Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Boracay

The stunning and upscale Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa has a remote location away from the hustle and bustle of central Boracay. Its 219 rooms, suites, and villas all have at least a small seating area, a terrace with a double daybed, a flat-screen TVs with DVD player, and a large bathroom with separate soaking tub. Should children grow tired of the resort's two beaches or multiple pools, there is a kids’ club with activities, plus a large games room for all ages. The resort also offers a wide array of on-site activities, including tennis, private and group fitness classes, and water sports, plus free Wi-Fi, a free buffet breakfast, and free shuttle service to Station 2 and airport transfers.

The 87-room Discovery Shores Boracay draws celebrity guests and well-heeled couples, but its spacious rooms, kid-friendly amenities, and beachfront location are well-suited to all types of travelers. Flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and free Wi-Fi are all standard amenities in the airy, upscale rooms. The kids’ club offers tons of indoor and outdoor activities for kids under 12, the serene pool has a kids' area and a hot tub, and kid-friendly menus are available at the restaurants and bars. Discovery has a long list of great freebies, including buffet breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers, and shuttle service to other parts of the island.

The 221-room Henann Lagoon Resort is an upscale property a short walk from the beach and the action in busy Station 2. With a swim-up bar, lots of loungers, and a relaxed atmosphere, the massive lagoon-style pool is the hotel’s biggest selling point. Rooms are spacious, clean, and contemporary, with modern amenities such as air-conditioning, mini-fridges, large flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles. All units have furnished balconies, and many have direct access to the pool, but there is a fee for Wi-Fi (except in suites) and the connection is spotty at best. The restaurant serves a varied international and Asian buffet and has nice outdoor seating.

The 273-room Henann Garden Resort is an upscale property with a central location in Station 2. The hotel is not beachfront, but it does offer easy access to the beach via a private path, plus four pools and a spa. Rooms are contemporary and stylish, with a subdued color palette and modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and free bottled water; some rooms have direct pool access. However, there is a fee for in-room Wi-Fi and only one device can be connected at any given time. The restaurant serves a varied international buffet with Filipino specialties and the spa offers a wide array of treatments and salon services.

This Mediterranean-style luxury property is located in a quiet beachfront area, a little away from the action of Stations 1 and 2. Its 50 units range from spacious One-Bedroom Suites to huge Three-Bedroom Villas -- all have living rooms, full kitchens with stocked refrigerators, and large furnished terraces with lounge chairs offer serene views of the hotel grounds and the ocean beyond. Monaco Suites de Boracay has private access to a small beach, plus an infinity pool and a restaurant with tasty international cuisine. The grounds are steep in some areas, but golf carts are available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The 302-room Henann Regency Resort & Spa is an upper-middle-range resort located right on a stunning white-sand beach (the appropriately named White Beach) and in the heart of the nightlife and dining area in Station 2. Spacious, clean rooms (including the two-bedroom Family Rooms) have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges, but some are starting to show a little wear and tear, and Wi-Fi is only free in suites and common spaces. Note that East Wing rooms are the quietest and newest, but are also farthest from the beach and the restaurants. With four pools, four restaurants, a popular beach lounge, and a relaxing spa, the resort is well-suited to all types of travelers, but most guests here are leisure travelers including couples and families.

The 48-room District draws mostly young couples and small groups of friends, but with a pool and whirlpool, rooms that can sleep up to four guests, and a convenient location right on the White Beach (near restaurants, bars and the D Mall in Station 2), the hotel is also a good pick for families. Caruso serves tasty Italian cuisine and gets good reviews, and Star Lounge is known for its extensive buffet. Freebies such as breakfast or brunch, Wi-Fi, and airport transfers add value.

The 36-room Boracay Beach Club is a friendly, mid-range hotel right across the street from White Beach. Basic, air-conditioned rooms -- including Deluxe Family Rooms -- feature good amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges. The hotel has an airy restaurant, a rooftop deck with views, and a small but pleasant freeform pool, but the highlight here is the beachfront bar, which has a drinks and food menu and unobstructed sunset views. Affordable rates and location within walking distance of famous bars and restaurants make it a great pick for value-minded travelers.

The 242-room La Carmela de Boracay is a budget beachfront property in busy Station 2. Some rooms are spacious and sunny, with basic but contemporary decor and nice amenities such as flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles. However, many units are showing extensive maintenance and cleanliness issues (especially in bathrooms) and a few are dark and musty. The restaurant serves average Filipino cuisine 24 hours a day, but it can be quite crowded during peak times. Additionally, there are three pools on-site, including two shallow ones for kids and one with a man-made waterfall.

The 26-room Tans Guesthouse is a no-frills budget property located right by the beach in busy Station 2. Rooms are plain in terms of decor, but clean and well-equipped, with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and safes. The largest units can sleep up to 10 guests and have kitchens, offering good value to families and large groups on a budget. The fitness center and the salon offering massage services are nice perks rarely found in similarly priced hotels, but the property lacks a pool, and breakfast is not included in the standard rate.