There are certain places in the world that are not just a place, but an emotion to be experienced.

Shangri-la Boracay is one of those places for me.

Without realizing it, I’d landed in Boracay the exact way necessary for me to see the island how I’d always imagined it: an uncharted tropical heaven, painted in the most sensual shades of azure and jade, lapped by white sand beaches and waves from the South China Sea; sparsely populated like a well protected reserve yet bustling enough at the same time for the perfect seaside ambience – glistening, flourishing, all like an a royal, iridescent dream.

And if Boracay were made for royalty, then Shangri-la must be its crown jewel.

Nestled within a tapestry of lush foliage and serenity, Shangri-la’s pools categorically emerge as the ultimate prize of the premise, a cerulean expanse that seem to stretch on endlessly such that whatever you need, it is only waiting to give: secluded nooks, jacuzzi spots, infinity edges, child-friendly dips; each corner a mini-sanctuary that will make even the most discerning sun-seekers sink to their knees. This is the kind of sanctuary that can only come to life in the hands of one who takes paradise seriously, one who understands that becoming heaven takes more than just a cocktail of designer suites and fancy amenities and perfectly manicured lawns. No. Becoming heaven requires, ironically, looking for the devil in even the tiniest of details. It involves an unwavering commitment to Excellence; recognizing that, on top of every other aesthetic perfection you can possibly buy or achieve, it all still comes down to frontline touchpoints. That even the smallest, seemingly most insignificant element can profoundly transform the ordinary into Extraordinary- a simple smile, a show of kindness; a quick question, a note of concern; a thoughtful gesture of holding doors and looking out for your belongings and checking your seats with a torchlight after you’ve disembarked a vehicle, a world-class display of empathy.

Becoming heaven, goes way above and beyond just achieving five stars as a destination. No. To become heaven, you first have to be a feeling, to be felt.

HOW DO YOU GET HERE?

From Caticlan Airport, the path to one’s accommodation often proves a treacherous journey. It involves at least one transfer with both land and sea transport; and it is not uncommon for your transport arrangement to include taking a van to the port, riding a boat, and then transferring yet again to another van… … Finer nuances include having to juggle your luggage down unsteady floating platforms and waiting around in anxiety from one transfer to the next as you attempt to make sense of what to do next while wondering if you’re even at the right place or if you’ve possibly missed your ride – and all this while braving the possibility of bad weather conditions (Boracay’s weather is notoriously fickle).

But when you hole up at Shangri-la Boracay, you worry about none of this. Just get off the plane and immediately, your travel stresses are done and dusted. Here, a personal escort awaits your arrival with your name proudly penned on a placard; you get on a private van that takes you to a jetty housing a surprisingly spacious and private Shangri-la lounge (expect the full VIP treatment: wet towel on arrival, aircon, drinks, lounge music, attentive service); and then, a private Shangri-la speedboat takes you straight to its premises.

In bad weather, the arrangement is a little less glamourous but just as seamless; and regardless of which, your spirit will not be drained dry worrying about and having to manage your luggage through forty kinds of terrains (trust me, this is possibly the biggest, most understated travel pains of all time). In fact, it’s almost as if your luggage magically appears at your room’s doorstep when you finally make it there; but don’t worry, it isn’t actually magic – just your everyday Shangri-la experience.

WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES?

You might need deep pockets if you’re in search of an experience that’s exclusively confined within the Shangri-la grounds- but, it is by no means impossible.

Here, the pools transcend the ordinary – to say that it is expansive is an understatement; every day, it was almost like I’d stumble across a new pool enclave I didn’t see the day before. And then there is the private beach, split into two strips, both exclusively ours- hotel guests only. Needless to say, this is all centred around a pool bar made fit for the rich and famous, complete with a food & drinks menu that was obviously crafted by someone with a profound knack for island living.

You may also expect private water sport activities, at least five different dining options (one of which comes with a dress code), a spa village that will make you not want to leave – but all this, of course, is conditioned on the premise that you can even tear yourself away from your room in the first place.

For those looking to experience something off-grounds, there is a private van shuttle that runs many times daily to Station 2; the most bustling part of town. (What’s Station 2? Find out here in my Detailed Guide to All 3 Beach Stations in Boracay! (P.S. Shangri-la is in none of them.))

Speaking of which…

WHERE IS THE CROWD?

Anywhere from Stations 1-3 is where the crowd is; but Station 2, particularly, is where it all sizzles. D’Mall, one of the star attractions in Boracay, is located here; and comes with an atmospheric quilt of cafes, restaurants, retail shops all steeped in style and tropical idyll.

Also expect to be full-on blanketed by people – Station 2 is where everyone congregates; but personally, the ambience is far worth the experience. Check out I Luv Backyard BBQ; it’s an absolute must if you like to eat food. There are tons of dining options here and yet I was inexplicably drawn back to this place three out of five nights – it isn’t even far-stretched when I say I tried almost everything on the menu. Dad’s Famous Bulalo Steak is at the top of the menu for a reason; for sides, you won’t go wrong with the Onion Ring Tower or their Butter Garlic Corn. That said, the queues are usually long and the tables are always full; so either arrive early or be mentally prepared to wait in line – or sometimes, even both.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN BORACAY?

Apart from the usual host of water sport activities? Willy’s Rock, Ariel’s Point – even Mount Luho, if you’re keen on exploring nature. Also try island hopping because there are plenty of choice islands around Boracay that smoulders in even deeper shades of cyan and emerald green: Puka Beach, in particular, is right next to Shangri-la and my personal pick. Alternatively, also consider Crystal Cove, dive-friendly Magic Island, and snorkelling that involves the time at Coral Garden.

As for White Beach, you won’t possibly not stumble upon this if you’re putting together your own list of things to do in Boracay. My personal take is that, if you’re staying at Shangri-la and have gotten yourself comfortable on its vacant, palm-shrouded private beaches and pristine white sands, you won’t find any other accessible beach on the island better. I would recommend visiting White Beach once (preferably during sunset) for the whole experiential thing – but basing your 9-5 sunbathing there isn’t quite necessary.

I SHOULD PROBABLY MENTION THIS…

If you skipped my recommended read about Boracay’s Beach Stations earlier, now is the time to go back and get up to speed.

In a nutshell, Shangri-la is, to put it blatantly, situated in the most inconvenient part of the island. It is far from everything – which is good and bad, depending on what you need at the time- and even with complimentary bus shuttles, sometimes it can be quite debilitating when you’re hit with a sudden craving to nurse and you’re faced with the inexplicable choice of either getting them overpriced at the hotel (if it’s even available)- or waiting around for the shuttle into town, which only comes once every hour. Basically expect your external itinerary to be highly dictacted by the bus shuttle schedule; and if you want to stay out late in town, you will be looking at hiring an e-Jeepney (Boracay’s version of a tuktuk) back.

Personally if you ask me – was this an inconvenience? I would say, only in the sense that it made me less inclined to want to explore other bits of the island (which is usually a big thing for me as I like to take little photo walks to explore local living and culture). But if you ask me if I ever felt suffocated or trapped by this arrangement, it would be a solid resounding, No.

To be honest, it was hard enough to leave my hotel room behind every morning – even if it was to just head to the pool a few metres out; and between the breezy pool bar and swaying lawn hammocks and private sandy beaches peppered with thatched sun huts and padded sun loungers, it was impossible to want to do anything more. Like I said, photo walks are almost always at the top of my list whenever I travel; but here. Here all I wanted to do was, be.

WHAT I LOVED MOST

There is something to be said about the hospitality at Shangri-la: from the moment you enter the lobby, the warmth shines through. From room to restaurant and everywhere in between, you are well taken care of in ways you probably don’t even see.

Of course the pool and spa and premises were well beyond perfect; but personally, but it was truly the service that fast became an unforgettable hallmark of the Shangri-La Boracay experience. It was, through and through, what took Shangri-La from stereotypical luxury, to world-class sophistication.

IS IT WORTH WAKING UP HERE?

As per my thoughts on most Shangri-las in the world, I think it’s safe to say that this purely depends on your itinerary. If a lot of what you’re planning to do happens in the vicinity of the three main beach stations itself (particularly Station 2), this might not be the savviest place to put yourself in.

But if you’re serious about prioritizing seclusion over bustle; peace over convenience; then go for it. For most part, convenience in this context is overrated and it’s not as if you’ll be left completely stranded without any amenities for days. If you must, take a shopping bag and load it up with snacks when you’re in town; time your in-and-outs strategically to align with the shuttle timings; and just, take it slow. There isn’t a reason in the world to be rushing through anything when you’re in Boracay; and if you’re of that mindset too, then,

Yes. it is worth every drop of penny Waking Up Here.