For more than 8 years now, since its foundation, Discovery Shores has been recognized as one of the top luxury hotels in the world. During those years, it has won numerous awards and accolaids from the most prestigious magazines and publications. The real impressive feat though, is the resort’s ability to maintain such a stellar reputation for so many years, by keeping to extremely high standards of world class service. For that reason, Discovery Shores is one of our favorite 5 star hotels in Boracay.
Located at the best part of Boracay’s White Beach, the northern end of station 1, Discovery shores is where people go to have a vacation in paradise. The hotel provides its guests with a true all inclusive experience in the most luxurious setting imaginable. Staying there is especially recommended for couples, as well as small families with 1 or 2 children. Read our review to find out everything Discovery Shores can offer you, and find the best deals for available rooms.
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When you first set foot at Discovery Shores, you already know you arrived at a place where the highest standards are met. The white and blue design creates a calm and elegant environment, and the attention to small details is immediately evident. We went in through the beach, which gave us a chance to quickly assess that part of the hotel – one of its strongest points. The beautiful white sand beach is what makes Boracay famous, and here you’ll have the best of it.
The private beach area is located right next to the hotel lobby and restaurants, so you never have to walk too much if you need anything. There’s a big line of beach beds you can lay on, and butlers are always hanging around in case you need anything from the bar. Dry and cold towels, as well as drinking water, is always available for free. At certain hours, they will also walk around and offer some free snacks and lemonade.
Then, they started telling us about the various awards this resort has received over the years. It seems like the most impressive achievements were back in 2013 and 2014, this is understandable as the buzz around the hotel dwindles down and better competition emerges. During those years, Discovery Shores has been named the 11th best hotel in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine, as well as the best family resort in Asia. Still, this doesn’t mean the hotel’s golden years are gone, as the same magazine recently ranked it as the 7th best overall resort in Asia. Condé Nast, another prestigious travel magazine, also awarded Discovery Shores with being the best family resort in Asia just a few months ago.
So, we were already impressed by the beach by the time we got inside, but then our feeling just got much better. There are only 88 rooms in this hotel, which means you are never too far away from anything. The rooms are all large, comfortable and very well designed. They all come with a 42 inch Smart HD TV, a Nespresso machine, in-room safe and the most comfortable beds we found in the Philippines. All usual toiletries and amenities are also provided of course. It’s worth mentioning that the WiFi in the rooms is also one of the best we found in White Beach.
[pros_cons] There are 3 restaurants 2 bars at the resort, each with its own special style and design. Sands is the main restaurant and the place where the breakfast buffet is served between 6 and 10am. It remains open until 10pm every day, and specializes in gourmet food with a very mixed selection of dishes. The coffee there is also very good.The second restaurant, Indigo, is actually one of the main attractions of this resort. Specializing in modern coastal cuisine, this fine dining establishment has won numerous awards on its own from renowned magazines and publications. Indigo is only open from 12nn to 4pm and 7 to 10pm, and booking your table in advance is highly recommended. People from all over the island come there especially – so make sure you get a reservation.
Lastly, there’s the Platitos kitchen right at the beachfront. They serve small plates with flavorful snacks from all over the world. The nice thing here is that you can get your food while never leaving your beach bed. Occasionally, they’ll even surprise you with some free appetizers and snacks while your’e relaxing at the beach.
The Discovery Shore also offers their own spa and fitness center. The gym is alright, although slightly smaller than what you would expect at such a luxurious hotel. The spa, however, is simply excellent. There’s an endless list of different treatments you can take, and all are given by expert, trained therapists. The level is very high, and the prices are fair for a 5 star hotel. The spa area also has its own showers and a sauna.
There’s a large kid’s zone, with a nice playground and games. While staff will sometimes organize special activities for the young guests, most of the time you’ll have to supervise their play on your own. Luckily, a nanny service is available if you need some time for yourself. It costs 10$ an hour, with a minimum booking of 3 hours and discounts for extended periods of time. It could be a very nice option for parents who want a few hours for themselves.
Lastly, there are the countless small things that turn this hotel from a regular 5 star into a pampering all inclusive experience. The press-reader, available in all rooms, gives you access to major newspapers from all over the world. There’s also DVD players in all rooms, and a large DVD library you can borrow from. Special activities can also be organized upon request. These include parasailing, wind surfing, kayaking and jet skiing just to name a few.
There’s absolutely no chance someone who visits Discovery Shores will leave disappointed. You get an all inclusive holiday at one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Sure, it’s not cheap, but you always get more than what you paid for. Discovery Shores maintains a consistent level of excellence over many years now, and strives to provide guests with the ultimate 5 star experience in Boracay. This is without a doubt one of the best resorts for couples and small families who want to experience White Beach and enjoy everything a luxury hotel has to offer.
The most basic room type is also the most popular, especially among couples. with 45m2 of space, it’s very large and comfortable. You will of course get to enjoy all the amenities and services provided to Discovery Shores guests. The room comes with either 1 king size or 2 queen sized beds based on your needs, and a single bed can be added if there’s an extra guest.
The standard 1 bedroom suite is 65m2 and has a living area, a bar and a bedroom with 1 king size bed/ 2 queen size. 2 additional persons can sleep on the sofa in the living room.
This suite is also available in a Premier version – which is bigger (78m2 and has 2 floors. there’s a bathroom in each, and the view from this loft is amazing – it’s especially nice when you sit at the private Jacuzzi in the balcony upstairs.
with 120m2 of space, this 2 bedroom suite can easily accommodate up to 6 people. Each bedroom has its own shower and toilet, and they located right next to each other. The living room has a large L-shaped sofa, where 2 more people can sleep at. Bedrooms come with either 1 king size or 2 queen sized beds.
This suite is also available in premier version – with the advantage being one of the bedrooms is on the 2nd floor, and the first floor has a private Jacuzzi in it.
