Shangri-La is a spacious luxury resort with 2 private beaches: Punta Bunga and Banyuga Beach. It’s located in the north-west of Boracay, away from the island’s hustle and bustle. In this review I’ll cover the place in detail…
Among other topics, I’ll discuss its main charms, its location details, its highlight worthy amenities, the best rooms, how to contact them, plus I’ll also cover both its pros and cons.
Once read you should have a very good idea of what to expect, and if it’s the right place to stay for you.
About Shangri-La & Its Location
Shangri-La is the first 5 star resort that was built in Boracay, setting a high bar for all the other luxury resorts that followed. It’s located in the Yapak neighborhood which is a 20-minute ride away from the center of Boracay.
Also located in the Yapak neighborhood is Puka Beach, a popular and beautiful yet relatively quiet beach due to it’s distance from the center of Boracay. CityMall is also near.
That said, Shangri-La main attractions are its own 2 private beaches, Punta Bunga and Banyuga. These beaches are only accessible to guests and they offer a very peaceful and serene experience.
As you’d expect from a luxury resort, its services are great. All villas and the Seaview Suite come with butler service, and speedboat transfers from the airport. The hotel also has a large pool, and 4 in-house restaurants.
Shangri-La’s main drawback is that it’s a 20-minute shuttle ride away from the center of Boracay. If that’s fine with you then it’s a great place to stay. If however you like to stay in a luxury resort closer to the action, then I suggest having a look at the hotels in Station 1.
See Shangri-La in Detail & Check its Best Price on Agoda
- The resort has 2 guests-only private beaches
- Beautiful pool area & good options for in-house dining
- Butler service and speedboat transfers
- It’s a 15 to 20-minute shuttle ride away from White Beach and D’Mall
The distances from Shangri-La to different points of interests are: 20 minutes to D’Mall and Station 2, 15 minutes to Station 1, and 30 minutes to Station 3.
Its Most Noteworthy Amenities
One of the hotel’s main draws is no doubt the beautiful naturalistic beachfront infinity pool, which is one of the largest in the country. Lined with palm trees, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon lounging. And because the pool is quite large, it doesn’t get crowded with guests.
The hotel also has 4 in-house restaurants, which serve different cuisines in different settings. The poolside Cielo and Vinatana near the garden are more casual joints serving international food and Filipino favorites.
Another restaurant, Rima, serves award-winning Mediterranean food and degustation menus in the treetops with a beautiful overview of the resort. Finally, Sirena is another award-winning seafood restaurant and bar set on a clifftop, perfect for a romantic meal with views over the ocean.
Also worth highlighting is Chi, Shangri-La’s in-house spa village. The vast complex is separate from the hotel and overlooks a private bay for maximum relaxation. It has a good range of luxurious services including facial treatments, massages, body wraps, and body scrubs.
My Top 3 Room Recommendations
Amongst the wide selection of rooms, suites and villas, I chose 3 of the best rooms to serve specific purposes. All of them come with complimentary breakfasts.
For a room that gives you good value for money, consider the Deluxe Sea View Room. At a lower price point, you get a spacious and luxurious room with separate shower and bath, and great views of the ocean and sunset.
For couples that want to splurge on a romantic getaway, the Treehouse Villa is worth a look. The two-story villa is cozy and secluded, with panoramic views of the ocean. The lower level houses the bedroom, while on the top level is a living space, including a large balcony with jacuzzi.
The Presidential Suite is a good option for groups who want the ultimate luxurious accommodation. The huge suite spans over 1,718 sqm and comprises three luxury villas that sleep up to six. There’s also a kitchen, several living areas, entertainment room, and your very own lap pool, as well as butler service.
What Guests Say & My Take
At the time of writing, Shangri-La Resort and Spa is rated 9.1 on Agoda, 9.1 on Booking.com, and 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor. Relative to most resorts, that’s an extremely high rating. Personally, I feel that Shangri-La is one of, if not the best luxury resort if a serene experience is something that you value highly.
Shangri-La Contact Info
| Contact number: | +63 36 288 4988 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Website: | https://www.shangri-la.com/boracay/ |
| Facebook page: | https://www.facebook.com/ShangrilaBoracay/ |
| Address: | Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, 5608, Philippines |
P.S. If you’re not yet sure if Shangri-La is the right place for you, 3 good alternative hotels to have a look at with similar price-points and locations are Mövenpick, Crimson Resort, and Fairways & Bluewater.