It was with great trepidation that we flew to Caticlan Airport five days after the Christmas typhoon, not knowing what awaited us on our first visit to Boracay or at Movenpick. We were amazed at how quickly the resort rebounded, thanks to its hard-working staff. Not only did they handle the clean up with efficiency and great care, but they deftly managed a capacity crowd of tourists who was used to getting its way. What we loved at Movenpick: *Stunning ocean colors and pristine beach (use spray sunscreen instead of stick--I wish the gift shop sold "coral friendly" versions) *Incredibly abundant daily breakfast buffet with something for every dietary need, including GF DF. (go early --before 8:00--to avoid the rush) *Fabulous pool (put a towel and magazine on a chair by 7:30 am to hold your spot for the day--more on that later) *Super-clean guest rooms and public areas, including gorgeous foliage *Beautifully appointed guest rooms with fabulous lanai with drying rack for suits *Timely, organized transportation from the airport to the short ferry (speed boat) ride and van ride to the resort (book in advance through Movenpick concierge) *Chocolate Hour 4-5 pm daily (arrive right at 4 for best selection) *Professional, friendly, kind, supportive, wonderful staff (from the front desk to the restaurants and the groundskeepers to the spa staff...every person greets you with hello and a smile) *Quick team response to a beach emergency when an elderly patron...It was with great trepidation that we flew to Caticlan Airport five days after the Christmas typhoon, not knowing what awaited us on our first visit to Boracay or at Movenpick. We were amazed at how quickly the resort rebounded, thanks to its hard-working staff. Not only did they handle the clean up with efficiency and great care, but they deftly managed a capacity crowd of tourists who was used to getting its way.

What we loved at Movenpick:

*Stunning ocean colors and pristine beach (use spray sunscreen instead of stick--I wish the gift shop sold "coral friendly" versions)

*Incredibly abundant daily breakfast buffet with something for every dietary need, including GF DF. (go early --before 8:00--to avoid the rush)

*Fabulous pool (put a towel and magazine on a chair by 7:30 am to hold your spot for the day--more on that later)

*Super-clean guest rooms and public areas, including gorgeous foliage

*Beautifully appointed guest rooms with fabulous lanai with drying rack for suits

*Timely, organized transportation from the airport to the short ferry (speed boat) ride and van ride to the resort (book in advance through Movenpick concierge)

*Chocolate Hour 4-5 pm daily (arrive right at 4 for best selection)

*Professional, friendly, kind, supportive, wonderful staff (from the front desk to the restaurants and the groundskeepers to the spa staff...every person greets you with hello and a smile)

*Quick team response to a beach emergency when an elderly patron had trouble getting out of the water--that team sprung into action--so compassionate and careful with her!

There are many people to thank: our housekeeper Jonathan, massage therapist Liselle, servers Julievee, Third, JoeDel, the bartenders, the lifeguards, the front desk staff, the concierge, the spa staff, the boutique staff, the John at the water sports desk staff, the porters, the van drivers and the ferry boat staff, the snorkel trip team. Thanks also to Chef Ameer and property manager Franck. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure your needs are met, and we were impressed by that each day of our four-night stay. Many of the employees worked long shifts, some 22 hours long through this busy holiday time.

What we didn't love at Movenpick:

*We found ourselves among a type of traveler that makes a lot of demands. Guests stake out beach lounges early in the day with a towel and then take off, leaving the chair empty for hours--sometimes all day! It took us a day to figure out that if we wanted to sit down, we'd have to do the same. I asked one of the lifeguards about it, and he said that they would prefer that guests not do that, but they can't control it. This sense of exaggerated entitlement played out in many ways throughout the resort. People complained loudly at the front desk about things that were beyond anyone's control. Still recovering from the Christmas Day typhoon, the resort had two brown-out periods 2-4 am and 3:30-5:00 pm where the electricity was off to let the emergency generators cool down. Some people didn't like that. Other people filled up huge plates of food at the breakfast buffet and left them mostly uneaten on their table. People walked past the hostess station at the front door of the restaurant and took a seat of their own liking while others waited in line to be seated. The chocolate hour refreshments were ravaged as if it were people's last meal.

*The juxtaposition of greed and luxury while just outside the resort entrance exists extreme poverty. Poverty and remnants of many past typhoons--hard to tell what was new from Christmas Day and what was previous storm damage.

*The shared wall of the adjoining room we had was thin. We could hear our neighbors arguing in Korean at 5:50 a.m. every morning. Try to get a room without an adjoining room if possible. Floors and ceilings are concrete, so that part was soundproof.

A note about security: Movenpick has security staff positioned where the beach meets the resort. I myself was asked if I was a guest at the resort on the first day and was asked for my room number. No big deal. We walked over to the Shangri-La next door to take a look at their property and were never questioned. I appreciated that Movenpick pays attention to who is coming and going. It felt very safe.

We loved our slice of luxury at Movenpick and are glad to see this resort coexisting with the natural beauty of Boracay.More