To start your vacation in sunny Boracay, go to Traviesa and order the Country Fried Chicken Roulade for breakfast. Imagine fresh, tender chicken breast fillet marinated in milk, then rolled with a layer of water spinach and cheese, covered in crushed cornflake breading, fried until light golden brown, and served with a mashed potato.

The restaurant is easy to find. Just look for the Tourist Center near Boat Station 1, walk a few meters toward the beach and you’ll find Asya Boracay resort, where Traviesa is located. Open from 7:00am to 10:30pm, the restaurant offers al fresco dining under a stone and dark wood interior with Asian-inspired furniture and cool bossa nova tunes playing in the background.

Open since September 2006, Traviesa already boasts a loyal customer base that only craves for the best, which includes Pan Fried Snapper (served with grilled vegetables, mashed potato, and tomato’s vinaigrette) and Grilled Prawns (served with basil pesto, rice pilaf, and side salad). With food this sumptuous, it’s no wonder that elegant island-dining in Traviesa can cost about P1000/pax for a complete dinner course with wine. If you’re on a tight budget, the restaurant still offers affordable comfort food like the Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich, which only costs P140, and Arroz a la Cubana for P230.

LUNCH

If you think Dos Mestizos is a couples-only venue, think again. The restaurant recently opened for lunch last December so families can enjoy home-cooked Spanish cuisine together. The resto has even added paper tablecloths and crayons so their young customers can expend their creativity while waiting for the food.

Dos Mestizos was first put up in 2000. It was a small, romantic, “for dinner reservations only” eatery. The restaurant  closed for a short while after Nieto passed on but then reopened in October 2006 in its new location to cater to the growing Boracay market. The tapas and paellas at Dos Mestizos will surely satisfy the Pinoy’s satiable appetite for ulam and rice. For tapas, there are the usual Salpicao de Vacas (stir-fried garlic beef), Callos con Garbanzos (slow-cooked tripe sauteed with tomato and chickpeas), and Aceitunas Verdes Alinadas (green olives marinated in olive oil).

For paellas, we highly recommend Paella Marinara. This dish is a joyous devotion to the abundance of fresh seafood on the island — crab, clams, shrimps, squid, and mussels — and the visual appeal of saffron-infused rice. The price points at Dos Mestizos don’t fall under the average probinsya rates, but we guarantee that the food and the hospitable service are world-class in quality.

Merienda

Just along the shore of Boat Station 1 are two perfect spots to lounge in and have merienda while seeking refuge from the fierce afternoon sun — Island Chicken Inasal and Hawaiian Bar-B-Que.

The most popular dish at Island Chicken Inasal aside from its authentic Bacolod grilled items, is Kansi. This specialty combines the flavors and ingredients of bulalo and sinigang. It uses a unique souring agent called batuan.

At first sight, you’d think Kansi is a type of spicy curry because of the creamy reddish-brown soup and the green siling pangsigang floating on top. But once you dip your spoon in and take a sip, you get both the kick and sweet tartness of sinigang and the succulent taste of beef broth. The beef shank is slow-cooked until extremely tender that the meat sheds easily off the bone.

At Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, a must-try is the Original Hawaiian Baby Back Ribs. The generous helping of grilled, tender meat doused in a sweet and tangy sauce a secret concretion will certainly keep you coming back for more. You should really visit this charming island nook in Boracay and enjoy its laid back Hawaiian vibe.

Everything from the interior to the service is reminiscent of Hawaii — tikis, surfboards, sand torches, grass skirts, floral shirts, luaus, and even a hula dance presented by the wait staff every 15 minutes.

Serving the best in meat dishes — grilled, roasted, even served in soup — husbands will surely love dining in these shoreline eateries. Just a warning: the flavorful chows are not for the faint of heart, so if you plan to drink ice cold beer with your merienda, make sure your cholesterol levels are running on low first

DINNER

When night falls, nothing spells romance better than a candlelit dinner at Aria’s beachfront outdoor location in Boracay. This small Italian eatery serves the only wood-fired oven pizzas on the island. We highly recommend the Aria Pizza with tomato and ham, and the Vegetariana with green bell peppers, tomato, and eggplant. Their crusts are soft and moist to the bite and oozing with creamy, melted mozzarella on top.

For appetizers, try Chef Gino Amado’s favorite: Carpaccio di Tonno, made with thin slices of tuna doused in a delicious lemon-herb marinade and topped with healthy strips of arugula. The Gran Mistro Salad, a vegetarian mix of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, grilled bell peppers, eggplant mash, and deep fried zucchini, won’t disappoint, either. Pennette Al Ragu Di Salsiccia E Funghi is also enjoyable. It’s a red-sauce pasta with Italian sausage and mushrooms.

What is probably less known about the island is that it’s also ideal for family vacations. Hotel — deluxe or otherwise — provide serene spots perfect for relaxation with the spouse with kids. Less “busy” than the hotspots, the area where the deluxe hotels are situated is especially suited for families. If you relish just hearing the sound of the waves along the beach, this is the place for you. Since the entire expanse of Boracay is always within the walking distance, you can always visit other areas when you need a change of scenery.

There are two ways to plan a trip with the family. You can either book through your local travel agency, which for a service fee, will prepare everything — from plane tickets, and resort reservations to itinerary. Make sure you get a good deal. The list of resort packages vary per agency, so it’s always good to compare first before committing to the first “bargain.”

If you want to do it yourself, search the web, check out newspapers, magazine for resort ads and contact them directly. They usually offer seasonal packages that help you maximize your funds. This allows you more choices and information.

There are two major gateways to Boracay island — via Kalibo airport, which requires another one-hour van ride to the jetty port, or through Caticlan airport, just five minutes away from the banca station. From there, a 20-minute scenic boat ride will take you to the island proper.

Boracay has a wide range of activities for everyone — from simply lounging about to challenging your sense of adventure. Yearly activities — like the Aklan Fiber Festival and the Nestea Beach Volleyball Championships — keep the island bustling with movement. Tourism is the island’s main source of revenue and residents make sure you feel welcome and safe. At the airport, you are given a card with vital numbers you might need such as the Coast Guard’s and Police Assistance.

Right smack in the middle of Boracay island is the tourist center, perfect for business people who need to check up on the office or email an important memo. It offers a wide range of services — foreign exchange, postal services, credit card services, business center, photo developing, internet access, long-distance telephones, safety deposit boxes, and even a mini-mart for the grocer in you. There are also tourist information center in the island for those who require more facts about Boracay.

While the kids frolic in the sun, spend some time with your partner. Stroll barefoot along the white-sand shoreline of Boracay, get a massage together on the beach, or enjoy a candlelit dinner by the sea. Nothing beats the majesty of a Boracay sunset on a lazy afternoon.

Choose from cozy bungalow-type accommodations, Mediterranean style villas or resort hotel rooms. There are always apartments and properties for sale if you decide to make this your vacation home.

Aside from the kiosks, stalls, and peddlers scattered along the beach, Boracay has two main shopping areas — the Trade Fair Center and D’Mall — both which more or less carry the same variety of goods. For the best bargain, compare prices and haggle. D’Mall has stores that sell eclectic lamps and home decor from all over the Asia. Be sure to check out the export quality items available at retail prices like organic soaps and native bags. There is also an antique shop, an art gallery, and a salon.

Since you can purchase practically everything — from shades to swimsuits — on the island of Boracay, pack light. Souvenir shirts go for as low as P75 and beaded jewelry start at P10.

If shopping isn’t your cup of tea, try the island food. We’re sure you won’t be disappointed. The choices are endless and you are bound to leave the Boracay island planning the next trip back.

There are always live solo and group acts at night when Boracay becomes an island of exotic buffets. Some establishments offer family meals at good prices — P350 for two to three persons P500 for four to six, and P750 for six to eight. There is Mongolian buffet for P175 to P195, as well as authentic Italian made-from-scratch pizza starting at P120.

A typical course meal with cocktails is only P250 while a great English breakfast with all the eggs you can eat is just under P200. Exotic cuisine can be had at steeper prices. Try Indian cuisine at Vinju and True Food, Portuguese meals at Banza, and yummy Crepes Bretonnes at Cafe Breizh.

A Caribbean cruise start from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea to the array of ports of call that offer something for everyone. Guests on the islands will enjoy the long stretches of sandy beaches, fun and upbeat shopping spots, lazy swaying palm tress, water sports, and the abundant sunshine to get away from it all. A Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is just the way to do it.

The Caribbean is full of intimate resorts and private islands catering to couple of all ages! Choosing this type of a trip is choosing an island destination with many options. Caribbean cruises will travel to one of the three regions of Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. You can opt for a two-night getaway or a longer vacation. Cruises of 10 and 11 nights tour of the regions are also available. The longer you stay in the islands, the better you can experience their diverse people, culture, languages, and landscapes.

So how do you get there? Direct Line Cruises is a cruise-only travel agency that offers discount cruise rates for various cruise lines such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. These cruises include awesome destinations: Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, Europe, Hawaii, and of course, the Caribbean. This travel agency has been in business for the past 12 years so you can be sure that you and your spouse will be in good hands, and that you’ll get your money’s worth. You can book directly on their website!

But if you’re looking for a local, Caribbean-like trip, you can always choose to go to Boracay Island, Philippines, the #1 beach in the world today according to Yahoo! Travel. Alta Vista de Boracay, a hotel in Boracay Island, Philippines, is offering affordable Boracay packages. Take advantage of these special offers today!

Boracay, described as “contemporary tropical island”, is one of the Philippines’ most popular tourist destinations. Its white-sand tourism beaches are exemplars of how an island vacation can effectively take away the stress brought by the nerve-wracking world outside.

Boracay has many resorts and hotels to choose from. One practical choice is Microtel Inn and Suites Boracay to accommodate you during your stay in the island. It is a beachfront Boracay hotel that offers comfort and convenience at affordable prices. Microtel Inn Boracay has 51 rooms that come with complimentary continental breakfast, cable TV, telephone, Internet-ready data port, and more — some of which have a view of the beach.

The fun in Boracay does not end when the sun sets. Boracay nightlife is vibrant with many bars and restaurants serving food and drinks until very late in the evening.

It’s the perfect retreat for your vacation in Boracay, Aklan this summer.

[tags]Boracay, Boracay resorts, Boracay hotels, Microtel Inn Boracay, Boracay vacation, Boracay Philippines[/tags]