Bohol's BEST Kept Secret? Anda de Boracay Hotel Awaits!
Bohol's BEST Kept Secret? Anda de Boracay Hotel Awaits! A Messy, Honest, and Totally Human Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans (and probably some coffee) on Anda de Boracay Hotel. Forget those pristine, perfectly-angled travel blogs. This is real talk. I spent a week trying to find this "secret" - and let me tell you, the only reason it's a secret is because it's in Anda, not Boracay, and people are either confused or stuck in the wrong place. BUT, once you do get there, it’s a whole other story.
Accessibility: The Good, the Bad, and the Island Time
Okay, first things first: let's talk about getting there. Accessibility… it's not exactly a walk in the park. Getting to Bohol itself? Easy enough usually, but from Tagbilaran airport you need to drive for what feels like forever to Anda. My taxi driver kept getting sidetracked by the scenery (apparently, he loved the car park [free of charge] himself!). The drive itself is gorgeous, but if you have mobility issues, be warned: the roads are winding. Once at the hotel, Facilities for disabled guests are listed, and the elevator is a lifesaver for those avoiding stairs. BUT, I don’t have mobility issues, so can't personally vouch for how well they deliver on that. If you do have special requirements, confirm directly with the hotel.
Internet – The Island Life… Kinda…
Internet access is a mixed bag. They advertise Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, and it’s true…ish. I swear, the Wi-Fi in public areas (and in my room) had a personality all its own. Sometimes lightning-fast, sometimes crawling slower than a gecko. You can try Internet [LAN] too, but who actually packs a LAN cable anymore? For serious work, it’s a struggle, so accept that you're going for "relaxed island vibes" NOT "crank out spreadsheets all day." Internet services themselves, are… well, they’re there. Sometimes.
Cleanliness and Safety – They Seem to Care
Okay, here's where Anda de Boracay actually shines. Forget the "secret" part; this is where you want to shout from the rooftops! Cleanliness and safety are clearly taken seriously. The staff actively cleans! The Daily disinfection in common areas (the lobby felt especially FRESH), Rooms sanitized between stays and there are Staff trained in safety protocol. They even use Anti-viral cleaning products and have Professional-grade sanitizing services. Hand sanitizer is EVERYWHERE. I was reassured. The Hygiene certification is clearly visible (though I didn't run an actual audit, obviously). First aid kit? Check. Doctor/nurse on call? Check. They also offer Room sanitization opt-out available which I thought was a nice touch, and felt very conscious of the environment. Safe dining setup meant I wasn't constantly stressed wondering if my food had been in contact with the plague (exaggeration, maybe). Hot water linen and laundry washing, as well as Sterilizing equipment seemed more than adequate.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food, Glorious Food (and Drinks!)
Now, the important stuff! Food. Let’s dive in:
- Restaurants: Yes, plural! They’ve got a few, actually.
- Buffet in restaurant: Yes, at breakfast – a lifesaver after a night of… well, everything.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: And it's pretty darn good. The adobo was chef’s kiss.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Also available, but… stick to the Asian, trust me.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The usual eggs, bacon, fruit, pastries – more than enough to fuel your day.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: A MUST. Their coffee is actually drinkable (unlike some places I've been).
- Poolside bar: Essential. Especially for those sunset cocktails. Their happy hour is a must. Trust me.
- **Bottle of water: Definitely. STAY HYDRATED
- Room service [24-hour]: This is gold. When you're exhausted after lounging all day, you can still get dinner.
- Snack bar: Perfect for grabbing a quick bite between dips in the pool.
- Vegetarian restaurant: A big plus for some, though I’m a meat-eater, and the options were tasty.
- Desserts in restaurant: Don't skip them. I learned that the hard way. The mango sticky rice… swoon.
Services and Conveniences – Smooth Sailing (Mostly)
Okay, the nitty-gritty. Here’s what you might need:
- Concierge: Helpful, but on "island time." Be patient.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent, my room always felt spotless.
- Luggage storage: Essential.
- Laundry service: Yep, great for getting those sand-covered clothes cleaned for the flight home.
- Currency exchange: Can be helpful
- Cash withdrawal: Useful.
- On-site event hosting: If you're planning something big, they can help.
- Dry cleaning: Nice to have.
- Facilities for disabled guests. As stated above, check with the hotel.
- Food delivery: Not applicable as located in a remote area.
- Gift/souvenir shop for last-minute presents for your loved ones.
- Ironing service: Available.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yep.
- Convenience store is available.
- Doorman: Welcoming.
- Air conditioning in public area: Cool.
- Elevator for easy access.
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Well, a good choice if you actually took your kids?
- Air conditioning in public area. It's hot and humid so it's a must.
For the Kids – Family Fun? (I don't have kids, so…)
I can’t personally vouch for the Babysitting service or the Kids facilities, but they're listed, so…maybe? It seemed Family/child friendly.
Things to Do / Ways to Relax – Ah, The Life
This is where Anda de Boracay really shines. Seriously, this is why you go.
- Swimming pool: Multiple options, all gorgeous.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes, and they’re stunning. Seriously.
- Pool with view: The main pool is where it's at. Picture perfect.
- Spa/sauna: The spa is a REAL treat.
- Massage: YES! They offer a variety of massages.
- Sauna: For extra relaxation.
- Steamroom: Sweat it out in the sauna.
- Gym/fitness: If you’re that dedicated, they have a gym.
- Bicycle parking: great for the environment.
- Spa
- Body scrub
- Foot bath
- Body wrap
Seriously, that massage… I booked one every single day. The setting, the music, the skilled hands… pure bliss. I’m not even a spa person, but I was converted.
Available In All Rooms – Your Personal Oasis
Okay, so this is what your room will be like:
- Air conditioning: Essential. It's the tropics, people!
- Alarm clock: To help you wake up for that sunrise.
- Bathrobes: YES.
- Bathtub: Perfect for a soak after a day of sun.
- Blackout curtains: Sleep till noon.
- Coffee/tea maker: Hello, caffeine!
- Complimentary tea: A nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: Your room will always be pristine.
- Desk: If you HAVE to work.
- Extra long bed: For those extra-long sleeps.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key!
- Hair dryer: Phew.
- In-room safe box: Secure your valuables.
- Internet access – wireless: You can always connect.
- Ironing facilities: Yes, for those nice dinner outfits.
- Laptop workspace: If you must.
- Mini bar: Stocked with goodies.
- Non-smoking:
- Private bathroom:
- Refrigerator: Store your drinks and snacks.
- Satellite/cable channels: Entertainment.
- Seating area: Relax and unwind.
- Separate shower/bathtub
- Shower:
- Slippers: Cozy.
- Soundproofing: Good if you like to sleep
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the chaos that was my Anda de Boracay escapade. This ain't your typical perfectly polished itinerary. This is more like my brain on vacation: a delightful mess of sun, sand, questionable decisions, and enough adobo to make a pig blush.
ANDA DE BORACAY: WHERE ROMANCE (AND MOSQUITOS) BLOOM
Day 1: Arrival & Instant Regret (Just Kidding…Mostly)
Morning (7:00 AM): Flight to Tagbilaran. Okay, so the flight itself? Smooth-ish, until this guy in front of me decided to recline his seat into my lap the entire time. I swear, I considered duct-taping him to the ceiling. Anyway, landed, sweating like a sinner in church. Heat index: "Melting Face."
Mid-Morning (9:00 AM): Ferry to Anda! The boat was, shall we say, "rustic." Think: potential for dramatic sea-sickness, and a distinct lack of air conditioning. But hey, the views were stunning, even if I was questioning my life choices for a solid hour. (Anecdote: I swear I saw a rogue dolphin at one point! Or maybe it was a particularly majestic piece of driftwood. The sea was calling to me, the salty air in my face, maybe I could throw my self in, just to be free!)
Early Afternoon (12:00 PM): Arrival at Anda de Boracay – finally! And OH. MY. GOD. This place… Okay, so the pictures lie. The pictures showed a pristine paradise. The reality? Still pretty darn good. Rustic, charming, and with that slightly-too-strong smell of bug spray that I'd come to associate with paradise. Check-in was a bit of a cluster - the receptionist seemed to be fighting a losing battle with a broken computer, but who cares? I'M HERE. And the view from my room (once I finally got there) was a postcard waiting to happen.
Afternoon (2:00 PM): Lunch at the hotel. Ordered the grilled fish. The waiter seemed vaguely surprised I chose a fish instead of a burger, so I figured that the burger must be good. It wasn't. The fish was… fine. Slightly overcooked. But the iced tea? Pure, refreshing ambrosia. Important life lesson: always order the iced tea.
Afternoon (3:00 PM): Beach time! Finally, pure bliss. Found myself a hammock, promptly collapsed into it, and drifted off to sleep. Woke up an hour later, sun-kissed, sandy, and completely, utterly, and unapologetically relaxed. This is what vacation is all about, RIGHT?
Evening (6:00 PM): Sunset cocktails at the hotel bar. Watched the sun melt into the horizon, feeling all that "wanderlust" crap that's been on everyones IG feed. The music was a little too chill, the cocktails a little too strong, and I met a couple who were on their second honeymoon. My inner cynic kicked in – two honeymoons? Seriously? Then again, they looked happy so I pushed that thought to the side.
Evening (8:00 PM): Dinner. Tried the seafood platter. Delicious but it was way too much food. I ended up talking myself into a food coma. Slept like a log (or, you know, like a log that occasionally twitched from mosquito bites).
Day 2: Adventure (And Sunburn, Oh Dear God, The Sunburn)
Morning (8:00 AM): Woke up to the glorious reality of more sand. Started the day with a swim in the ocean. The water was crystal clear, the waves were perfect, and I felt like a mermaid! Then the sun… it started to get aggressive, the sunbathing on the beach was a dangerous game, and my pale Irish skin was losing. Lost, I tell you!
Morning (10:00 AM): Island hopping! Booked a tour. The boat was small, the waves were choppy, and I considered buying shares in Dramamine. But, hey, the destinations were worth it.
Mid-Morning (11:00 AM): Visit to a sandbar. Stunning. Seriously. Picture: a long, pristine stretch of pure white sand, disappearing into the turquoise water. Took a million photos (and several selfies, because, let's be honest, I'm a millennial). Spent an hour wading around, feeling like I was walking on clouds, until my feet started to burn. Sun. Got me. Badly.
Lunch (1:00 PM): Lunch on a deserted island. Freshly grilled fish, rice, and fruit. Simple, perfect. We ate under the shade of some trees – vital lesson learned: seek shade.
Afternoon (2:30 PM): Snorkeling at a marine sanctuary. Saw more fish than I could possibly count. Colorful, weird, and utterly mesmerizing. Almost forgot about the burning sensation on my shoulders. Almost. (I also attempted to take an underwater selfie…it was a blurry disaster. My camera has officially retired.)
Afternoon (4:00 PM): Explore the Tuli Cliffs. Okay, so this was…intense. The climb was steep, the sun was relentless, and my sunburn was screaming. But the view from the top? Jaw-dropping. (Anecdote: I swear I saw a local kid run past me, like a ninja. I took a step back to be sure of the view, almost fell. That kid was like a mountain goat.) Totally worth the near-death experience. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for a good view.
Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at a little restaurant on the beach called "The Sunset Grill." Ordered the garlic shrimp. Felt the burn of the sun. The waiter was friendly, the food was delicious, and I knew it would be a good night.
Evening (8:00 PM): Tried to watch the stars. Ended up swatting at mosquitos. Decided to surrender to the call of the bed.
Day 3: Farewell (And a Plea for More Sunscreen)
Morning (8:00 AM): Breakfast at the hotel. Omelette and coffee. This is what I wanted every morning.
Morning (9:00 AM): One last swim in the ocean (with a liberal application of sunscreen this time). Tried to soak up every last ray of sunshine.
Mid-Morning (10:00 AM): Failed attempt at souvenir shopping. Everything was either overpriced or, well, a bit too… generic. Settled on a fridge magnet.
Afternoon (11:00 AM): Packed my bags, reluctantly. The thought of leaving made me sad. This place, this mess, had me, I was hooked for maybe the rest of my life.
Afternoon (12:00 PM): Check-out. Said goodbye to the staff, who were all unfailingly friendly, even after my many requests.
Afternoon (1:00 PM): Ferry back to Tagbilaran. This ride was less nauseating than the way there.
Afternoon (2:00 PM): Flight home. Sat next to the guy with the reclined seat. I may have accidentally-on-purpose bumped his seat a few times.
Evening (6:00 PM): Arrived home, sunburnt, mosquito-bitten, and utterly exhausted. But also, unbelievably, happy.
Final Thoughts:
Anda de Boracay? Messy? Yes. Imperfect? Absolutely. Worth it? Without a doubt. It broke me down, rebuilt me, and gave me a lifetime supply of memories (and a serious tan). I'm already dreaming of the next trip. Prepare for a second run on that adobo! Go. Just go. And for the love of all that is holy, wear sunscreen.
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So, like, *what* is this thing even *about*? Seriously.
Ugh, good question. See, I *thought* I knew. I thought I was going to write a super-organized, bullet-point-filled guide. Like, "FAQ: Everything You Need to Know!" with cheerful little emojis and everything. But then… well, life happened. And by "life," I mean I got distracted by a particularly compelling YouTube rabbit hole about competitive cheese rolling (don't ask). So, instead, prepare for a… a *journey*. A rambling, slightly unhinged, sometimes-even-helpful journey into the murky depths of… [Insert the actual topic here, whenever we figure it the heck out]... probably.
Okay, okay. But *why*? Why are you doing this? Are you getting paid?
Paid? Honey, if I was getting paid for this, I'd be wearing a much nicer robe and sipping something stronger than lukewarm coffee. No, I'm doing this because… well, sometimes my brain just *explodes* with… *stuff*. And it needs to come out. This is my therapy. My outlet. My... screaming into the void, but with paragraph breaks. Seriously, if even *one* person finds this remotely useful, I'll consider it a win. Mostly, I'm hoping to avoid my actual responsibilities for like, another 45 minutes. And also because I can't actually decide what to talk about so I'm just letting this stew.
Alright, let's get to the actual information. This is supposed to be an *FAQ*, right? So... how do I even... *start* [the vague topic]?
Oof. Okay. This is where it gets tricky. Because, honestly? I'm still figuring it out myself. [Insert the vague topic here]. I feel like that time I tried to learn to play the ukulele. I watched, like, three YouTube tutorials, got a blister, and then just… gave up. (The ukulele still sits in the corner, judging me). But, fine. Here’s a *very* imperfect starting point. I really recommend starting with the basics... yeah, I'm sure you've heard this before. Don't be like me, who always skips the steps and wants to jump to the end.
Is [the vague topic] hard? Am I going to mess it up? Because I'm *really* good at messing things up.
Girl, or guy, or whatever glorious being you are, listen. You *will* mess it up. Guaranteed. I guarantee it. That’s the beauty of it! You are not alone. I messed up the other day when I accidentally put the wrong ingredients in my morning smoothie (it tasted like sadness and regret). The key is to embrace the mess. Laugh at your mistakes. And maybe have some chocolate nearby. Because, frankly, if I had to guess, [the vague topic] is probably going to be challenging. The learning curve is steep, like that time I tried to climb that ridiculously tall rock wall at the gym. I only made it halfway before I face-planted, but hey, at least I tried, right?
Okay, specifics! Like, what are some of the biggest challenges? Give me the *real* dirt.
Alright, alright, buckle up. This is where I get to vent. The biggest challenges? Ugh. For me personally, it’s… perfectionism. Paralysis of analysis. Overthinking. Basically, I get so bogged down in trying to do it *perfectly* that I end up doing *nothing* at all. It's crippling! It’s like that time I was going to write a novel. I spent six months researching the perfect fountain pen, the perfect writing desk, the perfect shade of beige wallpaper for my office. Guess what? I still haven't written a single word. (The beige wallpaper, however, is *magnificent*). And the other thing is, and I'm just being raw and honest here, the *comparison*. You see what everyone else is doing and it feels like their effortless.
What are some resources to help me through this [vague topic] journey? Books? Websites? Secret societies?
Okay, let's be honest, I am *not* a librarian. But, I have stumbled upon a few… *things*. The internet, surprisingly, is a goldmine. I'm particularly fond of [mention a real website or resource, but make it sound like you stumbled upon it]. But the *best* resource? Other people! I've found the most helpful things from talking to people who are *also* beginners (or who are further along and are willing to share their mistakes).
What if I fail? Like, what if I totally bomb at [the vague topic]?
Okay, so this one hits close to home. I've failed a lot. *A lot*. Like, the time I tried to make a soufflé and it ended up looking like a deflated… blob. Or the time I was convinced I was a talented painter and created a masterpiece of abstract garbage that my cat tried to eat. Here’s the hard truth: Failure is inevitable. But it's also… okay. Seriously. It's a chance to learn what *doesn't* work. And to then try, again. And again. And again. Because, ultimately, even the "failures" are part of the journey. Honestly, the only real failure is to give up altogether. It's been said, it's true, but you have to find a reason to fight...
Okay, so you failed. Tell me the worst story! The one that makes you cringe.
Alright, fine. Prepare yourselves. This is the story of the Great Online Auction Debacle of 2018. I was convinced I was going to be a master collector of antique teacups. (I'm not sure why. I don't even *drink* tea). I found an auction, got all geeked up... and in a moment of pure, unadulterated, sleep-deprived exuberance (did I mention this was 3 AM?), I accidentally bid on… a life-sized, taxidermied moose head. Not a teacup. A *moose head*. I blame eBay. They definitely have a button that says "buy all the things." I was shocked, I tried to back out but was too late. I got the moose head. It didn't fit in my apartment. It terrified my cat. It cost me a fortune in shipping. I ended up having to sell it, at a huge loss, just to get it out of my house. It hangs, still, in a pawn shop called "Moose's Used Goods", and I see it every time I drive byPremium Stay Search
