Established all the way back in 1982, Fridays Boracay resort is one of the longest lasting hotels on the island. Don’t worry though, it has been fully renovated at the end of 2015, looks great and is very well maintained. This resort has enjoyed stellar reputation for many years, and is known to be a place where service and quality always comes first.
Fridays is located near the far end of Station 1, where the beach is the most beautiful and also much less crowded. It has a unique design that makes you feel like the true beach resort style of vacation, with bungalow-like rooms all close to the beach. Still, the cozy and laid back atmosphere doesn’t translate to a compromise in quality whatsoever.
Station 1 resorts aren’t cheap, as you basically pay extra money just for the beach, but Fridays is still a great option for those of you who want a beach bungalow vacation at the most beautiful beach in the world. The resort is surrounded by luxurious 5 star hotels, and does an excellent job at setting itself apart from these and offering unique value to its guests. If you are looking for a romantic hotel to relax at, Fridays should definitely be high on your shortlist of possible candidates.
The staff's genuine desire to please guests and willingness to go the extra mile is what really sets this place apart from other nearby hotels. That's the distinct upside to staying at a smaller property, where a more personal approach is available.
The resort is clean and well maintained. The beach and pool area are very nice, and so are the rooms. The restaurant though, looks a bit outdated and has a rustic feel to it.
The rooms are well furnished – everything was working great – the AC, shower and the bed was very comfortable. They are however a bit too small for the price you pay. Not a good hotel for families or large groups of friends.
There's a nice swimming pool at the middle of the hotel, it's clean but not very large. Since there aren't many guests at the hotel anyway, it's not a big deal. The beach is absolutely fantastic.
The location is very good for people who come to Boracay and want to stay away from the crowd and noise of the busy nightlife. You'll be at the much quieter part of the beach, and can enjoy a more private and relaxed stay there. Still, all bars and restaurants are only 15 minutes walk along the White Beach strip.
This is hard to determine since all Station 1 hotels are overpriced, just because the beach is so great there. Compared to other resorts in the area, you do get good value, with the only downside being the rooms are relatively small.
All rooms, even the most basic ones, come with a TV, mini bar, safety deposit box, air conditioning and free WiFi. The level of these amenities is among the best on the island – it’s one of very few resorts where you are likely to enjoy good WiFi inside your room. The bed is very comfortable, and the shower has good water pressure and the water are actually hot. All rooms are stocked with free towels and toiletries which can be re-stocked anytime upon request.
Fridays is one of the oldest hotels in Boracay and has always enjoyed an excellent reputation. That is why we found it quite surprising hardly any reviews could be found online. So, we prefer to trust our own impression, coupled with feedback we received from numerous people who stayed there.
In any case, we still went through every available material we could find on the web. It helps us get a better understanding of what the hotel is all about, and who are the people who might like it. We feel it's important to give a clear picture of what the place offers, so you can make an informed decision whether you like it or not. After all, you probably won't have many opportunities in your life to stay at the beautiful White Beach of Boracay.
The place where most reviews are at is Tripadvisor, where Fridays gets a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Even though it's only ranked as the 44th best hotel in Boracay, almost all the guests rated it either very good or excellent. We went over all 609 reviews there, and noticed that many of the negative ones are from 2014 or even earlier than that. Since the hotel has been renovated since, we feel it is now a much better choice for visitors.
Booking.com only has 143 reviews with an average rating of 8.1. Guests liked the location and the beach, said the food was excellent and the rooms are nice and clean. Complaints were mostly about the price, stating this hotel is too expensive for what you get in return. Over at Agoda.com there are another 324 reviews, with an average score of 8.2. Fridays is described as excellent, and was top choice by travelers in 2016. Agoda users praise the excellent service and the great location. Complaints are mostly regarding the price and lack of child-friendly facilities.
Here are some of the reasons why we recommend Fridays:
There are also some very distinct weak points to this resort:
Then, there’s the house restaurant, considered by many to be the best in Boracay. It’s open every day between 6am and 11pm, and serves a very wide menu composed of American, Filipino, Asian, European and Mediterranean cuisines. They also have their own inhouse bakery, offering homemade cakes and pastries. Every Friday night there’s a special celebration – a huge dinner buffet coupled with a cultural show and dance by the beach. Entry to the buffet is quite expensive (30$) but the offerings are very tasty and the whole experience is a lot of fun.
Finally, the staff at this resort is what really makes staying at this resort worthwhile. They are all friendly, helpful and professional, and are keen to help out with any special requests. They are available 24/7 and will assist you with any problem you might have. Housekeeping can be requests as many times as you need, and they always leave a homemade truffle chocolate when they are done. There’s also a small library you can borrow books from, and an express laundry service, done outside of the resort.
In conclusion, even though Fridays beach resort isn’t the cheapest 4 star hotel in Boracay, it certainly is one of the best. Its main value comes from the fact they are able to offer a unique experience, and maintain a consistent level of excellent service. This is a romantic and peaceful resort, with an amazing beach right at your doorstep, but still very close to the nightlife and shops. For couples, especially those on there honeymoon, it’s one of our most recommended places to stay at.
The most basic room type at this resort, it is only 18m2 in size. It comes with 2 single beds which can be joined together – so it’s a decent option for couples. Room includes all amenities and services provided by the hotel.
At 24m2 this room is large enough to accommodate 2 adults and a child. It comes with a queen size bed and single bed, and of course all amenities and toiletries are included. This is usually the most popular choice for guests at the hotel.
This rooms are 32m2 and come with a king size bed and 1 single bed. An extra bed can be added for an additional charge of 50$. It might be crowded but this room can fit a family of 4. If you add 25$ you also can upgrade to the premier beach view rooms, which have a small balcony and offer a partial view of the ocean.
The suite is the best room available, and is 80m2 in size. Located on the 2nd floor, it also offers a partial view of the ocean. It comes with 1 king size bed, but additional single beds can be added with an extra charge.
