Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa

Rooms and decor

Picture driving out of Puerto Princesa, climbing over forested hills, and finally arriving at a quiet white-sand beach backed by the limestone ridges of the Underground River national park — that is the approach to Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa, a resort planted on Sabang Beach across a beachfront site of roughly 5.25 hectares. This used to be the long-running Sheridan Beach Resort, well known to Palawan travelers, before Marriott took over and rebranded it as Four Points. What sets it apart is being the only international-brand resort on this beach, while most of the other places nearby are small guesthouses. Rooms are done in an easy tropical-resort style, many facing the garden or the sea, with a balcony to catch the breeze. Open the door in the morning and you get the sound of waves and green forest against the water — it feels like a quiet, private corner at the end of the road.

Food and amenities

The heart of this place is its spot on Sabang Beach, where you can walk straight from your room onto the white sand. The beach here is far quieter and more private than the city side, the water is clear, and the green limestone ridges of the park make a backdrop many guests can't stop photographing. There is a pool in the middle of the resort to cool off in, plus a kids' club and children's activities so families can let the little ones play. The sea-view restaurant serves Filipino dishes, fresh seafood and international plates, and you can eat while the sun sets over the beach. The resort also works as a convenient base for nature trips around the area — the Underground River tour, jungle walks to spot monkeys and monitor lizards, mangrove cruises, and water activities like kayaking along the beach. The team helps arrange tours and sort the permits, so you don't have to chase down an outside agency yourself.

Location and getting there

Four Points by Sheraton Palawan sits on Sabang Beach, on the western side of Palawan, the main gateway to the Puerto Princesa Underground River national park — the UNESCO World Heritage site that is the highlight of the whole trip. The biggest advantage of this location is how close it is to the river: the tour boats launch right at Sabang Beach, so it is only about a 15-minute boat ride from the beach to the cave mouth. Guests who stay over here can take an early-morning tour before the larger groups arrive by bus from town. Getting to the resort, though, means flying into Puerto Princesa airport and then driving another 1.5 to 2 hours over the hills to the Sabang side, with a fairly winding final stretch. Arrange the resort transfer in advance, because public transport on this side is scarce. Once you are there, you barely need to leave — beach, pool and restaurant are all on site.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the biggest thing to weigh is distance. The resort is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from Puerto Princesa city and airport, and the final stretch of road is winding, so bring tablets if you get carsick and allow extra travel time. It is not the spot if you plan to head into town for food and sights often, since each round trip eats up a morning or afternoon. The other point that comes up in reviews is that Sabang Beach is the end of the line, with few dining and activity options outside the resort. You mostly rely on the resort restaurant, which some feel is on the pricey side when there is no alternative nearby — if budget is a worry, plan your meals or bring some supplies. Finally, because it is a rebrand of the former Sheridan Beach Resort, parts of the buildings and some rooms can look more worn than a brand-new property, and in high season with bigger crowds some service points may be slower than you'd like.

Our take

After reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa earns its pitch as the only international-brand resort on Sabang Beach, with the beachfront spot closest to the Underground River and the convenience of having a pool, kids' club and tours all in one place. If the trip in your head is sleeping on a quiet beach, waking early to board the boat to the Underground River before anyone else, then spending the rest of your time exploring nature around Palawan without running back to town, this fits perfectly. It suits families and couples who value a beachfront location and international-brand convenience more than being near the city or nightlife. But if the heart of your trip is staying in town with easy access in and out, the distance to the Sabang side may cost you some travel time. Overall we give it 8.8/10 — choose it for the Sabang Beach location and how close it is to the Underground River.