IL Mare Sakura Resort Boracay

The pool looked inviting, but once I got in, there were loads of insects around me. The area also has abandoned buildings nearby, with squatters visible outside the window. Every morning, people at the entrance hassled me to pay for different things. A receptionist saw I was annoyed but spent ages chatting with them in front of me. When we complained, a staff member just said to tell them no. I thought people weren’t allowed to hassle guests at their hotel, but it seemed like they might be getting some kind of commission. If you're over 6 feet tall, the stairs are a problem too: there's no lift, and the ceiling is so low you'll hit your head. Worst hotel I've ever stayed in.

The way to the hotel goes through a dirty alley with stray dogs and cats, and it felt unsafe. Inside, the room phone didn’t work, so we had no way to call the front desk, and there was no hot water. We’d paid a premium rate, but staff hadn’t mentioned the hot water issue at check-in, which they must have known about. We were put on the top floor, with no elevator, and had to carry our bags upstairs after a long trip. The front desk staff joked and laughed instead of dealing with our problems, and nobody offered compensation for the service or what felt like a dishonest booking. The rates are exorbitant for this experience, and I can’t understand the 4.9-star average. It was a disaster, and I feel scammed. Don’t waste your money here.

People selling activities kept bothering us outside the hotel, even though that isn't allowed. The receptionist on the morning shift from March 1-5 was mocking around. Each time I entered my room, it smelled of mould and chemicals, and made me sick. This was the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed at. Don’t book here if you don’t want your holiday ruined.

I arranged a stay here for my parents and really appreciated how kind and accommodating the staff were with all our requests. They took extra care of both of them as senior citizens, and of my dad on his first trip to Boracay. We had a wonderful experience and will book again. Thanks to the Il Mare management and team! ❤️