Le Soleil de Boracay

At first, Le Soleil de Boracay looks every bit the mid-range European villa, with its white exterior, low-rise profile, and balconies lining the facade. The lovely palm-dotted courtyard with an old stone wall and large square pool give it a stylish edge, but the entry-level rooms are basic compared to the rest of the property. A cute poolside bar resembles a trattoria, with its pitched, beamed roof, tiny bar, and tables topped with bright blue tablecloths. On the beachfront, the rustic bistro-style cafe injects splashes of color through mosaic designs and Chinese lanterns. The hotel does try to lay on the charm when guests arrive, with personal touches like cool drinks and shell necklaces gifted on arrival. It remains a popular choice for Station 2, in part because of its impeccably clean interiors and rooms that can fit up to four people. The hotel appeals to couples and families drawn to the affordability, central location, and four-person rooms.

Le Soleil de Boracay is one of many hotels that line the busy beachfront in lively Station 2. It’s within easy walking distance of the area’s buzzing nightlife and dining scene. D’Mall, a popular shopping area, is a few streets north of the hotel. Guests can walk to Stations 1 and 3, and most major attractions -- like Willy’s Rock, the Holy Rosary Parish, and Club Paraw -- are a five-minute moto-taxi ride away. The hotel is a 12-minute moto journey from the island's jetty port. Travelers should allow around an hour, including a ten-minute ferry ride, to reach Boracay’s Cataclan Airport, or two-and-a-half hours to Kalibo Airport. 

The hotel has a range of rooms -- all are clean, with amenities that include air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. We weren’t able to photograph the entry-level Deluxe Rooms, but these and the Premier Deluxe Rooms have a neutral palette and are a little bare in terms of decor. This is a bit disappointing given the charm in the hotel’s public areas. We recommend looking at the Superior Deluxe Rooms and above, which are brighter and have more personality. Premier Rooms have a cool bamboo feature wall and a small sofa. There are plenty of options for families, with many rooms sleeping four guests. Superior Deluxe Loft Rooms having a small mezzanine area with twin beds, and Family Suites have two bedrooms. Premier Seaview Rooms are modern spaces with large balconies that look out over the beach. Downsides to the rooms? Previous guests have mentioned noise from neighboring Station 2 bars, privacy issues with pool-facing rooms, and the fact that some rooms look out onto an unsightly unfinished plot. Bathrooms differ by room category, but most have rainfall showers and counter-top sinks, and feature local touches like stone walls or bamboo poles. 

The direct access to White Beach, complete with rows of plastic sun loungers and umbrellas for easy, breezy days of relaxation, is a real perk of staying at Le Soleil -- the sunset views are not to be missed. For guests, the hub of the hotel is the attractive palm-dotted courtyard, where the large pool provides a quieter spot to relax when the beach gets busy. There’s a shallow end for little ones, and plenty of comfy resin-wicker loungers and day beds. The cute poolside bar, Blue Bar, has trattoria vibes, with a pitched dark beam roof, tiny bar with stools, and tables topped with bright blue tablecloths. On the beachfront, the rustic bistro-style Beach Cafe serves buffet fare -- the free buffet breakfast with American and Filipino dishes is a nice inclusion. The cafe can get hot and busy in peak times with passing tourists. Other facilities to note include a 24-hour reception, room service, and free Wi-Fi in selected areas.