Holiday on Boracay
 

Hi,
I'm going for a 2 1/2 week trip to Boracay in November - we have booked the Hotel "Paradise Bay" - has anyone been to that hotel or resort - what ever it is meant to be?
We are also staying in Manila for a nite on our way back to Austria - we got a hotelroom booked by the people form the Paradise Bay - unfortunately I don't know the name. We would leave Boracay at about 5 o'clock pm - do you think there be still some time for some shopping or should we leave earlier?
Got another question: is it true, that it's necessary to walk in to the water to get to the boat that'll take us from caticlan to boracay??? in that case, I guess will have to change into our swimmsuits??
thanks for all the information

Just got back from Boracay.
From Caticlan to Boracay we did have to walk in the water, (in pouring rain). I took off my sneakers and rolled up my pants , but my pants got wet up to about my knees. On the way back I wore my bathing suit and sandals but the tide was higher so they rowed us out in crowded small boats and I did not get wet. I recommend getting a waterproof pack for your cameras in case the boat tips over.

PS I had a great time there.

What station is it located in? Not familiar with Paradise Bay-- the locals usually choose Friday's (most expensive @ $145+/night), Sea Wind, Waling Waling (station 1--the more high end/least crowded section), or the more reasonably priced hotels Le Soleil and El Cuento in station 2.

If you fly out of Boracay (Caticlan) at 5pm you will get to Manila 6pm, depending where your hotel is located probably check in around 730pm so might be late for shopping. The malls do stay open much later even around 10pm during Thurs-Sat so you may still get some shopping done.

If you arrive in the morning to early afternoon the water may probably just hit below the knee. Anyway they can just carry you if getting wet will be a problem! You will love Boracay.

Paradise Bay is run by German people - but I don't know what station we'll be arriving at.

In manila we'll be staying in a hotel in Pasay.

We'll arrive in Caticlan around 11 am.

I live in Manila, so I know that malls are only open til 9pm. Try the SM Megamall or Glorietta, but you would need at least half a day and a lot of energy. My mom from Reno came to visit me and she would get exhausted from walking one side of the Megamall to the other :-) If you wanna exchange your Euro to Philippine money, you will get the best rates inside SM department store, it would also be the safest! Avoid the money changers you find in streets because some will try to give you less money. I'm not familiar with Boracay because I haven't been there, but I think 2 1/2 weeks there would be long... don't drink tap water in the Philippines if you don't wanna have 2 weeks of diarrhea. :-) hmmm what else?! In restaurants, order mineral or bottled water or else they will give you tap water. Restaurants already charge 10% service charge, but to be sure, it would be on your receipt. I think on your way back home, you'll need to check in at least 3 hours before hand.

Have fun!


Marie

i've actually been to paradise bay. it's at the very back of station 3 and the owners claim that it is a 6 to 10 minute walk to the boat station. (i took a motorbike to visit it.) it does have an ocean view but does not have a beach. the best thing to do is have a huge bag with all your stuff for the day so that you can hang out at white beach the whole day and just return to the resort at night. you can take a "single" a.k.a. motorbike back at almost any hour of the evening, but watch out for the exhaust pipe. i burned my leg badly on one of them. yes, you will have to wade into the water a bit when you transfer on the boat from caticlan to boracay. wear shorts and sandals.