Tides hotel is right in the middle of D’Mall, which is considered the center of White Beach. This means it’s extremely easy to reach from anywhere in Boracay, and your’e always close to everything. With nice clean rooms, and a rooftop pool, this 4 star hotel is a great choice for people who want to be near the action but still stick to a tight budget.
The reason why the Tides is cheap, at least by Boracay’s standards, is because it’s not located by the beach. You’ll have to walk 3-4 minutes to get to the beach area itself. That’s why it’s unfortunate that the rooftop pool, albeit nice, is relatively underwhelming. Another downside might be that most people don’t want the hotel vibe when they come to Boracay, but rather prefer the beach resort style of accommodation.
Still, we do believe this hotel has some clear and significant advantages, which is why we chose to work with it. It offers a nice alternative for young people, couples and small families who wish to be near the action but still far enough from it. The hotel’s fair prices also mean it’s a great value for money option for anyone visiting Boracay. Read on to learn everything there’s to know about this hotel, decide if it’s the right choice for your vacation, and book your stay now.
Service isn't Tides hotel's strongest suit. Although it's by no means bad, this isn't a place where you'll get too much personal attention. Staying there reminded us of staying at big city hotel where the turnaround is massive, so people are treated more as customers rather than guests.
One of the best things about this hotel is how clean and tidy it is. From the minute you set foot in the lobby you get a feeling of professionalism and quality. The reception and pool area are also very well designed, which is something we can't say about the rooms – they felt a bit old and outdated.
Rooms are quite big, especially considering the price you pay here. They come with expected amenities and facilities, but it's hard to say anything is top notch. While we didn't notice any particular issues, we can't say we really enjoyed anything either.
The rooftop pool is very nice, clean and quiet. The problem is it's not big enough to accommodate all hotel guests, especially when they're having a party up there.
Probably the best location in Boracay – very close to everything and extremely easy to reach from anywhere on the island. Only issue with being inside the shopping area is that it can get a bit crowded in peak hours, so getting to your room sometimes requires patience.
There are 60 rooms in total at Tides hotel, divided into just 2 categories: Essential and Exceptional. There’s some more deviation through the way beds are set up, but generally speaking this is the only 2 choices. The exceptional room is slightly bigger, but other than that they are both exactly alike.
Both rooms offer free WiFi, air conditioning, mini bar, TV and a safety deposit box. They both also have a separate shower and toilet area, which is fully stocked with all toiletries. While we were satisfied with both rooms, they did look to be a bit too outdated and need of a slight renovation. Management told us they are currently undergoing such renovation, but doing slowly so they won’t disturb the guests.
We did sense there was a lack of consistency between rooms we were shown, with some of them being a bit nicer than others. So, if you get there and find a substantial flaw in your room preventing you from enjoying it, simply ask to be transferred to a new room. From our experience with them, they’ll be happy to oblige as long as such a room is available.
Thanks to its low price, the Tides hotel is very popular with locals and not just foreign tourists. The problem with that is they don't really understand the way price should effect expectations – after all for them 70$ a night is a small fortune. They see a 4 star rating, and expect to feel like royalty. When you get a good deal there's always a reason why, so it's very important to fully understand in advance exactly what you are paying for. This is why we make sure to explain in as much detail as we can, both the positive and the negative things about each hotel we work with. We want to provide you with the ability to make your own decision, by keeping communication honest. Still, there's some value in reading feedback other guests left online, and see what we can take from that. Tripadvisor shows 262 reviews of the hotel, with scores being quite mixed and averaging at 3.8 out of 5. still, only 13% of guests said they had a below average experience. People really liked the rooms, breakfast and especially the great location. Complaints were made about the shower area being too small, and WiFi signal non-existent. It was very encouraging to see the staff take time to answer each and every review, so hopefully they can learn from that and improve their performance even further in the near future. There are also no less than 1629 individual reviews on Agoda.com, where Tides hotel average rating is 7.8. Again, people really praise the location and the price. The rooms and breakfast buffet get mixed reviews here, so we guess it's really a matter of personal taste. If you don't like the breakfast there are always a ton of restaurants just outside your hotel.
There are some very clear advantages to staying at this hotel:
Here are also the main disadvantages you should be aware of:
The restaurant, called Ka-On, specializes in Filipino dishes with a modern touch. Locals love that place, but it gets mixed reviews from foreigners. The breakfast buffet is good and rich, so you should at least give it a try. When it comes to lunch and dinner, it’s really is your call if you want to eat there or step outside and eat at one of the many nearby restaurants, offering a huge variety of dishes and styles.
There’s also a bar by the pool named the Solstice sun lounge. The food served here is pretty basic but if you are craving a snack it might actually be better than the restaurant downstairs. At night, hotel guests and walk in visitors gather at the bar. So, you might want to check it out before you out clubbing at White Beach.
All in all, Tides hotel gives a great return for the relatively low price. You get all the basic requirements from an hotel – a nice clean room to sleep at, great location and a decent breakfast. Especially recommended for couples and small families, it’s a good alternative to the more expensive 4 star resorts located right on the beach. If you come here knowing what to expect, we are sure you will enjoy your stay.
This is the more basic version and cheapest option available to guests. Its size is 25m2, which means it can comfortably fit 2 adults. This room is the reason why we say the hotel is perfect for couples on a budget.
This room is 28m2 so it’s only slightly larger than the basic room. It does, however, make enough room for a bathtub to be included. The room is available with either 1 king size or 2 queen size beds.
