We’ve secured a great deal on flights and hotels for a peak season island trip – prices like cabbage! This includes airfare, accommodations, transfers, and departure taxes, all starting with a 2.
Additionally, we’ve replenished inventory of family rooms (for 2 adults and 2 children) at the Anantara Resort on Koh Yao in Phuket, which we previously promoted. There will be no price increase during May Day, summer holidays, or National Day.
Let’s first introduce the main product for Boracay Island.
Round-trip flights from Shanghai to Boracay (Caticlan) for 5-6 days, including 2 nights in a hotel, transfers, and departure tax, priced at 2,499 yuan per person.
Multiple departure dates available in February and March, with group visa facilitation. A minimum of 2 people is required to book, and 2 people will share a room.
Purchase code: 89￥ CZ3457 qErVWiviR5W￥ https://m.tb.cn/h.5JZnztq/
Sales start punctually at 9 AM! The package is non-refundable, so you can stock up with confidence.
This is sold through the official Fliggy store, and if there are any fulfillment issues, you can directly contact Fliggy.
Stock is limited as each flight has only a few seats. We recommend purchasing based on need, to ensure availability for those who genuinely plan to travel.
The other product is Phuket, making a comeback as a hot seller.
3 nights in a family sea-view suite (accommodates 2 adults and 2 children under 12) at the Anantara Resort on Koh Yao, including breakfast, with round-trip transfer from Phuket Airport to the pier and speedboat to Koh Yao for 5,299 yuan.
Valid until October 28, 2024, with specific price increases and unavailability details on the page. There will be no price increase from April 16 to October 28, including during May Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, summer holidays, and National Day.
Purchase code: 37￥ CZ0001 zK0RWRWVI34￥ https://m.tb.cn/h.5qtuKLn/
Also starts selling at 9 AM, with limited stock of only 2000 sets.
Let’s take a detailed look at these two offerings, starting with Boracay.
These flights are chartered with RW Philippine Royal Airlines, which is not a low-cost airline, and offer comfortable seating with free checked luggage of 15 kg per person.
Flight information is as follows, noting that the outbound journey is counted starting the next day.
It’s important to point out that since the flight arrives quite early, at 6 AM in Caticlan, you will likely be on Boracay Island by 7 AM. Therefore, hotel check-in starts from the first day. For most people, even if they arrive at the hotel around 7-8 AM, they usually choose to rest. Otherwise, waiting until afternoon to check-in might leave you too exhausted to enjoy your time.
If you have special requests and prefer not to check in on the first day, please note this when communicating with customer service; late check-ins can be accommodated, thus slightly increasing your fatigue but offering better value.
Every Monday, there are 5-day round trips, and on Wednesdays and Fridays, there are 6-day round trips. The dates of February 7/9/12/16 are designated for the Spring Festival and come with a price increase.
The details of the specific prices are listed in the table below:
The package price includes departure tax, which is approximately 120 yuan, and you don’t need to pay it separately.
Additionally, one advantage of charter flights is the ability to use a group visa (extra fee of 350 yuan to the travel agency).
If you are not on a charter, buying your own ticket to the Philippines can actually be quite troublesome regarding the visa. However, if you hold a valid U.S. (B1/B2), Australian, Canadian, Schengen, or Japanese visa, you can enter the Philippines visa-free for 7 days. Holders of Hong Kong and Macau passports can also enter visa-free for 7 days.
The two nights included in the package are at CANYON; any additional nights need to be booked separately.
CANYON opened in 2022 and is not located by the beach, with rates generally around 300-400 yuan per night. Although this is the basic hotel option for the package, based on the photos, I believe it will suffice.
I genuinely feel that choosing CANYON is enough.
For an additional 800 yuan per person, you can upgrade to one of three options: Henann Regency, Henann Garden Resort, or Henann Lagoon Resort.
We visited Henann Regency during our last outing, so I have some real photos to share. This hotel is in the S2 area and is just steps away from the beach, featuring a large pool.
There are three beach areas in Boracay: S1, S2, and S3. S1 has the finest powdery sand, but it also has the most expensive hotels.
Henann Garden Resort and Henann Lagoon Resort are also located in S2, but we haven’t visited these two properties.
Generally speaking, paid upgrades are usually where the vendors make their profits; it’s best to compare rates before deciding; you won’t lose out that way.
Another huge advantage is the convenience of flying into the right airport.
There are two airports for reaching Boracay: Caticlan and Kalibo.
Kalibo Airport is further away, approximately 50 kilometers to Boracay, requiring a combination of vehicle and boat transfers that take about two hours or more. However, if you fly into Caticlan, you can reach Boracay Island with just one shuttle boat, making it far more convenient.
As a result, flights to Caticlan are a bit pricier, and the number of flights is limited.
Flying into Caticlan saves a lot of hassle; using a shuttle boat is the most time-efficient and convenient way to reach Boracay.
Currently, Boracay is in the dry season (peak season), with little rain and comfortable temperatures.
Boracay can be visited year-round, although the best travel period is between October and April (the dry season). During this time, temperatures typically range from 25-28℃, providing a warm and dry climate with clear and warm waters—making it the most comfortable season of the year.
From May to October is Boracay’s rainy season (with potentially heavier rains from May to July and possible typhoons from July to October).
When visiting an island, it’s always ideal to have less rain and cooler temperatures for an enjoyable experience.
While the flight to Boracay is not very convenient, being categorized as a red-eye flight, the return flight is fantastic, landing in Pudong at 21:30, ensuring that it doesn’t wear you out too much.
I have always highly recommended Boracay Island.
During the outing organized by our travel group in 2023, a group of participants visited Boracay.
The biggest highlight of Boracay is its White Beach, which is about 7 kilometers long and features 4 kilometers of stunning white sands.
I can responsibly say that among all Southeast Asian islands, there’s currently no other beach that can rival Boracay’s.
Here are some photos of our fun times at Boracay.
The sunsets at Boracay are beautiful.
Sailing is Boracay’s most famous activity; during sunset, the west coast fills with sailboats.
Sitting in the netted wings of a sailing boat, gliding toward the sunset-drenched waters, watching the sky turn red during sunset is the most beautiful experience in Boracay.
In summary, Boracay Island is incredibly comfortable.
It’s a small island, perfect for a relaxing holiday. Even if you choose a more affordable hotel, it won’t be too far from the beach. You don’t even need to overplan; just eat, have fun, rest, catch the sunset, and enjoy some spa treatments—it’s more than enough.
Next, here’s a guide to Boracay Island. Previously, our editor, Sister Shan Zongzi, created this content.
First, here’s a map, with the blue box indicating the main areas.
The number one must-visit place in Boracay is definitely White Beach.
The ocean waves have eroded the coral into soft and delicate fine white sand, stretching gently along the coastline, creating one of the “most beautiful white beaches in Asia.”
White Beach extends nearly 4 kilometers from north to south and can be categorized into three areas—S1, S2, and S3—based on development order. As you walk from S3 to S1, the sand gets finer and softer.
Among these, S2 is the most vibrant area, where the island’s commercial center, Dmall, is located, making it the most convenient for shopping and dining. In contrast, S1 and S3, situated at either end, have fewer people, and the shops there tend to be quieter.
Near S1, you’ll find the famous Willy’s Rock, a rocky outcrop known for the statue of the Virgin Mary that locals have placed there. When the tide is low, you can easily walk up to the rocky seaside.
For water activities, S1 is popular for surfing, while S3 is known for kite surfing, depending on the season; some seasons, these activities might occur on the beaches behind S1, S2, and S3.
Many of the best beaches on other islands are often exclusive to high-end hotels, but on Boracay, the long White Beach is freely open to everyone.
Cafés, restaurants, dessert shops, and various stores line the coastline.
They are so close to the ocean that you’d be left wondering if a big tide would rush in to the doorstep of the shops.
The recreational options on Boracay are incredibly abundant.
Since you’re at the seaside, you’ll want to enjoy water activities to the fullest, and Boracay provides endless opportunities—helicopter tours, jet skiing, banana boat rides, underwater walking, and more, all waiting to fill your day with aquatic fun.
There are plenty of “salespeople” on the island promoting various water activities. It’s advisable to check out different providers and compare prices. Their initial quoted prices are often inflated, so use your bargaining skills that are well-known among Chinese tourists!
Now, let’s move on to diving.
Diving shops are mostly concentrated along White Beach in S3, and we chose Aqualife Divers Academy.
The diving experience lasts 2-3 hours. The instructor starts with a briefing in the store, teaching you the breathing techniques and hand signals for diving.
Once we grasped the basics, the instructor took us to a calm area for breathing practice and skill exercises, followed by a boat ride out to sea for approximately 40 minutes of diving.
The total cost is 2,000 pesos per person, covering all equipment, underwater photography, and videography.
Diving was so much fun! The initial fear of the deep sea instantly vanished the moment I submerged! It felt like jumping into an aquarium or diving into the Dragon Palace of Journey to the West, deeply experiencing the serenity and richness of the ocean.
Throughout the entire diving experience, I encountered countless moments of silent awe!
Those seasoned in fine dining would recognize various delectable ocean delicacies underwater: mantis shrimp, lobster, grouper, sea slug… diving left me yearning to salivate!
Next up is surfing.
There are plenty of coaches offering surfing lessons along White Beach, and we spontaneously selected one for 500 pesos to enjoy a 45-minute session.
Before heading into the water, the instructor briefly explains the necessary movements. His primary job is to help you spot good waves and assist with the board, explaining your performance after each ride.
On this particular day, the waves were quite rough, but after a few attempts, I was able to stand up!
I’ve tried surfing before, and mastering it requires practice—but it’s mainly for the experience.
Sunset sailing is one of the most famous activities in Boracay, having tried both the eastern and western coasts, the experience was incredible.
We sailed on a non-motorized sailboat, sitting in netted areas extending from the sides of the boat.
The wind picked up while at sea, creating waves that splashed up, making the boating experience extraordinarily thrilling! It felt far more exhilarating than any yacht or boat I had been on before.
Before December, sunset sailing took place on the east coast, where the sunsets weren’t that stunning. However, after December, it shifted to the west coast, where the sunsets are breathtaking.
After an exhausting day, nothing feels better than a massage.
The Stone Massage in Boracay is definitely worth the experience. In addition to traditional techniques, they use warm, smooth stones to massage acupressure points and for heat therapy.
The warm, slippery stones gliding over the body are quite soothing, and the heated massage method is particularly beneficial for those accustomed to Chinese wellness practices.
The massage shops are concentrated around Dmall, with numerous roadside intermediaries inviting customers. You can negotiate the price, and generally, you get what you pay for.
Our first negotiation garnered a 600 pesos 2-hour massage, although the environment was somewhat rudimentary, the two-hour session offered a variety of techniques that could make anyone drift off to sleep.
Later, we spent 1,500 pesos at a larger establishment, Tiger Foot Massage, which provided an even better experience with a street view from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Moreover, if you’re looking for a nicer environment, there’s a reliable Korean-operated massage parlor that generally guarantees a satisfying experience.
Another joy of Boracay is engaging in discussions about what to eat daily.
Dmall serves as the island’s commercial center, and whenever we felt hungry, we would wander around. We had a long list of places we wanted to try, and each day new ideas sprang up, leaving us with many “next time for sure” vows to honor.
**Gerry’s Grill**
There are three Gerry’s Grill locations on the island, conveniently located along White Beach for you to choose from. The outlet in S2 is the most bustling, while spots on either end tend to have shorter wait times.
Their specialty is Filipino-style barbecue, featuring a complex mix of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. It’s also here that we enjoyed the best grilled squid on the island.
Their crispy pork trotters are also excellent. The skin is roasted until crispy, yet inside, it retains a rich, gelatinous texture.
I highly recommend their house-made iced tea, which is equally delightful when served over ice.
The only downside was the seafood fried rice, which isn’t as tasty as the rice from China. My attempts to enjoy rice several times in Boracay didn’t go well, leading us to embrace stir-fried noodles instead.
**The Pig Out Bistro**
This restaurant isn’t directly along the beach; it’s located a bit off the main road, making it relatively quieter compared to coastal options.
Their standout offering is the seafood platter—a massive dish that fills nearly half the table, featuring oysters, shrimp, sashimi, and calamari. A plate of this alone is sufficient for two people! We tried it, and the seafood was incredibly fresh.
We also ordered their signature burger, which is juicy and satisfying—definitely a great hearty meal.
There’s a similar restaurant named “I Love Backyard BBQ,” but this place is often crowded, so if you want to eat there, it’s best to avoid peak dining hours.
**Jollibee**
There are two Jollibee locations near Dmall, one by the beach and another on the street.
This chain, founded by a Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur, resembles a cross between KFC and McDonald’s in decor, specializing in large chicken legs that are juicy and quite tasty. If you’re craving the guilty pleasure of fried food, pop in here!
However, the similarly famous roasted chicken chain, Andok’s, tends to serve salty and tough fried chicken, which I wouldn’t recommend.
**The Sunny Side Cafe**
The Sunny Side Cafe is the most renowned spot for brunch on the island, with two locations in S1 and S3, both beachfront.
I particularly enjoy their Signature Drink series, a refreshing blend of various fruits.
Their signature pork belly mango jam sandwich is a must-try, with the bread toasted to a croissant-like crispiness that crumbles while you eat. The mango jam balances the richness of the fatty pork, creating a sweet-salty harmony that suits our tastes perfectly.
In addition, their Eggs Benedict and pancakes are also consistently good. The portions here are notably generous, even one main dish is perfect for two.
**Smooth Cafe**
