When In Manila, it’s always tempting to escape the city life with pristine sands, crystal waters, and one of the world’s best beaches merely an hour away by plane. Boracay Island is a paradise mecca, its regular clientele proving that it’s certainly worth traveling even thousands of miles for. A colorful mix of locals, tourists, couples, families, and barkadas (groups of friends) flock to the Island at any time of the year for a taste of paradise. This July, When In Manila made a visit to Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, one of the Island’s more renowned luxury beachfront accommodations.
LOCATION
Situated in beachfront Station 2, Boracay Mandarin is perfectly located in the middle of Boracay’s four-kilometer stretch. Conveniently central, the hotel is merely a few steps away from D’Mall yet far enough to deviate from the frenzied crowds. For the first time amongst many visits to Boracay Island, I had absolutely no complaints about the location. Everything was in reach, with the beach only a few short steps away. Located in the beachfront of the hotel are sun beds for guests’ use, with attendants and security personnel looking after your belongings and ready to bring over a fruit shake or two.
WIM Tip: Station 2 is a noisier part of Boracay, its nightlife abundant at any time of the year. Do anticipate live band music to filter into your hotel room at any beachfront hotel. The rooms at Boracay Mandarin, however, have great acoustics and can filter out most of the noise.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The resort boasts of 52 bedrooms and suites, ranging from small but luxurious accommodations for a small family or group of friends to grand suite bedrooms suited for families and honeymooners. The rooms and bathrooms are impeccably clean, the beds soft with an abundance of pillows you can sink into. We certainly fell in love with the modern Filipino design, ensuring the rooms were luxurious and ambient. My personal favorite was the canopy design of the bed, which captures the essence of living in a tropical island setting.
Each guest room is equipped with internet access, cable television, complete bed and bath amenities, complimentary water and coffee, and a mini-bar. It also had an electronic safe, which meant no worries for the duration for our trip. Since we arrived during the rainy season, the hotel staff thoughtfully stored umbrellas for our use, which came in handy for nights when a light drizzle would come in.
WIM Tip: If you’re traveling with a larger group of friends or family, not to worry. Ask for a room with a tatami bed, which is a Japanese-style, low platform bed present in some bedrooms. If you can afford it, go for one of the hotel’s luxurious suites. These come with their own private pool and spacious balcony overlooking the Boracay sunset.
