Sea Wind Boracay Island

The rustic lobby sets the scene at this traditional hotel, with its hand-crafted wooden benches, terra cotta floor, local artwork, and high thatched roof strewn with pretty lanterns. Rooms are housed in traditional low-rise buildings with exterior wood and bamboo staircases. While this older property certainly has plenty of charm, there are parts in need of renovation; the small, tired pool, surrounded by paving and plastic sun loungers, has seen better days. The sturdy bamboo loungers peeping out from the palm trees on the beach are a much nicer place to relax and soak up the view. Families and couples stay here for the affordable rates and prime Station 1 location.

As one of Boracay’s older resorts, Sea Wind had the benefit of being one of the first to pick its location. It fronts the widest stretch of White Beach and even has a small section of beach exclusively for guests -- though its garden wing rooms lie across the busy road from the beachfront. The surrounding Station 1 area has a quieter vibe than the buzzing station 2. It’s just a short stroll along the beach to the rock-top shrine at Willy’s Rock, a few minutes’ walk south to the Holy Rosary Parish Church, and a 15-minute walk to Station 2’s vibrant D’Mall. The hotel is a 15-minute motorbike journey from the island's jetty port. It takes around an hour, including the 10-minute ferry ride, to reach Boracay’s Cataclan Airport, or two-and-a-half hours to Kalibo Airport. 

Rooms are housed in two wings -- beach view rooms are by the beach; garden view rooms are across the busy road. Each location has its pros and cons. The garden wing is quieter (although some noise can be heard from passing motorbikes), but you’ll need to cross the road to get to the restaurant, pool and beach. The beach wing is closest to the hotel's facilities, but is busier and noisier. 

The design of the rooms is inspired by Filipino nipa huts -- traditional rural houses with bamboo walls, pitched roofs, and large windows to let in natural light. Rooms here are simple, smart, and clean-lined, with dark wood floors and furniture, crisp white linens, and a couple of local touches like ornate mirrors and wooden artwork. All rooms can sleep four guests and have either have one queen and one single bed or a four-poster bed, plus amenities like air-conditioning, TV, minibar (items at a fee). Coffee- and tea-making facilities are available on request. Bathrooms are fully-tiled wet rooms and have a walk-in shower with glass-block wall. However, in the entry-level rooms they are tired and need renovating. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. For outside space, each room has a small terrace or wooden balcony. Deluxe Rooms are 375 square feet (35 square meters) in size, while Super Deluxe Rooms are 430 square feet (40 square meters) and have more spacious modern bathrooms. 

There’s a small section of beautiful beachfront directly in front of the hotel that’s exclusively for guests, with sturdy bamboo loungers. Travelers should note that this is the one of the island’s top wedding spots, so the private area may not always be available. The hub of the hotel is by the beachfront, where guests will find the small outdoor pool (which has seen better days) and open-air drinking and dining options. Pikoy is the traditional thatched all-day restaurant, serving Filipino and Western dishes. A simple buffet breakfast is included here. The True North Bar sits by the beachfront -- it’s a great spot for a cocktail as the sun goes down -- while the Garden Grille specializes in fresh seafood, with tables set up on the beach under the stars. A small museum documents the history of the local area. There’s also a 24-hour front desk and an air-conditioned function room. The free Wi-Fi is patchy, although this is common in the area.