MöVENPICK RESORT AND SPA BORACAY SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR ISLAND LUXURY
Boracay continues to uphold its reputation as one of the world's top beach destinations. At the 31st World Travel Awards 2024, it was hailed as Asia's Leading Luxury Island Destination.
Embodying this prestigious honor is Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, a four-star resort renowned for its premium accommodations, exceptional service, and stunning beachfront location.
If you ask General Manager Franck Merot, five defining features set Mövenpick apart from other resorts on the island: exclusivity, spaciousness, privacy, lush natural surroundings, and delectable dining.
Guests of Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay enjoy exclusive access to Punta Bunga Cove.
Nestled at the northernmost tip of Station 1 in Punta Bunga Cove, Mövenpick Resort offers a tranquil location away from the hustle and bustle. In fact, only guests of Mövenpick and the nearby Shangri-La and Crimson hotels have access to this peaceful cove.
While many resorts have noisy poolside areas located directly in front of the rooms, Mövenpick features a thoughtfully designed layout that ensures a more serene environment. The accommodations are about five- to seven-minute walk from the poolside, allowing guests to enjoy a quiet, relaxing stay.
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Thanks to the resort’s lush greenery, walks are a delight and the air feels refreshingly cool. I like how their press material puts it: "Its eminently lush surroundings allows guests to snuggle close to nature and feel at ease in its unobtrusive environment." With a background in agriculture, Merot is hands-on in ensuring the landscape remains in pristine condition. He even made sure there are enough coconut trees to provide shade by the beach.
"All the mid-sized trees that you see around the resort, the ones which are four, five meters now, all those were planted during the pandemic in 2020," the GM offers.
Thanks to the resort’s lush greenery, walks at the resort are a delight and the air feels refreshingly cool.
Home away from home
Those who value privacy may opt to book the 370-sqm Sol Marina Villa, which has its own private pool and jacuzzi. It has a very homey feel, with two bedrooms, each equipped with two queen-sized beds and one king-sized bed. It also has ample living and dining space, two bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, and separate walk-in rain showers.
This villa features a 55-inch LED TV, a fully stocked minibar, an in-room safe, free daily laundry service (five pieces), and complimentary Wi-Fi. You don't have to leave your villa to enjoy a meal, thanks to the resort's convenient in-room dining service.
The 370-sqm Sol Marina Villa has a spacious living and dining area.
An overnight stay at this villa, which can accommodate up to four adults and two children aged 12 and below, costs around P60,000 to P70,000 per night. There's only one of this type of accommodation at Mövenpick Resort, so it's best to book in advance.
If you choose to stay in any of their 311 rooms and suites, you can likewise expect luxurious accommodations charmingly decorated in a modern island-life aesthetic. The interiors boast creamy walls, polished wood accents, and touches of muted greens, apricots, and blues. The setting is welcoming, warm, relaxed, and unpretentious.
Every room offers ample storage and hanging space, along with all the amenities you'd expect from a premium resort, including hairdryers, safety deposit boxes, air conditioning, and complimentary drinking water, tea, and coffee.
The 58 sqm Junior Suite provides picturesque views of the island's azure waters from the private balcony.
From Madrid to Mövenpick
Mövenpick is considered a gastronomic brand, so guests can expect to satisfy their cravings in any of the resort's seven restaurants and cafes. The Market serves buffet breakfast and also offers complimentary 60-minute sweet fix during the daily Chocolate Hour from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Italian restaurant Brezza is located right by the poolside area.
During the daytime, the Pool Bar offers poolside beverages and light snacks. Brezza Ristorante provides casual Italian dining, featuring pizzas made in a specially shipped oven from Naples, Italy. Craving Asian cuisine? Ssäm is the place for authentic flavors, while The Café is the perfect stop for merienda.
Those wishing to unwind with some entertainment will find the Fun Pub’s sports bar and lounge area, complete with games, a pool table, and TV screens, ideal. Guests can arrange Castaway dinners at the scenic Sol Marina Beach Garden. When the day winds down, head to the Sol Marina Beach Club at sunset, cocktail in hand, for a stunning vista that makes for a truly memorable Mövenpick moment.
Sol Marina Beach Club offers a tantalizing selection of handcrafted cocktails.
The resort now boasts a new executive chef, Jaime Ramos, whom we had the pleasure of meeting during our stay. His extensive culinary experience in restaurants across Spain and the Philippines shone through in the diverse cuisines he invited us to sample. From kinilaw na mahi-mahi served with crunchy camote chips, tuna tartare, seafood paella, Spanish gambas al ajillo to tuna sliders with wasabi mayo, fried spicy salmon maki, and ice cream panna cotta, it was clear that Ramos has many tricks up his, well, toque.
Kinilaw na mahi-mahi served with camote chips is a surprising but satisfying combination.
Ramos, who hails from Madrid, Spain, says he plans to expand the resort's menu to include a wider range of Asian flavors. This will encompass not only Japanese, Korean and Chinese dishes but also an array of Thai, Indonesian, Indian and Filipino cuisines.
The affable chef has been in the Philippines for a total of seven years, working in different restaurants and hotels. "I'm used to working with Filipinos, so I've learned a lot of different ideas, techniques and flavors," Ramos tells Esquire Philippines. He also worked under the guidance of reknowned Spanish chef Chele Gonzalez, which explains his extensive knowledge on Filipino ingredients.
Ramos' tuna sliders with wasabi mayo are to die for.
"[Chele] travels around the Philippines looking for unique local ingredients, some that you can only find on specific islands—like different varieties of rice and limes. Over the three and a half years we worked together, he shared so much of this knowledge with me, and I learned a lot from him."
In addition to diversifying the Asian menu offering, Ramos says he also plans to elevate the quality of Western and European food at Mövenpick Resort. "I want to make Brezza one of the best Italian dining destinations on the island," he says.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay's General Manager Franck Merot and Executive Chef Jaime Ramos
A significant part of his mission, adds the 32-year-old chef, is to source the best local ingredients, including seafood and vegetables, to create fresh, high-quality meals that highlight the island's bounty.
"Chef Jaime's directive is to elevate everything currently on the menu, bringing each dish to a higher level of excellence," says Merot. "We want to ensure that people choose to enjoy their great food here rather than venturing into town."
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay promises a luxurious vacation, redefining what it means to truly escape. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo retreat, it's an ideal destination for an unforgettable experience.
2024-10-02T02:12:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd