Emerald Bay Boracay

It was easy to relax in the inviting, well-kept room at Emerald Bay, which has a tasteful design. The bathroom is a little small but clean and functional, so the stay still felt comfortable and pleasant. A cozy, refined place.

My brother and I spent an hour trying to work out how to reach this hotel because there doesn't seem to be a proper route. We ended up on a very dark, rough back alley. When we got there, the place was still dark, the gates were shut, and nobody was around. We called the front desk over and over and banged on the gates, but no one answered. I tried to get a refund and got no response either. It felt like a scam. We appreciated having a room, but this bad hotel was sketchy and frustrating. I'd rather spend a couple thousand pesos more than waste time and end up tired and upset.

The hotel is affordable and close to the beach. Our room was clean, the food was delicious, and the staff were accommodating.

For a solo traveler, this basic budget hotel worked perfectly as a place to sleep. I stayed five weeks, and the rooftop restaurant was a great spot to work in the evenings. It's not somewhere I'd bring family or a date, and it won't suit everyone. Still, I enjoyed it. The beach, good restaurants, and 7/11 are all very close.