We stayed at Boracay Terraces because we were unable to book a room at any of the more popular hotels (Fridays, Seawind, Mandala, etc.) due to it being the peak season and our decision to visit Boracay at the last minute. Boracay Terraces is the last hotel at the very end of White Beach station 1 (about a 5 minute walk from Fridays) and, as a result, is probably in the quietest spot while still being conveniently located within walking distance to where the action is.

Despite its great location, the hotel was only average. We stayed in a room on the 3rd floor, which is the top floor. While the room and the bathroom were quite spacious and we had a private terrace, the room had an overall "run-down" feel. For instance, one of the hinges on the cabinet doors came off immediately after we opened it, the TV remote did not work, the bathroom caulking had cracks and gaps, the bathroom amenities were very low budget, etc. The shower pressure was also very weak (although maybe it is better on the lower floors) and the staff service, though polite and adequate, was a bit aloof.

To be fair, we did not bother to point these problems out to the management since we only stayed for 3 nights and did not want to waste any time complaining. My sense is that the staff would have taken our complaints seriously and attempted to remedy them, if possible. However, that is the difference between active management found at the truly superior hotels in the region, and passive management at the average hotels. These minor details should be addressed proactively rather than waiting for a complaint before taking action. Despite our complaints, the room was comfortable and well designed, and the hotel location was excellent. This hotel has amazing potential and, perhaps with more attention to service details and undergoing a solid renovation project with high-quality fixtures, can become one of the top "boutique" hotels on the island.

This was our first visit to Boracay. We are seasoned travellers in the Asia-Pacific region and have visited other "paradises" in the region. Boracay itself rates among the tops, but our sense is that the hospitality industry on this island has a long way to go. It may very well be that our hotel was on par with other hotels on the island and we do not yet have a good basis for comparison. For example, we experienced several power brownouts at various locations on the island. The locals were completely unfazed and went about their business and, inevitably, the power would come back on within a minute or two. Maybe it's unfair to ask for 5-star hotel facilities when the island's infrastructure itself is not capable of supporting it.

Moreover, depending on your priorities, this "backwardness" can be either a bit annoying, or charming and unspoiled since development itself is not necessarily a good thing. All in all, we will definitely visit Boracay again, and woud not mind staying at Boracay Terraces if the price is right. We are also very curious to see how the landscape changes when Shangri-La completes its resort in 2008. What effect will it have on competition, and will it open the doors for other international hotel chains and drive the smaller hotels out of business? Is this a good thing for Boracay?