Boracay Ocean Bay Hotel

There’s a cozy, homey feel here, and the breakfast was delicious and filling, even though it wasn’t a buffet. We appreciated the friendly, accommodating staff, especially when they lent us umbrellas during the rain. We had a small second-floor room near the road with two beds. The bathroom was clean, but the room was dusty, particularly the air conditioner, which had visible buildup even though it cooled well. The bed felt a little rough, as if there was still sand on it, and the curtains smelled unpleasant, making us wonder if they were changed regularly. The location is handy for both Station 1 and Station 2, with a direct path to the Station 1 shore.

The only real advantage was the Station 1 location, about a two-minute walk from the beach near Astoria, a common meeting spot for water activities. Breakfast was plated with a slice of fruit and a choice of brewed coffee, juice, or water. But the room cleanliness was a deal-breaker for us. We booked two family rooms for November 2024, and neither felt inviting. The rooms were old, with dusty sheets, cabinets, and tables. One ceiling fan squeaked, and we found a cockroach on one bed. Staff sprayed local insecticide and cleaned again. We asked the manager-on-duty to move us, and she agreed, but the new room was still dusty, with cobwebs on the walls and ceiling and dirty, stained curtains. There was no bidet, no hot or cold shower option, and the water pressure was too low to shower properly. Some lights were burned out, and there wasn’t enough lighting. Some staff didn’t smile. They don’t provide towels for outside use, so bring your own if you plan to swim.

The included breakfast came with flowing coffee and juice, and free drinking water was available too. The beach was only a few minutes away, with Willy’s Rock around a five-minute walk. For a budget stay, we fit our group of six into one room: one queen bed, two singles, and an extra bed on the floor. The toilet was narrow. When we arrived, the hot shower and two of the three lights weren’t working, but the crew fixed them when we asked.

The hotel and room are plain, but the staff were so kind, nice, and accommodating that I had to write a review. They were genuinely concerned about our safety as girls on a night out and made sure we got back safely. The night-shift guy also made sure we had cold drinking water. It was a simple gesture, but we appreciated it.