A Quick Getaway to Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel

I’m by no means a beach person but I love the mix of activities in Boracay so when I got an invite to stay at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, how could I say no. This would be my 4th time to visit Boracay, but I was surprised when we landed in Caticlan because of the new airport that was so new I missed it in May 2011 when I last visited. The past 3 Boracay trips I had, we always stayed in Station 1, so I was quite intrigued what the vibe at Station 2 was.

Photo courtesy of Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel

Everything went smoothly throughout the multiple transfers from airport pickup to boat ride to car and then a short walk after.This was the sight that greeted us upon arrival, albeit the front seating area had a tent covering, which is absent during the peak summer seasons.

The hotel thoughtfully gave out welcome drinks to all checking in guests, ours was a glass of mango juice, I saw some other beverages being served to other guests who arrived in the afternoon.

After a quick and hassle free check in, our group was led to our respective rooms, I was billeted in a Premier Deluxe Sea View room. The room had a king sized canopy bed with a small futon bed on the side. I love the little touches like the towels shaped into a heart left on the bed. All rooms are furnished with LCD TVs, and the usual hotel amenities like water and newspapers.

The room had a small veranda with a great view of the sea (hence the sea view designation).

The pool is situated in the middle of the U shaped hotel, which affords views of it from every room. The u shaped them was a dream house of the owners which they then applied to their first hotel, an extension is in the works and might be up as soon as 2013.

I also got to view some of their other rooms like the Premier Sea View which had a queen sized and a double bed in lieu of the canopy bed. There’s a view of the sea but its only partial but no matter since you can just hop on over to the beach anytime.

The Grand Deluxe Poolside room is configured similarly to my room with the biggest difference is the wonderful looking bathroom.

For the more special occasions, they’ve got the Ambassador Suite, where parties can be held in its wide veranda overlooking the beach walk. The room has their own lounge chairs overlooking the beach and their own small dipping pool with water feature. This room can also accommodate intimate weddings.

Their biggest suite called the Mandarin Grand Suite is situated above the Ambassador Suite, and is 1 1/2 times bigger. The difference between the two is that the veranda of the grand suite is arranged differently and the suite is more private, away from the prying eyes of the beach. This room is perfect for the honeymooners.

The most private room at the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is their Penthouse Suite, although it is smaller than both the ambassador and grand suites, it is the only room at the 4th floor. The room is preferred by VIPs, some of whom have even sent an advance party to check the place out. The look of the room is a  bit cramped for me, but that is the price of privacy. I like the spacious bathroom though with wide windows for a more relaxing bath.

The hotel can also accommodate large groups of conferences in its spacious function rooms, where every need is taken care of  from projectors to food.

At night the beachfront of Boracay Manadrin is transformed into a convenient place to hangout with 2 sets of bands playing a mix of music at the Buco Bar and Grill. An array of fresh seafood is also laid out for diners to pick and order, eating it amid the calming waves and lively music. There’s even no need to look for fire dancers as the hotel has hired a group to perform nightly from 9 to 9:30 pm daily

In my short stay at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, I relaxed in the nice rooms, lounged in the pool area and enjoyed my view of the beach. I liked that the hotel is located a few minutes walk from both D’Mall and D’Talipapa for both shopping and dining. This will definitely be an option for our future adventures in Boracay.

Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Beachfront Station 2,
Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
Philippines
www.boracaymandarin.com.
Boracay Mandarin Facebook Page
For more info –  632.5675672 /632.5671750

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