Spot Stays: Escape the Crowd at This Luxurious Resort in Boracay
Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay
Station Zero, Boracay Island, Aklan
Rates start at P38,500
At a Glance
Rooms and villas: You can book a spacious room for two, a suite, or a huge villa for the whole family—all offer spectacular views.
Food and drink: Order in-room dining 24/7 or visit one of three restaurants around the resort.
Staff: They’ll consistently communicate with updates via Viber; you can reply with questions, concerns, or massage-reservation requests.
Why you should stay: You get that beautiful seaside experience that any Bora trip promises minus the crowds and the constant need for transportation.
(SPOT.ph) A few years ago, Boracay Island in Aklan was primarily the kind of place you went to experience a killer nightlife away from the city—think mid-2010s Fort Strip, but in bikinis and flip-flops. Following the rehabilitation that began in late 2018, the island has since become not just a go-to for young partygoers and laidback tourists, but also a serene destination for friend groups, families, and couples. While the vibrant nightclubs and bars are still mostly alive and well, there are many ways to enjoy Boracay peacefully—a few nights’ stay at Crimson Resort and Spa being just one great example.
Also read: Champagne Problems: Will I Ever Feel Safe Enough to Travel Again?
Here’s what you need to know about this luxurious Boracay resort:
Located in the secluded Station Zero, Crimson Resort and Spa offers that beautiful Boracay experience—white-sand beaches, great food, and soul-soothing lounge sessions—sans the noisy crowds. You can book a cozy Deluxe Hillview Room (P38,500 net) or Deluxe Premier Room (P43,000 net) or go for a Suite (P49,000 net), a Seaview Suite (P61,000 net), or a Suite with Plunge Pool (P64,000 net). If you’re vacationing with the whole fam, you can also opt for one of three types of villas, each with enough room for either three adults and one child or two adults and three children. Take your pick from the Villa with Private Plunge Pool (P82,000 net), the Signature Beachfront Villa with Private Plunge Pool (P91,000), or the Presidential Villa with Private Pool (P157,000 net).
Each room or villa booking includes daily passes to the resort’s breakfast buffet for two adults, 90-minute massage sessions for two people, and roundtrip land and boat transfers to and from the resort. All rooms and villas are equipped with 55-inch LED TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity, automated windows, a safety deposit box, and a coffee maker. Plus, no matter which accommodation you book, you’ll be treated to an abundance of natural light and a spectacular view courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Getting to Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay
Upon arrival at the nearby Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, the resort will arrange to have you picked up by one of their private shuttles, which will initially take you to a waiting area where you’ll be served coffee and snacks while you confirm your booking and present your proof of vaccination. Your luggage will be taken care of as soon as you reach the shuttle—a stub will be provided to you to make sure you can claim your bags as soon as you arrive at the resort. From the waiting area, you’ll board a 10-minute ferry ride straight to Boracay Island. As the boat approaches the shoreline, you’ll get an immediate look at the stunning facade of the sprawling Crimson Resort and Spa.
Out front, you get immediate access to the beach as well as to the pool and a restaurant and bar overlooking the water. Inside, you can take an e-trike to the front desk and check in immediately. You’ll be guided to your room by a staff member—the huge resort is made up of several buildings, so you may need some time to figure out where everything is, but don’t worry because you’ll be provided with a map to help you get around. Plus, walking around the resort, which is surrounded by trees and sunlight, is a relaxing experience in itself.
A few days before you arrive on the island, you’ll receive a text or Viber message from the hotel staff, informing you of what to expect when you arrive and what activities you can do at the resort. This same number will keep in contact with you during your entire stay, keeping you updated about essential information like the breakfast buffet, the in-room dining menu, the spa, check-in and check-out times, and the shuttle schedule to get to the other stations if you’d like to explore the rest of the island. You can reply via text or Viber directly should you have any questions or concerns, making the communication with hotel staff quick and fuss-free.
What to Do
As with any trip to Boracay Island, the beach will likely be your top priority. Luckily, at Crimson, you can walk straight from your room or villa to the shoreline. Take a dip in the water, play in the sand, or just chill by the sea. The resort provides lounge chairs and beach umbrellas on the sand (as well as towels) to make sure you’re comfortable. Right by the beachfront is a restaurant known as Azure Beach Club as well as a bar called J’s Pool Bar where you can order meals, snacks, drinks, or cocktails while you lounge. And just beside the bar is the stunning Main Pool—also surrounded by beach chairs for all-day chilling—where you can swim if you’d rather avoid the sand. Aside from the private pools inside the villas, the resort has a total of four pools including the Indigo Pool, the Cobalt Pool, and for the little ones, the Kids Pool.
On Saturdays, Crimson Resort holds a family-friendly foam party, which is open to all guests. At around 4 p.m., the Main Pool is filled with eco-friendly foam bubbles (made from an organic coconut-based solvent that won’t pollute the water or plants) while fun dance music blasts. Around this time is also happy hour at J’s Pool Bar—you won’t even need to leave the resort to have a thrilling night.
But in case your Boracay vacation is less about cocktails and pool parties, and more focused on relaxing and resetting, don’t miss out on Crimson’s AUM Spa where you can get a 90-minute Hilot Massage or Signature Massage. To book a massage, all you have to do is send a text or Viber message to the hotel staff. Once you get to the spa, you’ll be treated to a pamper sesh that includes a foot bath and a relaxing massage at the pressure level of your choice. And if you’re the type of person who finds exercise therapeutic, you can also visit the resort’s Fitness Center, which is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Aside from providing guests with an overall pampering experience, Crimson Resort and Spa also aims to be an art hub in Boracay. Drop by their Art Room to check out beautiful paintings made by local artists. Not only does the resort display and sell these works, but they also help train the artists who create them with the help of their in-house artist Ehric Egualada. Egualada even offers art classes in the resort for both adults (P1,900 per head) and children aged 12 and below (P1,600 per head), which you can book through the hotel staff. There, he’ll teach you some simple but informative techniques on colors, shapes, and creative expression.
Where to Eat
No vacation is complete without good food and at Crimson Resort and Spa, you’ll have more than enough variety to keep you well-fed from arrival to departure. You can choose from three restaurants in the vicinity. Drop by Mosaic—which also serves as a lounge area with free snacks for guests waiting for their rooms to be ready—for Latin American eats, juicy steaks, and excellent cocktails. The restaurant features high ceilings decked out in elegant wood paneling and ornate lighting fixtures perfect for a vibrant dinner. Just outside its floor-to-ceiling windows is a spacious balcony where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the ocean—you’ll want to drop by for drinks just before the sun sets.
For international cuisine, head to Saffron Cafe where you can feast on incredible dishes from all over the world from Asian favorites like noodles and sushi to European classics like pasta and pizza. Saffron is also where the resort’s breakfast buffet is held every day from 7 to 10:30 a.m.
Last but not least is Azure Beach Club where you can enjoy contemporary, sunlit interiors and a wide selection of Asian fare including Japanese, Korean, and Indian. You can head straight to J’s Pool Bar right next to the restaurant for cocktails as soon as you’re done dining.
If you prefer to eat near the ocean, don’t miss the resort’s Dinner Buffet, which takes place right on the beach and under the night sky. Dine on fresh seafood including oysters and a selection of sashimi or go for grilled meats that are straight off the fire. We recommend getting a taste of the resort’s signature Laksa, which is as flavorful as it is fiery. Plus, save room for dessert because they’ve got fresh fruits and delectable pastries, too.
Check out our Tiktok video of this Boracay resort:
Crimson Resort and Spa is at Station Zero, Boracay Island, Aklan. Rates start at P38,500. For more information, visit Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay’s website.
