Follow us on
Hotels + Resorts
6 Homegrown Resorts in Boracay That Have Withstood the Test of Time
They stay in business through time!
By: Karen Bermejo | May 30, 2022
Due to changing quarantine measures, the activities, destination/s, store/s, and establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily prohibited or closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!
Exterior and interior of White House Beach Resort
Images: mark_aaron20 (L); Nigi Nigi Facebook page (R)
From being a secret paradise, the development of Boracay Island, including resorts in Boracay, has become nonstop since it was introduced to the world. Only known to backpackers before, White Beach used to be a spacious haven. But with its paradise-like beauty, it didn’t take long for it to attract foreign travelers and, eventually, investors who changed the face of the island.
If you traveled to the island a decade ago, you might have found the following Boracay resorts and hotels already.
1. Owned by the Tirols, one of the most landed families on the island, White House Beach Resort is one of the first establishments here. The resort used to be a family beach house, and it got its name from its color.
Exterior and interior of White House Beach Resort
Image: White House Beach Resort
This resort in Boracay has a total of 28 rooms. The Tirols family added rooms and expanded them to cater to their guests and, eventually, to the public. Though many more extensive developments came to Station 1, the family-run resort retains its homey vibe. It has a beach lounge open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM for in-house and walk-in guests.
Their indoor restaurant, Station Juan Beach Lounge (formerly Station Juan Café), serves traditional Filipino and international cuisine by their in-house chef Martin Jickain.
2. Nigi Nigi Nu Noos E Nu Nu Noos Beach Resort, or Nigi Nigi for short, is one of the first resorts on the island. Though not all could easily remember the complete name of the resort, Nigi Nigi can easily be spotted at Station 2 beachfront.
Nigi Nigi rooms offer a tribal vibe.
Image: Writer (L); Nigi Nigi (R)
This Boracay resort with 34 rooms is surrounded by trees retaining its natural vibe. The resort has Polynesian-style cottages but with modern amenities inside. It also has a beachfront sports bar and restaurant, always filled with guests.
The resort has another branch in Station 1 named Nigi Nigi Too for guests who want a less crowded area. Though smaller than its mother resort, Nigi Nigi Too, with 20 rooms, offers the same kind of natural vibe. Here, one can have a massage with a view of the turquoise waters of Boracay. The famous Willy’s Rock can also be seen from its beachfront. Nigi Nigi Too also has its beach bar.
3. In Station 2, Boracay Regency Resort is known as Henann Regency Resorts & Spa. Henann is taken from the names of its president, Henry Chusuey, and his family members. Its Ilonggo owners built it for them to have decent accommodation on the island.
Henann Garden likewise has its pool area
Image: Henann
Over the years, the hotel continued its expansion. This Boracay beach resort is now considered one of the biggest on the island. It has a total of 302 rooms.
It became the foundation of the hotel chain known as Henann Group of Resorts. The resort group has three other locations on the island, Henann Lagoon Resort with 120 rooms, Henann Garden Resort with 273 rooms, and Henann Prime Beach with 144 rooms.
4. Fondly called Jony’s Place, Jony’s Beach Resort has operated since 1985. The resort has 21 air-conditioned rooms and is located beside Diamond Water Sports.
Interior of one of the rooms at Jony’s Beach Resort
Image: Jony’s Beach Resort
It has a beachfront restaurant called Maya’s Modern Filipino & Mexican Cuisine. The restaurant menu was created by Chef Jun Salme, the resort owner’s son.
5. Some homegrown resorts and hotels on the island have decided to veer away from White Beach. One of these is Balinghai Beach Resort, built into a landscape of limestone cliffs surrounded by trees. It has a total of eight rooms. It will take about 15 minutes to get there.
Facade of Balinghai's room
Image: Balinghai
The resort has its bar facing Punta Bunga Beach with white sand, but not as refined as White Beach. They allow walk-in customers at their bar, but only if they are not fully booked to maintain the privacy of their guests.
May 2022 Update: Balinghai Beach Resort is permanently closed.
6. Boracay Terraces Resort is a tiered resort inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao. It is the last resort you will pass by before reaching Diniwid Beach. The Ilonggo owner of the resort is one of the earliest investors on the island. After his passing, the resort is now managed by his children.
One of the rooms at Boracay Terraces Resort
Image: Boracay Terraces Resort
The resort has 33 rooms, all with balconies or terraces. It has a swimming pool too, and a restaurant called 7,107 Islands. One of the owners of the resort is singer Armand TJ. You can sometimes find him jamming with restaurant guests while playing the piano. They also have The Langit Roof Deck for private dinners.
May 2022 Update: Boracay Terraces Resort is permanently closed.
Despite the developments that Boracay has gone through, most homegrown hotels continue to thrive. Even with the bigger players on the island, these establishments will always keep the Boracay spirit alive.
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel updates and guidelines in Boracay!
Stay safe as you travel! Make sure to follow social distancing protocols and observe health precautions. For now, keep safe!
This article was initially published in Yoorekka on May 13, 2017.
Check out this video:
About Karen Bermejo
Karen is a writer, a traveler, and a volunteer. Her ultimate dream is to travel the world, master a foreign language, and learn how to swim. To keep her sanity while chasing her dreams, she’s scaling mountains on weekends.
Learn more stories on:
Location Tags:
Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although
careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all
information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended
to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
ALSO READ
CATEGORIES
VIDEO MARKET PLACE
FOLLOW US ON
MORE STORIES AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
