00:25.2
Pa consistency and seriousness ay pa bahay ng dalawa na
00:26.9
komplekta tolog ako
00:28.8
Baraka is one of our super fave destinations in the Philippines
00:30.8
and we have stayed
00:32.5
in almost every major area.
00:34.5
What is the best, you ask?
00:37.0
Hmm, the truth is,
00:38.4
there is no short and sweet answer to this.
00:42.4
because in this video,
00:44.5
we'll break down the key areas in Barakay
00:46.0
and highlight the pros and cons for each
00:48.0
so you could make a more informed decision.
00:50.8
Before we dive into it,
00:52.8
Do us a favor and hit the subscribe button
00:54.8
if you haven't yet and click the bell icon next to it
00:56.8
so you're updated whenever we upload
01:00.4
If you're watching this on FB,
01:02.4
like and follow our page and help us reach
01:04.4
1 million followers.
01:10.4
Okay, before you go looking for accommodations,
01:12.4
it is important to be familiar
01:14.4
with the geography of Barakay,
01:16.4
or at least the very basic of it.
01:18.4
Barakay is quite small,
01:20.4
much smaller than Bali or Phuket or Palawan.
01:22.4
But it is bursting at the seams
01:24.4
with possible lodging options.
01:26.4
Take a look at this map.
01:28.4
The landmass protruding from the lower right corner
01:30.4
is Katiklan, part of mainland Aklan.
01:32.4
Katiklan serves as the
01:34.4
primary gateway to Barakay.
01:36.4
Here, you'll find both the Katiklan International Airport,
01:38.4
aka Barakay Airport,
01:40.4
and the Katiklan Jetty Port,
01:42.4
which is the sea port.
01:44.4
Every tourist in Barakay
01:46.4
passes through Katiklan.
01:48.4
Naturally, the passenger ports in Barakay,
01:52.4
and Tambisaan Port, are along the edge
01:54.4
closest to Katiklan.
01:56.4
You'll also notice that Barakay is divided
01:58.4
into three barangays, or villages.
02:04.4
You'll encounter these barangay names when checking out hotel
02:06.4
and resort addresses.
02:08.4
But for tourists, it's more practical to divide
02:10.4
the island not by barangay but by beach.
02:14.4
Barakay's shoreline is glazed with
02:16.4
over a dozen beaches,
02:18.4
the most famous of which are White Beach
02:20.4
along the southwestern coast,
02:22.4
Puka Beach on the east,
02:24.4
and Puka Beach on the northernmost tip.
02:26.4
The most noteworthy here is White Beach,
02:28.4
which harbors the greatest concentration
02:30.4
of hotels and restaurants because
02:32.4
it is the most stunning in the island.
02:34.4
When you google photos of Barakay,
02:36.4
chances are you'll be presented
02:38.4
with images of White Beach,
02:40.4
thanks to its powdery white sand glistening
02:42.4
under the sun and crystal waters
02:44.4
swaying in various shades of blue.
02:46.4
White Beach is further
02:48.4
divided into three boat stations,
02:50.4
Station 1, Station 2,
02:52.4
and Station 3, spanning two barangays.
02:56.4
share just one beach.
02:58.4
There is no physical border between them,
03:00.4
meaning you can just walk along the shore
03:02.4
from one station to another without any problem.
03:06.4
you'll quickly realize that each station
03:08.4
has a distinct character and set
03:10.4
of advantages and disadvantages.
03:18.4
Station 1 is the most
03:20.4
beautiful part of White Beach.
03:22.4
It's here that you'll find the iconic
03:24.4
Quiles Rock and the row of blue-sailed
03:26.4
parau boats that have become synonymous
03:28.4
with the island. But Station 1's
03:30.4
biggest pro is its quietness.
03:32.4
Take another look at our map.
03:34.4
Station 1 is on the northern end
03:36.4
of White Beach. Just next to it is
03:38.4
Station 2, the busiest area
03:40.4
in Boracay. The further you move
03:42.4
from Station 2, the calmer it
03:44.4
gets. Hence, the southern
03:46.4
end of Station 1 can still get a bit
03:48.4
loud at times, especially in the morning.
03:50.4
Because Station 1 is home
03:52.4
to one of the two jumping-off points
03:54.4
for island-hopping tours.
03:56.4
The other one is in Station 3.
03:58.4
But the northernmost tip, near the so-called
04:00.4
Lambros Point, is so silent
04:02.4
it's almost sedating.
04:04.4
The catch is, it's also the
04:06.4
posh side of White Beach.
04:08.4
Most of the properties here are on the higher
04:10.4
end of the spectrum, like the Linn Boracay,
04:12.4
an upscale resort that combines
04:14.4
the proximity of White Beach and the amenities
04:16.4
of luxury properties, and
04:18.4
Henan Crystal Sands Resort,
04:20.4
the best of all the Henan resorts in Boracay.
04:22.4
The rooms are standard
04:24.4
Henan, but its infinity pool is
04:26.4
perched on the second floor, overlooking
04:28.4
the White Beach and allowing a glorious
04:30.4
view of the sunset.
04:32.4
Other popular resorts in Station 1
04:34.4
are Harlan Beach Villa,
04:36.4
Discovery Shores, Friday's Boracay,
04:38.4
Two Seasons, and Astoria
04:40.4
Boracay. So yeah, most
04:42.4
are pretty high-end. But there are a few
04:44.4
exceptions, especially the hostels
04:46.4
near the border with Station 2.
04:48.4
Unfortunately, most of the budget places
04:50.4
we have tried in Station 1 have closed
04:52.4
down after the clearing operations done
04:54.4
in 2018. We've also
04:56.4
tried Friends Hostel, which is technically
04:58.4
in Station 2 but near the Station
05:00.4
1 border, so it's not as hectic.
05:06.4
Station 2 is the epicenter
05:08.4
of all the action in Boracay.
05:10.4
It has the largest number of hotels, resorts,
05:12.4
bars, restaurants, and shops.
05:14.4
Why? In this part
05:16.4
of the island, the distance between the
05:18.4
shoreline and the main road widens,
05:20.4
accommodating much more establishments
05:22.4
closer to the beach.
05:24.4
If you walk from the main road to the coast,
05:26.4
you'll probably pass by or through at least
05:28.4
four resorts. In fact,
05:30.4
it's here in Station 2 that you'll find
05:32.4
D Mall, which is probably the
05:34.4
single busiest area in the entire
05:36.4
island. It's also the most
05:38.4
accessible as most transportation
05:40.4
services pick up, drop off,
05:42.4
or terminate around here.
05:44.4
If you stay in Station 2, almost
05:46.4
every main point of interest is within
05:48.4
walking distance.
05:50.4
But this accessibility and busyness are
05:52.4
also its main cons. It can get
05:54.4
loud and noisy here, and it's
05:56.4
hard to find a spot or moment of tranquility.
05:58.4
Try walking along the beach
06:00.4
and you'll be approached by toots countless times,
06:02.4
offering a whole range of services
06:04.4
from crystal kayak to henna tattoo
06:08.4
Some of the popular resorts here include
06:10.4
Hennan Garden Resort, Hennan Lagoon Resort,
06:12.4
Hennan Palm Beach Resort,
06:14.4
Hennan Park Resort, La Carmela de Boracay,
06:16.4
U Hotels and Resorts,
06:18.4
and Le Soleil de Boracay.
06:20.4
In Station 2, we stayed at Hennan Park Resort,
06:22.4
the latest Hennan property to open
06:24.4
to the public, so everything still looks,
06:26.4
feels, and smells fresh and brand new.
06:28.4
It's not beachfront, but along
06:30.4
the main road so it's accessible.
06:32.4
We've also stayed at Le Soleil de Boracay,
06:34.4
which is at a fantastic location.
06:36.4
It's beachfront and close to the mall,
06:38.4
but surprisingly quiet inside the rooms.
06:40.4
It also stands along an alley,
06:42.4
making it accessible by e-trike
06:44.4
or other vehicle from the main road.
06:46.4
We've also tried Eight Colors Beach House,
06:48.4
a small boutique lodge easily accessible
06:50.4
from the main road and from the beach.
06:52.4
It's not beachfront,
06:54.4
but it's literally a stone's throw from the beach.
06:56.4
It's also very budget-friendly.
07:03.4
Often overlooked, Station 3 occupies
07:05.4
the southernmost end of White Beach.
07:07.4
But its shore is narrower
07:09.4
and slightly steeper.
07:11.4
Like Station 1, it is relatively calm.
07:13.4
Fewer shops and restaurants
07:15.4
line the beach and the streets,
07:17.4
so the crowd also thins out.
07:19.4
As I always say, if you follow the crowd,
07:21.4
you'll never reach Station 3.
07:23.4
That's because those coming from Station 1
07:25.4
get exhausted by the time they make it to Station 2.
07:27.4
And those coming from Station 2
07:29.4
usually turn right to Station 1.
07:31.4
While shops and restaurants
07:33.4
are sparser in Station 3,
07:35.4
it harbors most of White Beach's
07:37.4
budget accommodations,
07:39.4
from smaller inns, backpacker hostels,
07:41.4
and independent guesthouses.
07:45.4
one could find a room for only P500 per night,
07:47.4
but I'm not sure if that's still possible
07:51.4
It's been a while since we last stayed at Station 3.
07:53.4
It's also here that you'll find
07:55.4
this floating jetty,
07:57.4
which is used as a boarding spot
07:59.4
for the island hopping tours.
08:03.4
Yes, Station Zero is a thing,
08:05.4
but it's not an official name.
08:07.4
It's just a nickname
08:09.4
bestowed upon it because it's technically
08:11.4
on the same side as White Beach's
08:13.4
three stations, but in actuality,
08:15.4
it refers to a completely separate cove.
08:19.4
Okay, hold on. I'll try to explain it.
08:21.4
North of Station 1,
08:23.4
on the same side of the island,
08:25.4
is a series of smaller coves,
08:27.4
including the famed Diniwit Beach,
08:29.4
immediately after it.
08:31.4
On the far end lies Banyugan Beach,
08:33.4
which serves as the private beach
08:35.4
for guests of Shangri-La Boracay.
08:37.4
In between these two coves is Puntabunga Beach,
08:39.4
also known as Station Zero,
08:41.4
a strip of sand shared by
08:43.4
three luxury resorts—Shangri-La Boracay,
08:45.4
Crimson Resort and Spa,
08:47.4
and Movenpick Resort and Spa.
08:49.4
These are all high-end resorts,
08:51.4
so only a few people get to access this.
08:55.4
play within the 5-digit range,
08:57.4
starting at ₱11,000
08:59.4
or $200 per night.
09:01.4
And that's just the standard room.
09:03.4
Suites can cost higher than
09:07.4
₱550 USD per night.
09:09.4
Super posh villas
09:11.4
can set you back ₱70,000
09:17.4
Yes, these are mostly for
09:19.4
the rich and famous, but most of
09:21.4
the people I know who have stayed at any of these
09:23.4
say that they're super worth it.
09:25.4
Especially if you're really after
09:27.4
luxury, privacy, and
09:29.4
impeccable service.
09:31.4
It's also great for those who wish to celebrate
09:33.4
a special or romantic occasion like
09:35.4
honeymoon or anniversary.
09:41.4
While White Beach glazes the western edge
09:43.4
of Boracay, Bulabog Beach
09:45.4
takes up much of its eastern coast.
09:47.4
But unlike its more popular counterpart,
09:49.4
the sand here isn't something to
09:51.4
write home about. It's mostly rocky
09:53.4
and covered in seagrass, which isn't
09:55.4
ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
09:57.4
Regardless, it's still incredibly
09:59.4
scenic, thanks to its picturesque
10:01.4
grow of coconut trees that have been
10:03.4
attracting Instagrammers left and right.
10:05.4
Bulabog Beach is easily
10:07.4
accessible from the main road or even
10:09.4
from White Beach. From the mall,
10:11.4
you should be able to reach Bulabog Beach on
10:13.4
foot in around 5 minutes,
10:15.4
supposing you don't have mobility issues.
10:17.4
The terrain is mostly flat.
10:19.4
While some properties entail a bit
10:21.4
of walking, e-trikes and multi-cabs
10:23.4
can conveniently drop you off or pick you
10:25.4
up in the area. It's also
10:27.4
the main playground for water sport enthusiasts.
10:29.4
The beach is lined by
10:31.4
kitesurfing and parasailing offices.
10:33.4
Yet, despite the extreme activities
10:35.4
and proximity to the mall, it
10:37.4
remains quiet and fosters an
10:39.4
atmosphere that is a far cry from
10:41.4
the chaos in Station 2.
10:43.4
The best part? Properties along
10:45.4
Bulabog Beach charge much lower rates,
10:47.4
often half than those along
10:55.4
It's hard to delineate what can be considered
10:57.4
inland, but for the purpose of this video,
10:59.4
we're only including properties that are
11:01.4
located in the area between Bulabog Beach
11:03.4
and the main street. Meaning,
11:05.4
if you're coming from the port,
11:07.4
it's the area to the right of the road.
11:09.4
And yep, this area,
11:11.4
although far from the beach, also hosts
11:13.4
numerous hotels, resorts, and
11:15.4
apartments that won't break the bank.
11:17.4
I'm the type of traveler that doesn't
11:19.4
mind staying at non-beachfront properties,
11:21.4
especially in Boracay.
11:23.4
The truth is, you don't need to stay near
11:25.4
White Beach to be able to access it.
11:27.4
The main road stems into several
11:29.4
alleys that lead to the beach.
11:31.4
One can simply waltz and sashay
11:33.4
to it. In fact, I have stayed
11:35.4
multiple times in an inland area
11:37.4
near Station 2. I don't know
11:39.4
exactly what this area is called, but it can
11:41.4
be reached by turning onto this steep street.
11:43.4
And here, you'll find
11:45.4
Villa Dangyong, a residential
11:47.4
complex with a separate apartment building,
11:49.4
the rooms of which are being rented
11:53.4
Some of the rooms are equipped with stove,
11:55.4
kitchenware, and utensils.
11:57.4
So yes, cooking is allowed in some rooms.
11:59.4
On our last trip, we booked a
12:01.4
one-bedroom apartment for only
12:03.4
Php 1,400 or $25 per night.
12:07.4
Home is also here.
12:09.4
It's a Spanish-colonial-style
12:11.4
guesthouse that offers affordable bed
12:13.4
and breakfast accommodations.
12:15.4
It's been years since I stayed here, but I still
12:17.4
remember the hospitality of the
12:19.4
staff and the owner.
12:25.4
Boracay New Coast is the newest tourism
12:27.4
and resort development project by
12:29.4
Megaworld in the island. Spanning
12:31.4
150 hectares of hilly landscape,
12:33.4
it is stocked in the northeastern
12:35.4
coast. Think of it as a
12:37.4
township detached from all the hustle
12:39.4
and bustle of the island's main tourist spots.
12:41.4
New Coast encompasses
12:43.4
three smaller now private
12:45.4
coves south of Iligiligan Beach
12:47.4
and north of Lapus Lapus Beach.
12:49.4
It also owns the land that serves
12:51.4
as the main access point to the
12:53.4
Quay Hole, a postcard-worthy natural
12:55.4
arch that has become a major
12:57.4
tourist attraction. All these coves
12:59.4
face east, providing a front
13:01.4
row seat to the spectacular Boracay
13:03.4
Sunrise. Guests can also
13:05.4
join a free sunrise tour that will
13:07.4
take you to two of their private beaches.
13:09.4
More establishments have also
13:11.4
been sprouting along its lanes, the most
13:13.4
prominent of which are Savoy Hotel
13:15.4
and Balmont Hotel.
13:17.4
Both Savoy and Balmont are well-appointed
13:19.4
4-star properties that can make
13:21.4
your stay more comfortable, more relaxing,
13:23.4
and more special. For a standard
13:25.4
room at either, you'll have to shell
13:27.4
out Php 400 to Php 600
13:29.4
or Php 70 to Php 110 USD
13:33.4
Boracay New Coast also has a food market
13:35.4
and a huge tent that can be a venue
13:37.4
for conferences, corporate events,
13:39.4
and even personal ones like weddings.
13:48.4
So after all that,
13:50.4
which is the best area
13:52.4
to stay in Boracay?
13:54.4
Well, the best area depends on
13:56.4
your budget and preferences.
13:58.4
We have tried staying at all the areas mentioned
14:00.4
above, and each has its own
14:02.4
strengths. If I were rolling
14:04.4
in money and would love a more peaceful,
14:06.4
more private stay, I'd choose the
14:08.4
luxury resorts at Station Zero.
14:10.4
But I'm not rolling in money,
14:12.4
so the best seclusion I could afford
14:14.4
is probably the mid-range properties
14:16.4
at Boracay New Coast.
14:18.4
But if you're after accessibility and proximity
14:20.4
to everything, choose Station
14:22.4
One or Two. These two
14:24.4
boat stations are the most convenient
14:26.4
location-wise. They're also
14:28.4
the best pick if you're in Boracay for
14:32.4
if budget is a main concern,
14:34.4
consider staying at a place in Station
14:36.4
Three, Bulabog Beach, or
14:38.4
somewhere further inland. You can
14:40.4
easily find affordable hotels,
14:42.4
inns, apartments, and guesthouses
14:44.4
in these areas. As
14:46.4
for me, my personal pick is Station
14:48.4
One or Station Two,
14:50.4
beachfront or not, primarily because
14:52.4
of convenience. So there you
14:54.4
have it! In our next video,
14:56.4
we'll be publishing the English versions
14:58.4
of our Greater Boracay Travel Guide with tips
15:00.4
on getting there, top activities,
15:02.4
and food recommendations.
15:04.4
If you don't want to miss that, you know what to do!
15:06.4
Subscribe if you haven't yet,
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15:50.4
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