Jony’s Beach Resort

As the hotel version of the cliche goes: Don’t judge a hotel by its lobby. Jony’s has a traditional bamboo exterior with cute balconies, but on walking into the drab and basic lobby, some guests may feel disappointed. However, the rest of the hotel is a notch above the competition. There’s a welcoming atmosphere and a relaxed, beachy vibe here. As with several hotels in this area, a busy road divides the hotel in two sections: one housing the beachfront restaurant and bar (Maya's), and the other housing the lobby and rooms. The simple two-story restaurant and bar sits right on the beachfront with stunning views -- peeping out from palm trees, Maya’s has lots of dark wood and resin-wicker chairs and a couple of tables out on the sands. In the other building, terra cotta floors run throughout the public areas, and there’s more dark wood and cream tiles. Attention to detail is stellar here, and thoughtful extras include fresh flowers in the guest rooms. Jony’s has broad appeal, mainly attracting couples, as well as families and groups of friends.

Jony’s sits right across a busy road from Boracay’s most popular beach. White Beach’s name doesn’t lie; its sands are dazzling and powder soft. Jony’s is in Station 1, which has the widest stretch of sand and offers a quieter vibe than the buzzing station 2. The hotel shares the area with several other hotels, dive centers, a couple of small shops, shake shacks, and restaurants. It’s a few minutes’ walk to the Holy Rosary Parish Church and the volcanic shrine of Willy’s Rock in one direction, and Station 2’s vibrant D’Mall in the other. The hotel is a 15-minute motorbike journey from the island's jetty port. Travelers should budget around an hour, including a ten-minute ferry ride, to reach Boracay’s Cataclan Airport, or two-and-a-half hours to Kalibo airport.  

While the hotel restaurant is right on the beach, the main building housing the rooms sits behind the restaurant, across the busy road. Rooms are cozy and simple, with cream tiled floors and dark wood furniture. They've been well-maintained and the fresh flowers are a nice touch (though we wish they'd ditch the old-school bedspreads for some duvets). There's just a bit of abstract art on the walls, and decor is otherwise limited and plain. Guests will find all the standard amenities, including air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are tired and basic; fully tiled, with a shower/tub combo. Hairdryers are included. Standard Rooms are 260 square feet (24 square meters), set back from the road on the ground floor, with a table and chairs outside their front door. Upper-level rooms have a small balcony. Superior Triple Rooms have a single and a queen bed to sleep three adults, while Family Rooms have two queen beds. At the top end, the huge La Perla and La Concha suites are more like small houses, with large terraces that peep out to the sea. 

As there isn't much when it comes to features here, the proximity to the beach becomes and even bigger deal. The simple two-story Maya's restaurant and bar sits right on the beachfront. Peeping out from palm trees, Maya’s serves up Filipino dishes, Mexican comfort food, and fruit shakes, with a side of stunning views. Breakfasts and fruit shakes get top marks from previous guests. The hotel also has sun loungers of its own set up for guests, which isn't always common in the area. Unfortunately, there's no pool or other facilities. A guard is on-hand to help guests cross the busy road to the beach and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout, although it’s sketchy in places.