Crystal Sand Beach Resort is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Boracay, offering a budget friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Close to some of Boracay's most popular landmarks, such as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church (0.5 mi) and Willy's Rock (0.5 mi), Crystal Sand Beach Resort is a great destination for tourists.
Guest rooms offer amenities such as air conditioning, and guests can go online with free internet access offered by the resort.
The property also boasts an on-site restaurant, to help make your stay more enjoyable.
When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Jonah's Fruit Shake & Snack Bar, Nonie's, and Cha Cha's, which are some Asian restaurants that are popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.
Plus, during your trip, don't forget to check out a garden, such as Boracay Butterfly Garden.
Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel Beachfront Boat Station 1 Balabag, Malay, Aklan Province 5608 Philippines
Crystal Sand Beach Resort
77 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Boracay’s best hotels for sure are the Hennan group hotels. We stayed at Hennan Lagoon Resort for 7 days but I wanted a special location for my wedding proposal. At my hotel they suggested the Crystal Sands and they were not mistaken. At the front desk in Crystal Sands the staff was so kindly and helpful. Therese and Naizi were my two special ‘agents’ who helped me with the organization of my secret wedding proposal. On the big day they welcomed us from the front door and they prepared everything for the dinner and the proposal. The effort they put in was amezing. I would like to thank also to R-Jay from the restaurant. He did a very good service at our dinner. Let the pictures talk the rest. Thanks again to the whole Crystal Sands team! You made that day unforgottable for us!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Getting there Manila to Caticlan: I rode Cebu Pacific Airlines and if you have to check in luggage it'll cost $8 USD per person per bag. Depending the length of your stay I would suggest to pack LIGHT, you don't need so much resort wear, just take a backpack and a small carry on bag. Bring t-shirts, shorts, maybe only 1-2 collard shirts for guys, no pants necessary and slippers (flip flops). Clothes and merchandise you can buy Cheap at any of the stores, so if you need another shirt or short just buy one or more. You can go to dinner at restaurants in simple t-shirt and shorts nothing fancy.
Caticlan to Boracay Island is via boat then boracay boat harbor to the hotel is via motor trike, you need to be prepared for airport tax and cost of trike. You will be dropped off in front of the Mall, which you will need to go through walking toward the ocean/sand walkway to get to the hotel; this is why I suggest PACKING LIGHT.
Hotel stay/area: I fell in love with the place when I got there, although I live in Hawaii I'd live on Boracay island in a heartbeat! The hotel is cute and nice that it's ocean front. Although it hotel does not have a pool that ok, really, and more so why would they need one when the ocean is 25-30 steps from the front of the hotel, it's clean, temperature nice and beautiful. The rooms are spacious and simple, don't expect the American type of bedding so plush, because it's not you're in a different country so adapt. The hotel has soap and little packets of shampoo in the bathroom and yes they have towels, so don't need to pack them. Yep there is cable TV in the room and they do have various english channels. Depends if you can get WIFI from the hotel you maybe able to get signal from your room other than that you can go down to the front of the hotel and sit at the beach and get WIFI. Staff is great!
Shopping: it's a great place for buying all types of souvenirs and anything you want for yourself.
Massages: you can get a GREAT massage for a minimum of about $8 USD for an hour; no frills, own room, music and shower facility, BUT getting a great rubdown for an hour is awesome! Don't be so frightened by those massage girls on the sand walkway selling that service as long as they are in uniform, I not sure about those who are offering that service w/o some type of staff uniform?..
Foods/Meals: Any type any restaurant from simple to more than is offered all over that place, go wild try everything!!! The Crystal Hotel does have a restaurant and depending on how you book your room reservation like myself, I did my booking to include breakfast. The meals at the restaurant is great and they offer the ability to bill the meal to your room account, so you're able to pay at the end of the stay.
Departing the island: Give yourself at least 2.5 to 3 hours to get to the airport. 15 minutes by Trike from the mall entrance where you got dropped off to the boat harbor, 30 minutes for the boat ticket/ride to Caticlan, 45 minutes plane check in with the airline before your flight, should you miss that window you may need to get on the next plane and pay a fee. With possible trike/car traffic, wait time and in-between getting from here/there time give yourself good ample time, this will help to Not stress especially if you're not traveling alone and the possible language miscommunication.
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Date of stay: May 2009
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I've been to crystal sand twice already, the most recent was last holy week. I like the location and the service. However, I am not sure about their lost and found system or shall i say their concern or being keen when a client lost something inside the room. I left my watch in the room drawer in room 202. and immediately after we checked out I recalled that I left my watch at the drawer but I cannot return to the resort hotel to get it anymore since we are about to board the plane...and I am not mistaken that I left my watch in the drawer I can vividly remember putting it there ... So when we landed in Cebu i immediately called the hotel and asked to check room 202 for the watch i left there. It took them more than half day to get back to me and the guy (who was nice) told me their housekeeping would have returned it to them if they found something and told me I may have just replaced it. But NO SIR! I am very certain that my watch was there that's why I immediately called your hotel. I am very certain too that your housekeeper have not been honest.. The front desk people were nice though, I am not sure about the housekeeper. I was with a group of people and one of my companions (american guy in his 60s) told us that the housekeeper assigned to him offered him a BJ as son as she finish her shift..all of these for a fee. And my companion, being a jerk agreed to this. We were taken aback by this and i am sure if the housekeepers are not that decent enough then maybe things may continually get lost in your hotel. . I am sorry I have to mention this but this is a sad fact . I would still want to return to crystal sand though but next time I will be very vigilant with my stuff.
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Date of stay: April 2010
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unfortunately I could not give this place any positive rating because I was robbed of money and gold jewellery worth £300. It was cash and 2 wedding rings as we just got engaged. It appears that it was one of the staff who did this robbery and it must have been clear to the thief that this rings were for a engagement. The police could not do anything as there was no CCTV in this hotel. We felt quite left alone with this as the rest of the staff did not seem to care about our loss. Very poor experience...
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Date of stay: February 2014
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After more than one decade celebrating Xmas and new year at "White Beach Boracay" 2012-2013 was the last time on this - once great island. To many tourist produce to much "fertilizer" (human waste) for such a small island. The sewer built some years ago along the beaches is (as I have been told by locals) is apparently not working the way it was intendet. -- The people responsible for issuing the "building permits" on this island (there is not one public toilet on the whole length of white beach though!!!) ought to be -----It fails to find decent words to express my thoughts. By the way regarding "Crystal Sands Resort".: 5 stars(= best note) for location incl. staff and 3 stars for the resort interior. It is not much fun for people who like to swim dayly for a while to be covered with green sea grass (or algae) upon leaving the water. That green nuisance did not show up by the middle of Jan. before. ( since I have been visiting this place.) F.G.
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Date of stay: December 2012
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This beach front hotel is in the area between boat station 1 and 2. The location is perfect for us, a short walk north of D mall where you can find lots of places to eat. Though central in location, it is quieter and not so crowded as compared to the rest of station 2 resorts south of D mall.
The size of the room (deluxe) was adequate with own sofa and a sliding glass door that opens into a huge veranda. The aircon was working well but a little bit noisy. Bathroom was clean and thick towels provided. They provide room clean up with change of sheets and towels and toiletries replenished daily. You could ask for beach towels at the reception.
Free breakfast (Filipino or Western) that comes with the room are served either in their restaurant or in front of the beach. Serving was huge and comes with fruits, juice or milk and refillable brewed coffee. I especially like their tapa with egg and garlic rice. The food in their restaurant was also good and one time while it was drizzling outside and their restaurant was full they offered to serve our food in our room.
The beach in front of the hotel is clean with shallow waters even at a distance. Though we were there during peak season, there were enough lounging chairs and tables in front of the hotel for the guests. The presence of hotel security in front of the hotel was comforting.
The staff specially those in the reception were nice, always smiling and helpful. They made our stay more pleasant.
The only negative thing I could think of is that the hotel is a long walk from the main street, where the trike stops. So if you’re going to DIY transfer from airport to hotel, have someone help you with your luggage. From the main street, there’s a long alley leading to La Reserve and from there just turn right and a few steps is the hotel. Upon departure though, just tell the receptionist and she/he can call for someone to help you carry your luggage up to the main street and on to the trike.
If you want a small, average priced beach front hotel with good location, good service and friendly staff, this is a good choice.
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Date of stay: April 2009
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just came back from our trip in Boracay. As it is our 1st time, we chose a hotel close to the beach. We are given room 206. At first I was hesitant to accept room 206 as the view is not as nice as room 205. We are suppose to move the next day to room 205 but our 1st night in Boracay was pretty crazy. Too noisy, loud and always like a party place. I guess it is a culture shock for me. Room 206 is better if you prefer a bit quiet. Room 205 has twin bed and a noisier room. Anyway, ROOM is pretty decent. We were given a double bed in room 206. VERANDA is quiet big and we are happy as we can put our wet wetsuits outside after diving. TOILET was provided with 2 sachet of shampoo (2 sachets Pantene) and 2 sachets (small Safeguard) soap every 2 days. Hot shower was provided in the room so it is good. BREAKFAST is not bad. Omelette is average. BEVERAGE--I ordered mango juice at first because it is a suggestion from the waiter but it taste water so he has to replace it and the 2nd time around it taste like mango juice. It is served fresh but orange juice is served artificially. RECEPTION --whenever I asked the reception to clean the room I always tell them not to steal anything as the hotel has a bad review. They find it offensive but I said I just want our things to be protected as the hotel has a bad reputation. HOUSEKEEPING--they didn't steal anything, I'm glad. Room are organize and clean.
Overall, stay is just average as we never expected it is too crowded in the small island. Hotel is good as it is in front of the beach. Be careful of your valuable items was the hotel has a bad reputation when it comes to belongings.
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Date of stay: March 2014
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Room 205 has a nicer view but it is very noisy at night as it is close the "party...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovely hotel, amazing location! the view from room 209 is juts breathtaking! Basic decor and facilities, but staff is really helpful and polite, so couldn't fault it in any way. The only problem was, that our room had the noisiest aircon ever! but you do get used to it...
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Date of stay: August 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It has now been 12 days since i stayed in Crystal Sand Resort and I m still itching and in serious discomfort from being savaged by bed bugs there. I ve travelled a lot in the past 15 years to various parts of the world, stayed in cheaper and more basic accommodation and never had this happen to me before.
A doctor on the island confirmed it was bed bugs ( as my GP has since returning home ) but the owner of the hotel insisted they were "sand flies" and denied responsibility. I checked out immediately and they didn t even have the decency to try and make amends or apologise and to their shame even charged me for soft drinks from the mini bar.....
It raises serious questions about the hygiene there - if you fancy your holiday being ruined and the disgusting feeling of having been eaten by these foul creatures stay at Crystal Sand, Awesome.
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed there several times already. Special about Crystal Sands is first of all the location, right on the beach. Then the staff, great and always supportive. Finally the food, try banana or chocolate pancakes, very special.
Rooms are simple and clean, all you need for a stay on Boracay.
Special tip: Book the transfer to Catiglan together with the room, You will pay 550 PHP, Stressfree transfer from the airport straight to the back entrance of the hotel.
We are always happy to go back.
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Date of stay: September 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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