Nay Palad is the ultimate White Lotus swap in the Philippines

White Lotus could have Thailand on all our minds, however I simply returned from my first journey to the Philippines, and I feel I discovered the proper place to go if you wish to keep away from the crowds. After an thrilling week in Manila, we set off on a brief 1.5-hour flight by way of Philippine Airways to Siargao—an island that appears just like the far-flung paradise we now have all dreamed of. The island is roofed in (nearly) completely palm bushes, making for probably the most picturesque jungle panorama I’ve ever seen.

Whereas locations like Thailand have lengthy been on the high of luxurious traveler’s lists, Nay Palad Hideaway on Siargao gives all of the magic of an opulent island retreat with out the crowds or over-commercialization. It’s the proper White Lotus swap, with secluded seashores and world-class hospitality, making this resort a really well-kept secret.

Nay Palad is a barefoot escape

Tucked between the glassy blue Pacific Ocean and an historic mangrove forest, Nay Palad gives a barefoot luxurious expertise that feels easy and immersive. There are not any check-in desks, no set itineraries—simply pure rest at your personal tempo. Whether or not you need to spend the day kayaking by way of untouched waterways, hopping between neighboring islands, or lounging by the picture-perfect pool with a cocktail, all the pieces is tailor-made to your personal model of paradise. Oh and guess what, all the pieces is all inclusive! So there is no such thing as a want to fret about your pockets as soon as your aircraft lands on Siargao.

Not like the crowded resorts of Phuket or Koh Samui, Nay Palad is intimate, unique, and untouched by mass tourism. It’s a spot the place you received’t be competing for a seaside chair or ready for a desk come supper time. As a substitute, the employees anticipates your each want, making certain that your keep feels deeply personalised and actually a visit to recollect.

Day by day massages and island hopping round Siargao

Certainly one of my favourite elements of the journey? The every day massages, which rapidly turned a non-negotiable a part of the day. After a morning of swimming or crusing to abandoned seashores, we’d return to the spa for a deep, restorative therapy. The therapists appeared to know precisely what our our bodies wanted—whether or not it was a conventional Filipino hilot therapeutic massage to remedy any lingering jetlag or a cooling aloe vera therapy to appease our sun-drenched day.

We additionally set off on a non-public island-hopping journey, the place we spent the day snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, feasting on freshly grilled seafood, and stress-free on untouched white-sand seashores. Not like the packed boat excursions I’ve been on in Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands, we had whole islands to ourselves, making the expertise really feel much more particular.

The magic of Nay Palad

At Nay Palad, each meal is an expertise. Mornings began with tropical fruits, do-it-yourself pastries, and freshly squeezed juices, whereas evenings featured grilled seafood, vibrant vegetable dishes, and Filipino-inspired specialties. And like the remainder of the journey, the service was impeccable by all the employees making certain all friends had full privateness for every meal—each evening we dined in a special space of the property, whether or not in a tree high or ocean view open air studio.

From the second we arrived, we have been welcomed like previous associates, and by the point we left, we felt like we have been saying goodbye to a second house. Each element was thoughtfully curated, from nightly treehouse dinners beneath the celebs to personal island-hopping boat tour to the every day massages.

When you’ve been dreaming of an opulent island escape however need to skip the crowded hotspots, Nay Palad is the reply. It’s the proper White Lotus various—tropical villas, top-tier hospitality, and a way of privateness that’s so uncommon to search out. As we packed our baggage to go away, one factor was sure: we have been already planning when to return.

If you’re planning a spring getaway as nicely, try our information to the ultimate spring packing list.