Hotel Review: Ferra Hotel and Garden Suites, Boracay

Boracay Island. It's small, but oh my!

This island is a piece of paradise. Great restaurants, and relaxed beach bars, only a few hundred metres from anywhere on the island to hit the beach. Turquoise water. Water sports activities are more than you can count. And lots of space to do nothing but relax and drink Mango Smoothies, or well Margaritas.

It's easy to like Boracay. However, the island is changing fast and I am not sure if it's always for the better to have even more tourists come to the island, but everyone should form their own views.

Where to Stay on Boracay Island: Overview

The answer is: It depends. On what you are looking for mostly! Quiet? Party? Something in-between?

The island is divided into parts which are called Station 1, 2 and 3.

All of them have a bit of a different vibe but you can easily walk between them. The stations border the famous White Beach, which is truly a pretty beach to hang out in throughout the day and perfect for snorkelling and swimming in shallow waters.

Further to the north of the island, you can find a handful of smaller beaches like Diniwid Beach, Balinghai Beach, Punta-Bunga Beach and Banyugan Beach which house a few more exclusive places.

Puka Shell Beach is also worth checking out for a day trip if you want to explore something different and less crowded to White Beach.

Boracay is flooded with many different accommodation options: hotels, resorts, guesthouses, hostels, from budget to high-end luxury, you'll find it all!

Station 1

Station 1 offers more fancy hotels but they come with a price tag. It is also further to the north of the island and a little walk to the shopping mall D'Mall, a central point on the island. However, it's the perfect area if you want to spoil yourself, enjoy a quiet place to stay and still have all the entertainment close by.

Station 2

Often referred to as party central, you'll find the nightlife pumping with bars and restaurants one after the other in the evening. You are surely right in the action here with D'Mall in the Center, Starbucks and Subway just down the road and many different accommodation options around. Note that some of them can get a bit nosier at night, just for your consideration. But otherwise, Station 2 is amazing to stay at!

Station 3

The quietest is Station 3, it's very peaceful and walking to Station 2 to catch the party is fairly easy. Here you'll also find the cheapest accommodation prices. It probably only gets cheaper on the Main Road set a bit inland, but I'd say that it doesn't really matter as the beach is only a 5-10 minute walk max anyway.

Bulabog Beach

And then there is Bulabog Beach to the east side of the island. This side is especially popular for windsurfing and kiteboarding and you will see many kites flying over the beach as the wind is very consistent. Consequently, many windsurfing schools and retreats have set up shop here.

Lake Town

I stayed at Ferra Hotel and Garden Suites, a beautiful boutique hotel in charming Lake Town that combines the best of both worlds: quiet and accessibility because it's right between White Beach and Bulabog Beach near D'Mall and the lake.

Something you don't find everywhere on Boracay.

Ferra Hotel Boracay

Ferra Hotel Boracay is a mid-range Boutique Hotel set in a quiet street not far from either of the main beaches of Boracay, pretty perfect if you ask me even though you don't stay beachfront.

Arriving at the hotel, I was greeted with overwhelming friendliness by the staff and they continued to smile throughout the two days and nights I stayed at the hotel.

There are five different room categories ranging from standard rooms to two-bedroom lofts.

I stayed at one of the loft rooms looking out to the pool, which I still rave about to this day. Entering the room, I immediately liked the warm, elegant wooden floors and the otherwise minimalistic style. Of course, you'll find all the essentials here like air-con, cable TV, an in-room safe and a rain shower.

The room has plenty of space including a small kitchenette and living area with a big couch downstairs and the bedroom set open-plan upstairs. I felt relaxed and at home from the first minute.

And of course the friendly staff served me a refreshing drink upon arrival. Cheers to a great time at Ferra!

Only opened in mid-2015, Ferra Hotel and Garden Suites Boracay features 37 rooms as well as a rooftop terrace for sundowners and a small swimming pool on the ground level.

And yes, they even have free Internet all throughout the hotel, which kept my wifi-hungry digital nomad heart happy.

On the ground floor, you can find the Modern Asia restaurant which is part of the hotel and opens up to the turquoise pool. I only took breakfast here, which had a decent selection and definitely didn't leave me hungry. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner.

It's funny swimming right next to the restaurant but definitely makes for a nice atmosphere when you just stumbled out of bed to have your breakfast waffles and coffee next to the pool.

The rooftop lounge and bar is perfect for sunset and enjoying the warm ocean breeze over dinner and a drink or two.

I had an excellent salmon steak dinner up here watching the sunset and the sky sparkle in all colours ranging from orange to deep purple, magnificent! Acceptable prices and nice background music while it usually doesn't get very crowded. They have a buy one get one free happy hour too, be sure to take advantage of it!

Ferra Hotel Boracay also organises tours and activities all around the island as well as airport transfer and shuttle services.

The staff was incredibly friendly, always smiling and recommending things to do, the best beaches and places to go to! And they surely waved me off in style on the morning I left Boracay as it was pouring rain, everyone still smiled.

A very warm thank you to Ferra Hotel Boracay for having me stay! All opinions and recommendations in this post are my own.