I hadn’t returned to the Philippines since 1985, and I found my task of choosing a hotel on one of its 7000 islands daunting to say the least. I chose Boracay because it’s known for its turquoise waters, fantastic water sports, insane beach parties complete with fire dancers and is known for its gorgeous White Beach which is divided into 3 stations. Wanting some quiet time and a bit of privacy, I narrowed my location to Station 1. I happened upon Ambassador in Paradise from many positive reviews on TripAdvisor. Still it was a shot in the dark not knowing anybody who had actually stayed there.

After 3 flights, a van ride, a boat ride and another van ride, we finally arrived at our destination, nearly 24 hours after leaving LAX. From the street, the resort looked quite narrow. As we walked through, the resort spread out a bit wider and was deeper and more expansive than we anticipated. Our room had a partial ocean view on the second floor above the restaurant, close to the beach. It also had a view of the pool and the inner courtyard area. The main dining area was easily accessible using the staircase by our room.

The architecture of the building had a Spanish Mediterranean feel. It might explain why there were many European guests staying at the resort. There were also a sprinkling of Australians. Compared to other hotels, including the more opulent and luxurious hotels down the beach, it appeared Ambassador in Paradise was at full capacity during our stay. I was more than a bit surprised but thought about the how and why of it all. It’s on the beach, has its own private beach area complete with chairs and umbrellas, it’s at Station 1 so there were fewer beach peddlers, it had a great breakfast buffet, the other meals they offered were reasonably priced and the nightly rates of the rooms were quite reasonable for everything the resort offered. As far as amenities, there was a really nice pool in the middle which we didn’t utilize mistakenly until near the end of our visit. The water temperature was actually quite lovely. The resort also had a small non-air conditioned gym in the basement. A few days prior to our arrival, a typhoon had hit and flooded the entire bottom floor. Some of the equipment was still drying as a result.

Our bedroom was nice enough. There was an armoire with shelves and a safe. Our luggage sat outside of it but most of our clothes were able to fit. There was a bench and a table for additional seating. The bathroom did not have air conditioning and the sink did not have a great deal of counter space. The shower area was open to the rest of the bathroom but luckily it was a wide enough space. The room came with a smartphone which allowed guests internet access and allowed local calls. Guests were able to take the phone outside of the resort during their stay.

All in all, for the value and the location, I would highly recommend staying at Ambassador in Paradise. The staff was phenomenal, professional and polite. They had a great variety of food. The nightly entertainment was relaxing. The style of the resort is casual, tasteful and subdued. Best of all, its location was perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

Ambassador in Paradise

Station 1, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, 5608 Philippines

https://www.ambassadorinparadise.com