Ever since Discovery Shores opened in Boracay, I had always wondered what was inside those “white” buildings, as we fondly referred to the resort’s light-colored, box-type architecture which was a stark contrast to the surrounding establishments.
As fate would have it, I was back on the famed party island for Discovery Shores Boracay’s appreciation party for its top travel agents and media partners.
Despite the downturn of tourism due to the Zamboanga incident and back-to-back disasters that hit the country late last year, Discovery was still able to bag top honors in Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of the 500 Best Hotels in the World as the No. 1 hotel in Asia and No. 11 overall in the world for 2013.
On the way to the resort I was listening to others, who had been there, talk about Discovery’s brand of hospitality. Being two hours behind schedule due to the usual delays in Naia and the sudden bad weather that seemed to show up the minute we landed in Kalibo, I was really anxious to get to our destination.
Arriving in Caticlan from Kalibo, we boarded the resort’s private boat that would take us across to Boracay Island. From the port, the ride to the resort was quick—in no time we were in the lobby sipping welcome drinks and refreshing ourselves with a cold towel.
The resort’s resident manager, Seng Teodoro, greeted us. Check-in was smooth, in fact, I didn’t even realize I had done so by the time I finished my drink.
Minimalist design
The resort boasts 88 spacious, Asian- inspired accommodations, ranging from junior to a two-bedroom suite. Each room has high-end amenities.
Large glass windows give guests a scenic view of the rock garden, pool and the beach. Located in Station 1 at the far end of Boracay’s famous two-and-a-half-mile White Beach—away from the partying and the crowd—the place was perfect for someone like me who prefers to relax while enjoying the island’s natural beauty.
Minimalist in design, my room was quite spacious for one person. This standard 45-sq m junior suite is actually large enough for a family of four.
I liked the king-size bed smack in the middle, giving me almost 360-degree access to it as if to mimic the island setting. I was surprised at the amount of available space, given that there was a day bed, a wall-mounted study table, with an LCD Smart TV and sofa.
At one point I felt that there was something still lacking in the room, like maybe a rug or a painting for one of the blank walls. But that’s just me.
Each room has a balcony, shaded by a tree—giving the guest just enough of a view of the resort, yet giving enough privacy.
You won’t go hungry
As for food, you won’t go hungry. Indigo, the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, offers signature dishes using the freshest ingredients.
Sands offers daily dining for those who want a no-fuss meal, while Platito has finger foods and snacks for those who lounge on the beach or near the pool.
Finally, you can top off your day at the Sandbar while enjoying a beer or a cocktail. Don’t miss out on the flavored mojitos.
As for the party, hats off to Teodoro, Discovery Shores’ COO Jun Parreño and the rest of the team for converting the quiet side of Boracay into a festive mardi gras affair complete with masks and plumes. Food from Indigo was superb, especially the steak and jumbo prawns.
Naturally, the party moved on to Station 2, which lasted until the wee hours.
Experience Discovery Shores for as low as P25,000 this lean season until October. Call 7198888; visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com.