Boracay Island Travel Forum

I read a recommendation, among many on this page for several hotels including Dave Straw Hat Inn. I foung their web page and contacted them to set up reservation for April. They were nice enough and prompt and helpful, but I was told that I had to make a deposit to hold and secure a room. They wont hold a reservation ln face value, they said. This will be my first time to Boracay...I also contacted Orchids and was told almost the same thing. Has any one ever stayed at these two places and is it safe to make a deposit with them or any resort on Boracay. I heard horrow stories about resorts being a mess or no record of deposits. Dave's did say that I could pay with PAY PAL on line which seems more legite. Anyway, can I trust these people or should I just show up on the island and look for my own place?

I had the same ... first I had to pay a deposit than they confirmed me the reservation ... I was also a bit affriad but everything turned out well. Our accomodation was not in Dave also not in Orchids ... but they were ok and waited us at the Caticlan airport as promissed ... I think you can trust them ... especially because they live out of tourism so they cannot afford not even 1 tourist who will say he got cheated at reservation deposit payment!

There are so many secure rooms and you can have your reservation by yourself. This time in Phils are lesser tourists. So for me, you can have your own better choice. If you are afraid, I'll double check what you're asking the Dave Straw Hat Inn without downpayment. I'll double check and get back to you soon tomorrow. Pls. don't deposit any money. Yes, I know they're working tourism, but for me, If I'm a foreigner I feel tense and not so sure what to do. If you can wait up to 9-10 am, I'll reply you soon. I'm staying in Manila for more than 20 years and I'll call them what. I've no interest to have any commission from you or any foreigners, because I'm doing import & export business. All I want is to help people who like to enjoy our country and for safety measures.Angelin GSM Mobile :+63920-8185684

please dont try it you will get rip off

go to fridays resort in boracay very nice and helful and your safe i 4 times been there and stayed you will love it

I stayed at Dave's Straw Hat Inn, Villa Camilla, Seabird in the past...all ask for deposits during high season. When I stayed at Dave's, the last place I was at when there I paid a deposit and all went very well...met me at boat, welcome drink and clean clean rooms with AC etc. It was a wonderful place. Nice people. I also was told that for small inexpensive resorts like Daves and Orchids, many make reservations without deposits and dont show, leaving them with empty rooms during high season. Small resorts with empty rooms means higher prices later as they have to make up for it somehow to pay the bills. I would make a deposit if I went back there without a second thought or you can go to Fridays as it was suggested and pay 3 times as much for a room. The online companies like boracay.com and boracay.live ask for 100% deposit for any and all resorts they offer as well...good luck. Thanks

I dont know how in the world you can say a resort will rip someone off when the resort or any resort for that matter has never done it before. Fridays, yeah, good recommendation....pay 3x as much as the other places mentioned...And by the way, Fridays this time of year also gets a deposit in terms of credit card payment of first night...

hi. I'm sorry to hear what you said about the deposit. Actually those travel agents want to play safe that you'll not transfer to any hotel. So I confirmed what you said. I called directly to The Orchids this mornings, and they told me that you can send fax the flight tickets confirmation at their fax number : +6336-2885648. Call the reception: Mr. Herman Serrnao or Jun. GSM Mobile : +63918-916-9816 or tel : +6336-2883313. You don't need to make a deposit as long as you show your confirmation ticket. You can buy your ticket at domestic airlines either Asian Spirit or Sea Air Cost about P6,000.oo for 2 way ticket. Going to Katiklan, Boracay.

Those travel agents want to earn money for their assurance purpose. For me the beach is open for the public, free of charge. The problem is that where you're going to sleep at night.

The Orchids is walking distance for few minutes and Dave Straw Hat is their neighbor.

Room Rate of The Orchids are :
Fan Room without Air con - US$ 14.oo
Aircondition - US$36.oo
Cottage - US$ 20.oo

Or you can call at the Red Coconut for package tour free meals, the price is P5,985.oo twin bed promotion up to May 31. call Tin Tin or Joseph. Tel : +632-852-7789 to 92 Fax : +63-2-852-7793

Or you can call at Le Soleil de Boracay price for 3 days & 2 nights with free meals at P5,700.oo for 2 persons, air-conditioned room.

Any question about this reservation, just send me message and I'll help you. I'm not a fixer or travel agency. Just wanna help you, because you like to visit our country.

Angelin

I'm staying for years in Philippines, but I can tell you that there are some honest and dishonest person. So probably, you're first time and can't speak our Philippine Language. The point is that you're a foreigner. So I hope you don't have misunderstood all people here. I'm trying to said that the beach is for everyone. Only the difference is where you'll going to sleep. The room here is alright at The Orchids. The reception will going to fetch you at the airport as long you give them your confirmation date. So many places has their own strategy to make criticize, it's only business strategy. Book yourself or ask a person who can speak the same language. I'm assure you'll enjoy staying without any commitments to any agents.

That's a real traveller dictionary, to discover and learn experience. So have no fear, just wear simple clothes when you arrive here in Phils. Nobody will harm you or cheat you. Simplicity is the best motto for travellers, never arrogant. Happy trip to our Boracay~!Welcome to Philippines~!

Alex, negative comments like that are completely unnecessary. You have no reason to suspect that either of those resorts would rip you off - I know many people who have stayed there and found them friendly and professional. Deposits are required because some tourists don't have the decency to call and cancel their bookings. Please make sure you know what you are talking about before you post comments like that!

I agree with sirenna! Everywhere in the word there is a cancellation fee why wouldn't be in Boracay? Deposit is understandeble and I think is fair as well!
I made my reservation via http://www.asiatravel.com/ and I got what I payed!

i've stayed at dave's just two weeks ago and the owners are nice people. i did pay a deposit which my friend gave to them when he went to boracay the week before i did. i was assured though that if i didn't like the place when i got there, i could just stay for the nights that i paid and look for other accomodation. i did stay there the rest of the week though. it would have been a hassle to change places. if you text them when you arrive at caticlan terminal, they will meet you at boat station 3.

for people who live in the philippines, depositing through the resort's bank account (usually allied bank as it was the first bank in the island) is probably the easiest way to make a deposit.

hi! i just came back from boracay yesterday. we stayed at orchids and they did ask for a deposit for the first night, which we gave them. got there and there were NO problems at all. the staff were decent and i liked the place. good value for money. i think it would also be ok with dave's (it's right next door to orchids and it looked ok). anyway, holler if you still have more questions.

valerie