The District Boracay is a 4 star boutique resort right at the heart of White Beach. Located in station 2, just 120 meters from D’Mall, it still succeeds at providing a feeling of luxury and comfort to its guests, despite being in the middle of Boracay’s most crowded area. The District was opened in 2013, and is considered one of the best beach resorts in the country ever since.
To be honest, we are not quite sure why The District hadn’t received its 5 star status yet. We didn’t manage to get clear answers about that from either their management or the Department of tourism here in Manila. Maybe it’s because it’s a small, boutique style hotel. In any case, this resort will definitely make you feel like you are staying at a top end establishment. It’s very well suited for all types of guests, singles, couples and families and also deliver nothing but the best quality you can imagine.
the level of service at this hotel is out of this world. Even if you are already used to everybody being friendly and hospitable in the Philippines, you'll be amazed by how welcomed the people here make you feel. The attention to small details is fantastic, and the fact there aren't many guests allows them to provide a truly personal service to each.
The resort has the same contemporary design that most fancy hotels in Boracay opt for. It's clean, modern and elegant and suits the island vibe perfectly. Everything here is clean and very well maintained, we couldn't find any faults with how this place was run. The facilities are also well equipped, making this place feel like it was opened just a few weeks ago.
Even the smallest rooms, the Deluxe type, are 28m2 which is considerably larger than at most hotels in White Beach. While the shower area is a bit crowded, the room as a whole is spacious, well furnished and clean. The bed was big and comfortable, the AC and shower worked well, and the WiFi was a particular highlight. We never heard any complaint whatsoever about the rooms or amenities provided at this resort.
The main swimming pool is 15m long and 5ft deep. This isn't huge, but considering the fact this is a small hotel, it does the job just fine. That is especially true when you consider the fact most Station 2 resorts don't even have a pool, and even if they do then it's usually tiny. The pool also has a fairly large Jacuzzi right next to it. The private beach area is well kept and you'll be only a few steps away from the best beach in the world.
On paper, this is the best location in Boracay. It's right in the middle and close to everything. There's a short pathway leading to the main road, so the hotel is easy to get in and out of. The only downside is that the front of the hotel gets very crowded at night with people just strolling the beach line. Even though the District itself is quiet and offers good privacy, this isn't the best location for people who want a secluded getaway.
The District costs more than any other 4 star hotel, at least outside of station 1, so we can't really call it the best deal around. Still, you get a lot more than what you paid for. Being a boutique hotel also drives the price up, but for us it's definitely worth it. This is a place that isn't afraid of the high expectations which come with the hefty price tag, and still manages to send you away feeling pleasantly surprised.
To be completely honest, when we first checked in at the District we really had some doubts. At first glance the hotel looks just like any other other good 4 star resort on White Beach, only it costs a lot more. Considering that fact, we were eager to figure out why this resort is so highly praised. For us, the main competitor for the District would be the Coast resort, another highly rated 4 star resort, also located in station 2.
The rooms at the District are larger and better organized to create a comfortable living space. The pool is much better, and so are the other facilities such as the spa and the gym. That is also true when you compare with other excellent 4 star hotels such as the Astoria Boracay or Astoria Current for example. This hotel simply does a better job with the small details that turn a nice vacation into an all inclusive fantasy. The District however, is also significantly more expensive than any of the other hotels. We really feel like all of these are great choices, so it’s entirely up to you to decide the exact level of quality and comfort you require, and how much you are willing to pay for it.
There are only 48 rooms at the District, and the hotel is tightly designed without making it feel crowded. For us, this is a huge plus since you don’t have to compete with other guests in using the facilities or trying to buy food at the restaurant. It also means the service you get is much more personal, and have a better chance to have your every desire answered quickly. Rooms all come with air conditioning, mini bar, safety deposit box, free WiFi and an assortment of high quality toiletries and hygiene products. Each room also has a seating area, as well as a small private balcony outside. Another great thing about a relatively small hotel is that everything is nearby – no matter what room you get you’ll always be just a few steps away from both the pool and the beach area.
The fact that the District managed to maintain such overwhelmingly positive feedback since it was established is nothing short of astounding. For almost 5 years now, this hotel has been one of the most popular accommodation choices in Boracay. Not only people are undeterred by the price, but many of them actually come back again and again, thanks to the high standards this place provides.
We write this review mostly based on our own impression and the feedback we get directly from our clients. Still, the fact that The District is so well liked speaks volumes of the resort's consistency and ability to provide excellent value. We'll try and give you a summary of all the information we found, so you can see for yourself why we think this hotel is really one of the best. The fact The District doesn't come short when compared with its main competitors really shows that guests there feel like the money they paid was well spent.
The District is ranked as the 6th best hotel in Boracay over at Tripadvisor.com. For what it's worth, the top ranked resort is the Coast, but it has less than a half of the reviews and has only been operational for less than 2 years. Tripadvisor shows 758 different reviews, out of which only 2% gave it a score of below average. Amazingly, 95% of guests said their stay was "above average", with 71% giving it the highest score possible. People really liked the food, the service and the location. Complaints were rare, mostly people who thought this was going to be a 5 star resort, and felt like they paid too much.
there are also 92 reviews on Booking.com and 706 on agoda.com. Both show and average score of 8.9, one of the highest for a 4 star resort in Boracay. Again, guests mostly praise the location, and mentioned how clean and comfortable the rooms were. Many people also mentioned how cozy and small the place felt, and the excellent service they have received. The very few recurring complaints we found were misdealing with their private transfers from Kalibo airport.
There are a few key elements which make staying at the District worthwhile:
Still, there are also a few reasons why you should consider other resorts:
Both restaurant and the rooftop bar stay open until 10pm. Along with the beachside bar, they make for a great place to chill and grab a few drinks before heading out to the bars and nightclubs nearby. Happy hour is from 5 to 7pm, when all drinks are 40% cheaper. On top of that, they are also working on opening their own cafe and an Italian restaurant before the end of 218. Both will serve fresh, homemade baked goods, and we are sure they’ll also keep the same level as the main restaurant does.
There’s also an inhouse health and wellness center, which includes a gym and a spa. The gym isn’t spectacular, but it’s still modern and equipment is well kept. The spa is also not at a 5 star luxury level, but is a very decent option for people who want a quick massage. A 30 minutes long treatment is offered for free, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try it and judge for yourself. One thing we found lacking was the options available for younger guests. There are no kid’s playgrounds, and no babysitting or nanny services. The hotel’s management told us they are aware of this, so hopefully it will be added soon.
There are a lot of small things that turn the experience into a really fantastic all inclusive stay. The District have their own private boat, taking you all the way from Caticlan airport straight to your room. Couples would also probably enjoy their special attention – as they give out free wine and candy to honeymooners and newlyweds. They also handle transfers from Kalibo, but as mentioned this one tends to get complicated so we think it’s better if you let us deal with it instead of trying to book directly through the hotel.
To summarize, The District is undoubtedly one of the very best hotels in Boracay. It’s a small beachfront resort that offers everything you need to have a perfect vacation. While not cheap, this resort is a sure bet if you want to have the best time of your life. We recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who prioritize comfort over budget.
The most basic room category, it’s still very comfortable with an average size of 28m2. There’s also a small veranda overlooking the pool. You can choose between 1 king size bed or 2 queen size, so the max occupancy of this room is actually 4 people.
These room offer either a partial view of the ocean or the pool. If you have a preference let us know and we’ll try to secure it for you if possible. Each Premier room is 40m2 and has 1 king size bed in it.
This suite is 48m2, not including the outdoor private veranda. The master bedroom has 1 king size bed in it, while the living area also has a sofa bed. An extra single bed can be added for a small additional charge. This room is also available as a connecting room, making it the best choice for families and large groups of friends.
This is the largest room available, and it’s occupying 2 floors for a total of 60m2. This doesn’t include the 2 private balconies you get in each floor. The ground floor serves as the living room and has a sofa bed in it, while the loft has a king size bed.
