If you are planning to visit the new Boracay but on a tight budget, you are probably looking for a cheap accommodation in the island. There are indeed numerous cheap hotels and accommodations in Boracay. But these properties are not beachfront. Most cheaply priced accommodations in Boracay are usually far from the white beach and are near the main road .
Casa Fiesta facade
One of our goals is to find the cheapest beachfront resort in Station 1 during our recent Boracay trip. Since hotel or accommodation reservation is required before entering the island, we booked the cheapest Boracay beachfront room – Casa Fiesta.
Here’s my short video of Casa Fiesta Boracay:
Here’s my Boracay VLOG:
Good Location
Casa Fiesta is located in Boracay Station 1 which has the finest sands among the 3 stations. Casa Fiesta is situated in the most dense part of Station 1. Meaning, restaurants and bars are just an arm’s reach away. Nearby facilities are Original Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, Jona’s fruit shake, Starbucks, Yellow Cab Pizza, Free Willy Diving and All Flip-Flops. It’s strategically located as it is just 3 to 5 minute walk to D’mall which is tourists’ primary go to place for dining and shopping. Casa Fiesta’s beachfront also serves as the pick-up point for Paraw sailing during sunset.
Casa Fiesta Map
Simple, Homey and Private
I like the simplicity of Casa Fiesta. It is not a fancy resort but the has this homey feel and vibe.
Unlike other Boracay hotels and accommodations, Casa Fiesta Boracay has a limited number of rooms. With a total of 8 rooms, the entire property is less dense and private.
Surprise Upgrade
We planned to stay in Boracay for 3 nights. Among all beachfront accommodations, Casa Fiesta’s rates are the cheapest in Agoda. So we booked our 3 nights stay with them. Booked our first 2 nights in a cheaper non beach view room and our last night on a more expensive beach view room. We were surprised as they gave us the beach view room for three nights!
Beach View Room
Beach view room at Casa Fiesta
Jen and I were very happy for the room upgrade. The beach view room comes with a private veranda. Casa Fiesta is located in Station 1 with coconut trees accross the white beach. It was such a joy to get that tropical feel while relaxing on our room’s veranda.
View from our room’s veranda
Our beach view air-conditioned room also comes with a queen size bed, an LCD TV and a dresser. The room is spacious. It can accommodate 4 persons. The toilet and bath is spacious too! It also has a hot & cold shower.
The room along with the toilet and bath are very clean. Not the type you get when staying in a high-end Boracay resorts like Shangri-la. Nonetheless, with the beach view, you truly get value for your money!
1,700 Pesos ($33) a night! Cheapest Boracay Beachfront Resort in Station 1?
Jen and I were certain that we got the cheapest possible beachfront room when we booked Casa Fiesta online. During our stay in the resort, we were surprised that their rates are way cheaper especially during off peak season! Here’s the complete Casa Fiesta Boracay room rates:
Off Season (June 16 to November 15) – 1,700 Php ($33) for 2 PAX
Peak Season (November 16 to June 15) – 2,700 Php ($53) for 2 PAX
High Peak Season (December 20 – January 3, Holy week) – 3,700 Php ($73) for 2 PAX
Extra person – 500 Php ($9.80) per night
Tip: Casa Fiesta easily gets fully booked especially during peak and high peak season. Book ahead of time and enjoy your discounted room HERE.
Friendly Staff
Casa Fiesta’s staff are friendly and welcoming! Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and accommodated. During our 3 day stay, they were very kind to provide hot water every morning for our coffee. They even provided an extra pillow we requested. All the staff never fail to greet and smile at us every time we see them. We felt like we were staying in a relative’s house.
Highly Recommended Beachfront Resort in Boracay Station 1
If you are on a limited budget and is looking for a beachfront resort in Boracay, I would highly recommend Casa Fiesta! It is strategically located, staff are very friendly and more importantly, you get a decent accommodation in a beachfront property at a very affordable price!!
Casa Fiesta Boracay
Address: Boracay Island, Balabag, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
After 6 months of closure, Boracay is finally open for tourists and visitors. The island started welcoming tourists last October 26, 2018. However, not all beach resorts, hotels, accommodations and establishments are given accreditation to operate. An establishment must first comply with the requirements by the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and must be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT). As of 1st week of November 2018, a total of 192 Boracay hotels, beach resorts and accommodations have been given go signal to accept reservations and bookings. Thus, can operate business as usual.
If you are planning for a vacation in Boracay, before making your reservations or booking, make sure that your chosen accommodation is included in the list of accredited beach resorts and hotels. Wondering if your favorite Boracay hotel is legal to operate? See below for the updated list of Boracay establishments with permit to operate as of November 7, 2018:
Me enjoying the beautiful beach front of Henann Prime Beach Resort
SOURCE: The below list is from the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force and as announced Philippine Department of Tourism Facebook page.
Latest List of Accredited Boracay Island Resorts, Hotels & Establishments as of November 7, 2018
Important: You may be asked to present your hotel reservation slip before entering the island. This is to ensure your only booking with accredited Boracay beach resort or hotel and to prevent hassle upon arrival.
Tip: I am giving you huge discounts on your Boracay beach resort, hotel, accommodation if you book HERE.
Sadly, my favorite Boracay resort – Henann Prime Beach Resort is not yet included in the DOT list of accredited establishments. Hoping that Henann Group of Resorts in Boracay will soon open. I’ll be visiting Boracay this month (November 2018) and will accordingly update this blog post.
Royal Park Hotel, also known as Royal Park Resort, is one among the long list of beachfront hotels in Boracay island.
Royal Park Hotel Boracay Facade
Strategic Location
Royal Park Hotel is strategically located as it is situated in the border of Station 1 and Station 2 of Boracay’s white sand beach. Guests at Royal Park Hotel get to enjoy the proximity of various bars and restaurants in Station 2. It is also a few minute walk from D’ Mall, D’ Market and D’ Talipapa.
Royal Park Hotel has an elevated private space right in front of the property where beach beds are located. I personally love this elevated space as it serves as an area where guests can enjoy the fresh air and breathtaking view of the beach. The property also has coconut tress which adds up to the tropical feel and vibe of the area.
Royal Park Hotel boracay lobby
The lobby is simple and homey. We felt like we were just visiting a house of a friend or a relative.
Upon entering the Royal Park Hotel, we were warmly greeted by the receptionist. I handed the soft copy of our Agoda booking confirmation slip and our booking was immediately confirmed after few minutes. We were asked by the receptionist to sit for the welcome drinks. We were really surprised that Royal Park Hotel offers welcome drinks! Coming from a luxurious stay at Henann Prime Beach Resort, I have to admit that I did not really expect too much from Royal Park Hotel. But the welcome drinks was really surprising and made us feel important.
Royal Park Hotel Room Rates
Low Season rates (June 1 to November 30)
Single Room (2 PAX) – 4,500 Php
Standard Room (2 to 3 PAX) – 5,000 Php
Family Deluxe (4 PAX) – 6,000 Php
Hollow Suite (4 PAX) – 7,500 Php
Suite (2 PAX) – 8,000 Php
Executive Suite (2 PAX) – 9,000 Php
extra PAX – 500 Php
extra bed – 1,000 Php
High Season rates (December 1 to May 30)
Single Room (2 PAX) – 5,500 Php
Standard Room (2 to 3 PAX) – 6,500 Php
Family Deluxe (4 PAX) – 7,500 Php
Hollow Suite (4 PAX) – 8,500 Php
Suite (2 PAX) – 9,000 Php
Executive Suite (2 PAX) – 10,000 Php
extra PAX – 500 Php
extra bed – 1,000 Php
Discounted Royal Park Hotel Room Rates!
After enjoying our 2 nights stay at Henann Prime Beach Resort, we transffered at Royal Park Hotel. We were very lucky to have booked a Family Deluxe room at a discounted rate. We booked it for only 2,600 Php instead of the 6,000 Php published rate. Thanks to Agoda!
Tip: You may book your discounted Royal Park Hotel room HERE.
Family Room at Royal Park Hotel, Station 1 Boracay
Our room was room number 1, technically the nearest to the beachfront. Surprisingly, the family room at Royal Park Hotel is very spacious. It comes with 2 double beds, spacious toilet and bath with hot and cold shower, LCD cable TV, dresser, air-conditioning unit and a dinette set. There are no complimentary bottled water but a pitcher of cold purified water is provided when you arrive.
Royal Park Hotel Boracay Family Room
The double beds are okay. Not the type you get to experience in high-end hotels but are comfortable enough for a good night sleep.
Overall, I should say that the room is clean and simple. The room’s classy furnitures and fixtures are indication that the Royal Park Hotel was once a high-end hotel in Boracay. The rustic feel reminds be of cheap and affordable hotels I’ve been to on my previous travels.
Being in the border of Stations 1 and 2, Royal Park Hotel’s facade and beachfront may tend to become crowded. Tourists walking from station 2 to station 1 pass along the beachfront of the hotel. If you are after peaceful and serene beachfront, I would not recommend Royal Park Hotel. However, if you are going to Boracay to party, shop and fulfill your gastronomic adventures, this is the best hotel due to its proximity to bars, shops and restaurants.
Apart from enjoying the fine white sands and crystal clear waters of Boracay, the island is also the best place to fulfill your gastronomic adventures. There are countless restaurants in the island serving various dishes such as Filipino, American, Mexican, French, Chinese and many more. If you love seafood, skip these restaurants as there is only one place to enjoy one of a kind seafood dining experience in the island – D’ Talipapa in Station 2 Boracay.
Where to eat seafood in Boracay? – D’ Talipapa
D’ Talipapa is a popular food destination among tourists visiting Boracay island. Located in the busy and crowded Station 2 of Boracay, D’ Talipapa has established its name as the ultimate food destination for seafood lovers. Just like the Seaside Dampa Macapagal in Manila, diners at D’ Talipapa get to enjoy a unique seafood dining experience.
What makes the D’ Talipapa dining experience unique?
Wet market
Talipapa is a Filipino word which means a small wet market.
Unlike in a typical Boracay restaurant, at D’ Talipapa, you get to choose and shop from various fresh seafood in wet market. The market offers fresh seafood such as shrimps, lobsters, crabs, oysters, squids, sea urchins, fishes and different types of shell fishes such as mussels, scallops and many more!
Scallops
Shrimps
Fishes
Tip: Use you hanging skills in the wet market. Jen and I strolled around the market to check-out the prices of fresh seafood. A kilo of medium-sized shrimps is sold from 550 Php ($11) to 600 Php ($12) . We bought a kilo of shrimps at only 500 Php ($10). Scallops is sold at 400 per kilo. We bought ours a half kilo for only 150 Php ($3).
After shopping, you will have to bring your fresh seafood to a paluto restaurant within the area. Paluto is a Filipino word which means to have the food cooked for you. Just like Seaside Dampa in Manila, you shop for seafood in the wet market and choose a restaurant. Ask the retaurant to cook the seafood for a cooking service charge.
Etniko Bar Resto, Paluto restaurant at D’ Talipapa Boracay
Entiko Boracay Resto Bar, Station 3
After shopping for seafood, we immediately headed to Etniko Resto Bar. This eye-catching restaurant is literally few steps away from the wet market. Etniko Resto bar has this ethnic theme which makes it stand out from other paluto restaurants.
We browsed the menu and asked one of the staff to cook buttered shrimps and baked scallops. Cooking charge is 200 Php ($4) for the 1 kilo of shrimps and 150 Php ($3) for the half kilo of scallops. Please see the complete list of paluto (cooking) charge below:
This seafood haven is located in Station 2. If you are coming to any part of the main road, ride a tricycle. Fare if you are coming from Stations 1 or 2 is only 10 Php each ($0.20). Alternatively, if you are coming from any part of the white beach, just walk to Station 3 and ask some locals where D’ Market is. D’ Talipapa is just within the area of D’ Market.
Highly Recommended
If you want a unique and one of a kind cultural dining experience, visit D’ Talipapa in Station 3 Boracay. You get to experience shopping in an authentic Filipino wet market and have it cooked at a nearby Filipino-owned restaurant. Would I recommend this Boracay food place? Definitely yes!
Visiting Boracay? Book you discounted Boracay hotel HERE.
Henann Prime Beach Resort Boracay is the newest addition in Henann Group of hotels chain in Boracay island, Philippines. Situated in Station 1, Henann Prime Beach Resort offers the best beachfront experience to its in-house guests. This luxury Boracay resort also offers mouth-watering dishes at its al fresco Sea Salt Cafe which provides an incomparable view of the white sand and pristine waters of Boracay.
Henann Prime Beach Resort building in main road Boracay
From the main road, the hotel looks very new and well maintained. It stands out among its neighbouring resorts, 2 Seasons resort and Las Brisas Resort. Henan Prime Beach Resort as 2 main buildings, the Beach wing and the East wing. Rooms at Beach wing are near to the beachfront. East wing rooms on the other hand are situated near the main road. I was amazed that Henann Prime Beach Resort made a walkway connecting both East wing to the Beach wing of the resort. It definitely provides convenience to its guests whose rooms are situated on the East wing building.
Classy Lobby and Al Fresco Common Area
Lobby
Common area
The hotel’s lobby is located on the ground floor of East wing building. The lobby is simple, minimalist but classy. It is spacious and cater a huge number of guests checking-in and out of the hotel. When we arrived, there were 3 welcoming front desk staff and a concierge who assisted us with our backpacks.
The common areas along with the hallways are amazingly clean and classy. Just like the lobby and reception area, the common area and hall ways give a minimalist yet classy vibe.
Please watch my video below of Henann Prime’s reception area, lobby and hallway:
Henann Prime Beach Resort Boracay Premier Room Review
Premier rooms at Henann Prime Beach resort are located on the Beach wing of the hotel. A premier room is approximately 36 square meters.
The key cards provided by the receptionist work perfectly. The room’s door comes with an eyelet for in-house guest’s security. Unlike in a typical hotel where the key card also serves as the power switch, rooms at Henann Prime have an automatic key card for the power. You can go outside leaving the air-conditioning unit running.
Premier Room
Premier Room at Henann Prime Resort Boracay
Upon entering the room, on the left side is a spacious dresser with hangers, 2 Hennan bathrobe, 2 pairs of room slippers and a safe deposit box. There is also a Henann plastic bag if you wish to avail for their in-house laundry service. On the right side is a space between the wall (with an intricate accent) and the king-sized bed.
The bed is very comfortable, definitely of high quality. Same as with 6 pillows where 2 of which are cylindrical in shape. The bed, the 300 thread count linens and pillows are the one you get to experience in 5-star hotels. There are also bed side tables with classy lamp shades.
Henann Prime Premier Room Boracay
work area
welcome fruits
Beside the bed is a spacious sitting area with a small sofa and a small marble clad table. On the table is Henann Prime’s welcome gift – a plateful of fruits. If you’re bringing your laptop or macbook, across the sitting area is a work area with a huge mirror.
The room also comes with a 43″ LCD cable TV, personal refrigerator, coffee and tea making facility with a complimentary coffee and complimentary daily bottled water, individually controlled air-conditioning unit and telephone with IDD and NDD.
Toiletries
shower are and bathtub are separated from toilet
Spacious vanity area
Surprisingly, the toilet and bath is very spacious. There is a vanity area with a long marble clad partnered with a long mirror. On the vanity area are Henann Group of resorts toiletries. We personally loved the Henann soap and shower gel. The toilet comes with a bidet spray. Bath and face towels along with a toilet matt are provided too. The hot and cold shower area and bathtub are separated from the toilet by a glass partition. My only review for improvement is the water pressure of the bidet spray. Nonetheless, the water pressure in the shower and sink in the vanity area are excellent.
One of my favorite spot in the Premier room is the spacious balcony. There is a dinette set and an area to hang your wet clothes. We also had a Premier room on the third floor where smoking is allowed in the balcony. The room has a swimming pool view which looks very beautiful and elegant especially at night.
The entire room, toilet and bath and balcony are very clean and elegant. I love the attention to detail of the interiors. Furnishings and fixtures look expensive and of high-quality. Truly at par with high-end hotels in Manila such as Shangri-La and F1 Hotel Manila.
On our second day, we posted the make-up room outside our door. The housekeeping staff is commendable as the room was very clean the moment we returned after visiting Diniwid beach and D’ Mall.
Here’s the video clip of our room in Henann Prime Beach Resort:
Henann Prime Beach Resort Promo Package
We were grateful to have checked Henann’s website and seen Henann Prime Beach Resort offers promo packages which are cheaper to their published rates. Jen and I availed for a Splendid Package for Lean Season for 8,223.00 Php per person Ppus 275 Php government fees per person. The promo package includes the following:
roundtrip airport transfers (inclusive of environment and terminal fees)
3 days and night accommodation
2 days buffet breakfast for 2
2 nights buffet dinner for 2
welcome drinks
free use of swimming pools
Tip: For Splendid Package rates and reservation, e-mail reservations.hpb@hennan.com. If you want non-package and cheaper rates, book via Agoda.
Henann Prime Boracay Philippines
Highly Recommended Boracay Hotel
I should say that Henann Prime Beach Resort Boracay sets its own standards of being best in class. Henann Prime Beach Resort is truly a world-class hotel right in the Philippine’s most beautiful island – Boracay.
D’ Mall is located in station 2 of Boracay’s white sand beach. This al fresco shopping center has been around Boracay for quite some time. D Mall has become a popular landmark in the island. It has established itself as the very first and the best one stop shop for anything that any tourist needs.
D Mall Boracay Island Philippines
The entire D Mall complex is jam-packed with restaurants, bars, cafes, souvenir shops, travel agencies, money changers, ATMs and even hotels.
Things to do in D’ Mall
There are countless of things to do in D’ Mall. Fulfil your gastronomic adventures through a wide variety of restaurants. If you love shopping, D’ Mall will not disappoint you. There is a number of shops, mostly international brands, selling apparel from swimwear to casual attire. If you are a party animal, there is a good number of bars that will truly make your Boracay trip memorable. If you just want to simply hangout and relax, milk tea, coffee shops and cafes are everywhere. Souvenir shops are also all the place, you can buy your Boracay souvenirs from keychains, refrigerator magnets, t-shirts, bags and many others.
Tip: If you are buying Boracaray souvenirs, skip D’ Mall and go to D’ Market or D’ Talipapa instead. Souvenirs at D’ Mall are a bit expensive. You can buy souvenirs at D’ Market or D’ Talipapa at a cheaper price.
Below is a short video clip of our D’ Mall visit:
List of shops and establishments in D’ Mall Boracay:
French Nail
Hallowich
Sharetea
Bells & Blooms
Country Jeans
Levi’s
Rudy Project
The Tides hotel
Hama
Island Chicken Inasal
Lemini Cafe
Chanet Spa
Funkie Souver Shop
Fiesta Favorite Souvenir
Ralph’s Wines & Spirits
Golden Bamboo
Fila
a piece of green
Gem Talk
Hugo Home Lifestyle
Itti
Department of Tourism
Goldstar Inn
Happy Planet
Andok’s
Aria
Pick & Match
Big Mouth
The Hobbit
Crocs
Master Twister
Tres Amigos
Ram’s House of Wine
V.B. Queen’s Money Changer
Queen Bee Fruit Shake
Ole
Jeepney Stop
Rumba’s
Bite Club
Epic
Budget Mart
Cyma
Jammers
D’ Mall at Station 2 Boracay
How to get to D’ Mall
Just walk along Station 2 and you will definitely pass by D’ Mall. The are signs indicating the entrance of D’ Mall. If you are staying in a resort, hotel or accommodation in Station 2, D’ Mall can be reached by foot in a couple of minutes. If you are staying in Stations 1 or 3, you can also walk along the white beach to Station 2. You will know that you are already in D’ Mall entrance if you see Epic bar along the white beach. Alternatively, you can ride a tricycle along the main road. Fare is 10 Php ($0.20) each for non-special trip. Just inform the driver to drop you off in Budget Mart convenience store at D’ Mall.
When nature calls, there are 2 paid public comfort rooms within D’ Mall complex. Just make sure to prepare 5 Php everytime you use the comfort rooms. D’ Mall shops opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM.
Overall, I highly suggest visiting D’ Mall if you are going to Boracay. The places if fun and truly a haven for food lovers and shoppers!
Tip: If you are visiting Boracay, get huge discounts on your Boracay hotel HERE.
Henann Prime Beach Resort is the newest and very first Henann beachfront resort in station 1 Boracay. Opened in November 2016, Henann Prime Beach Resort is becoming a popular choice of station 1 Boracay hotel among tourists.
Me being a first timer in Boracay, Jen made sure that to book the best but not the priciest hotel in the island. We were lucky to have booked Henann Prime Beach Resort’s Splendid Package which is a 2 nights and 3 days stay including 2 buffet breakfast, 2 buffet dinner and airport transfers.
We loved everything about Henann Prime Beach Resort and we’re definitely recommending it to anyone who’s planning to visit Boracay. Here are my 7 Reasons why Henann Prime Beach Resort is a Perfect Hotel for your Boracay Trip:
1. Breathtaking Beachfront Resort
Me enjoying the beautiful beach front of Henann Prime Beach Resort
Situated in station 1 which is known to as home of luxury and high–end resorts in Boracay, Henann Prime Beach Resort has the best beachfront compared to other Henann resorts in Boracay island. It’s beachfront is as equally beautiful as other station 1 hotels and resorts. The beachfront is the perfect spot to enjoy the breathtaking view of fine white sands and pristine waters of Boracay. From afar, Henann Prime Beach resort’s facade stands out for it’s signature blue-green beach beds with stylish white umbrellas.
Henann Prime Beach Resort
The facade is truly eye-catching. It has a high-end look and feel. The beautiful beach beds are just few meters from the shore and are perfectly placed for relaxation. Almost all tourists walking in the shore take a glimpse of the carefully arranged and classy beach beds of Henann Prime Beach Resort.
Watch my short video featuring Henann Prime Beach Resort’s beachfront:
2. Superb Customer service
Henann Prime Beach Resort knows what customer service is! The superb customer service starts the moment you arrive in the in the airport. You will experience a VIP treatment throughout your stay, from your Caticalan airport transfer to Henann Prime, during your stay in the resort, until your transfer from Henann Prime to Caticlan airport.
The moment we arrived at Henann Prime Beach Resort, we were warmly greeted by the security guard, luggage attendant and Jcel- resort’s front desk. Since we way too early for the 3:00 PM check-in, we were allowed to check-in at 1:30 PM. We even asked to give us a smoking room. Jcel was kind enough to provide us a Premier room on the 3rd floor, where smoking in the balcony is allowed. While waiting, we checked out Sea Salt Cafe and relaxed at the beach bed. We have not officially checked-in yet but the beach attendant surprised us by serving cold glasses of water and giving us towels while we were on the beach beds.
With Sir Art, Henann Prime’s Manager on Duty
All the staff were very welcoming and accommodating. Every time we bump into a staff in the resort’s vicinity, we were sincerely and politely greeted. There were occurrences where we had to cross the main road and the lady guard made sure of our safety while crossing road. We felt very special.
Some of the staff of Sea Salt Cafe, Henann Prime
During buffet breakfast and dinner, Sea Salt Cafe staff were very accommodating. They were very helpful and were always ready to serve guests. Sir Art, the manager on duty, was very welcoming and accommodating. He makes sure that food are readily available throughout the duration of buffet. He always ensures that chaffers are always refilled so you will need not to worry about running out of your favorite food in the buffet.
3. Smooth Airport Transfer
It amazed me how organized and seamless the airport transfers were. Since we booked via Henann’s reservation, we did not experience any issues at all. The airport transfers went well. We arrived at Henann Prime Beach Resort fresh and relaxed.
Caticlan Airport to Cagban Port
Henann Group of Resorts Boracay van
The moment you arrive in Caticlan airport, there are Henann staff with a Hennan placard waiting for you. These Hanann staff will direct you to your van transfer from Caticlan airport to an exclusive Henann Group of Resorts port. This port is nearby to Caticlan port where tourists go for a boat transfer to Cagban port. Since Henann group of resorts has its exclusive port, you will need not to worry about enduring the long lines and waiting time in Caticlan port. In addition, you also get to ride a Henann Group of Resorts’ speed boat. Meaning, you will not have to undergo the usual process of falling in line, paying for the environmental fee and waiting for the boat to fill up.
Henann Group of Resort’s boat immediately leaves for Cagban port once you aboard. And it only takes less than 10 minutes boat ride from Caticlan port to Cagban port compared to approximately 20 to 30 minutes when you board a public boat in Caticlan port.
Once you reach Cagban port, they will direct you to a Hennan group of resorts van that will bring you to Henann Prime Beach resort. If you have a heavy luggage, no need to worry as the Henann staff will take good care of your luggage throughout the transfers.
I should say that Hennan Prime Beach resorts exceeded my expectations. I did not really expect that the transfer was a breeze.
4. World-Class and Elegant Rooms
Henann Prime Beach Resort has a total 104 world-class elegant rooms. 50 rooms are located on the Beach wing and the other 54 rooms are on the East wing (main road side).
Rooms at Henann Prime Beach Resort is at par with that of luxurious hotels in Manila. High-end furnitures and fixtures are carefully selected making the rooms very functional and elegant. I personally love the attention to detail they have put into the rooms.
Below are the standard amenities you get to enjoy if you book a room at Henann Prime Beach Resort:
Separate toilet and bathtub
Safety deposit box
Telephone with IDD and NDD
Bathroom telephone
Personal refrigerator
Daily housekeeping
Electric kettle
Complimentary coffee
Daily complimentary water bottles
Bathrobes and slippers
Bidet spray in toilet
Hair dryer
Daily house keeping service
Laundry service (with a fee)
In room dining service
Henann Toiletries
Room Types at Beach Wing
Premier Room
Premier Room at Henann Prime Resort Boracay
located on 2nd, 3rd and 4th level
choice of 1 queen size bed and a single bed or 1 king size bed
approximately 36 sq. m.
veranda with a mini dining set
bathroom vanity area
43 inch cable TV
WIFI access
Premier Room with direct pool access
located on ground floor
same features as Premier room plus it’s special feature of having a direct access to the beautiful pool
Grand Room with Sea View
beachfront view
1 king size bed
approximately 56 sq. m.
veranda with a mini dining set
Spacious seating and wardrobe area
bathroom vanity area
large free-standing bathtub
50-inch cable TV
WIFI Access
Ipod docking station
Room Types at East Wing
The East Wing rooms consist of Deluxe and Deluxe with direct pool access.
Deluxe Room
located on 2nd, 3rd and 4th level
1 queen size bed and a single bed
approximately 40 sq. m.
same features as Premier room but are located on the main road side
Deluxe Room with direct pool access
located on the ground floor
1 queen size bed and a single bed
approximately 40 sq. m.
same features as Premier room with direct pool access but are located on the main road side
Published room rates at Henann Prime Beach Resort
The below published rates are generated from the Henann website and are generated as of this writing. Rates are inclusive of airport transfers and buffet breakfast. Please note that prices vary from the booking date and are subject to change.
Premier Room – 8,664 Php or Premier Room (triple)- 9,242 Php
Premier Room with direct pool access – 10,770 Php or Premier Room with direct pool access (triple)- 10,307 Php
Grand Sea View – 11,984 Php
Deluxe Room – 6,465 Php
Deluxe Room with direct pool access – 7,604 Php
Tip: Henann Prime Beach Resort offers Splendid Package promo rates inclusive of 2 nights and 3 days stay, buffet breakfast, buffet dinner and airport transfer. Jen and I compared the promo rates and found that these are indeed cheaper than the published rates. We booked a Splendid Package for lean season for 16,995 Php all-in. Alternatively, you may also book discounted and cheaper Henann Prime Beach Resort room HERE.
5. Delectable Food at Sea Salt Cafe
If Henann Regency Resort & Spa in Station 2 has Sea Breeze Cafe, Henann Prime Beach Resort’s very own Sea Salt Cafe boasts its delicious selection of dishes, pastries and drinks.
View from Sea Salt Cafe
Dining in at the Al Fresco Sea Salt Cafe is incomparable to any dining experience in Boracay’s popular restaurants. Located in front of Henann Prime Beach Resort’s property, you get to enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful view of white sand beach.
Sea Salt Cafe offers Filipino, Asian and Western cuisine.
Buffet breakfast at Sea Salt
Breakfast buffet is from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and costs 549 Php (approximately $11). Dinner buffet on the other hand starts at 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM and costs 695 Php ($14). Sea Salt Cafe also offers 10% discount for in-house guests! If you drink, Sea Salt Cafe has a happy hour, buy 1 take 1 on selected beers and cocktails from 5 :00 PM to 7:00 PM.
I will write a separate blog post on my review of buffet breakfast and dinner at Sea Salt.
6. Uniquely Beautiful Pool
Henann Prime Swimming Pool at Beach Bing
Compared to its sister resorts Henann Regency Boracay and Henann Resort Alona Beach Bohol, Henann Prime Beach Resort is smaller. which makes it more quiet and private. Nonetheless, Henann Group of Resorts utilized its limited real estate and made 2 unique and beautiful pools on each wing of the resort. For the safety of its guests, pool opens and 7:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM.
7. Peaceful Location
Based on stories from people I know, I must admit that I pictured Boracay as a party place. I was wrong. There is still an area in Boracay white sand beach that is relatively less crowded, calm and peaceful. Being in station 1, which is a bit far from the crowded and busy stations 2 and 3, Henann Prime Beach Resort is a haven to those who want to relax. There are less tourists walking in the beachfront and there are no bars or party places nearby.
Overall, I enjoyed my very first visit in Boracay island. I must say that a huge part of the positive experience was because of us staying at Henann Prime Beach Resort. The airport transfers were hassle free, the room was elegant, beachfront was breathtaking and of course the customer service was superb! Henan Prime Beach Resort in Boracay is truly a perfect hotel if you are visiting the beautiful island of Boracay!
Henann Prime Beach Resort
Address: Station 1, Beachfront, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, 5608 Philippines
Resort Office contact number:+63 36 288 9200
Email: reservations.hpb@henann.com
Website: wwww.henann.com
Book your discounted Henann Prime Beach Resort room HERE.
Since I wanted to experience traveling on a vessel, I considered taking 2GO Travel instead of a plane to my 5-day Western Visayas adventure. As usual, I didn’t had any concrete plans on my adventure. All I wanted was to visit and explore Iloilo City, Roxas City and Boracay. Perhaps, also visit Antique and Aklan if I’ll have extra time. I checked the travel 2GO Travel website and the fastest way to go to Western Visayas is via Batangas Port to Caticlan Port in Aklan. This route is popular to tourists visiting Boracay.
Tip: Book your discounted Boracay hotel or accommodation HERE.
2GO Travel Time
Manila Port to Iloilo City – 20 hours
Batangas Port to Roxas City – 12 hours
Batangas Port to Caticlan, Aklan (Boracay) – 10 hours
2GO Travel website has an online booking facility which makes booking easier and faster. Since I wanted to avail a PWD discount, I opted to buy my ticket on a 2GO outlet.
2GO kiosk at Robinson’s Forum, Mandaluyong City. At a discounted price, I paid 1,074 Php for a tourist class accommodation of Batangas to Caticlan trip. The regular rate of Batangas Port to Caticlan is at 1,200+ Php.
The trip was supposedly at 9 PM the same day I bought the ticket. An hour after my ticket purchase, I received an SMS from 2GO that the trip is cancelled. I had to return to the kiosk and had my trip rescheduled at 10 AM the next day.
Since I was very excited, I arrived at Batangas Terminal II way too early than the vessels’ scheduled departure.
Didn’t know that there are also other shipping lines in the port. I met a group of tourists taking a vessel heading to Sibuyan Island.
After strolling outside the terminal. I decided to come inside the waiting area. Well, the terminal fee of 30 Php is much cheaper than NAIA’s. There are various food stalls inside the 2-storey air conditioned terminal. Overall, the area is well maintained.
My backpack is my travel buddy.
At 8:30 AM – an hour and a half before the departure, someone from 2GO announced that travelers can now board in the vessel. Before boarding, 2GO security officials will ask passengers to fall in line, drop their baggage and stay away for at least a meter from the baggages. It felt weird until I saw sniffing dogs checking each and every baggage.
As we enter the vessel, we were greeted by the very accommodating and friendly 2GO staff. I should say that 2GO knows what customer service is. I was even accompanied by a 2GO staff to my assigned area.
2GO Travel Accommodations – Batangas to Caticlan (Boracay) Trip
For this vessel (SAP5 Voy 242), there are only 2 types of accommodations, the Tourist Class and the Value Class.
Tourist Class Accommodation
The area is fully air conditioned. In fact, it is very cold in the area. Beds do not have linens, there is a linen station in the area where you can claim your linens. Bunk beds in tourist class accommodation also offer a bit more privacy than that of Value Class.
Luckily, I was assigned on the lower deck. I bet it would be very uncomfortable if you travel alone and will take the upper deck.
My bed is also perfectly situated in the corner. It is near the TV too!
While waiting for the 10:00 AM departure, a very informative video clip about safety precautions and what to do during emergencies are shown in the TV. I was surprised that there are actually 3 kinds of life vests provided in each bed in the vessel!
Value Class Accommodation
This is an open air area where travelers can enjoy the wind and smell of the sea. I do not recommend staying in Value class if you are travelling on a daytime as it may get hot in this place when there’s no wind during noon. However, this is a perfect accommodation if you are after the fresh sea air.
Bunk beds are less private. Unlike with Tourist class’, beds do not have partition.
Facilities
There is an air conditioned lobby where travelers can relax during the trip. Also located in the lobby is a mini store and a concierge.
I had my lunch and snack at Horizon Cafe and Restaurant. Too bad that I was not able to take photos of the cafe. My lunch costed 190 Php (3pcs. Pork Barbecue, mixed veggies, rice and Mango shake) and 70 Php for snacks (malagkit with sago and soda in can).
Island Fiesta Grill is my favorite spot in the vessel. It has a viewing deck where travelers can enjoy the beauty of sea while the ship is cruising. There is a mini bar for those who love to drink and socialize with other travels. Also, this is the only spot where smoking is allowed.
Beautiful view of the sea
Island Fiesta transforms into a party place when the sun sets.
The not so party people travelers (that includes me! lol) watching the party people dance and enjoy. It felt like I’m in Boracay already as everyone in the viewing deck was partying.
The vessel anchored for a stopover at Odiongan, Romblon at around 6:00 PM and left for Caticlan after 45 minutes. We were suppose to arrive at Caticlan Jetty port at around 8:00 PM, exactly 10 hours of travel from Batangas port. However, there was a delay as there was a vessel congestion in Caticlan jetty port. We arrived at 9:30 PM instead.
If you are going to Boracay or anywhere in Western Visayas, and you want adventure, I highly recommend taking 2GO Travel. It is definitely cheaper and a good alternative to flying. The travel is obviously longer than taking a plane but cruising in the sea, meeting new friends and experiencing 2GO’s superb customer service is definitely worth the 10-hour extraordinary journey.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt out if you wish.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
