A Pre-Christmas Holiday in Sunny Boracay, Philippines

We escaped the winter cold this year for a family vacation at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa. The weather was perfect, warm but not scorching, and the hospitality topnotch.

From the local airport (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan), it’s a short shuttle ride to Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa’s private port, and after that about a 20-minute speedboat ride to the resort. Musicians greet you on arrival at the hotel dock.

Warm welcome

We booked a deluxe seaview room and woke up to lush greenery and calm seas.

Room with a view
Water feature

The resort’s main pool area is huge and is actually made up of three separate pools.

Main pool area
Infinity pool overlooking Banyugan Beach

At the resort’s two beaches, nothing but white sand and clear blue waters.


Punta Bunga Beach

Both the beach and the pool offer spectacular sunset views.

Sunset at the beach
Cotton candy skies

We got to try three of the resort’s four restaurants, Vintana Asian Café, Cielo Poolside Restaurant & Bar, and and Sirena Seafood Restaurant & Clifftop Bar. Food was mostly delicious, albeit with some misses here and there.

While you could easily spend your whole vacation at the resort, a shuttle is available to Boracay’s famous White Beach, with its hotels, restaurants, and shops.

White Beach
Stopped for lunch at the Discovery Shores Boracay on White Beach.

Vacation ends with another speedboat ride, with the same group of musicians who welcomed you in now wishing you a safe journey home.

Travel Notes

  • There’s so much to do at the Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa. We missed out on snorkeling, kayaking, water sports, tennis, and a massage at CHI The Spa because we were either busy lounging by the pool or getting some sun on the beach!