(Late post due to author observed the lenten season ^_^ )
We planned our Boracay summer getaway last December 2010, when mom and dad received their Getaway Certificate from Club Astoria as a gift for being a new member. Then dad chose to spend that certificate in Boracay. Since we are 7 in the family and it cost so much for the plane tickets alone, so we decided to make an adventure. A road-trip to Boracay via Oriental Mindoro. Since our reservations to the Astorial Hotel in Boracay was March 23, we left Baguio City on March 22 at midnight because we fetch Jojo and Jessa at NAIA terminal 3. We left NAIA at around 8am and we took the journey to Batangas Port via Skyway to SLEX and Star Toll. The good thing was Skyway to SLEX and SLEX to Star Toll are all inter-connected, so the whole travel from Manila to Batangas was smooth, comfortable and hassle free because at the end of Star Toll is the entry to Batangas port for a RO-RO to Calapan, Mindoro. We reached Batangas Port after 3hrs of travel from Manila and we directly booked our vehicle in Montenegro Lines that will bring us to the Port of Calapan, Mindoro.
We planned our Boracay summer getaway last December 2010, when mom and dad received their Getaway Certificate from Club Astoria as a gift for being a new member. Then dad chose to spend that certificate in Boracay. Since we are 7 in the family and it cost so much for the plane tickets alone, so we decided to make an adventure. A road-trip to Boracay via Oriental Mindoro. Since our reservations to the Astorial Hotel in Boracay was March 23, we left Baguio City on March 22 at midnight because we fetch Jojo and Jessa at NAIA terminal 3. We left NAIA at around 8am and we took the journey to Batangas Port via Skyway to SLEX and Star Toll. The good thing was Skyway to SLEX and SLEX to Star Toll are all inter-connected, so the whole travel from Manila to Batangas was smooth, comfortable and hassle free because at the end of Star Toll is the entry to Batangas port for a RO-RO to Calapan, Mindoro. We reached Batangas Port after 3hrs of travel from Manila and we directly booked our vehicle in Montenegro Lines that will bring us to the Port of Calapan, Mindoro.
11:30am - early departure, Batangas Port. The Vessel was good, Clean and has an Air conditioned room with T.V. but we spent the whole 1.5hrs of sea travel sleeping because of our early departure in Baguio City. Approximately 2hrs sea travel from Batangas Port to Calapan (docking included). Then we drove to Calapan downtown to find a place to eat for lunch. We Left Calapan at around 2:30pm and cruise the 3hrs road to Roxas for another RO-RO ride to Caticlan, Aklan. We arrived around 5:30pm at the Roxas Port, there was a RO-RO trip to Caticlan at 6:30pm but we decided to crossed the sea in the following morning. We stayed at the room for rent near the port who has a parking space. The Montenegro Lines crew advised us to be ready at around 4am because the ship might depart between 5am to 6am.
We woke up early in the morning and get ourselves ready, we had our coffee at the store near the port entrance. We left our vehicle at the place we stayed in and pay for 150php a day. The vessel depart from Roxas at 6am. The Montenegro Lines really has this clean facilities. Our cruise going to Caticlan was a bit wavy, as in sobrang maalon, okay lang sana kung maalon lang kaso malalaki ang alon at ang sabi nila normal lang daw yun sa banda dun, kaya if you have phobias on water I'll recommend to take plane instead because you might have a suffering trip for that 4-5hours sea travel because of the waves. We arrived at Caticlan Jetty Port at around 11am and we had lunch at a chicken BBQ hauz near the Jetty Port Terminal, after lunch we headed to the terminal and pay all the fees needed. Fare from jetty port to boracay via Montenegro fast craft is 35php, non montenegro is 25php but we chose the montenegro. Now, this is the disappointing scenario; Fare from Jetty port to Boracay is 35php (since this was our ride), We thought its all that we need to pay, but then we need to pay another 50php each for the terminal fee, okay thats alright because there are always a terminal fee anyway anywhere in the Philippines. We thought thats all, but wait! there's more!, You need to pay 75php each for the environmental fee. OMG! huwaaattt! fare is only 35php but then you will spend over a hundred pesos to be in Boracay! (hey! it's just a 15minute ride men! ) . Mas maiintindan ko pa kung 75php ang pamasahe ng bangka at 35php ang terminal and 50php ang environmental fee. Hay naku! pano ba makakapasyal ang mga local tourist kung ganun kamahal. But anyway, maybe they think all tourist in Boracay are rich people!, Well, that's Boracay!
Around 1pm when we check-in at the Astoria Boracay and I super love their place If i'm going to rate their place I'll give them the highest rate. The Receptionist is kind at hindi mahal ang smile. The crews are friendly and accomodating (hmmm, i guess that's all their job means..lol). I Love their rooms, super sosyal with wi-fi pa. The best spot for me is their Pool especially at night because of the lights. Sobrang ganda.
We plunge into the beach late in the afternoon because we spend our siesta time sleeping at the hotel room, sobrang ganda kasi ng room kaya parang ayaw mo ng lumabas, hehehee. At night you can stroll around the long stretch white and fine beach where you can see alot of activities at night such as bars, partying all night and you can watch Poi dancers performing at the seashore. There were no more sand castles to take picture with I guess pinagbabawal na yun. Boracay has plenty activities to offer; Diving. Parasailing,Parawsailing, Banana Boat Ride, Fly Fish Ride, Island Hopping, Snorkeling, get a henna tattoo and many more. In terms of food, there are lots of restaurant just outside hotels because they are everywhere, but if you're looking for a cheaper one you can go to D'Mall area to find good food and affordable, But if you're still looking for a cheaper one na parang nasa Mall ka lang, go to Mang Inasal and have you're unlimited rice =)
We plunge into the beach late in the afternoon because we spend our siesta time sleeping at the hotel room, sobrang ganda kasi ng room kaya parang ayaw mo ng lumabas, hehehee. At night you can stroll around the long stretch white and fine beach where you can see alot of activities at night such as bars, partying all night and you can watch Poi dancers performing at the seashore. There were no more sand castles to take picture with I guess pinagbabawal na yun. Boracay has plenty activities to offer; Diving. Parasailing,Parawsailing, Banana Boat Ride, Fly Fish Ride, Island Hopping, Snorkeling, get a henna tattoo and many more. In terms of food, there are lots of restaurant just outside hotels because they are everywhere, but if you're looking for a cheaper one you can go to D'Mall area to find good food and affordable, But if you're still looking for a cheaper one na parang nasa Mall ka lang, go to Mang Inasal and have you're unlimited rice =)
We did enjoy our 3days in Boracay we really had a great time. So we left Boracay on March 25 at 2pm and we took the 3pm Montenegro trip from Caticlan to Roxas. We arrived Roxas at around 8pm, so we decided to spent a night at Roxas and Continued our journey to Manila the next morning but we had a side trip to Puerto Galera first then to Manila. It was really a great roadtrip with family.
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