I can imagine that most people who will read this post have visited Boracay at least once in their lifetime. But this post is not for those who go to Boracay for golf, meet up with friends who love to party all night, get drunk and wake up the next day wasted on the beach.
This is for those who want to see a different side of Boracay.
Space.
Serenity.
5-star hotel service.
This is for those who want to go home spoiled rotten. :-)
At the last travel fair, hubby and I decided to buy really cheap plane tickets to the Philippines' beach capital, Boracay. I purposely postponed booking a resort until after the summer vacation because most resorts would still offer their peak season rates.
Since I had not been to Boracay since 2006, I had to rely on the resort websites for information and call the resort offices one by one to ask if they had available rooms. To my disappointment, the more established ones had booking officers who were not too accommodating in providing me a formal quotation for a 3-day, 2 night stay for a family of four.
Luckily, my boss attended a wedding in Boracay recently at Asya Premier Suites. I saw the photos she posted on Facebook and well, to cut the story short, envy got the better of me.
I called Asya Premier's Manila office and inquired. I was patiently attended to by their sales officer, and not once did I hear an unfriendly tone in her voice. After comparing the amenities and rates of the newest resorts, I decided that Asya was it. Well, it was also after the sales officer mentioned that all rooms were 110 square meters each. :-p
For some people, Boracay is Boracay is Boracay. But Asya Premier redefines the Boracay experience. For one, it has its own little harbor. After arriving at the Caticlan airport, we were fetched by a van that took us to the Caticlan jetty. We rode a speedboat and in about 15 minutes, we docked at Asya Premier's private port. Another van fetched us and brought us straight to the resort. That speedy transfer already spells a world of difference from the usual motorized banca rides offered by other resorts.
Asya Premier's port and speedboat
Asya Premier Suites is located at the far end of White Beach. Still accessible but offers more privacy than most of the resorts and hotels located between Station 1 and 3. Each of the suites are located atop a hill facing the Sulu Sea.
There goes hubby and our unica hija through the portal to paradise.
As we entered the resort, we were offered cold towels... and warm smiles.
The beach-chic reception area.
Non-alcoholic frozen mojitos! Coooool.
The view of the sea from the reception area.
Wedged between the steps are smooth stones where water flows into little pools. The sound of water trickling adds a spa-feel to the resort.
We booked the earliest flight to Caticlan so we had to wait till 2pm to check in. The super friendly staff of Asya offered the business center as our waiting area which had a flatscreen and a computer to keep us preoccupied.
Steps leading to our room.
The anteroom or receiving area.
The bedroom.
There are sliding doors that can separate the anteroom and the bedroom for more privacy.
The veranda.
The view from the veranda.
The H-U-G-E bathroom.
Fluffy bathrobes and towels? Check.
5-star hotel bathroom items? Check.
L 'Occitane toiletries? Super check.
Your own private little cove.
No oil-spilling boats obstructing your view and polluting the beachfront.
No boatmen offering boat rides.
No vendors.
Peace and quiet? Lots.
Comfy beachbeds, attendants to offer you fresh towels or fresh fruit shakes...paradise!
Asya Premier's in-house restaurant, Palay.
The wine room.
The steps luring you to the beach from the pool area.
The pool area where we spent half a day just happily wading until our toes and fingers got all wrinkly.
The resort was 100% occupied during our stay but it felt like we were the only ones there. And that was a good thing. :-P
Asya also won me over with the genuine service that each staff member graciously showed our family. Our needs were always anticipated, our requests were promptly attended to and our questions were never left unanswered.
That's my son trying out the kayak.
The view from the Palay Restaurant pool deck.
And as the sun sets, you'd wish you had the remote so you can press the pause button. :-)
In my opinion, honeymoon is hubby-and-wife-time and if you're thinking of spending it in Boracay, staying in Asya Premier Suites will make you wish your honeymoon would last forever.
Asya Premier Suites. Truly for the pampered few.
