Going Private in Boracay

Finding the perfect accommodation at the hottest beach destination in the Philippines and perhaps Asia can be a bit tricky. There are native huts, five star hotels, Mediterranean inspired lodgings, boarding houses and if you’re lucky as I was, a room in a private home.

I’ve written before about Filipino hospitality and how easily I’ve made friends with them during my travels around the world. In Boracay, I was once again reminded how generous and welcoming Filipinos are.

My friends had invited me to Boracay for a long weekend through the first couple days of Holy Week. I was excited because I wanted to get away and see more of the island. My first visit to Boracay was on a day trip and we spent most of our time walking along White Beach. I was captivated by the colors of the sea and the missing crowds. It must have been off season then.

When we arrived at the home of my friends’ friends in the neighborhood of Station 1, I was entranced by the tropical landscape, the tree house, the nipa huts, Mona Lisa (the monkey), the open living room that invited the outdoors in and my very own air-conditioned bedroom with cable TV and refrigerator.

Our hosts, Terry and Wilson, made sure we were comfortable, fed us the most unforgettable meals in the most incredible setting and drove us around the island in their super golf cart. Now that’s Filipino hospitality!

Boracay will never be the same again.

* * *

Photo by Rosario Charie Albar

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