Living the Boracay-chic life in Discovery Shores

There are only few islands in the world where nature creates a gem of a paradise. A place where the sunrises mark the excitement of a new day, where the sea is warm and crystal clear, and where the sunsets are truly unforgettable.

One such place is Boracay.

There exists a luxurious resort settled on a lushly landscaped site called Discovery Shores.

Let me share with you my memorable experience at my home away from home for a long weekend.  

Upon arrival at Caticlan’s Godofredo Ramos Airport, yes that is  the registered name, we were graciously met, and efficiently ushered to the resort’s ferry. The travel time to the fabled island is exactly eight minutes, but due to the habagat season, we opted to take a leisurely ride by land. It took us 45 minutes.

The resort’s lobby is unpretentious, but you get that feeling that it was done intentionally in order to give prominence to what lies ahead — luxury at its best.

The luxurious two-bedroom suite at Discovery Shores, Boracay

As the no nonsense Carlo Arboleda, chief designer and guest relations officer together with Charlene Halaba, guests relations supervisor, warmly welcomed us with tall, cool refreshments,  we knew without a doubt we were in for a truly wonderful stay.

We were escorted to the Sands Restaurant, where we shared a meal with general manager Jose Parreño, a personable, amiable, true gentleman, who has crossed a range of disciplines within the hospitality industry in the span of  20 years.

As head of Boracay’s most prestigious address on Long Beach, Parreno’s leadership expertise, creativity and know-how has made Discovery Shores unequalled in terms of product innovation and quality of service.  We soon learned that Jun, as he is more popularly known, bested a field of leading industry practitioners to receive the coveted Western Visayas Tourism Excellence Awards 2009-Regional Director’s Award. Discovery Shores also won the 2009 Western Visayas Best Resort Award (AAA Category).

The resort has 88 well-appointed guestrooms with a choice of junior, one-or two-bedroom suites some with Jacuzzi and a loft. The amenities include 24-hour concierge and room service and in-room dining. The spacious room is equipped with a 32-inch LCD, DVD player component system, fax and computer hook up, high-speed e-mail and Internet access, multi-telephone and voice mail.

The business services include audio-visual equipment, facsimile machines and wireless Internet access in public areas, which make it doubly convenient for guests to stay in touch with their families or offices.

The resort launched its newest dining outlet called Indigo. This is a dinner-only venue, where excellent cuisine is served in the relaxed comfort of a Boracay-chic ambience.

“Coastal cuisine is the foundation of Indigo’s menu selection, drawing inspiration from all the gastronomies of the world built upon the magical alchemy between the ocean, bounty and the land’s harvest,” corporate chef David Pardo de Ayala explains. “The ambitious wine program present Indigo’s diners with the best selection of wines by the glass, along with prestigious bottles of sterling  labels from old and new world wineries.”

The resort’s Terra Wellness Spa takes a holistic approach to wellness as it provides a path to inner tranquility through custom-designed treatments, specialized services and facilities.

Quietly refined and delightfully stylish, Discovery Shores fully deserves its popularity with honeymooners, businessmen and those with families. For a while, life feels as complete and as perfect as it can be.