This Is The Life: Experiencing Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

crimson resort and spa boracay
“Life’s good, yeah?” I asked my brother as I finished my beer and reclined lazily on the oversized day bed. In front of me, sun worshippers played in the foam drifting on the infinity pool, almost touching my toes. Chill, dance-y house music poured from the speakers. A server passed with offers of more beer, to which I happily said yes. I’ve been to Boracay many, many times, but I’ve never been as relaxed as I was during my recent stay at Crimson Resort and Spa.

crimson resort and spa boracay
Situated in Punta Bunga Beach, in an ultra-exclusive area called Station Zero, Crimson Boracay is a secluded hideaway perfect for escaping the bustle of the island. Luxury seekers will be treated to an idyllic sandy cove almost devoid of people; gorgeous views of endless emerald waters; modern amenities built all over the split-level property; exciting food; and amazing service—efficient but not stiff, professional but fun.

Read on to find out more about Crimson Resort and Spa.

crimson resort and spa boracay


Arrival

Booking with Crimson Boracay includes complimentary airport transfers. Upon arrival at Caticlan Airport, we were accosted by friendly staff who helped us with our luggage and drove us to the welcome center, our jump-off point to the island. We were told that the waves were quite strong that day, so the speedboat took us to Keyhole port and from there, we took a quick 5-minute drive to the resort. Typically, the boat docks right at the resort’s beachfront—we experienced this going home.

crimson resort and spa boracay
Musicians playing traditional beats welcomed us upon arrival—I love this lively, samba-like music. Staff came out of nowhere handing us cold towels, welcome drinks, and bracelets. We then experienced a special welcome ritual, where our welcome host washed our hands with a fragrant concoction of coconut oil, foliage mist, and a combination of other essential oils. It smelled and felt lovely!

crimson resort and spa boracay

The Rooms

Each of Crimson Boracay’s 192 rooms and villas features coastal hues like azure, beige, and gray, finished with white splashes, bringing in the nature outside and blending well with the rest of the surroundings. Filipino-inspired touches—like weave and shell patterns—accentuate the space. Artworks following the same color scheme are displayed.

crimson resort and spa boracay

crimson resort and spa boracay

The Seaview Suite (check rates) is spacious at 55 sqm and looks out to Punta Bunga and the sweeping Sulu Sea. With a press of a button, automatic blinds reveal a glorious view from the floor-to-ceiling windows—a view you wouldn’t mind waking up to everyday. Should you crave for some fresh breeze as you sip your morning coffee, the suite has a small balcony as well.

crimson resort and spa boracay
The bedroom comes in King or Twin configurations—ours was the Twin featuring two incredible beds that just whisk you away to sleep. Choosing the blackout option from the blinds turns this space even cozier, especially at daytime. Individual reading lights are installed. There’s a TV here as well, and a work desk which, for once, I never used (yup, no blogging or editing photos during this indulgent trip).

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
There’s a separate living area that connects the bedroom to the balcony. This space has a sofa, an enormous flat-screen TV, and a mini-bar—the first set of which is complimentary. Being a huge coffee addict, I loved that there’s a Nespresso machine, and that they provide water in glass refillable bottles rather than in plastic, single-use ones. My brother and I watched our favorite TV shows here while drinking coffee without realizing we had almost spent the whole morning inside; that’s just the vibe at Crimson: cozy, chill, and indulgent.

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
The bathroom, accessible from both the living and bedroom areas, is expansive with double vanities; a walk-in shower; a separate toilet area with a bidet; and a freestanding soaking tub with a caddy for keeping your bath essentials (and wine) at hand. Aum-branded toiletries, which come from the resort spa, are provided—I love the fresh verbena, jasmine, and sandalwood scent! Aside from terry cloth bathrobes, they also provide beautiful royal blue kimonos that guests loved to wear on the beach! Bedroom slippers and beach flip-flops are provided as well.

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
Crimson also gifts guests with a nice straw hat and an eco bag, perfect for keeping all your beach essentials handy wherever you go. What a nice touch!

crimson resort and spa boracay

Dining

Saffron Café

crimson resort and spa boracay
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets as well as an a la carte international menu, Saffron is Crimson Boracay’s all-day dining outlet. The restaurant is divided into several stations where chefs dish out freshly-prepared plates. The breakfast buffet is quite extensive with lots of Western and Asian selections. For the Eastern sections, there are Filipino (Tip: the adobo with pineapples is so good), Chinese, Korean, and Japanese food, but light eaters will be delighted to find that there are plenty of great pastries and light dishes to choose from as well. There’s a variety of fresh juices and pass-around smoothie boosters, as well as a selection of freshly prepared coffee and tea.

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
My brother and I also tried their a la carte menu, and there’s a good variety in there—including a kid’s menu. The pizzas are good for sharing, but even the mains are quite large especially if you aren’t that hungry. We loved the Margherita and Lechon Kawali but the standout dish for me was the Massaman Curry, which was, unfortunately, only part of their August promotion (Thai curries), where they have especially flown in a Thai chef to run the kitchen. The lamb was so perfectly cooked and the curry itself, which is relatively mild, was incredible—the potatoes and roasted peanuts lending a perfect finish to each bite.

crimson resort and spa boracay

Mosaic Latin American Grill

crimson resort and spa boracay
Open only for dinner and exclusively for sunset cocktails for villa guests, Mosaic is my favorite restaurant at Crimson (and perhaps in Boracay, currently). They specialize in steaks and ceviches, and boast of a great wine list which they recommend for food pairing. The Tiradito Ahumado—spicy, zesty smoked shrimps (raw) topped with crispy sweet potato chips—is simply unforgettable and the Bolzico Rib Eye (Argentinian Angus beef) was just divine. Believe me when I say that you deserve to treat yourself and your better half/family to a lovely dinner here.


crimson resort and spa boracay

Azure Beach Club

crimson resort and spa boracay
Azure is Crimson’s most fun dining outlet. Situated by the beach, it offers fresh seafood and a variety of Asian cuisines, including Indian. You guys know how much I love Indian food, so I had to try their offerings. Plus, the head chef is Indian so I knew I was in a good place. Chef Rajesh didn’t disappoint with his Prawn Biryani topped with amazing cilantro pesto (I could eat maybe three of this, LOL), chicken tandoori, and freshly made naan. The seafood and dessert selections here are incredible, as well.


crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
The restaurant has an intimate indoor dining space as well as a more vibrant and casual alfresco space. In fact, with the swimming pool just nearby, Azure hosts a Foam Party every Saturday from 12 noon to 3 pm, where guests (walk-in and checked-in) can enjoy a lunch buffet of BBQ and Mexican food and play in the pool for 3 hours. There’s a resident DJ spinning amazing music—kudos to DJ Vega for the Bali-vibe music he was playing when we were there!

crimson resort and spa boracay

J’s Pool Bar

crimson resort and spa boracay
Four words: HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY. Crimson gives you no reason to leave the resort with its 50% off on drinks offering from 10 am to 12 midnight! I mean, who can say no to that? J’s is right beside the pool and the beach, the perfect spot for lounging around lazily with some sips at hand. If you love gin, I highly recommend these gin-based cocktails: Zero Limits (lemon, honey), Pipino (cucumber, rosemary), and Azure G&T (star anise, cinnamon, clove). My brother loves Pink Summer, made with tequila, grapefruit, and lychee—it’s quite potent! I also tried their Mojito, which I requested to have mangoes in it, love!

crimson resort and spa boracay

Nonie's

Craving for healthy snacks, fresh juices, and delicious smoothie bowls? Drop by Nonie's, a concessionaire open daily til 5pm. The shop actually has a full-service restaurant at Station 2, but the menu at Crimson comprises perfect beachside eats designed for the health-conscious.


Other Amenities

Crimson Boracay has 3 swimming pools: one located at the upper deck, offering a great view of the resort and the beach beyond; one near Azure Beach Club and built close to the beach; and another one especially for the kids. My personal favorite is the beachfront one, although the one in the upper deck is quieter.

crimson resort and spa boracay

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay
There’s nothing like a good massage to rejuvenate the mind and body, and guests seeking for the ultimate indulgence can book one at Aum Spa. The facility has 7 treatment rooms including a body scrub room, as well as separate areas for foot treatments. In-room and beachside treatments are also possible.

crimson resort and spa boracay

The Fitness Center is well-equipped, with free weights, cardio machines, and resistance machines than can accommodate full-body workouts—perfect for those who hustle even when on vacation. There are also scheduled group exercises and activities that guests can participate in—the jump shoes training looks particularly fun!

crimson resort and spa boracay
Crimson’s private stretch serves as an extension for some of the activities designed for the outdoors. Here, guests can enjoy beach soccer, volleyball, sunrise yoga, or sunset dance workouts.

crimson resort and spa boracay
Those traveling with little tots would love the Crimzone—a kids-only space fitted with toys and interactive games. There’s an attendant to facilitate the games and activities such as sand castle making, so the adults can freely enjoy the resort while the kids are having fun!

crimson resort and spa boracay
The resort also has a ballroom that can host events like banquets and weddings. The latter, however, is usually done on the beach. Other facilities include a gift shop and an events pavilion offering a gorgeous sea view.

crimson resort and spa boracay
crimson resort and spa boracay

An Indulgent Boracay Experience

crimson resort and spa boracay
Boracay used to be a destination of many faces. For partygoers, it once was the ultimate place to meet new people amidst the nonstop nightlife. For others, it’s about enjoying a slice of Boracay’s pristine waters, of luxury, with their loved ones away from the maddening crowds. A lot has changed since the island reopened, but at Crimson Resort and Spa, I somewhat found a piece of that lost sense of fun while still being able to enjoy peace and solitude in a luxurious environment. Throw in the fact that the amazing staff knows how to make you happier and I couldn’t even think of anything better.

~*~
Crimson Resort and Spa
Station Zero, Punta Bunga Beach, Boracay, Aklan
+6336.669.5888


Have you been to Crimson Boracay? What's your favorite resort in the island?

My stay was sponsored by Crimson Boracay. All opinions, however, are my own.

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