Where is Mindoro Palms Beach Resort?
Mindoro Palms Beach Resort is located in the Philippines on an island called “Mindoro”, facing the South China Sea.
Mindoro Island is divided into two provinces, Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental. The Resort is on the Occidental side.
The country Philippines itself consists of 7,000 islands plus, prompting other nationals especially members of the United States Military to nickname it “PI”- short for “Philippine Islands.”
The address:
Mindoro Palms Beach Resort
Bulaong, Concepcion, Calintaan
Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
5102
Before you leave on your trip to us, print our address and phone numbers. Your cell phone will get you connected to us and you can appraise us of your progress.
Mindoro Palms BR and Apo Reef= 31 miles
Shown at left is the location of Apo Reef Dive Park relative to the Resort.
How to get to us from Manila:
There are two ways you can go; one by air, second by land.
1) By Air:
Whether you’re transferring from an international flight, or you’re a domestic flyer, origination point described herein is Manila International Airport or also otherwise known in modern times as Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA, Terminal 2.
There are 3 or more commuter air companies that service the Mindoro Island to Manila International Airport (NAIA) route. The flight takes 30 minutes from takeoff to landing.
Your flight destination is San Jose Airport Mindoro (SJA) which is Mindoro Occidental’s provincial airport. Click the link as it is a good portal to information on all the air carriers that service Mindoro Island. Whether you’re booking the flight on your own or you need our help, the links are helpful.
When you start thinking about your Tropical Vacation- alert us right away. We can help you plan. Maybe you’re not yet ready for a vacation but just need information to put together a trip, that’s ok too. Things we may be able to do for you include contacting the commuter companies or even book the domestic flight portion of your journey. Or we just may offer you a whole “domestic service package” for this portion of your trip so you don’t have to worry about anything. Stay tuned on this page as we fine-tune this service and put the pieces together.
For SCUBA DIVERS go here for more info.
Time-wise- Manila, Philippines is 15 hours ahead of USA Pacific Standard Time. If you live in Los Angeles, California, you will count 15 hours forward or clockwise. If you live in New York, EST, count 12 hours forward as the Philippines is ahead of you by 12 hours.
For international travelers allow 3 hours leeway to pick up your luggage, clear Customs, exit the international portion of the terminal, and security re-screening for boarding the domestic flight.
Your itinerary might necessitate a night’s stay in Manila. There are a cluster of hotels around the airport. The NAIA link above will guide you to the hotels. When you come out to the cab line, tell your Attendant the name of your Hotel.
Here are the links to three air carriers that service the Manila to Occidental Mindoro route. There might be more but I chose only three. All three carriers offer 1 “carry-on” FREE allowance of 15kg (33 lbs approx.), and 1 “hand-carry” of 7kg (15 lbs approx.)
1. Air Phil Express- scroll to the “Baggage” section of their FAQ
2. Cebu Pacific Air- scroll down to “Excess Baggage Rate- Domestic to Domestic;” this is your rate travelling from an international origination point, then flying from Manila (NAIA- Ninoy Aquino International Airport) to San Jose Airport.
3. Zest Airways Inc.- Extra Luggage Info
An Itinerary Example by Plane; please use only as a guide to tell you what to expect:
a- your international plane lands at NAIA- terminal 1 or 2
b- proceed to Immigrations line. Make sure all your immigration papers are ready to avoid delay.
c- pick up your luggage. All luggages need to be picked up at this terminal. It will not be automatically loaded up for your connecting flight. Your Flight crew will tell you this, or there is a PA system at the terminal that reminds you.
d- from your international flight, you will take a yellow cab to the Domestic air port. Not to worry- as soon as you get out of the terminal door, there is a line of yellow cabs. Tell the attendants the name of your domestic carrier. Attendants speak English very well and are used to dealing with, communicating with, foreigners, especially English-speaking visitors. They in turn will tell your cab driver where to take you– for example; Cebu Pacific. These cab drivers and their vehicles are registered with the Airport Management. They are trusted service providers. They even tell you how many minutes approximate, to your destination.
e- when you get to the Carrier’s gate, you will go through Security. From here it’s just a matter of waiting for takeoff. I must say they are very punctual so be there on time.
f- when you land in San Jose, Mindoro, we will be outside the gate to pick you up. We will be holding a sign with your name on it, and our Staff will have name badges bearing the Mindoro Palms logo. The airport is a small one. There is only one gate out for Arrivals so it’s not confusing at all.
g- about 45 minutes drive from the airport and we arrive at the Resort.
Tips or tipping is strictly a personal choice. The money exchange rate as of July 9, 2011 is $1 = P42.00. One or two dollar’s worth of pesos will be very appreciated. But of course you decide.
2) By Land- private or public transport:
If you are the adventurous kind- start your adventure in the Philippines by navigating the crazy traffic of pedestrians, jeepneys, buses and tricycles all on the same road!
Watch this video and see how adventurous you are!
It is sound decision to stay a night in Manila before going on with your trip on land. The approximate travel time is 10-12 hours.
Here’s an idea of how it’s going to be like for you, brave soul:
**NOTE before you get going: pack some quick snacks. Altho there will be some kind of food at the ferry lounge, or the bus may stop somewhere, I do not recommend buying any foodstuff. Buy your bottled waters, those are ok, never foodstuff.
1- from your hotel, take a cab to the bus station for the “Dimples Bus Line” in Cubao City, heading to “Abra de Ilog” in “Occidental Mindoro”. If by bus, I recommend this line because it is air conditioned, and FAST! I strongly DO NOT suggest you do this if this is your first time in the area.
2- When you get to the bus terminal, buy your ticket right away and get in the bus as soon as they allow you to. Make a note of your bus number. These buses all look the same, with the same paint colors, stop at the same pit stops for example. Seats are numbered. It should cost around P900.00, more or less.
3- from the bus terminal it will be approximately 3 hours to get to Batangas Pier. The bus will occasionally pit-stop, but it is an “express” bus which helps.
4- at the Batangas Pier- you will wait for a ferry to Abra de Ilog. You will disembark your bus and go up to the ferry passenger lounge. Your ferry fare is already INCLUDED in your bus fare. Make sure to carry your most important articles with you: your purse with your money and passports, cell phones, or any electronics. The rest of your luggage will stay aboard the bus and is safe.
Just a side note: your bus fare also include “passenger pass-thru insurance”. The Philippine government requires sea pasenger carriers to carry this indemnity.
5- upon arrival at Abra de Ilog pier, everyone disembark from the ferry and get back in the same bus.
6- it would be helpful if before you start your journey, you write down on a piece of paper your final destination: “Mindoro Palms Resort” at “Bulaong, Concepcion.” At hour 7-8 of your full journey, ask the driver how far you are to your destination. This will remind him of your stop. Your bus driver and conductor will know where to drop you off.
7- it depends on what time you boarded the bus from Manila, you might get to the Resort at night. There will be a street light. We will be at the stop to pick you up. When the bus drops you off- MAKE A QUICK CHECK OF THE NUMBER OF YOUR LUGGAGES before the bus takes off again. Remember- these bus crews speak English also.
At this final stop– we WILL be there to pick you up for the short 3-4 minute ride to the compound. There won’t be anyone meeting you there EXCEPT US! We know the bus schedule. When your bus stops, we KNOW it’s you.
So– how was it? 
