Boracay - pls advise

[SGJoe86]

Went there during Feb last year to siam CNY, so here's my info to you.

Transport/Transfer
Recommend Silkair if you are able to snag low fares. 3h 45min flight, arrive around 1345hr local time at Kalibo International Airport.
SIM card available at Kalibo Airport when you came out to the land transfer area.
Next, Southwest Tour Boraycay for land transfer from airport to jetty. Compared to a few years ago when they used rickety buses, now it's all the new China buses, quite shiok, but travel time close to 2 hours IIRC. If you are willing to top up, you can take smaller vans under the same company, those things fly through the street!
From jetty, board ferry to Borocay, follow by another land transfer to your hotel.
Return trip is the same, in reverse order only.

Accommodation
I stayed at Argonauta Boracay Boutique Hotel, located to the north-eastern side of the island, quite near to Shangri-la. Selected this hotel as I want to be away from the hustle & bustle of the beaches.
They provide free transport to any location around the island, but you will need to make your way back yourself, which ain't hard since there's plenty of those small moto-cab going around.

Activities
Bargain for anything and everything. 'Nuff said.
Except the hotel, you can't do that

 

[dleodleo]

Boracay is known as a party beach island. It is lined with bars first then the hotels.

It is a good starting intro to Philippines beaches. After Boracay you might want to go other beaches in the Philippines have to offer.

Sent from LGE LG-D858HK using GAGT

So it is not suitable for children?

 

[Delsamor]

So it is not suitable for children?

If it's for party, I would rather go koh phangan full moon party. Easier to reach, thai food, thai beer. Or Phuket if you are after more intense party

If it's for beautiful beach and water, I would rather go Koh Lipe. Same mode of transport (plane -> minibus -> ferry) but way lesser hours.

I am still hesitating whether to go Boracay or not after hearing all the negative reviews. I am only after the beautiful beach, sunset, and clear water, so party life is out. There needs to be something worth for me to go through 11hrs on 3 transport modes.

 

[SGJoe86]

...There needs to be something worth for me to go through 11hrs on 3 transport modes.

Where did you get that from??? I don't recall my transport taking 11 hours
Max was 6.5 hours only

 

[Delsamor]

Where did you get that from??? I don't recall my transport taking 11 hours
Max was 6.5 hours only

From this poster in pg1:

Going with gf or who? Be prepared for 10-11 hours long of travelling time if you go via Kalibo.

You basically cover all modes of transport in this trip. Air, land and sea. It can be really tiring and it's not like it's a very luxurious place. Unless you are staying in the Shangri-La then that's different.

Or is there other mode of transport which requires you to pay more or have luck in booking the right timing for the 6.5hrs journey? Some places ferry frequency might go by season too...

 

[SGJoe86]

From this poster in pg1:



Or is there other mode of transport which requires you to pay more or have luck in booking the right timing for the 6.5hrs journey? Some places ferry frequency might go by season too...

As mentioned in my earlier post, Silkair fly direct Singapore to Kalibo International Airport, 3 hr 45 min flight. Bus land transfer about 2 hr. Ferry about 30 min. Transfer to hotel max 30 min.
Add in a bit of waiting time here and there, max max 7 hrs. So I seriously don't know where the poster's 11 hours come from.

 

[SimpleStuffsSG]

As mentioned in my earlier post, Silkair fly direct Singapore to Kalibo International Airport, 3 hr 45 min flight. Bus land transfer about 2 hr. Ferry about 30 min. Transfer to hotel max 30 min.
Add in a bit of waiting time here and there, max max 7 hrs. So I seriously don't know where the poster's 11 hours come from.

so only silkair and tiger flies direct to Kalibo?

 

[SGJoe86]

so only silkair and tiger flies direct to Kalibo?

IIRC yes, only these two. Even their national carrier don't fly to Kalibo direct from Singapore.

 

[Delsamor]

As mentioned in my earlier post, Silkair fly direct Singapore to Kalibo International Airport, 3 hr 45 min flight. Bus land transfer about 2 hr. Ferry about 30 min. Transfer to hotel max 30 min.
Add in a bit of waiting time here and there, max max 7 hrs. So I seriously don't know where the poster's 11 hours come from.

Thanks for the clarification

 

[SimpleStuffsSG]

IIRC yes, only these two. Even their national carrier don't fly to Kalibo direct from Singapore.

Thanks. Looking to stay for three nights but tiger flights are so so limited. 2n seems too short and 4n seems too long

 

[sassed]

Love love love! Absolutely the clearest beach on Asia that I've been that you can see your legs and mini fishes and it's quite shallow that about 100m into the water from the shore you are at most at your shoulder area.

We've been there every year to countdown the new year. My husband goes to kite surf and our family follows

 

[sassed]

Go while you can, we can see that it's getting more and more commercialized. And when that happens the nice beach is the first to go.

The new airport is coming up so you can fly direct there and then just take a ferry over to boracay. So we think there will be more visitors as most are now quite turned off by the travelling time to get there.

 

[Carnage]

Thanks. Looking to stay for three nights but tiger flights are so so limited. 2n seems too short and 4n seems too long

If you fly by Tiger, it's not long to stay at least 5 nights.

Basically the first and last day, you're doing nothing but traveling.

 

[SGJoe86]

Thanks. Looking to stay for three nights but tiger flights are so so limited. 2n seems too short and 4n seems too long

4 nights is just about right. 3 and 2 nights are too short as you have to take into account your transit there and back (which is equivalent to one whole day gone)

 

[haiyato]

Enquries

I've booked my trip and accommodation to Boracay! I can't wait!

However, I got some questions:

1) Southwest Tour seems like the most popular transfer from Kalibo to Boracay.
-Should I book online or book when I touched down at Kalibo?
-What is the actual price I should pay per pax if I opt for door-to-door (Return trip)?

2) I read on some blogs that I should get a Boracay Guide to assist to get local price for activities or should I book through any of the tour stalls when I'm there?
- What are the various prices of activities that I should be paying for?
Activities e.g. Sea walking, Parasailing, Paraw Sailing, Island hopping, Ariel point and Crystal Cove?

Hope kind souls can render some help here.
Thanks so much in advance!

 

[SGJoe86]

I've booked my trip and accommodation to Boracay! I can't wait!

However, I got some questions:

1) Southwest Tour seems like the most popular transfer from Kalibo to Boracay.
-Should I book online or book when I touched down at Kalibo?
-What is the actual price I should pay per pax if I opt for door-to-door (Return trip)?

2) I read on some blogs that I should get a Boracay Guide to assist to get local price for activities or should I book through any of the tour stalls when I'm there?
- What are the various prices of activities that I should be paying for?
Activities e.g. Sea walking, Parasailing, Paraw Sailing, Island hopping, Ariel point and Crystal Cove?

Hope kind souls can render some help here.
Thanks so much in advance!

Southwest Tour is pretty much the incumbent when it comes to transfer from airport to hotel, can't go wrong with that. Price is fixed as well, so you are better off booking now than doing it on site.

As for local activities, spend some time to walk around the beach area to enquire and bargain for quotes, then pick your choice based on lowest price. How much you can save is depending on your bartering skill
I was fortunate as the resort I stayed at have a very personalised service, so the staffs and owner gave me a ballpark figure on how low I can go for all activities at the beach

 

[haiyato]

Southwest Tour is pretty much the incumbent when it comes to transfer from airport to hotel, can't go wrong with that. Price is fixed as well, so you are better off booking now than doing it on site.

As for local activities, spend some time to walk around the beach area to enquire and bargain for quotes, then pick your choice based on lowest price. How much you can save is depending on your bartering skill
I was fortunate as the resort I stayed at have a very personalised service, so the staffs and owner gave me a ballpark figure on how low I can go for all activities at the beach

Thank you for replying.
However, not very specific. hahaha.
So how much should I be paying per pax for Southwest?

So lucky that your resort offered such excellent service. Maybe you can share with me?
Thank you!

 

[SGJoe86]

Thank you for replying.
However, not very specific. hahaha.
So how much should I be paying per pax for Southwest?

So lucky that your resort offered such excellent service. Maybe you can share with me?
Thank you!

My booking with Southwest was done back in Feb 2015, cost me Php 2572.50 for two return transfer tickets (airport-jetty-hotel and back). Not sure if there's any change in rates.

My hotel was Argonauta Boracay Boutique Hotel, located quite up north, close to Shangri-La. Picked that location as I wanted peace and quiet, plus they offer free ride to any part of Borocay from their hotel. Due to limited rooms, staffs and guests get to mingle with each other, so by end of my first day, the staffs and owner and some guest already remembered our names, which was awesome.

 

[BernardATK]

ask the hotel staff where to find those tours with lower price.

 

[haiyato]

My booking with Southwest was done back in Feb 2015, cost me Php 2572.50 for two return transfer tickets (airport-jetty-hotel and back). Not sure if there's any change in rates.

My hotel was Argonauta Boracay Boutique Hotel, located quite up north, close to Shangri-La. Picked that location as I wanted peace and quiet, plus they offer free ride to any part of Borocay from their hotel. Due to limited rooms, staffs and guests get to mingle with each other, so by end of my first day, the staffs and owner and some guest already remembered our names, which was awesome.

That's awesome! Thank you so much!