One of the highlights of my Philippines vacation was our trip to Boracay. I was really pleased that…read moreI booked and stay at Mandala Spa and Villas, the place looked exactly the same as in the pictures. This place is a great place for relaxation and to be free from negative vibes outside the "real" world, even for a few days. Both the staff and location's serenity is very contagious. You will find yourself a 5 minute walk from boat station 3 at the quieter end of white beach. The Garden Villa that we booked is very spacious with a private garden at the back. The bathroom and toilet are a treat on its own with a rainforest shower and a very spacious bath area. They also served complimentary healthy buffet breakfast during our stay. There are also many spa treatments available but at additional cost, although they may throw one in for free if you are celebrating a special occasion! This is definitely a place that I can recommend to family and friends.

Philippines Review #3…read more During my first visit to Boracay with my ex and all the family, the oldest brother (and our tour guide) suggested we all go to Mandala Spa to take a look at this stunning property. We piled into a few different tricycles (a small motorcycle with a 2 (or maybe 3) person covered sidecar attached (the only transportation on Boracay). Once we reached the location, we were greeted by this impressive entry. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=xquwckI23ciwDT2oK3_ZUg We went to the main office, asked for a tour of the property and after about 10 minutes, one of the staff was showing us around. Wow, what a beautiful and serene property! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=3j9B-KSmAgHPBZNbnglfMw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=yAxkbYA26SfFwHTJWmqciQ During our tour we were shown the around the entire property, therapy pools, relaxation areas and massage rooms in addition to one of the beautiful luxury villas. Incredible! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=v3K3coDIBpTsa-tTF93_8w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=KhPtEzmlvvmNrOl7wb-jig After our tour my ex and I decided to take advantage of being here and decided to get massages. While my ex was willing to have a massage in a room where others were also getting massages, I wanted the full luxury treatment and have my massage in a private villa. Sure it cost a little more, but at the time I really wanted to be pampered! After changing into a sarong in the... (locker room sounds too "high school" for this spa), my masseuse escorted me about 300 feet away to a private villa where my massage was to take place. At first I was instructed to sit in the chair out on the small patio while soaking my feel in the bowl and enjoying some relaxing warm tea. After 10 minutes she dried my feet and I moved to the massage table. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=ys2pKMz0_nU0sy-fPkMruA For this massage I chose the 2 HOUR(!!) hot & cold stone massage. She used medium/large size black river rocks, that at first were hot, then chilled, between her hands and my skin as she worked the tension from my muscles. Long story short, this massage was absolutely sublime! OVERALL: Mandala Spa & Resort Villas offers numerous options for relaxation, healing, detox, diet and health spa treatments, as well as some incredible villas if you want the full get-away-from-it-all spa treatments. I highly recommend Mandala Spa to pamper yourself when on Boracay!

I LOVE BORACAY, PI. AND I LOVE THE DISTRICT BORACAY !!! They were the cherry on top with our stay…read more First off, flying to the PI from the US is long and on top of that taking another flight to Caticlan AND then a 15 min drive AND then a speed boat AND then another drive to the hotel!!! It's overwhelming just when you land in Manila. However, once we got to Caticlan the District takes care of everything else. At the arrival of meeting a District staff member at the airport I just felt so relieved knowing we can relax and be worry free. Staff reassured us we were going to be taken care of. All of the staff on the boat and cars were so welcoming and took photos of our landing. When we got to the hotel, we were welcomed with cold eucalyptus towels (which you're gonna want bc of the humidity) & a refreshing cucumber cooler drink ! Check in was an ease and we got to our room without much of a wait. Room is probably the better of the ones in station 2 with AC & tv with all streaming services. We get a cute balcony. They have night time getting ready turn around and fully daily room service. All inclusive breakfast buffet which changes daily and beach access chairs with umbrellas. My BF and I every day would walk the beach, get our seats, & the. swim/relax for the day. No need to claim as there is always plenty. They have a spa and it is fantastic ! We got 3 massages on our 5 day stay and shout out to Grace - hands of an angel! Best massages ever, with a variety to choose. They were well needed after our flight. They have a pool, but we avoided bc the beautiful beach is right outside the hotel. We did however sit by the poolside to escape the sun during peak hours. They have a very small basic gym, which had everything we needed. It was great to get our workouts in cause that's a part of our lifestyle. There's also three other restaurants in the hotel which was delicious. Higher prices compared to restaurants on the station, they deliver to the beach if you're sitting there. Try their Japanese restaurant, very fresh high quality fish. I will say the hospitality in the PI is 10/10 & the hospitality at The District was 100/10. They were on top of everything and always greeting with the smiles. Please make sure to tip them for all their excellent work (including transportation and staff assisting with luggage) !!! Boracay is a tourist destination, & the beautiful staff assist us with over the top service and they deserve so much for what they are actually paid!!! If you can afford to travel to Boracay, you can afford to tip the amazing service. If you're looking for a nice stay, celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, etc stay here!!!

Staying at The District made my husband and I's Boracay trip extremely enjoyable from the minute we…read morelanded at the airport to checking out and leaving. They made our transportation experience from landing at the airport, taking a boat to the island, and transport to the hotel very seamless. All of the staff is friendly and welcoming and the overall hotel is clean. We enjoyed their spa and really took advantage of it and went twice during our stay and enjoyed each session. It was definitely a soothing and relaxing massage especially from all the walking and being out in the hot sun. The beach is literally footsteps from the hotel making it super convenient and the hotel is located at station 2 making it a great location that is near Dmall and various other restaurants, stores, and more. If I were to ever return to Boracay, I'd definitely stay here again!

This is our second stay at discovery shores. I've never stayed anywhere else in Borocay. Why mess…read morewith perfection? The breakfast buffet is our favorite, it starts early and ends late, plenty of time for the 14 of us to gather and realize our intention for the day. This resort is the highlight of our year. Thank you, Discovery Shores for the impeccable service and amazing experience!

Beautiful property with exceptional service. The private beach is fantastic. We've been to Boracay…read moremany times and this stay was the best. The rooms are some of the best rooms in the Philippines. You will not regret your stay here. The only thing to improve if anything is a bigger pool. With all of the families, it gets pretty crowded, but you have a huge, pristine beach to hangout at too. Will definitely be back.

Caticlan Jetty Port is exactly what you expect--and honestly, it gets the job done…read more This is the main gateway to Boracay, so be prepared for a bit of a process: multiple lines, different fees (environmental, terminal, boat), and a decent amount of foot traffic. It can feel a little chaotic at first, but overall it's organized and moves fairly efficiently considering the volume of people passing through. The boat ride itself is quick--about 10-15 minutes--and once you're on, everything feels smooth. Staff were generally helpful in directing where to go, especially if it's your first time navigating the system. Bring cash and a little patience. It's not the most seamless experience, but it's all part of getting to Boracay--and once you arrive, it's 100% worth it.

First thing; You can organize a shuttle ride(We didn't) through your Boracay hotel. For most…read morepeople, this might be the way to go because from the airport - to this Jetty Port - to Boracay... I'd imagine for most it'll be a chaotic experience. The downfall of organizing through your hotel is that it adds an unnecessary expense(Think a few dollars per person versus 20-60 usd per person depending on your hotel) Most in the Philippines speak English so you should be good but if you have a Filipino friend, fiance, or wife you're traveling with, even better! If you aren't used to the public transportation life of the Philippines, organizing a shuttle might be ideal. Our experience? When we walked out of the airport, there was a stand to request a trike ride to this jetty port. Upon arrival, you need to find a place to pay for a boat ticket along with the environmental fee. Add in that you have to wheel your bag around the terminal/load it on the boat/etc(arranging a shuttle... they take care of most of that for you). I'd still suggest not going the shuttle/hotel route if you have any sense of adventure in you. You can certainly figure things out and save some money for more play/food while visiting Boracay. The last thing I want to mention is the return trip. There are quite a few flights that are scheduled for 7-9 AM departure. - Since you have to wake up - Check out of your hotel - Find a trike to the Boracay jetty port - Pay for the ride back from this Jetty Port to the airport(pay in advance) - Take the boat back - Check in to the airport - etc... this can cause a super early wakeup time. All in all, it took about 1.5 hours to make it from the hotel back to the airport early in the morning. I mentioned it before but if you're not doing the shuttle thing, you need to pay for a trike in advance at the Boracay jetty port. They give you a sticker. When you reach the main island jetty port... getting off the boat you're met by dozens of trike drivers talking to you. Show one the sticker and they'll get you to where you need to go(the airport). All of that chaos is part of getting to Boracay whether by shuttle or on your own. Give yourself plenty of time and try to do a little research in advance; You'll be fine.

Truly a five-star experience in paradise…read more I stayed at Ambassador in Paradise Resort with my family during our recent trip to the Philippines, and it was everything we hoped for -- and more. From the moment we arrived, we were treated to genuine five-star service. Every staff member we encountered was incredibly kind, polite, and attentive. The resort itself is beautiful -- beachfront with stunning views and just a short walk to shops and local attractions. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, which made it easy to settle in and fully relax. The food at the resort was amazing. We enjoyed every meal, and the variety kept things exciting. They also had nightly entertainment, which added a fun and festive touch to our evenings without being too loud or overwhelming. This was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable stays we've had as a family. I wouldn't hesitate to come back again -- it truly felt like a little slice of paradise.

In the Ambassadors In Paradise Resort there are more cons than pros. For the cons there were lots…read moreof bugs in our room including: cockroaches, flies, and ants which was really disgusting considering they're almost a 4 star hotel. The pool was not clean and had lots of sand (pool had bugs aswell). Also, I don't know if it's a design thing, but the shower had no doors and the water was spilling everywhere. There was also lots things breaking down such as the elevator and the power, and the buffet food did not taste very pleasant the food was very stale and not fresh. The pros of this hotel is that it has a very nice view of the beach and it's very spacious. Would not recommend staying here.

This place is awesome! We were here visiting for the food and awesome views based on a…read morerecommendation from a cousin of my fiancée. We were thoroughly impressed with the pricing of the rooms for the off-season even though we didn't end up staying here. We did however love the pizza we ordered here and were impressed with the views. Walking in from the beach, you get some great views of the cave like entrance from below. Keep in mind, that this place does have an adult only seating area if you want to get away from the families with kids and such. They can be a bit distracting when trying to enjoy.

The one word I would use to describe Spider House is stunning. The views from the rooms and lounge…read morearea are amazing! The resorts' rooms all have an open layout with no windows and bamboo doors, but they each still feel private. This is because every room is in a unique spot on the side of a cliff. During my stay here, our group stayed at the top rooms. My only problem/worry is that the climb to the top rooms are difficult because the steps were narrow steps and they switch off the lights at night. Pretty dangerous if you arrive back a bit tipsy! But, the views and breezes make it all worth it. You wake up every morning with the sun shining over a clear water with no people in sight since you are so high up! Rooms come with a fan and mosquito net over the bed. If you can, get a room which includes breakfast (better value). The staff is very friendly but, sometimes they are a little slow when it comes to serving food/drinks (which is, sadly, expected in the Philippines). The beauty and perk of the restaurant/lounge area is that you can go for a swim while you wait! This is also the best place on the island to watch the Boracay sunset. :) On that note, yes, it does get busy during sunsets especially during the peak season. Also, if you are late for breakfast, you may not get a seat. :( The bar can get noisy but it stops at 10PM sharp. This is because this is the side of Station 1 where guests prefer the peace and quiet. So, if you are in Boracay for the parties, this place is not for you. Room Tip: Go for Room B! It is away from the restaurant/lounge area. Some rooms are right above the restaurant/lounge area and can be a bit noisy.

I loved our time here! There was a fire show the evening we went, and luckily we were able to sit…read morecloser to the front. The fire dancers were so talented! They even let us take pictures with them and let us hold the fire after the show. The food was good too! I liked the pancit.

PTC scouted out the restaurant at the Red Coconut, and she did a great job. The hotel was one of…read morethe first ones built in Boracay in the 1980's. The restaurant offers casual fare, live music and a fire dance show. We ate calamares, pork liempo and chicken skewers (not all items pictured). To drink, I had a Red Horse, a high ABV beer fr San Miguel. First of all, the calamares were a nice start to a light meal. They were soft on the inside, and GBD on the outside. Secondarily, our entrees were very good. They both were tender on the inside, and had a nice marinade on the outside. The total meal inc a coconut ice cream (PHP 100 | ~ $1.71) was $27. The price was much more reasonable vs the restaurant at Hennan Crystal Sands ($40) for lunch. Regarding the ambiance, its Tiki style in here. There is also a bar. The service was friendly & warm. If you are looking for a reasonably priced meal at tourist trap Boracay, the Red Coconut Restaurant will not do you wrong. The prices are very reasonable compared to other sit down restaurants.

Philippines Review #7…read more During my first trip to Boracay, the eldest brother (and tour guide) booked rooms for us at Patio Pacific, which was formerly called "Pink Patio". LOCATION: A few minute walk north of boat station #1 and a 2-3 minute walk inland from the beach. The office is right on the only main road through Boracay. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=0ogEEn8lBSk3q_dDCC0VJg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=QJf8fl3RrpnYHrZBOK9JOQ It's a nicely maintained property with 65 rooms and they offer a number of amenities for guests. Complementary internet access, safe deposit boxes in the office, buffet breakfast each morning in the Garden Café, http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=JuaD93BS_O0uxDxLHuSjRA room service, a rock climbing wall, a gym and a pool. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=bViTZwHfrpUa5IHxLTgiew Our room while not super fancy, was clean and efficient. The tile floors seemed a little generic, but with the sandy beach nearby, it makes perfect sense. Also like most hotels in Asia, you must insert your room key in slot near the door to turn on the power in the room. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=h6VU_zXlokB4rinv1Z6QVA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/patio-pacific-hotel-malay?select=FEvgbasZNPpTVjB1rl3v2A The staff was friendly and polite. When we first checked into our room, the A/C wouldn't work, fortunately they were able to move us to a different room and we had no issues after that. OVERALL: It's a nice property a few minutes from the beach with pretty nice rooms and nice amenities, plus breakfast is included.

Room not really clean. The rest of the facility and lobby are DIRTY! The only Restroom near the…read morebuffet station and lobby is so stinky!!! They have so many interns and employees but I guess no one is willing to do the dirty work. Management and hotel regulations are unreasonable, seriously! Probably the only thing ok in this hotel are the bed mattress and location.

We're staying at The Lind Hotel and decided to have dinner at The Lind Fiesta Restaurant, which we…read morelater realized also operates as The Crust Restaurant. It's a unique concept, one venue with two separate kitchens and two distinct menus. Since we were dining as a group, we ended up ordering from both, which was great because each menu offered a different theme and variety of dishes. I ordered the Kare-Kare from the Fiesta menu. Interestingly, the steak was cooked and served separately from both the sauce and the vegetables. It's a different approach from the traditional Kare-Kare, but it worked surprisingly well. While the steak itself didn't absorb the rich Kare-Kare flavor, combining it with the sauce brought everything together nicely. For dessert, I had the tiramisu, and it was executed perfectly, absolutely no complaints there. The service was nothing short of exceptional. The hospitality was warm, genuine, and attentive throughout the evening. A special shout-out to Mikko, who took great care of us from start to finish. He was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. The ambiance was equally impressive. The restaurant has an elegant yet relaxed open-air layout that lets you enjoy the tropical breeze. Being situated next to the swimming pool added to the atmosphere, and the live music elevated the entire experience even further. Overall, it was an amazing dining experience with excellent food, outstanding service, and a wonderful ambiance. Highly recommended.

The hotel is beautiful and the service is top tier. I loved how attentive and accommodating the…read morestaff were, whatever you need, they're always ready to help. While it is pricier than many of the other hotels on the island, it was worth every penny. The complimentary breakfast was delicious, and it is an incredible venue for a beachfront wedding (the dinner buffet was amazing) The only thing I would suggest is some renovations and upkeep in certain areas. Some of the walls appeared a bit worn, with visible mildew buildup and small areas of rust. Overall, it was a great stay and I would definitely recommend others to stay here. Also take advantage of their airport/boat transportations, they truly made the journey over seamless.