Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay

This is my 3rd stay at Movenpick Boracay and it did not disappoint. ROOM: I got the same type of Junior Suite but still didn't get a beach view and I just learned which building with the same suites have that view so I'll request it next time. It is also depending on availability. I learned to appreciate the palm tree canopy because it does provide a nice shade from the hot sun to help keep the room cool. It also diffuses other sounds including the loud music from the beach bar, which sometimes gets a little too loud. The Jr Suite is great for couples or solo travelers who love a lot of space. Having a huge bathtub is luxurious to soak in after a day of activities and the rain shower head fully washes away all the sand. I love the nespresso machine as it elevates the coffee station quality and I appreciate the mini fridge as well. The beddings are not high thread count but they're very nice and clean and crisp. FOOD: At the Marketplace, it was mostly good but not the best and maybe it's because there's more guests and not enough cooks. There's plenty of wait staff who make it clear it would take 30-45 minutes for food to arrive. I think mine averaged under 30, which is reasonable. The breakfast buffet is always good with a variety of options including some for picky eaters. My lunch favorite was the miso salmon sinigang. It's good for sharing but I'm a solo traveler so it's always too much. My other favorite was the pork adobo with a velvety buttery pork belly. I was very disappointed with the halo-halo because it was overcomplicated. I was told the chef wanted the ice to be made with evaporated milk but it made it like bland ice cream instead of regular ice with the cream. It also had chocolate ice cream instead of ube, and it had regular corn on top (not even sweet or creamed). It was nicely served in a coconut but it was a waste because I could barely eat the dessert. BEACH/POOL: Although nothing can compare to the post-pandemic quietness with barely 10 people on the beach, compared to the other beaches on the lower stations, it's still pretty chill. I was very happy to see the beach improvement with buoys to mark where the boats can't pass through which lessens the big waves on the shore. I think the bright orange pontoon in the middle of the beach ruins the view but if I was arriving in a private boat, I would love that it's there. I wish I knew about it because I would've splurged on it just for the experience. Some of the towels should probably be replaced because they're frayed and stained. There's plenty of beach chairs but not enough shades especially when people greedily 'save' seats with umbrellas but don't come back to it until hours later. The staff try to keep an eye on such behavior but it's not easy. I think they need to come up with a system so guests don't abuse it. NEIGHBORHOOD: I'm very disappointed that a massive construction is happening at the entrance that will surely affect traffic. The city has allowed the building of a casino/resort with a new city center. I'm sure it would help with the economy and employ thousands of locals but it will also bring a different set of travelers, changing the relaxing vibe. I hope Movenpick doesn't compromise the beach access because the natural beauty of the resort is what makes it an international travel destination.

The Good The morning breakfast buffet was genuinely excellent. There was a wide variety of options, everything was fresh, and the staff came around often to clear used dishes so the tables never felt cluttered. The beach itself was also a major highlight. It’s private, quiet, and free from the constant souvenir vendors you get on other parts of Boracay. You can actually relax without being approached every few minutes. There’s also a strong security presence throughout the property, which made the whole area feel safe and well‑monitored. Overall Impression Despite the great breakfast and beautiful beach, the resort didn’t feel like a true 4–5 star experience. I understand the surrounding area has a lot of poverty, and I’m not commenting on that at all — this is strictly about the resort itself. Room & Housekeeping • The beds were surprisingly loud with every movement. • Housekeeping didn’t restock washcloths for two days in a row, and the body wash was empty by day two. Dining Issues • They ran out of tomatoes and had no pizza, which is about a third of the menu. One of the four restaurants is Italian, so a lot of options weren’t available. • There’s also a Japanese restaurant on-site, but there are no signs for it. We didn’t even know it existed until our fourth day. • Lunch and dinner consistently took 30–45 minutes to arrive, even when only a few tables were seated. This wasn’t a one‑off — it happened multiple days. With only two dining options open, the wait times added up. Check‑In Experience • Check‑in was supposed to be at 3 PM. We arrived a little after 1 PM and were told the rooms would be ready in about an hour. More than two hours later, they still weren’t. • By the time it was already past 3 PM, I had to get a bit firm with the staff just to get the rooms expedited. Only then did they push housekeeping to finish them. • Compensation wasn’t offered — I had to ask for it. They did give us a late checkout, which I appreciated, but it wasn’t proactively offered.

Beautiful hotel, beautiful beach, helpful and friendly staff, good food, good experience!

Everything about our stay was almost perfect — except for one thing: the room design. Although we booked a suite, I didn’t particularly like that the bathroom didn’t have a door or even a divider. It’s quite uncomfortable to bathe while the air conditioning is blasting through the room, but it’s also inconvenient to adjust the temperature every time someone needs to shower. I also would have appreciated a door separating the bedroom and the living area, which is essentially what defines a proper suite. That said, everything else truly made up for it. The staff were all excellent — very accommodating, friendly, and clearly well-trained. Everyone we encountered did their job with warmth and professionalism, which made the entire stay feel very welcoming. One thing I also noticed was the guest profile. There were a lot of foreigners staying at the resort — I would estimate that only about 10% of the guests during our stay were Filipinos. To me, that really says something about Mövenpick being a top choice among international travelers and more discerning guests who are looking for a quieter, more premium Boracay experience. We also walked along the beachfront to both Crimson and Shangri-La (with Mövenpick conveniently located between them), and I can honestly say that Mövenpick’s beachfront was the best among the three. It was wide, clean, peaceful, and very well maintained. Speaking of the beach, the sand is beautiful and the beachfront is very clean. Of course, Station 1 will always have the finest sand in Boracay, but what I absolutely loved about Station Zero is the sense of privacy and seclusion. It feels calm, exclusive, and far from the crowds. The amenities are superb, and we genuinely enjoyed them throughout our stay. The breakfast buffet was also fantastic — definitely more premium compared to other hotel breakfast buffets we’ve experienced. There was a great variety and the quality of food was excellent. I’m also very grateful that our request for a suite near the beachfront and the pool was granted. Since we were traveling with our two kids, it made everything much more convenient and hassle-free. All in all, it was a very memorable and enjoyable stay for our family. If the suite had been designed more like a true suite and the bathroom simply had at least a sliding door, I would easily rate this experience a perfect 10/10.

Facilities were good, the room we got is quite small though. The restaurants were a bit over priced and nothing special. The breakfast buffet is not as good as it was 2 years ago. The best part about the trip are the staff! They are simply amazing.