finding accommodation in boracay shouldn't be hard, as the island is filled with every type of accommodation available. on my last trip to boracay, i decided to go the budget route, and contented myself with a pretty spartan room at chez de paris resort.this time around, though, susie and i put a little more effort in looking for our boracay accommodation, and eventually settled on the quaint-looking true home hotel boracay.
booking
the true home hotel website provides all the information you need--location, accommodation, rates, and contact details. when the hotel didn't reply to my email, i sent my inquiry via mobile, and got a prompt and clear response. when i expressed intent to reserve a room, they immediately asked for my email address and sent me a quotation within the day.
the quotation from true home hotel was done professionally--all the details were there, from the room type, price, and deadline of payment. their address and bank details were also included, along with clear guidelines about payment. this professionalism made me feel at ease about choosing them as my next boracay accommodation option.
in order to reserve a room at true home hotel, one needs to deposit the full amount to their bank account and fax the deposit slip to their office, or pay in person in their manila office. susie had some time to make the trip to manila, and was very impressed with the office. too bad i wasn't able to see it, but according to susie, the place was very tastefully done, and the people were very friendly.
location
fast forward to january 23. we're aboard a roaring tricycle from the boracay pier, heading for true home hotel at 8am. after about 20 to 30 minutes on the cement road, the driver pulls over in front of a golden yellow building with a cute arch for an entrance. true home hotel, a sign above it reads, and the arch frames a wooden table with two chairs, which, we later find out, is their front desk.
true home hotel is in boracay station 1, a stone's throw away from cocomangas, guilly's, and jonah's famous shakes. the back entrance, with the arch, is directly along boracay's main road, beside a pharmacy (that sells beer), and a branch of mañana, a mexican restaurant. from this entrance, there is a little path that takes you directly to the beach, which is just a few meters away from the rock/grotto. you get the best of both worlds--easy access to transportation through the main road using the back entrance, and peaceful sunbaking time at the beachfront.
check-in
upon crossing the arch, we were greeted by a friendly woman at the front desk. i smile and hand her our receipt so she could check us in. in under two minutes, i was holding a key attached to a beaded necklace (it actually made a nice accessory), and being led upstairs to room #6, where we took some time to change, put on sunblock, and freshen up before hitting the beach. this room had two twin beds joined together with a queen-sized mattress placed on top. i had specifically requested for two twin beds for this room, which was going to be shared by javi (susie's brother), and our friend eduardo. when we brought this up with the front desk, they didn't waste time and immediately sent two of their personnel to change the mattress.
room ambience and amenities
the tiled floors from the front desk make for a great introduction to the quaint ambience you will experience in this hotel. rooms in true home hotel really exude a lot of character. they feature a quaint mix of old world furniture. our room had two antique-looking wooden aparadors, which matched the mirror/dresser/sink in the bathroom.
our large room, room #7, was equipped with a king-sized bed with metal frames, a television, table, two chairs, a refrigerator, air conditioner, and in-room safe. the room made me feel at home right away--it was so clean and cozy, i felt like i was staying over at a doting aunt's beach house. i was also quite enamored with the large chandelier that dangled from the ceiling.
the wooden bathroom door slides to reveal the lovely wooden sink/mirror/dresser, with a wooden shelf on the wall to put your toiletries and clothes in. the shower had a water heater, though hot water was hard to come by during "peak showering hours."
two sets of towels are provided in each room--one set for bathing, and another, a blue-and-white-striped set, is meant to be used for lounging on the beach chairs.
service
aside from the lovely rooms, the staff was very accommodating, always ready to help and listen to our requests. they would provide us with towels when we were on the beach, even though they have provided us with beach towels in the room.
breakfast was also one of the best parts of staying in true home hotel. they have a pretty good selection, and each serving was good enough to keep you satisfied. most meals are served with scrambled eggs, tropical fruit, and a drink. selections include filipino breakfast (longganiza, tocino, tapa, or bangus with garlic rice) and american breakfast (hotdog or bacon).
value
superior rooms (the rooms we got) at true home hotel cost P3,500.00 per night--pretty good value since you get free breakfast for 2 for each room, a host of useful amenities, friendly service, free wi-fi (though it's quite slow), and a location that keeps you close to everything. each superior room can accommodate a maximum of 4.
guests of true home hotel also enjoy 5% discount at aria, cafe del sol, mongkok, and true food. island activities can also be booked through the front desk, so you don't have to entertain those touts along the beach.
if my review of true home hotel boracay has convinced you to book a stay there as well, make sure you reserve right away. this lovely hotel only has 9 rooms available. :) you can also view my photos of true home hotel.
hotel information
boracay address: balabag, boracay island
phone number: +63 36 2883784
manila office address: 1850 vasquez street, malate, metro manila
phone number: +63 2 4041464
mobile number: +63 906 4925578
email address: reservations@truehomehotel.com
