Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dave's Straw Hat Inn
Down the path next to Angol
Point Beach Resort
T
036 288 5465,
W
davesstraw
hatinn.com; map p.343.
Dave's
is a charming, homely
little resort with comfortable a/c and fan rooms and good
food. Fan-cooled rooms are one of the best deals on the
island, while even deluxe doubles (P1800) have extra roll-
out bed
s so a family of four can fit in at no extra charge.
P1500
Marzon Beach Resort
At the southern end of the
beach
T
036 288 5064,
W
marzonboracay.com; map
p.343.
One of the cheapest right-on-the-beach options,
Marzon
has dated standard rooms and plusher deluxe
rooms (P3800) set around a sandy courtyard, with the
glistening blue of the ocean just beyo
nd. All
rooms have
a/c and cable TV, plus there's free wi-fi.
P2772
Moreno's Cottages
At the southern end of the
beach opposite Dave's Straw Hat Inn
T
036 288 2031
or
T
0939 118 9616,
E
boracayjojo29@yahoo.com;
map p.343.
This friendly, locally run option has small and
simple fan and a/c rooms set around a pleasant garden,
just a 2mi
n walk
from a lovely section of White Beach.
Free wi-fi.
P1500
Orchids Resort
A short walk inland from Moreno's
Cottages
T
036 288 3313,
W
orchidsboracay.com; map
p.343.
Owned by an affable American,
Orchids
offers great-
value rooms and nipa huts a few minutes' walk from White
Beach. Standard fan rooms are clean and have hot and cold
showers, while the fan cottages offer more space and have
cosy verandas with hammocks. A/c rooms also have cable
TV, and there's wi-fi connection (P50/day) throughout. A
few minutes' walk up the hillside,
Orchids
also has newer,
thatch-roofed concrete villas with two beds in the a/c
downstairs and a living r
oom
with cable TV, kitchen and
balcony upstairs (P2500).
P915
Tree House Beach Resort
At the southern end of the
beach
T
036 288 4386; map p.343.
Rooms may be
slightly dated, but they're comfortable, quiet and nicely
furnished. The owner Mario also cooks a mean pizza and
there's free wi-fi. The d
orm r
ooms ar
e cheap
, but cramped
and very simple. Dorm
P300
, double
P2000
ELSEWHERE ON BORACAY
Balinghai Beach Resort
Balinghai Beach
T
036 288
3646,
W
balinghai.com; map p.338.
If you're looking for
desert-island solitude and don't mind being a tricycle ride
from the buzz of White Beach,
Balinghai
fits the bill. On a
small, secluded cove surrounded by cliffs on the northern
part of Boracay, it's set into a steep slope with lots of
steps, and boasts a handful of private bungalows and
houses built from local materials, with consideration for
the environment. Each house is different and prices vary
accordingly. One has a tree in the kitchen and another is
carved from the rock face, with a balcony f
facing th
e sunset.
There is also a small restaurant with wi-fi.
P4500
Nami
On the cliffside 20m above Diniwid Beach
T
036
288 6753,
W
namiresorts.com; map p.338.
Reached by
steep steps or a rickety lift, the
spacious and stylish villas
at this upmarket place, on the next cove along from
White Beach, offer 180-degree ocean views, jacuzzi, butler
service and
DVD playe
rs. Service, however, doesn't quite
hit the mark.
P10,675
Shangri-La's Boracay Resort & Spa
Brgy Vapak
T
036
288 4988,
W
shangri-la.com/boracay/boracayresort;
map p.338.
Perched above its own private beach, the
Shangri-La
presents a range of attractively styled rooms and
villas which blend comfortably into the lush hills. Service is
top-notch and all of the usual
Shangri-La
facil
ities are
on
offer, along with nature trails and a dive centre.
P19,300
6
EATING
Boracay has a more diverse dining scene than most cities in the Philippines and even in a two-week stay you need never eat in
the same
restaurant
twice (although some are so good that you'll want to). Many restaurants are listed in the local info booklet
My Boracay
, which also has meal discount vouchers. As well as the listings below there are also plenty of
local vendors
who set
up barbecues on the beach at sundown to cook everything from fresh lapu-lapu and squid to tasty local bananas sprinkled with
muscovado sugar. The chains have also slowly moved in, and White Beach now has a
McDonald's, Starbucks, Subway, Shakey's
and
Yellow Cab
Pizza
and more are sure to follow. A
cautionary note
is to be wary of the big seafood buffet places on the seafront,
as sometimes the fish isn't quite as fresh as you might think and can be a fast track to stomach problems.
Lemon i Café
D'Mall
T
036 288 6781,
W
lemon
icafeboracay.com; map p.343.
Terrific bright and airy
little café. Breakfast items include eggs Benedict (P260)
and delicious coconut pancakes (P195). For lunch or dinner
there's outstanding pan-fried mahi-mahi with warm
potato salad and lemon butter garlic sauce (P390), lemon
and thyme roast chicken with sautéed potatoes (P450) and
a range of lemon desserts. Drinks range from refreshing
calamansi juice, or a lemonijito (P210) if you feel like
something stronger.
Daily 8am-11pm.
CAFÉS
English Bakery and Tea Rooms
Balabag, halfway
between White Beach and Bulabog Beach
T
036 288
3158; map p.343.
The only remaining branch of the
English Bakery
in Boracay serves up great breakfasts
(P130-175), yoghurts (P75), meals, cakes and shakes
(P95). Shaded tables looking out over a small lagoon
make a great spot to escape the heat and partake in a
cup of Lyons English tea and some banana bread.
Daily
6am-6pm.
★
