Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

Rooms and decor

Picture a resort tucked onto a hillside above a cove at the far north tip of Boracay, looking down on turquoise water set against fine white sand — that is the first impression Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay hands you. Rooms and villas come in several types spread across the slope and along the pools, done in a contemporary tropical style with warm tones, wood and earthy shades set against the blue of the sea. Rooms feel airy with high ceilings, and every one has a private terrace for catching the sea breeze. The highlight people talk about most is the swim-up rooms and villas, where you open the terrace door and step straight into the pool — wake up, drop into the water, and sip coffee at the pool's edge. Beds are soft, bathrooms are roomy and well stocked, and many rooms open onto green gardens or wide sea views. If you want a private, quiet room well away from the bustle, this place really does feel like having your own corner to unwind in.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is the pool decks and the beach. The resort has 3 pools to rotate between, including a big main pool and the one linked to the swim-up rooms, and a late afternoon by the water with the sun softening is heaven for anyone who likes to take it slow. For food there are 3 restaurants, covering everything from a seaside breakfast buffet to an all-day spot serving international and Filipino dishes, plus a poolside bar pouring cocktails and snacks through the day. For full-on downtime there is a spa that reviews praise for its calm setting and relaxing treatments. And because the water off Punta Bunga Cove is clear and calm, the resort lends out easy water gear like kayaks and paddleboards (SUP) so you can paddle out and see the island from the water. It adds up to a self-contained resort where you can stay put all day and still have plenty to do.

Location and getting there

Crimson sits on Punta Bunga Cove at the far north tip of the island, in the area people call Station Zero — a name that hints it is above and beyond the busier Stations 1, 2 and 3. The appeal here is privacy and quiet: step out the door and you reach the resort's own white-sand beach of over 8,000 square metres, where almost no one crowds in, a world away from the foot traffic of White Beach. It fits anyone who wants a resort-stay trip built around lazing on the sand and soaking in the pool rather than walking through crowds. When you do want to head out for food, shopping or mid-island nightlife, the resort runs a free shuttle to the D'Mall and White Beach area in about 15 minutes, or you can flag a tricycle yourself. Getting to the island starts with a flight into Caticlan airport, then a ferry across, and the resort can help arrange the transfers. If quiet and privacy are the heart of the trip, this location nails it.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the biggest thing to weigh is the location far from the island centre. The quiet is the selling point, but it comes at the cost of not being able to walk to the mid-island restaurants, shops and nightlife. You depend on the resort shuttle on its schedule, or a tricycle, every time you want to head out. Anyone who likes stepping out of their hotel into a wall of restaurants may find it inconvenient, so check the shuttle schedule in advance. The other point is the beach out front: the sand is white and pretty, but at low tide it runs fairly shallow with rocky or coral patches, so it is not swimmable and clear all day the way White Beach is — many reviewers end up using the pool as their main spot and pack water shoes for wading. On top of that, the resort is a large property on a hillside, so expect some walking up and down or waiting for the internal golf buggy, and high-season rates climb. Some reviewers feel food and drinks inside the resort run expensive, so budget for that or plan to eat out sometimes.

Our take

From reading through the real guest reviews, Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay suits couples and families who want a private, peaceful seaside escape best. Its own white-sand beach, clear water made for kayaking and paddleboarding, swim-up rooms you can drop into the pool from, and a choice of 3 pools are a well-judged set of draws. If the trip in your head is waking up to jump in the pool, reading on a quiet beach, and closing the day with a seaside dinner free of crowds, this place comes close to perfect. But if the heart of the trip is walking out of your hotel straight into restaurants and nightlife, the far-north location means a bit more planning. Overall we give it 8.8/10 — pick it for the privacy and the quiet beach, and use the free shuttle to get out and explore mid-island when you want a change of scene.