I've been there when I was 7 years old with my aunt and her friends. I was their baby there being the only kid with them. Hence, the experience was short lived but well remembered. The sand back then was yellowish but pure. The shore is wide and there were lots of seaweeds (eew hater over here!)
So the trip was long forgotten though pictures were there to prove of me visiting the famous island of Boracay at an early age (yes I did voluntarily asked my aunt to get me to that trip even without my parents, I can survive yah know). But the want to go back there as a grown up was strong.
So I insisted that my family plan a trip to this island , which they did give into. With one catch, we're going there on June but on it's first week. So tickets were purchased way ahead of time then hotels were booked. We chose La Carmela since we're really a big group back then and we were thinking that we'll be just in the hotel to sleep and nothing more. Because when you're in Boracay you don't lock up inside the hotel room, you go out and stay on the beach.
La Carmela De boracay
So upon arriving at the hotel we were given refreshments. I cannot say that the hotel was superb but well it's decent and served the purpose we were looking for. They had free breakfast buffet so it's a good deal.
We booked 2 rooms, 1 is a loft room and the other one is an Executive Deluxe. From the original 9 pax, 2 backed out. not bad. The "teens" got the loft room while the parents got the Deluxe room (which by the way is good for 4 pax). The loft room was comfy and enough for the 5 of us.
Breakfast at the hotel was an ok. Nothing much fancy, but I do love that they serve kimchi (I love spicy food!). You have to wake up early to avoid the line and get good seat or wait a little later, though this is not advisable.
The hotel is near station 1, which we preferred. Hahaha we're not fans of noisy places. But we do love to walk around. If you're up to a more than hour walk along the whole stretch of Boracay, then this the place you where you should be.
Transportation
Coming from Kalibo airport could be a bit of a hassle and would require more travel time than that in Caticlan but there are more available flights to and from Kalibo. As of June, they're still developing the Caticlan airport to accommodate more flights and to become a more commercialized area.
The bus trip from the airport to the port was tiring though the bus capacity wouldn't be reached, so you have enough leg room and seating spaces!! (more place to sleep comfortably). The view outside was meh since you'll be traversing between the mountain though there would be glimpse of the beach but not always.
My sister and I went on karaoke mode to while our time off during the whole bus trip. Also, I got busy playing with the kid in front of my seat HAHAHA.
The ferry ride was quick and smooth. It was spacious and the AC is good. All luggage will be left on the rooftop so you better have a water proof case (just in case the rain decided to fall), and will be claimed when you disembark. It only took us 30mins tops to reach the other port which by the way was not the usual drop off I think. They were explaining that during the rainy season they have to drop off thepassengers in another port because the other side have stronger waves.
Then came the multi-cab ride. It can fit up to 10 people I think, again with all your luggage on top of the cab. Funny that the rain poured while we're on the cab and the luggages of the other passengers were not water proof. All of those who'd be dropped off in the same hotel would have to share a multi-cab together. If you want a more private one, it is best to arrange pick up from your hotel.