Earlier this month, I celebrated my 35th birthday in my favorite island, Boracay. My family keeps coming back every year for new and exciting discoveries on food, activities, and hotels. There are a lot of nice hotels in Boracay but some of them can be pricey especially during super peak season. I’m happy to discover Sun Villa Beachfront Resort and Spa which is an affordable place to stay in Station 2.
We just came back from our Boracay trip a week ago to celebrate my birthday. My birthday is November 1 and it’s also time for their Halloween costume parties which are a lot of fun. Whenever friends would ask me the best time to go to Boracay, I’d always suggest to experience their Halloween weekend to see the various scary costumes by the locals. If you’re not into festivities, ideally, BER months are the perfect time to go because the water is clear and the crowd is lesser than the summer season.
It’s been a while since I wrote about a guide of a destination. My Boracay guide post I wrote was last 2008 and the rates and hotels there badly needs an update. So here’s an updated guide on transportation, where to eat, where to stay, and what activities to do in Boracay.
There are various airlines flying to and from Kalibo or Caticlan airport: these are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia. The easiest way to check the cheapest fare is via Traveloka.com, with just a few clicks, I can see which airlines offer the lowest fare to any destination not just Boracay.
We always prefer to land in Kalibo airport because the planes are bigger and there are more flights. One disadvantage is the additional 2 hours travel time from the airport to Caticlan Jetty Port. Check out the updated transportation rates from Kalibo airport to Boracay (as of November 2016):
If you’re going to DIY your transfers, here’s a sample computation:
Kalibo airport to Caticlan Jetty Port (bus only) via Island Star: Php 200
Terminal Fee at Caticlan Jetty Port: Php 100
Environmental Fee: Php 75
Boat Fee: Php 25 (day) / Php 30 (night)
Tricycle from Cagban Port to your Boracay resort/hotel: Php 20
Total transportation expenses will be Php 420 only versus the Php 600 Airport to Boracay (Door to Door) offered by Southwest and other transpo services. You can save as much as Php 180 should you go on your own. If you’re not in a rush to get to the island, do it yourself.
Every visit, there’s always a new hotel in Boracay. Some newly opened hotels we saw are Coast Boracay, Azalea, Hue Hotel, and The Muse. For hotel bookings, I always rely on Traveloka because it gives me the results I need sorted out based on price, popularity, or reviews.
Our itinerary in Boracay is eat, swim, sleep, repeat. So finding good food and restos is a must. When in Boracay, you should not miss these places:
Aside from island hopping and the usual water activities like banana boat, parasailing, etc, there are new activities to try while you’re in Boracay.
I hope you have an awesome time in Boracay. Feel free to share this for friends and families traveling soon.
When you’re in a tight budget and you’re searching for hotels in Makati, I bet you’ll have a hard time looking for one that will give you value for your money. Most hotels in Makati would set you back from Php 8,000+ a night if you really want a comfortable stay. The hotel’s location is one factor that can also add up to its rates.
I’ve discovered a budget hotel in Makati that has a perfect location for work and leisure, has large rooms, comfortable beds, and impeccable service similar to 5-star hotels.
We wrapped up our Boracay-Palawan trip last March with a stay in Corto del Mar, Coron, Palawan. It’s our first time to visit in Coron and I have no idea where to stay and what location is good as a base. But judging from the reviews, it’s just a small town so getting around town by tricycle is not a problem. As with the Coron hotels, there are only few big hotels and Corto del Mar is one of them. It has an old-world Mediterranean ambiance but still feels homey.
Singapore is close to my heart because this is the second country I’ve been since I started traveling. It’s also Gwen’s first international trip when she was 7 months old. Singapore makes an impact right after you step out of the plane. They really mean it when Singapore Changi Airport is recognized as one of the most awarded airport in the world. On my next visit, I plan to explore the airport so I’ll allow plenty of time before my flight.
Nature & Gardens Terminal 3 Transit – Worlds first Butterfly Garden in an airport
After our 4-day Boracay trip, our next destination is Coron, Palawan. The original plan was to fly back to Manila and then take the plane going to Busuanga because that’s the only way we know. But after reading travel sites, Jeff stumbled upon a suggestion from tourists to take the Air Juan plane. Curious what Air Juan is, I googled and learned that it’s a 9-seater plane and has direct flights from Boracay to Coron and Puerto Princesa.
