mind you, it’s the usual scene in El Nido every morning, waiting for others. Waiting is the last thing you want to do. A private tour means that you’ll depart Bacuit bay at an earlier time than usual to have the chance to get to the iconic spots first.
A comprehensive tour operator means that all the nitty-gritty of booking an El Nido island-hopping tour will be taken care of way ahead of time. All you need to do is to arrive. The internet connection is bad here and you don’t have to patiently wait for the page to load while searching for “the best tour operator in El Nido.” With too many choices in town, you don’t have to walk around feeling confused. You don’t have to arrive not knowing where to book the right El Nido island-hopping tour package.
Value for Money
A private El Nido island-hopping tour can be reassuringly expensive yet affordable enough to ensure an unforgettable experience. It’s a fixed price for a complete experience. You don’t have to be surprised with extra expenses you have to pay out there. No forced shopping or big cattle boat experience. With a group tour, there are other things you have to pay for such as kayak rental, environmental fee and all that.
Although an El Nido island-hopping group tour is way cheaper, it does not necessarily mean quality service. You usually just get what you pay for, so lower your expectations. The local guide might not even remember your name. The harsh reality in El Nido town is that you will be treated just like everyone else. A walking goldmine and nothing more. And you don’t want that right? You want to be treated like a special human being visiting a special tropical destination. You want to be genuinely treated like a visiting friend whether in land or underwater.
