Palawan's New Island Resort

Palawan is the Philippine’s not-so-best-kept-secret these days, but despite its growing popularity, the archipelago remains mercifully free from the kind of rampant development that wrecked formerly pristine parts of Thailand.

But if you don’t fancy slumming it in a wooden beach shack (although there’s a lot to be said for going back to basics), you can check into the new island resort El Nido Pangulasian Island. The 42-villa retreat has an on-site dive center, a 750-meter white sand beach, nature trails and clear blue lagoons surrounding the nearby Miniloc Island.

Get to Pangulasian Island from Manila with the Island Transvoyager’s daily direct flights. Rates start at $5,000, inclusive of the flight.