Pearl of the Pacific Boracay is situated comfortably at the quieter end of Boracay White Beach Station 1. It is one pioneer resorts of the island, boasting a wide beachfront and a 3-star rating. The hotel currently has two main locations, a beachfront area and a poolside/hillside area. A third location called the Pearl Residences was completed just this year and is yet to be added into the hotel catalog.
Service
Upon arrival I was immediately greeted by a warm smile from the friendly receptionist, Stephanie. It took some time to sort out my accommodation. Apparently there had been miscommunication with their Manila office. I waited for about 15 minutes, doing nothing – which would have been alright elsewhere. However this was my first time in an unfamiliar surrounding and having spent hours traveling I was already tired, sweaty and uncomfortable. This did not make for a good first impression, and I hope this was just a one-off incident.
After my reservation was confirmed I was given welcome drinks which I immediately drank happily. Having come a long way it was the best thing I had since I left home.
My experience with the hotel staff has been entirely pleasant. The receptionists, bellboys, and guards are always courteous and accommodating.
I did have this odd experience with on of the guards during my first day. He asked me if I was new and I already had any activities planned out, saying he could help me book water sports, island hopping, parasailing, or scuba diving. You will find a lot of these in Boracay – drifters offering island activities. These are middlemen who make money by selling services they do not actually provide, often by bloating up the price, especially they see you are a white-skinned foreigner.
Location
Pearl of the Pacific’s best asset is the location. It is located in Station 1, away from the noise and people. It probably has the best view and widest beachfront in the island. The hillside rooms are located across the street from the beachfront and offer a quite place to relax and unwind.
Boracay island is one of the top destinations in the Philippines. Due to its popularity it is almost always packed with tourists, even during off season. Peak season can get very crowded for Boracay, and Pearl of the Pacific allows you to enjoy the beach away from the crowd.
The Pearl is a comfortable 10 minutes walk from D’Mall and Station 2 where all the shops, bars, and restaurants are.
Sanson dining is the Pearl’s alfresco dining area located at the beach front. Despite the beautiful setup and relaxing ambiance it rarely has any diners other than the odd guest having breakfast.
Acommodation
The hotel is a little dated, and renovations are currently under way starting with the beachfront area. Though personally I think part of the charm of The Pearl is its classic styling. The furniture and the room itself is made with traditional Philippine materials such as bamboo and rattan. Everything works as it should. The heater was functional and the water was strong. The room had a split-type air conditioner and was cold. It is immediately obvious that despite its age, the rooms are well maintained.
I stayed at one of the hillside rooms. I found it difficult not to end up breathing heavily a steep climb up to my room.The room had a patio where I hung my wet clothes. The swimming pool looks clean, though during my stay I had only seen it used once. There is a billiards table at the reception area which rarely gets used as well. There is no gym in the area though you wouldn’t be needing it if you plan to climb up and down the hillside room more than once every day.
On my last night at the hotel Boracay had a power failure. It took a good hour before they got the generator running. I had forgotten the reason they gave me but apparently they had a hard time getting hold of the guy who maintains the generators.
Rate
Pearl of the Pacific’s published rate for a Hillside room is set at 9,000 Php (peak) or 4,516 (off-peak). Their website offers a package of 9,400 Php (peak) or 7,920 Php (off-peak) per head for a double occupancy room lasting for 3 days and 2 nights. The package includes roundtrip transfers from Caticlan airport, welcome drinks and daily sunset cocktails, daily set breakfast, complimentary 60 minute massage at Neo Island Spa.
For comparison purposes this would amount to 6,266 Php (peak) / 5,280 Php (off-peak) for an overnight stay, or 18,800 Php (peak) / 15,840 (off-peak) for 3 days and 2 nights.
These rates place Pearl of the Pacific at the high end price bracket among hotels in Boracay.
Conclusion
Pearl of the Pacific offers an excellent location away from all the noise and crowd. It is a good 10 minutes walk to the mall, restaurants and nightlife. Service is professional despite a few misses in logistics.
If you can afford it get a poolside or beachfront room unless you feel like taking hike to the hillside area. The hotel is a little dated but remains charming – they are in the process of renovating the hotel so expect things to be updated real soon. Most importantly the rooms are clean and comfortable. Air conditioning is strong. Room service is good and reception is always very accommodating.
If I am being a little harsh in my review it’s because I believe the hotel has huge potential to be one of the best and would really love to see them improve 🙂
Service 4/5
Value 3.5/5
Sleep Quality 5/5
Cleanliness 4/5
Location 5/5
Rooms 4/5