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Best holiday - Boracay Philippines
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travis



Joined: 13 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:46 pm    Post subject: Best holiday - Boracay Philippines Reply with quote

I've been meaning to post about my trip to Boracay in Decmeber for a while but have been procrastinating as usual. If you're looking for a super relaxing no hassles or a watersports get away this is it.

As for places to stay I have two strong recommendations.

If you're looking for something really quiet and private with a killer staff then the only place I would go is Dave's Straw Hat Inn. I've done a lot of traveling and Dave and Janet are a couple of the nicest and most accomodating hotel owners I've met. Their place is really nice and just a 30 second walk from the action of the beach.
e-mail: [email protected]
www.davesstrawhatinn.com

If you want a more lively place right on the beach, with a bar, great restaurant, and dive outfitter (with an underwater camera that costs as much as a car) on the premises then you won't do better than the Blue Mango. Vaughan, Dolly and the family are awesome and will give you a memorable stay.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.bluemango.com.ph


No matter what your taste, one of these places will be a good fit for for you. They take care of you from start to finish, organize everything you want to do on the island for you, keep you well fed, well drunk, and well relaxed. I met a lot of people in Boracay who got shafted on their accomodations etc. Both Dave's and Mango were full start to finish and had people waiting to transfer in from other hotels if a space opened up.

I was there for 3 weeks in December and am heading back for another three weeks in June. If you need more info pm me. If you been to either place post your support........................travis
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Tiger Beer



Joined: 07 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I loved Boracay as well.

Went to quite a few other 'beach destinations' in the Philippines as well thinking Boracay was probably over-rated and a 'dime a dozen'.. but not so. Boracay really is world-class.
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a blast there last month, though the lodging was a bit more pricey than I expected.

Highlights for me? Juice Bar on Station 2...the staff there are the coolest bunch of guys I've met while travelling, and 5AM greasy burgers and tacos at Jammers are the $hit.
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HapKi



Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have not been there since around 2000. How has it changed since then?
Back then, there was only 1 hotel on the beach, catering to Korean package groups, it seemed like. Mostly bungalows and quaint restaurants all along the beach. The electricity went out about 2-3 times a night. One outdoor dance bar named Bazura, I think.
I can imagine it's 'modernized' since then. Maybe good, maybe bad?
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Tiger Beer



Joined: 07 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HapKi wrote:
I have not been there since around 2000. How has it changed since then?
Back then, there was only 1 hotel on the beach, catering to Korean package groups, it seemed like. Mostly bungalows and quaint restaurants all along the beach. The electricity went out about 2-3 times a night. One outdoor dance bar named Bazura, I think.
I can imagine it's 'modernized' since then. Maybe good, maybe bad?

January 2005 is the first time for me.

Basically there is White Beach Lane (all walkable without shoes - all sand) which goes for 4 kilometers either way.. with rows of restaurants, hotels, bars on one side.. with palm trees above your heads over the trail, and to the other side you have all the bars and live music on the sand as well as the beach itself.. once you walk a good 4-5 km or whatever.. the white beach lane ends.. and then you just walk along the beach with just the larger hotels/restaurants and such on one side and beach on the other.
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HapKi



Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It sounds like it hasn't changed. I liked the fact that at White Beach, you had to go in a block or so to find a road. If you stayed on the beach, it was only paths, with the beach on one side and dimly lit bars and restaurants on the other. Back when I was there, the surrounding area was zilch. (I mean very native.) I rented mopeds and nothing else was build up at all, save a golf course a couple of kilometers away.
C@ckfighting still on sunday?
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Tiger Beer



Joined: 07 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HapKi wrote:
It sounds like it hasn't changed. I liked the fact that at White Beach, you had to go in a block or so to find a road. If you stayed on the beach, it was only paths, with the beach on one side and dimly lit bars and restaurants on the other. Back when I was there, the surrounding area was zilch. (I mean very native.) I rented mopeds and nothing else was build up at all, save a golf course a couple of kilometers away.
C@ckfighting still on sunday?

Funny.. that sounds almost exactly like Malapascua Island.. complete with the cockfighting as well.

But yeah, Boracay is still very local once you cross that one road.. prior to that, its not exactly all paths.. there are a few roads in there that lead you back to more hotels and shops and such.. but can't think of drive-through traffic that went into those areas.. they are like dead-ends so can't think of really seeing much traffic at all in towards the beach itself.

Once you cross that one paved main road (the one that is about as inland as possible from both sides).. it gets really really local in there.. feels like you could be in the most remotest non-foreigner area in the philippines in those areas. People also live extremely local there as well.. which seems so strange considering how much wealth is on the island now.
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itaewonguy



Joined: 25 Mar 2003

PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have never been! but I have heard from koreans!
thats its like Little korea !! seems everyone is KOREAN hahhha
and that was coming from a koreans mouth...
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Tiger Beer



Joined: 07 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hmm.. i've heard that many times on this board - that its swamped with koreans.

i definetely saw some Koreans as well.. but I saw A LOT MORE japanese, germans, swedish and australians myself.

koreans were like #5 in numbers it seemed to me.. at least when I was there.
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HapKi



Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unfortunately, the best and cheapest way to get to Boracay is with a package tour. My girlfriend and I went ourselves, and the transfer to the domestic airport, flight to somewhere, overland bus to somewhere, and boat to Boracay, was exhausting. Letting a tour take care of all that has benefits.
However, once you're there, the last thing you need is a hoard of 40 walking up and down the same short stretch of beach. I mean, the place is meant for, and should keep, its romantic appeal.
Fortunately, when I was there, the Koreans kept to their korean-run restaurants and bars. Heaven forbid a couple should go off on their own and get eaten by a lion or something. Smile
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travis



Joined: 13 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:07 pm    Post subject: heading back on Monday Reply with quote

I'm going to be heading back for 3 weeks on monday if anyone from this board is out there drop by Dave's or Mango and track me down for some lunch....
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TECO



Joined: 20 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tiger,

When we were there we aslo saw a lot of Koreans. I guess it could have been a timing thing.

However, we did get a good laugh at the Korean women walking down the beach in their high-heel sandals and carrying Louis Vuiton bags!

I have heard that there are also a lot of Koreans in Phils studyng English but that was relating to Cebu.
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endo



Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home

PostPosted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will be headed to Borocay in late July with my girlfriend. I'm so excited.

And I think I will give Dave's Straw Hat Inn a good look.



By the way is there any place to get a tatoo on Borocay?
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travis



Joined: 13 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:10 am    Post subject: not sure about tattoos Reply with quote

not sure about tattoos (I'd be concerned about hygeine standards though. if there are places for tattoos there I imagine they aren't too highly regulated). You'll definitely like Dave's. Might want to contact them in advance though their rooms fill up fast. If you do drop by Dave's give me a shout.....travis
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I_Am_Wrong



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever

PostPosted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

what are prices like in Boracay? I've been told that they're too high for the Philippines.
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