Disappointing Stay at Boracay Courtyard (Review)

After booking his flight to Caticlan via Cebu Pacific last December, Tutubi, being a stranger to Boracay since it's not on top of his list on desired places to visit, asked his friends and officemates for cheap accommodations in Boracay and one of the names that cropped up was Boracay Courtyard Beach Resort owned by the same people behind La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel in Boracay's station 2 and said to be walking distance from Boracay's Talipapa (public market) for cheap seafood.

Boracay Courtyard's official website proudly boasts:

"Opened only in October 2003, the Boracay Courtyard Beach Resort is the Boracay destination of choice of travel agencies because it offers the best alternative for the budget-conscious vacationer. It is centrally located at Station 2—within a minute’s walk to the beach or to the talipapa (wet market).

Barkada (groups of friends) and family packages that can accommodate up to four (4) persons in a room are available.

Boracay Courtyard also offers special package rates for seminar and convention participants."

Boracay Courtyard's sign showing contact numbers and details and that of Sunset Beach Resort, probably by the same owner/management

Herewith is Tutubi's disappointing experience with Boracay Courtyard that may serve as warning for you to stay away or risk experiencing the same lousy service he got from the cheap boracay resort:

Comments and feedback on Boracay Courtyard:

Inquiries at the resort, handled by the same people, same telephone number as La Carmela de Boracay needed to be called, using precious mobile phone calls, twice after inquiries sent via the published email address were not answered and text messages got no replies.

Payment had to be done via a bank deposit to La Carmela's bank account at Allied Bank consisting 50% of all charges as advanced payment with the remaining balance to be paid a few days before check-in time. Fax of bank deposit slip and emailed to La Carmela to be handled by their account officer, who Tutubi will call B, were not answered nor acknowledged. Another mobile phone call to La Carmela at 8pm got an answer that Tutubi had to call again the following morning since reservation was closed for the night. Another call was made and was able to speak with B who informed Tutubi he'll check the payment.

The remaining balance of the reservation was deposited at Allied Bank with the deposit slip faxed and emailed again to La Carmela's email address. As expected, no receipt confirmation nor acknowledgment was received. Tutubi just decided not to call again so as not to waste mobile air time and instead bring the original deposit slip to Boracay just to be sure.

Round-trip transfers: Use of same van and boat as La Carmela's guests with courteous staff assistants (just one of the few pluses of this resort against many negative "pogi points")

Rooms: the semi-deluxe rooms have 2 double beds that can accommodate 4 persons, with a cost of P2,200/night, cost per head is just P550/pax. They change beddings, pillows, towels every other day.

TV and Cable: a 21' color TV requires refundable deposit if you want the remote control. Cable TV, though not high on Tutubi's list, TV is useable for only a few channels-- snowy pictures save for a few.

Food: breakfast, served at La Carmela de Boracay, was bland and nothing to be desired that even most "Jollijeeps" in Makati can whip up more delectable dishes. Recommend eating someplace else like the nearby turo-turo for affordable breakfast meals or at Talipapa to save on costs.

Bathroom/CR/Toilet: The biggest disappointment-- dirty toilet/shower room, with molds clearly visible on the edges of the supposedly white tiles. Even the sink's underside reeks of molds indicating the place is not scrubbed of the biological co-inhabitants of the bathroom. (Tutubi didn't take many pictures of the place for it's just a waste of memory space and didn't want to be reminded of his stay there.)

On check-out, the final payment made needed to be confirmed again with B and with Allied Bank that caused unnecessary delay, as if he did not do his job of confirming the deposit a few days before Tutubi checked in.

Tutubi had a blast in Boracay all in all except for his disappointing stay at a cheap Boracay resort called Boracay Courtyard. If you're thinking of checking the place out, Tutubi only has these words for you: you've been warned!

The owner of La Carmela de Boracay should really do something about their budget resort's pathetic service.

Related Post:
Boracay on a Budget Guide