One of the hardest parts of planning a trip to Boracay is choosing a place to stay, not because there are no decent options but, on the contrary, because of the sheer number of choices you’ll be bombarded with when you start searching for one. What is the best? The truth is, there is no short-and-sweet answer to this. But no worries, in this video, we’ll break down the key areas in Boracay and highlight the pros and cons for each, so you could make a more informed decision. USEFUL LINKS: WHERE TO STAY IN BORACAY (Written Version): https://www.thepoortraveler.net/boracay-best-area-hotel/ LIST OF BORACAY DOT-ACCREDITED HOTELS https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2020/07/kalibo-boracay-hotels/ THINGS TO DO IN BORACAY: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/boracay-tourist-spots/ SEND US A TIP! (Thank you in advance!) https://www.thepoortraveler.net/tip

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🎵 music playing 🎵

Yung pagkakagamit na bagong lahat

sa pakipanggap ng mga tubig mula para sa treno at

babakay ay malikanit ng loob ng makantong.

Humwag na itong wagay na muli layo 모습.

Pero, syesa pinagkap ito,

impossible ito lumingo o pinababalik

ang mga patorasig na labas.

🎵 music playing 🎵

Pa consistency and seriousness ay pa bahay ng dalawa na

komplekta tolog ako

Baraka is one of our super fave destinations in the Philippines

and we have stayed

in almost every major area.

What is the best, you ask?

Hmm, the truth is,

there is no short and sweet answer to this.

But no worries,

because in this video,

we'll break down the key areas in Barakay

and highlight the pros and cons for each

so you could make a more informed decision.

Before we dive into it,

Do us a favor and hit the subscribe button

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Okay, before you go looking for accommodations,

it is important to be familiar

with the geography of Barakay,

or at least the very basic of it.

Barakay is quite small,

much smaller than Bali or Phuket or Palawan.

But it is bursting at the seams

with possible lodging options.

Take a look at this map.

The landmass protruding from the lower right corner

is Katiklan, part of mainland Aklan.

Katiklan serves as the

primary gateway to Barakay.

Here, you'll find both the Katiklan International Airport,

aka Barakay Airport,

and the Katiklan Jetty Port,

which is the sea port.

Every tourist in Barakay

passes through Katiklan.

Naturally, the passenger ports in Barakay,

i.e. Kagban Port

and Tambisaan Port, are along the edge

closest to Katiklan.

You'll also notice that Barakay is divided

into three barangays, or villages.

Yapak, Bulabog,

and Manok Manok.

You'll encounter these barangay names when checking out hotel

and resort addresses.

But for tourists, it's more practical to divide

the island not by barangay but by beach.

If you notice,

Barakay's shoreline is glazed with

over a dozen beaches,

the most famous of which are White Beach

along the southwestern coast,

Puka Beach on the east,

and Puka Beach on the northernmost tip.

The most noteworthy here is White Beach,

which harbors the greatest concentration

of hotels and restaurants because

it is the most stunning in the island.

When you google photos of Barakay,

chances are you'll be presented

with images of White Beach,

thanks to its powdery white sand glistening

under the sun and crystal waters

swaying in various shades of blue.

White Beach is further

divided into three boat stations,

Station 1, Station 2,

and Station 3, spanning two barangays.

But all three

share just one beach.

There is no physical border between them,

meaning you can just walk along the shore

from one station to another without any problem.

And if you do,

you'll quickly realize that each station

has a distinct character and set

of advantages and disadvantages.

Station 1

Station 1 is the most

beautiful part of White Beach.

It's here that you'll find the iconic

Quiles Rock and the row of blue-sailed

parau boats that have become synonymous

with the island. But Station 1's

biggest pro is its quietness.

Take another look at our map.

Station 1 is on the northern end

of White Beach. Just next to it is

Station 2, the busiest area

in Boracay. The further you move

from Station 2, the calmer it

gets. Hence, the southern

end of Station 1 can still get a bit

loud at times, especially in the morning.

Because Station 1 is home

to one of the two jumping-off points

for island-hopping tours.

The other one is in Station 3.

But the northernmost tip, near the so-called

Lambros Point, is so silent

it's almost sedating.

The catch is, it's also the

posh side of White Beach.

Most of the properties here are on the higher

end of the spectrum, like the Linn Boracay,

an upscale resort that combines

the proximity of White Beach and the amenities

of luxury properties, and

Henan Crystal Sands Resort,

the best of all the Henan resorts in Boracay.

The rooms are standard

Henan, but its infinity pool is

perched on the second floor, overlooking

the White Beach and allowing a glorious

view of the sunset.

Other popular resorts in Station 1

are Harlan Beach Villa,

Discovery Shores, Friday's Boracay,

Two Seasons, and Astoria

Boracay. So yeah, most

are pretty high-end. But there are a few

exceptions, especially the hostels

near the border with Station 2.

Unfortunately, most of the budget places

we have tried in Station 1 have closed

down after the clearing operations done

in 2018. We've also

tried Friends Hostel, which is technically

in Station 2 but near the Station

1 border, so it's not as hectic.

Station 2 is the epicenter

of all the action in Boracay.

It has the largest number of hotels, resorts,

bars, restaurants, and shops.

Why? In this part

of the island, the distance between the

shoreline and the main road widens,

accommodating much more establishments

closer to the beach.

If you walk from the main road to the coast,

you'll probably pass by or through at least

four resorts. In fact,

it's here in Station 2 that you'll find

D Mall, which is probably the

single busiest area in the entire

island. It's also the most

accessible as most transportation

services pick up, drop off,

or terminate around here.

If you stay in Station 2, almost

every main point of interest is within

walking distance.

But this accessibility and busyness are

also its main cons. It can get

loud and noisy here, and it's

hard to find a spot or moment of tranquility.

Try walking along the beach

and you'll be approached by toots countless times,

offering a whole range of services

from crystal kayak to henna tattoo

to massage.

Some of the popular resorts here include

Hennan Garden Resort, Hennan Lagoon Resort,

Hennan Palm Beach Resort,

Hennan Park Resort, La Carmela de Boracay,

U Hotels and Resorts,

and Le Soleil de Boracay.

In Station 2, we stayed at Hennan Park Resort,

the latest Hennan property to open

to the public, so everything still looks,

feels, and smells fresh and brand new.

It's not beachfront, but along

the main road so it's accessible.

We've also stayed at Le Soleil de Boracay,

which is at a fantastic location.

It's beachfront and close to the mall,

but surprisingly quiet inside the rooms.

It also stands along an alley,

making it accessible by e-trike

or other vehicle from the main road.

We've also tried Eight Colors Beach House,

a small boutique lodge easily accessible

from the main road and from the beach.

It's not beachfront,

but it's literally a stone's throw from the beach.

It's also very budget-friendly.

Station 3

Often overlooked, Station 3 occupies

the southernmost end of White Beach.

But its shore is narrower

and slightly steeper.

Like Station 1, it is relatively calm.

Fewer shops and restaurants

line the beach and the streets,

so the crowd also thins out.

As I always say, if you follow the crowd,

you'll never reach Station 3.

That's because those coming from Station 1

get exhausted by the time they make it to Station 2.

And those coming from Station 2

usually turn right to Station 1.

While shops and restaurants

are sparser in Station 3,

it harbors most of White Beach's

budget accommodations,

from smaller inns, backpacker hostels,

and independent guesthouses.

Years ago,

one could find a room for only P500 per night,

but I'm not sure if that's still possible

these days.

It's been a while since we last stayed at Station 3.

It's also here that you'll find

this floating jetty,

which is used as a boarding spot

for the island hopping tours.

Yes, Station Zero is a thing,

but it's not an official name.

It's just a nickname

bestowed upon it because it's technically

on the same side as White Beach's

three stations, but in actuality,

it refers to a completely separate cove.

Confused?

Okay, hold on. I'll try to explain it.

North of Station 1,

on the same side of the island,

is a series of smaller coves,

including the famed Diniwit Beach,

immediately after it.

On the far end lies Banyugan Beach,

which serves as the private beach

for guests of Shangri-La Boracay.

In between these two coves is Puntabunga Beach,

also known as Station Zero,

a strip of sand shared by

three luxury resorts—Shangri-La Boracay,

Crimson Resort and Spa,

and Movenpick Resort and Spa.

These are all high-end resorts,

so only a few people get to access this.

Room rates here

play within the 5-digit range,

starting at ₱11,000

or $200 per night.

And that's just the standard room.

Suites can cost higher than

₱30,000 or

₱550 USD per night.

Super posh villas

can set you back ₱70,000

or ₱1,300

USD per night.

Yes, these are mostly for

the rich and famous, but most of

the people I know who have stayed at any of these

say that they're super worth it.

Especially if you're really after

luxury, privacy, and

impeccable service.

It's also great for those who wish to celebrate

a special or romantic occasion like

honeymoon or anniversary.

While White Beach glazes the western edge

of Boracay, Bulabog Beach

takes up much of its eastern coast.

But unlike its more popular counterpart,

the sand here isn't something to

write home about. It's mostly rocky

and covered in seagrass, which isn't

ideal for swimming and sunbathing.

Regardless, it's still incredibly

scenic, thanks to its picturesque

grow of coconut trees that have been

attracting Instagrammers left and right.

Bulabog Beach is easily

accessible from the main road or even

from White Beach. From the mall,

you should be able to reach Bulabog Beach on

foot in around 5 minutes,

supposing you don't have mobility issues.

The terrain is mostly flat.

While some properties entail a bit

of walking, e-trikes and multi-cabs

can conveniently drop you off or pick you

up in the area. It's also

the main playground for water sport enthusiasts.

The beach is lined by

kitesurfing and parasailing offices.

Yet, despite the extreme activities

and proximity to the mall, it

remains quiet and fosters an

atmosphere that is a far cry from

the chaos in Station 2.

The best part? Properties along

Bulabog Beach charge much lower rates,

often half than those along

White Beach.

It's hard to delineate what can be considered

inland, but for the purpose of this video,

we're only including properties that are

located in the area between Bulabog Beach

and the main street. Meaning,

if you're coming from the port,

it's the area to the right of the road.

And yep, this area,

although far from the beach, also hosts

numerous hotels, resorts, and

apartments that won't break the bank.

I'm the type of traveler that doesn't

mind staying at non-beachfront properties,

especially in Boracay.

The truth is, you don't need to stay near

White Beach to be able to access it.

The main road stems into several

alleys that lead to the beach.

One can simply waltz and sashay

to it. In fact, I have stayed

multiple times in an inland area

near Station 2. I don't know

exactly what this area is called, but it can

be reached by turning onto this steep street.

And here, you'll find

Villa Dangyong, a residential

complex with a separate apartment building,

the rooms of which are being rented

out to tourists.

Some of the rooms are equipped with stove,

kitchenware, and utensils.

So yes, cooking is allowed in some rooms.

On our last trip, we booked a

one-bedroom apartment for only

Php 1,400 or $25 per night.

Dakong Amihan

Home is also here.

It's a Spanish-colonial-style

guesthouse that offers affordable bed

and breakfast accommodations.

It's been years since I stayed here, but I still

remember the hospitality of the

staff and the owner.

Boracay New Coast is the newest tourism

and resort development project by

Megaworld in the island. Spanning

150 hectares of hilly landscape,

it is stocked in the northeastern

coast. Think of it as a

township detached from all the hustle

and bustle of the island's main tourist spots.

New Coast encompasses

three smaller now private

coves south of Iligiligan Beach

and north of Lapus Lapus Beach.

It also owns the land that serves

as the main access point to the

Quay Hole, a postcard-worthy natural

arch that has become a major

tourist attraction. All these coves

face east, providing a front

row seat to the spectacular Boracay

Sunrise. Guests can also

join a free sunrise tour that will

take you to two of their private beaches.

More establishments have also

been sprouting along its lanes, the most

prominent of which are Savoy Hotel

and Balmont Hotel.

Both Savoy and Balmont are well-appointed

4-star properties that can make

your stay more comfortable, more relaxing,

and more special. For a standard

room at either, you'll have to shell

out Php 400 to Php 600

or Php 70 to Php 110 USD

per night.

Boracay New Coast also has a food market

and a huge tent that can be a venue

for conferences, corporate events,

and even personal ones like weddings.

So after all that,

which is the best area

to stay in Boracay?

Well, the best area depends on

your budget and preferences.

We have tried staying at all the areas mentioned

above, and each has its own

strengths. If I were rolling

in money and would love a more peaceful,

more private stay, I'd choose the

luxury resorts at Station Zero.

But I'm not rolling in money,

so the best seclusion I could afford

is probably the mid-range properties

at Boracay New Coast.

But if you're after accessibility and proximity

to everything, choose Station

One or Two. These two

boat stations are the most convenient

location-wise. They're also

the best pick if you're in Boracay for

nightlife. But

if budget is a main concern,

consider staying at a place in Station

Three, Bulabog Beach, or

somewhere further inland. You can

easily find affordable hotels,

inns, apartments, and guesthouses

in these areas. As

for me, my personal pick is Station

One or Station Two,

beachfront or not, primarily because

of convenience. So there you

have it! In our next video,

we'll be publishing the English versions

of our Greater Boracay Travel Guide with tips

on getting there, top activities,

and food recommendations.

If you don't want to miss that, you know what to do!

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