Sunsets and seascapes at Le Soleil

Close your eyes. Imagine blue skies, a long stretch of white sand, and the only thing that comes between your tanned body and the sun is a white umbrella perched on the sand. Out of the corner of your eye, you see the bent coconut tree that has become one of the landmarks of Boracay.

Open your eyes. You’re not daydreaming. You’re in Le Soleil de Boracay. Situated between two bars that come alive at night, this hotel is located in the center of things – literally.

Le Soleil sits right in the middle of the famous three-kilometer stretch of Boracay white sand. So you can walk to the talipapa for some early morning shopping or visit the grotto towards the end of the day to watch another breathtaking sunset.

This is just what I did in the six days I was on the island – and it was bliss. And I seldom used a trike (the mode of transportation on the island) because everything was so accessible from the hotel. Unlike in Manila where walking short distances can drench you in sweat, in Boracay, there’s always a breeze to cool you down.

The Rendezvous restaurant is the perfect place to have breakfast. It has a view of the beach and the beautiful people walking by. At sundown, hang out at Tequila Joe’s, situated right in the restaurant. It serves drinks from the famous bar in Manila. At night, meet friends and enjoy a drink beneath the white lanterns in front of the hotel. Speaking of nights, the rooms at Le Soleil are charming and comfortable. It’s a romantic place, really. If only I had someone special with me . . . too late. I will take note of this next time I am in Boracay.

Even the lobby has some activity for the guests. There are computer terminals so even if you’re at the beach, you’re still connected to the world via Internet. Gamers can log on to online casino, play blackjack and video poker.

There are also newspapers and magazines for the more conventional types.

The best feature of Le Soleil de Boracay is its friendly and accommodating staff. They did everything in their power to make sure we were comfortable and that we had everything we needed from the moment we checked in at the hotel to the time we were on our way to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

My best memories of Boracay are at Le Soleil.