The Malaysians and expats in Malaysia always ask me about Boracay. How to get there. How much. What is Boracay.
Few bullet points:
- I am a spoiled brat when it comes to beach quality and water temperature & clarity. This is because going to Boaracy spoiled me and made the standards so high!
- Every cent you spend on Boracay trip will surely be worth it. Be it single person looking for adventure, party and getaway. Be it couples on honeymoon or lovey-dovey trip. Be it group of friends who want a getaway with adventure and food trip and diving.
- Of course, this also depends on where you stay. Different hotels are differently priced. And if you stay in a ultra cheap place, well, maybe you won't have the super-duper service or experience,,, but honestly I don't think that will stop you from having a great time either
- GOOD NEWS on flights. On our recent trip to Manila and Boracay (last September 2010), we took the CEBU PACIFIC flight. And we noticed that it now lands into the "new" airport Terminal 3. This means this is the same airport as the domestic flights that go to Boracay! So for Malaysians who fly to Philippines just for a Boracay trip.. this is what you do.... KUALA LUMPUR --> MANILA (there is only 1 flight out, which leaves 1am from KL and arrives 5am in Manila). You stay at the same airport, take your breakfast. Then catch a domestic flight to CATICLAN BORACAY. There are a number of different airlines you can catch. Check online (this shows a list of different airlines and flight times). Some airlines I have tried: Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, SeaAir and Asian Spirit. So many options to make sure you catch a direct flight instead of staying overnight in Manila
- The flight from Manila to Caticlan Boracay is just 1 hour!
- Then there will be a short ferry/ boat ride, then a car ride. This is slightly different from my past experience which is outdated now. Things seem to have a changed a bit.. modernization!
- My personal recommended hotel (tried and tested, to avoid disappointment!!!!) I will arrange in order from Best to Good : Discovery Shores Boracay (perfect even if you have a baby !!!), SeaWind, and Waling Waling. These are all located in Station 1 (the best side of the long stretch of beach in Boracay)
Happy trip! I swear ,,,, you will enjoy your visit to Boracay. My personal favorite despite all the other travels. Or maybe I haven't discovered some of the other superb beaches??? If you know any, do let me know!
im sorry to ask, do u know which airlines i more safe to boracay?
ReplyDeleteI know this is really late reply to you... i still think Cebu Pacific is the best airline.. i used to take the smaller planes with a different brand and it was a shaky flight... so probably you will want to try Cebu Pacific.. and easy to book online too!
Deleteit seems like, i can't get into cebu pacific website.
Deletethe airline closed?
hi there. I have taken several airlines in the past going to Boracay. I recommend either Cebu Pacific or Air Philippines. hope this helps
ReplyDeletedont settle for less. fly philippine airlines.
ReplyDeletehye, i planned to go to boracay for my 1st anniersary...
ReplyDeletei'm from malaysia n do u think boracay has a nicest beach in asia so far?
i hope u can help me with the info...
Definitely boracay is the best island.. im ensure everyone will love this island.
DeleteDefinitely boracay is the best island.. im ensure everyone will love this island.
DeleteFor me, my personal opinion, Boracay is the best .... from malaysia you can fly Cebu Pacific to Manila then take a connecting flight to Caticlan. I suggest you stay at the resorts like : Waling Waling, Seawind, Friday's, and my personal favorite: DISCOVERY SHORES!
ReplyDeleteHi,Im a little confused with the transit frm kl to manila from the cebuair website,If im flying with Airasia (Clark) is that the same airport to transit to Caticlan?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous so sorry for missing out in responding to u. The flight from KL to Manila if you take cabu pacific will bring u to the NAIA3 airport. From within the same airport, you can switch to a domestic local flight where many airlines are offering flights to Caticlan. One of them is Cebu Pacific. if you take Air Asia, you will NOT land in Manila NAIA 3. You will land in Clark which is hours away. Unless if they have flights from Clark to Caticlan (I never went to Clark). Hope this helps. Cebu pacific always has good sale prices from KL to Manila.
ReplyDeleteBest place for a holiday, i love it so much doing 2 trips in the space of 3 months =/
ReplyDeleteapart from the obvious, Boracay is for everyone.
Relax in the day party all night!
and if your malaysian, do it for your country in cocomangas, 15 shot still standing challenge :)
i <3 Boracay
hi Ryan, glad to hear that you have discovered the beauty of Boracay and how I wish I can go back and visit soon! Yes, that Cocomangas is a very popular place :)
ReplyDeleteboracay is not as good as you think, i had been there with my wife in 2011 mar
ReplyDeletehi Anonymous, so sorry to hear that you didn't have a good experience in Boracay. All i can say is that in every destination there will be 2 kinds of travelers -- positive and negative experiences drawn from the events that occur at the time of the visit. Perhaps it was the weather? The people you encountered? The hotel you stayed in? the website that you booked your hotel? What happened?
DeleteI've always wanted to visit Boracay.How many days do you recommend I should stay at least?Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteHI Dixon,
DeleteDepending on where you are coming from (e.g. Europe, Malaysia, USA, Australia???) well, if it is your first time i would highly suggest you to stay AT LEAST 2-3 nights... that is if you are on a budget and don't have a lot of vacation days. Else if you are already traveling all the way, at least stay around 3 nights... that will get you enough time to enjoy the island. Max i would stay probably 7 nights... nothing more than that .. simply because I have been there so many times... All the best to you!
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ReplyDeletehi, im from malaysia. looking for any halal restaurant in boracay?
ReplyDeletehi, im interested for ur post, seriously before i get to know boracay island, i knew bora-bora island only in Philippines, hehe.
ReplyDeleteMay i ask how much u had spent on ur boracay trip? i planning a trip for vacation and wedding photo shoot, im looking for a beautiful beach, but since bora-bora island is too expensive for me that makes me no choice :(
Boracay will not be cheap for people from Malaysia mostly because of the additional flight (KL - Manila- BOracay). However if you do your research and advance booking, you can get a good deal from Cebu Pacific... Also, do your research on hotels... it can range from cheap to expensive. For myself, we opted for a good hotel.. so overall i would say flights from Malaysia plus Boracay expenses for us (3 adults + 1 baby) was around RM 5,000 probably... rough estimate... do your research, you can use AsiaRooms to book hotels. Use Cebu pacific for your flights. good luck!
DeleteEstacio Uno – Boracay Lifestyle Resort
ReplyDeletehow about this hotel?
i have a 1 year old boy.
do you think it is suitable to bring him along to Boracay?
Bringing along your boy to Boracay will not be a problem. As for hotel, sorry i am not familiar with that one. there are hundreds of hotels in Boracay. Do your research and read up on reviews to be on the safe side . The Filipinos are very very friendly people so don't worry i am sure you guys will have a good time there.
DeleteHi. Im planning to go there end of this year in dec maybe. Is it ok to go there during that season? And i will be bringing my 9 month old baby. Is it suitable for him?
ReplyDeleteI brought my daughter there when she was 8 months old and she enjoyed it... suggest you should do research of comfortable hotels which can make your accommodations comfortable esp with the baby. most of them give free baby cots. highly suggest established hotels... December is usually peak period bec many foreigners go there ... so rates may be on the high side. Weather will be superb. All year long Philippines is sunny weather.
DeleteHi there! i'm planning to spent my honeymoon at BORACAY next year..is tat a good choice,bcoz i dont want to spoil the honeymoon vacation..
ReplyDeleteYes, i am assuring you that if you do your homework, choose the right hotel and have enough budget, it will be a superb honeymoon! don't worry.
DeleteHi pink addict. Im really intrested to go to boracay. May i know what is the best time/ month to go there?
ReplyDeleteThe Filipinos love to go all year round, but mostly the hottest weather will be March - April. That is also when prices are sky-high!
DeleteHi Pink! I will go to Boracay in the end of October and begining of November. Could you tell me which beach of boracay is better for stay in this part of the year?
ReplyDeleteI pretend calm see for swim and Not wind!
Thank you very much for all post!
Stay at Station 1 or 2 only. The best beach view is Station 1. At that time, there may be occasional rain, but if you are staying for a few days, i am sure you will catch some sun!
DeleteI'm just starting to look into Boracay as a possible holiday destination, and this post was a really good place to start, esp the tip about flights and recommended places to stay, so HUGE THANKS! ;O)
ReplyDeleteMost welcome and glad I was able to help. No regrets going to Boracay. After so many trips to many beaches around the world, i still go back to BORACAY!
DeleteHi, may I know Caticlan airport is it same with Kalibo airport?
ReplyDeleteNo, that is NOT the same at all. If you fly to Kalibo, you will need at least 1.5 hours travel time by land to get to Caticlan. While if you land in Caticlan, you can easily ride a tricycle (like a yuk-tuk in Thailand/Cambodia), then you will reach the port area where boats are running all day. The boats will take you to BORACAY island itself. You can rent a speedboat private if you want, or some of the hotels will have travel arrangements from Caticlan to their hotel via their private boat.
DeleteSo in short, I prefer to fly to CATICLAN straight.
Hi Pink! Thanks for your useful info.
ReplyDeleteI have checked on Cebu pacific flight recently and found out that they do have a direct flight from KL to caticlan (boracay) instead of going through Manila,
And hence, how do I go to the Boracay island from caticlan airport ? Is the boat ride by fixed schedule? Or I can catch it anytime of the day? Thanks
From Caticlan airport, you will be able to take a private van or perhaps a tricycle which is really cheap. This is an ultra short 2-3 minute ride to the port / boat area. The boats run all day, so you can easily get a ticket and catch the boat which takes about 20-minutes to reach the island. I need to warn all of you though that the last trip (March 2012) proved that it is still very "rustic" out there , meaning dont expect beautiful ports and people who are classy... when I booked the boat I was pushed around bec some of the "workers" who need to reach the island take the same boat ... which means they can be rough and no manners... so just excuse them. If you dont like that idea you can take a private boat. Better yet, if you booked a superb hotel which provides the shuttle service, they will have their own private boats (and carry your stuff for you)... but that is costly. Beware also the BAG PORTERS they will offer to carry your bags -- of course for a fee. So unless you are ready to give money, carry your own stuff.
DeleteHello Pink! I'm from Malaysia. Just wanna ask a few things ,
ReplyDelete1. do u think boracay is a safe place for a solo traveller ( female) like me
2. And between station 1 and 2,which one has the best view or recommended? Have you tried both?
yes, Philippines is okay and people are friendly. Just be wary of people who may try to take advantage seeing that you are alone... if you can speak English I dont see why you would be able to get by easily. People are generally helpful.
DeleteBest view... always Station 1. Rooms might be pricier in Station 1 so you may want to stay in Station 2 and then a very short 5-minute walk to station 1 everyday to catch the superb view. For solo traveller on a budget, would recommend you to check out ZUZUNI that is where my sister stayed last March.
Thanks for the reply. Just one more thing, do you know how early does the boat from Boracay back to Caticlan jetty operating because I have an early flight to catch at Kalibo at 8.05am? Do u think I can make it? They say the boat starts early but they will wait until it is full before leaving.not in a regular period like there will be boats every half an hour?
DeleteIm sure they operate very early bec many people need to get to work on the island. unfortunately i cannot tell you what time... just take note that one last option (in times of desperation) i am sure you can find someone who can bring you to the jetty whether through the hotel arranging a boat, etc...
Deleteif you need to catch a flight that early that will mean you will leave a tad dark so you need to be careful. Sunrise will probably around 6:30am (first rays of sunlight)... and for airport (usually when I fly to Manila from Caticlan) we just buffer 1 hour before the flight for waiting / check in at airport bec there is not much to do.
good luck
Hello Pink , i will be going to borcay on the Oct, noted that it is not during the peak season , will it be raining most of the time at borocay
ReplyDeleteOctober will be fine. You might get occasional rain or experience strong winds (which means that the super fine sand will be flying, and that is ultra painful if it is super strong winds). If you stay 3 days, most likely the probability of getting a super 1 day sunny day is high. All the best!
DeleteI mean Oct 8,
ReplyDeletei am going to manila on 21st sept.. so i want to ask u ... either is it safe to go boracay island as for climate situation as it was flood in manila last month.so wht u think about climate between 22 to 25th ... and for also palawan and also for Baler, Aurora... plz plz answer me soon as i have to go manila on 21st sept ...
ReplyDeleteadnan irshad
hi, i am sure you will find manila as a friendly place and i am sure you will be safe there. i have never been to Baler so i cannot comment on that... as for Palawan and Boracay, it is safe but you need to ensure you go to the right resort in Palawan (Like El Nido). For Boracay you should be okay i am sure.
DeleteHi pink. I'm going fr Malaysia to manila.thinking of going to boracay with my 18mth old child.my husband is worried about the traveling your info has been very helpful.may I ask how long it takes to go by flight fr Manila to Caticlan.and how long us the boat ride fr caticlan port to boracay island? Also, what are the must see and must do's in boracay? Thanks so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrom Manila to Caticlan it is just an hour flight which means by the time you take off, read a magazine, you will find that it is time to land already. Dont forget to read my article about have baby will travel... that might help you with some tips traveling with your toddler.
DeleteMust do : definitely try the sunset cruise on the traditional boats that are wind-driven. Book around the 5-530pm timing i am sure you will enjoy that. Plus just hanging out by the beach will already be awesome. Sunsets are stunning.
Hi Pink, I planing to go on June next year is it still peak season?
ReplyDeleteJune is closer to rainy season so that means not peak period.... If you stay 3 to 5 days I am sure you will positively get some sunshine days...
Deletehallo pink... im going to boracay this middle of october to celebrate my birthday n my bff birthday as well. here i just want to ask u bout the club or bar that i can party over there? any recomendation from u? -eida-
ReplyDeleteHmm, there are ultra tons of clubs in Boracay and lots of little restaurants / bars that you can contact to do private parties, etc... Sorry i am not an expert on clubbing and bars over there bec last trips were all with my toddler... though in my march 2012 trip we frequently went to this place called ZUZUNI .. they have a small dining area and a bar area ... i think small enough place to have a little party of 20 pax... though everything really depends on BUDGET and the kind of place you are looking for....
DeleteHi Pink,I am planning a trip to Boracay in Jan 13 with Malaysia Airlines which will be landing at Ninoy Aquino International airport at 1405. I found a connecting flight to caticlan - air Philippines at 1550 and this is the last flight with this airline. I am bit worried that there will not be sufficient time to catch this flight. What's you thought? And are there other airline that fly to Caticlan from Ninoy Aquino International airport
ReplyDeleteI think that is cutting it close especially as you cannot predict if your Malaysian Airlines flight may be delayed on that day... i would prefer you have more time in between... or .. another option is fly using CEBU PACIFIC all the way from Malaysia to Manila then to Caticlan... or i think they even started offering Boracay flights already straight from Malaysia??? Try to check CEBU PACIFIC... your connecting flight will be more safe that way... As for other airlines from Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport (NAIA), i think Zest Air and Sea Air are flying out from NAIA. good luck!
DeleteThanks for your advice pink.
DeleteHi Pink, I found a connecting flight to Kalibo with Zest Air which leaves Manila at 1810 and arrives Kalibo at 1910. I think in this way i will have sufficient time as my Msia airlines lands around 1405. Now my concern is the transport to Boracay from Kalibo. The travel time to the jetty is 90 min right? So just say i arrive at the jetty at 2110, do you think there are ferry operating at this time? And if i choose a hotel with airport transfer, would they be picking me up from Kalibo itself? whats your advice and what are my options?
Deleteheyy, i'm a muslim, is it okayy for me to go theree? there is a halal's food?
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm not an expert on the Halal food stuff as I barely was on the lookout for that. I'm sure there are a few places but I just don't know where to find them... Sorry.
Deletehi pink, just wanna know if we need to do the visa earlier or is it visa on arrival.tq really need ur fast reply as im planning go there this coming new yr for my honeymoon.tq
ReplyDeleteAre you Malaysian? If yes then you don't need a visa to Philippines!!! Not sure about visa on arrival for other foreigners. I don't usually see visa on arrival facilities even in the big airports so if u need one better get it at your own country before departure.
DeleteYes im mlaysian.so no need visa there?nice!tq sis!u help lot!
ReplyDeleteMalaysian don't need visa don't worry. Enjoy !
DeleteHello there. Already booked my flight to Boracay, August during Raya period. Arrival at Kalibo using Tiger Air.
ReplyDeleteAny suggestion on 3 star based hotels, bars and local food ?
You can stay at Zuzuni -- definitely budget and affordable plus has restaurant attached to it. Too many places to check out in Boracay. I am sure you will enjoy strolling around and finding your own way through the myriad of food choices.
Deleteand plus i am goin there for about 4 nights. suggestions on activities..
ReplyDeleteIn short, Boracay has lot to offer. Aside from swimming, there are lot of things you can get to enjoy. Boracay, is one of the places in the Philippines that we, Filipinos, are really proud of.
ReplyDeleteHi, i am looking to go to boracay in july for my honeymoon.Is this wet season & roughly how much a night for say a 4 star hotel & how expensive are the activities,tours etc as we are on a small budget.Thanks heaps.nome
ReplyDeleteHello Pinkaddict, Im from Malaysia I would like to know how much budget(in Malaysia Ringgit) do I need per person for 3 nights 4 days.... is there any money changer at Boracay Island, what is the best and bad time to go the island?...
ReplyDeleteThere would probably be money changers in the island though i suggest you change beforehand. If you are stuck in an island, for sure they will have less interesting exchange rates. Plus, just to add, the Malaysian Ringgit is not too interesting to Filipinos... i don't know why but it is not traded as frequently even in certain money changing shops... so you get a better deal probably in KL before you leave. Suggest you should have at least in case RM1,500-2000 equivalent just to be on the safe side to last you the 3 nights for the stuff you need to pay in cash (e.g boat rides, small trinkets, etc). Most of the bigger restaurants will accept cash.
DeleteBest time is always March - April though that is super peak and many locals will also be crowding the island... all year long it is like Malaysia -- having sunshine. However you might get more rain on May-June time when it is the rainy season.
Thnk you for the reply, me and my friend are planning to go there on february 2014, can you give me a sggstion on how from KL, Malaysia - Boracay Island, if it about using 2 flight, im afraid if there happen any unwanted situation, that can cause a problem for our next flight, so what is the best flight service?... should we use travel agent/agency?..
DeleteHi pinkaddict.. I going boracay on November. . N my flight is with cebu pacific.. just to ask when I make a booking they didnt require any passport number.. is it true? N once we reach Manila can we direct buy domestic flight to Catlican or we buy advance???
ReplyDeleteI usually make my booking with Cebu Pacific online and they require the passport number. I am not sure about the phone booking. Better buy your tickets in advance for the Caticlan... for sure you always save more money by booking in advance than booking right when you get there. Better option is take Cebu Pacific flight also so you don't have to change airport when you get to Manila... else you need to ride a cab to go to a different airport for domestic flights that are non-Cebu Pacific. Hope this helps.
DeleteOk..thanks for ur information
Delete