7 Reasons Why Astoria Boracay Is Still the Ideal Base for Your Next Island Trip

The bacon is crispy at Astoria Boracay’s breakfast buffet. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, you’ll make sure to get up and make your way to the airy White Café to fill your plate with the perfectly cooked strips of pork. Order an omelette while you’re there; the chef behind the egg station will be happy to make it however way you want it. 

Of course, the breakfast buffet is just one of the many thrills of staying at Astoria Boracay. First opened in 2010, the resort has been a familiar landmark with an enviable location that straddles Stations 1 and 2 along the fabled White Beach of the country’s number one tourist destination. While the beachfront is a beehive of activity—from nonstop tourists going this way and that to sellers hawking everything from puka shell necklaces to watersports activities—inside the resort is an oasis of quiet and charm.

If you’re planning a return to the island—or even a visit for the very first time—here are seven reasons you should consider staying at Astoria Boracay. 

Go for a swim in Astoria Boracay's lap pool

Photo by PJ Cana.

1| Transfers are less of a hassle

Because travel to the island is starting to normalize to pre-pandemic levels, you can expect extended wait times at the jetty port and crowded banca rides to and from the island. But Astoria Boracay has its own speedboat, and this drastically reduces the time, not to mention the stress and aggravation, between the airport and the resort. As soon as you land, just look for the guy with the ‘Astoria Boracay’ sign at the arrivals lobby and you’ll be sipping a cocktail by the beach before you know it. (And it goes the other way, too). It might be a tiny thing in the grand scheme of things, but it’s an extra layer of luxury and convenience that the resort offers to make sure you have the absolute best time in Boracay.

2| The location is unbeatable

When you step out from the hotel onto the front beach, turn left and you’re already at Station 2, which is where the main action is along the entire stretch of White Beach. There are countless cafes, food stalls, restaurants, and bars along that stretch, and D’Mall is just up ahead for even more food and drinks choices as well as all your shopping needs. But if you turn and walk right, you’re just a few steps away from Station 1, with its glorious stretch of dazzling powdery white sand and arguably the best swimming area in all of Boracay. It’s what makes Astoria Boracay the strategic base for anyone visiting the island, especially first-timers and families. 

White Cafe

Photo by PJ Cana.

3| It looks like a designer boutique hotel

While it may not technically be a boutique hotel—it has 71 rooms, all comfortable and immaculately designed—stepping into Astoria Boracay can certainly make you feel like you’re in exclusive company. Kudos to the design team (architect Ed Gallego, interior designers Cynthia and Ivy Almario) because, even after all these years, the all-white exterior still looks striking and elegant, like it just opened yesterday.

4| The rooms are spacious and comfortable

The resort’s luxury room has a dining table, a king-sized bed, a work area, mini-fridge, closet, and a bathtub. Sliding glass doors let the light in but you can draw the curtains if you want some privacy. You can also request for a room on the second or third floor for pleasant views of the pool and garden. Water is replenished daily and is complimentary (unlike some hotels that charge you extra per bottle) and you can even ask the staff to dry your wet clothes free of charge. 

Astoria Boracay's luxury room

Photo by PJ Cana.

5| The food is excellent

Nothing is more disappointing than a top-class resort with so-so or disappointing food. Fortunately, Astoria Boracay doesn’t have that problem. The breakfast spread that’s updated daily at White Café has a Filipino selection—rice, tapa, crispy danggit, tocino, longganisa, etc.—as well as American or Continental options. Take your plate up to the second floor near the balcony for relaxing views of the ocean and the hum of activity at the front beach while you sip your morning coffee. Later in the day, the restaurant updates its dishes for lunch and dinner service. For a la carte, try the Longganisa Pizza, whose crust is made from scratch, according to Chef Cester Gomez; the Cornflake-Crusted Chicken Burger served with Fries and Horseradish Mayo; and the U.S. Beef Shortribs Kare-Kare with Peanut Sauce and Homemade Bagoong. 

Longganisa Pizza

Photo by PJ Cana.

Beef Short Ribs Kare-Kare

Photo by PJ Cana.

Cornflake-crusted Chicken Burger

Photo by PJ Cana.

6| Service is impeccable

If a resort is only as good as its people, Astoria Boracay gets top marks. Everyone from the front desk to the waitstaff at the restaurant and the roving resort staff are trained to offer assistance and friendly greetings to guests at all hours of the day. Ask for a towel from the lifeguard or pool security and it’ll be delivered to your chosen lounge chair. Request for extra ice to be delivered to your table or your room and they’ll be happy to do it. You can even ask resort manager Butch Sacay for dining recommendations elsewhere in the island if you happen to run into him at the front lobby.

Another view of Astoria Boracay's main pool area   

Photo by PJ Cana.

7| The overall feeling of luxury at a reasonable price

The best thing about Boracay is there’s something there for everyone at nearly every price point. You can get a room for just a few hundred pesos and make do with a budget meal if you’re a backpacker on a budget, or splurge on the most luxurious accommodations for tens of thousands of pesos, or find anyything else in between. Astoria Boracay is positioned as a luxury retreat in White Beach but with prices that are actually quite reasonable and that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. In turn, you get everything mentioned above and then some. It’s a resort that offers real value for your hard-earned money.

That, and some really good bacon for breakfast.

Astoria Boracay at night

Photo by PJ Cana.

Visit Astoria Boracay for inquiries and bookings.