Boracay Garden Resort: An oasis of calm in Boracay

BY ANTONIO DELOS REYES

BORACAY. The mere word conjures up a plethora of images, from the powdery white sand set against crystalline blue waters, to the thriving nightlife filled with people of all nationalities. The world-renowned beach is known for the near-unlimited energy of all its visitors and the never-ending parties thrown by the numerous bars and clubs found on the seashore.

Even hotels are not immune to the manic energy that drives the island. Once the sun sets, patron flock to hotel bars in anticipation of a night filled with music and drinks.

For the hapless individual caught in the flow, it is almost a relief to be able to detach oneself from the never-ending party scene and get some rest and relaxation. Fortunately, there is a hotel that hearkens to the days of idyllic serenity of which Boracay was once known for.

Situated right in the middle of Station 2, Henann Resort’s Boracay Garden Resort, a subsidiary of Boracay Regency Group, is an oasis of calm in the area known as the hotspot of activities in the island. The resort is only a minute or two away from the famous Juice Bar and five minutes away from D’Mall, the shopping and dining mecca of the island. Party-philes are in for a treat due to its proximity to Club Epic, formerly known as Hey Jude. Despite its nearness to these different clubs and bars, the hotel exudes a sense of tranquility and quiet. Past the private walkway to the seashore, the music murmur of the crowd fades away, to be replaced by the gentle sigh of the breeze through the palm trees and the splash of swimmers in the pool.

From its shore side entrance, the unassuming façade of Boracay Garden gives way to a wide, open-air resort, atypical of the hotels found in Boracay. Compared to the cramped, enclosed space of other hotels, the Boracay Garden Resort seems massive, thanks to the layout of the hotel. The low-rise wings which surround the three swimming pools give a sense of space to the resort – a welcome change from the crowded seashore just outside it. The 200+ guest rooms echo the spaciousness the hotel expresses. The smallest room, at 385 sq. ft. can easily fit four persons comfortably.

The Boracay Garden Resort might not be at the top end of the luxury scale, especially if it is compared to its sister hotels, the Boracay Regency and the Boracay Lagoon. But the amenities are anything but dowdy or cheap. The rooms are well-decorated, with teak and hardwood furniture giving a dash of classy refinement. Bathrooms are large, with a separate shower and bathtub in each room. Although the rates are lower than its sister hotels, Boracay Garden Resort cuts no corners when pampering guests.

Food at the Boracay Garden Resort is also different from the usual hotel fare. Instead of competing with the numerous buffets and restaurants situated outside the hotel, Boracay Regency’s restaurant offers a buffet breakfast and an ala carte menu, mainly for room service. Chef Patrick, which is also the executive chef of the other Regency Group hotels, has created a menu of Asian dishes worth trying out. Whether it be Filipino, Chinese, or Korean, each dish is executed to the specifications of the guest. Chef Patrick changes the menu every six months to ensure that the ingredients he uses are the ones in season.

"There are no problems with the orders of ingredients," he said. "We have weekly deliveries from Manila and Iloilo for our need as well as tie-ups with local produce growers in Caticlan and Boracay," he added.

For Alfonso Chusuey, assistant to the president, the work is never done.

"We just acquired this property in December 2009. Renovations are still being done, especially to the pool areas and to some of the rooms and the façade. I would say that the resort is 50 percent completed," he said.

Chusuey said the hardest part was the continued operation despite the renovation process.

"Fortunately, the guests were kind enough to understand when we explained to them. There were some complaints, but it did not affect the business," Chusuey clarified.

Hints of the final look of the Boracay can be seen in the new pool as well as the restaurant. The new pool is retiled and reshaped into a small lagoon, complete with a miniature waterfall. Much like the resort, the new pool emanates a sense of relaxation, beckoning the guests to indulge in a silent moment of peaceful repose. The restaurant’s high wooden ceilings and open space remind guests that Boracay’s spirit of idyllic recreation, though commercialized, still remains.

While the Boracay Garden might be a work in progress, it is still a welcome retreat for guests anxious to unwind. Its homey atmosphere is something rarely found in the hustle and bustle of the island. Indeed, this might be the reason why families, both foreign and local, are its main costumers.

Henann Resorts has big things in plan for Boracay Garden, and given their track record in Boracay Lagoon and Boracay Regency, one could only expect the best when Boracay Garden finally blooms into a flower adorning the world-famous Boracay white beach.