For a recent trip, I was looking for a range of hotels on my favorite stretch of Boracay’s White Beach – Station 1. White House Resort is one of the oldest hotels on Boracay and has a prime spot on the beach. Despite the great location, it’s reasonably priced and you get friendly service and a good room for your beach vacation. I didn’t get to stay myself, but family did and here is a snapshot report from the resort!
Location: The White House has a prime spot right on Boracay‘s White Beach Station 1, the nicest beach on the island, with powdery white sand and few people to share it. You are about 45 minutes from Caticlan Airport by boat and van. You can reach many restaurants and bars with a short walk along the beach. The center of the island at D’Mall is about 20 minutes along the beach or 5 minutes by tricycle. The resort is on both sides of the island road. The reception, pool, restaurant & bar as well as the more expensive rooms are on the ocean front side. The (cheaper) standard rooms are across the street, only 2 minutes from the beach!
Service: While I didn’t stay at the resort, I had organized the airport pick-up for family – and it went poorly. The hotel forgot about the pick-up, stranding my family at the airport. They organized their own trip and the staff was very apologetic, offering an upgrade to a Deluxe room to make up for the inconvenience. Otherwise, service was friendly and helpful, as you’d expect in the Philippines!
Room: The Deluxe room was located in the oceanside building, with a view over town. While the hotel is one of the oldest on the beach (and it shows here and there), the room was nicely renovated and in good condition. The bedroom has white tiles on the floor, clean and cool. One of the walls is in an accent color, the beds are large and comfortable with nice sheets. The desk and wardrobe are in dark wood, contrasting against the white walls. They are older, with doors showing some wear & tear. You also get a fridge, air conditioner and WiFi internet. There is a large balcony with chairs, so you can enjoy the great weather.
The bathroom is large and clean, but hasn’t received the same kind of renovation, showing it’s age.
Restaurant & Amenities: The White House has a small beachside pool, nice for a dip after a hot day on the beach. The bar and restaurant are around it and also have lounge-style seating on the beach – the white furniture and lounge music make it feel pretty hip, more than I’d expect in this price category. I’ve eaten at the hotel once and it was good – nothing spectacular, but convenient if you are staying at the hotel.
Bottomline: At a rate of $65/night during the busy summer season, the White House offers a good room in a perfect location for a good price. It’s positioned between the upscale Friday’s next door (at $250/night) and the budget Strand Hotel (at $43/night) off the beach and I’d consider it the best value of the three! At that price, I can live with gently worn rooms and occasional service mis-haps. If you expect more, Friday’s won’t disappoint! You can find current rates at your dates for The White House here!