El Nido Storms and Stomach Bugs

Our ninth day in Palawan brought grey skies and choppy seas. The rain turned limestone cliffs moody and the turquoise bays a murky brown. Worse yet, El Nido’s sketchy tap water lived up to its reputation and one of the boys spent the afternoon queasy. We traded our planned lagoon swim for card games under a thatched roof, comforting him with ginger tea and stories from home. These are the parts of travel most blogs gloss over—but they’re just as real.

Family travel tip: In seaside towns like El Nido, stick to purified water, bring rehydration salts, and have a small first‑aid kit handy. Bad weather? Use it as an excuse to rest or explore town—visit the market or find a bakery with fresh ensaymada.

What do you do when plans are washed out by rain? Share your rainy‑day travel hacks below. Need help building flexible itineraries that account for weather? Our planning service can create backups so you’re never bored, even on stormy days.