Trip To Boracay, Philippines: Henann Lagoon Resort

By Elin Chow - Thursday, March 10, 2016

Photo By: Elin Chow
Official Website: Henann Lagoon Resort
Address: Station 2, Main Road, Boracay Island, Philippines

Boracay is known as one of the best beach destination in the world. Having booked our air tickets to Boracay months ago, we proceeded to search for a hotel online. After much discussion, we decided to book the Lagoon Desire Package with Henann Lagoon Resort for our trip to Boracay this time. 

Henann Lagoon Resort

Located in Station 2 on Boracay famous White Beach, the Henann Lagoon Resort offers 222 luxurious rooms, each with its own spacious balcony. To suit different needs and requirements, the resort offers a variety of accommodation options for guests to choose from. Accommodation include standard hotel rooms, direct pool access rooms, suites and family rooms.

Henann Group of Resorts manages some of the most luxurious establishments on Boracay island - namely the Henann Regency Resort & Spa (Formerly known as Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa), Henann Garden Resort and Henann Lagoon Resort. The group will have four more upcoming beachfront properties in Boracay which will bring a total number of 1,400 room in Boracay island alone.

The Henann Lagoon Desire Package includes the following:

- Three (3) days Two (2) nights accommodation
- Free daily breakfast and dinner at Lagoon Cafe
- Free round trip transfers from Caticlan to hotel
- Free in-room WiFi

Since we were arriving in Kalibo, we decided to book a round trip airport transfer with Henann Lagoon Resort at an additional charge of PHP 350 per person, payable (in cash or credit card) upon arrival at the resort. All terminal and environmental fees are included in our airport transfer package. For those who are interested to book their airport transfer from Kalibo to Henann Lagoon Resort, please email manila.hlb@henann.com.

After much comparison, we also decided to book a Premier room this time as the price difference between the Deluxe and Premier room was not huge.


The minute you get off the plane, either in Kalibo or Caticlan, the VIP treatment begins. A staff from Southwest Tour with a personalized sign will be waiting for you as you come through the customs. Look for the sign with your name on it.

Once you confirmed your details with the staffs, you will be escorted to a fully air-conditioned bus, which will be waiting on site to take you to Caticlan Jetty Port Terminal. The entire bus journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. 


Upon arrival in Caticlan, a minivan will whisk you off to Henann Group of Resorts Welcome Center. This is where guests await transfer to Boracay island via private speedboat.

Located just 5 minutes drive away from the Caticlan Jetty Port Terminal, the Welcome Center is exclusive to Henann Group of Resorts guests only.



At the Welcome Center, we were escorted to the dock for private speed boat ride. We really like the fact that the resort has its own dock and speedboat to transfer us from Caticlan to Boracay island. It made us felt like a VIP!

Staffs from the Welcome Center will carry and put your luggage onto the boat for you, so you do not have to worry about getting wet.



The boat ride from the Welcome Center to Cagban Jetty Port takes about 10 minutes. 


Upon arrival at the port, an air-conditioned minivan will be waiting to take you directly to the resort. The land transfers from Cagban Jetty Port to Henann Lagoon Resort takes about 15 minutes. 


For those who are staying at Henann Lagoon Resort, I would highly recommend booking a round trip airport transfer with the resort even though it will cost slightly more than the transfer package offered by other tour operators. It would definitely make your transfer from Kalibo to Caticlan painless and hassle-free. We certainly enjoyed the privacy and comfort of a private ride!

The resort will arrange your pickup at Kalibo airport and transfer you all the way to the resort. Simply sit back and enjoy the scenery while you are safely transported from the airport to the resort. Similarly, the resort will arrange and assign a pick up time for your departure, ensuring that you will reach the airport with enough time for your flight. In fact, we even have plenty of time to grab some quick lunch at the airport before our flight home.


Henann Lagoon Resort is located beside the main road, 5 minutes walk away from the famous White Beach and D'Talipapa Seafood Market. It is situated in an excellent location, within walking distance from the bars, restaurants and shops. There are several Chinese and Korean restaurants nearby and the Family Mart located across the street provided us with lots of convenience. We can grab some quick snacks and beverages and many other basic necessities at any time of the day. 


We were initially very reluctant to book this resort due to its non-beachfront location, but glad that we did. You would not want to stay in a beachfront resort in Station 2 because it can get really noisy, especially after night falls. The resort was a good choice because it was far enough from the noisy nightlife, but close enough to the beach.

Upon arrival at the resort, we were immediately led to an air-conditioned lobby where welcome drinks were served to us. While we were enjoying our cold drinks, the staff performed the check in procedure for us and that was also when we have to make an additional PHP 700 payment for our roundtrip transfer from Kalibo to Caticlan.

The lobby area was very crowded with limited seating. There should be more rest area with more seating in the lobby area for guests to sit around while waiting to check in or out.

After confirming all our details, the concierge took our bags and led us to our room. For that, we tipped him PHP 100 once we got into the room.



Located on the fourth floor of the new wing, the spacious premier room features two beds (one queen-sized and one single)en-suite bathroom, separate work and sitting area and a private balcony. Modernly decorated, the Premier room sleep up to 3 and is perfect for a small family or for travelers who just enjoy that little extra space.


The room has open-plan bathroom, right next to the bed, enclosed by a large glass window dividing the bathroom and bedroom that left the shower in full view. Apparently, the transparent bathroom is one of the exciting feature of the room, which allows one to watch their partner in shower.


However, if you are staying with friends or prefer more privacy while in your shower, a roller blind can be raised and lowered by manually operating the roller shaft. We kept the roller blind down throughout our stay because we simply could not accept the idea of a see through shower. 


The bathroom was spacious, clean and beautifully furnished with a granite counter top. 


The elegantly appointed bathroom features a spacious glass enclosed walk in shower with rain shower head. I really like the rain shower head because it offers a good coverage to soak my entire body, which gave me a very relaxing shower experience. 


There were sufficient bath towels provided for each guest as well. The towels were thick, soft and very absorbent. But most importantly, they were very clean and bright white.


The bathroom also comes with a spacious bathtub where we can enjoy a nice and relaxing bath after a long and tiring day.


The bathroom is well-equipped with hair dryer, bath towels, toilet paper and basic toiletries. 


Basic toiletries such as bath foam, conditioner, shampoo and body lotion are provided in small bottles.

Other than that, the resort also provides some other basic necessities like shower cap, shaving kit, cotton buds, disposable toothbrush and toothpaste. 

The room offers complimentary 2 bottles of mineral water replenished daily during our stay. There was also a mini fridge for us to store our cold drinks and food in the room.

Electric boiler and basic coffee and tea making facilities are provided in the room as well. 


Other amenities also include in-room safe box, umbrella, direct dial phone and individually controlled air-conditioning.


The room was spacious with plenty of storage space for luggage and the beds were very clean and comfortable. However, the pillows were a little too soft for our liking. The surrounding was very quiet at night, despite being so close to the beach. We enjoyed nights of good sleep at the resort.

Its quiet location provides a very relaxed atmosphere and the perfect place to rest.

Our room also features a small sitting area with a 2-seater sofa and a round coffee table. This is where guests can laze around with a magazine while enjoying the warmth of the sun.


The large working desk, comfortable chair and good lighting are just perfect for work or relaxing in peace and quiet.

Other room features include a 32 inch flat screen LED TV with satellite channels. TV selection was great, with plenty of channels to flip through. Our room package also includes free unlimited in room WiFi. However, the complimentary WiFi was very slow and unstable. It took a long time for us to load a webpage, which can be very frustrating. Hopefully the resort can do something to improve on that.

On the desk, there are magazines provided for your reading pleasure. 

Our room opens out to a private balcony equipped with a coffee table and two chairs.

The balcony is just the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee or relax with a book. We spent a lot of time just sitting on the balcony and enjoying the peace and quiet.


There was a drying rack on the balcony for us to hang our wet clothes and towels.


To maintain the appearance of the resort's facade, the resort does not allow guests to hang their wet clothes and towels on the balcony railings and walls. Please hang them on the drying rack provided by the resort.


The balcony overlooks the resort's majestic pool. There are two outdoor pools in the resort - a main pool located near the lobby area in the main wing and another smaller one in the new wing. 


The pools are only four feet deep, making it ideal for families with young kids. 

While many others would prefer to stay in a room located at the main pool in the old wing, we actually prefer staying at the room located in the new wing because it offers more privacy. The main pool area can get very busy and noisy throughout the day. So, be sure to request for a room located in the new wing if you prefer quietness.


We were impressed by the daily housekeeping as well.  Every day, we came back to a clean room with fresh linens and towels. Soaps and toilet papers are replenished and trash are emptied, all on a daily basis. The housekeepers not only cleaned the bedroom and bathroom, but also the exterior glass surface of the balcony.

Even though tipping is not mandatory, we still left a PHP 50 tip and a thank you note in our room every morning before we headed out for breakfast. Hopefully the housekeeping team will keep up the good work.


On the ground floor, there was a Mini Shop offering daily necessities, quick snacks and beverages, as well as typical tourist souvenirs such as postcards. However, we always visit the Family Mart located in front of the resort because the Mini Shop offers very limited choices.

Other resort facilities includes a business center and a gym and fitness center that overlooks the swimming pool. The gym is equipped with several basic equipment such as treadmill, elliptical trainers and weight machines.  

The resort boasts a 1,200 square meter lagoon-shaped swimming pool, which is also known to be the largest in Boracay. You will find plenty of sun lounges and poolside cabanas lining the pool area.

There were sufficient sun lounges at the poolside even when the resort was almost fully occupied (mostly Korean nationals) during our stay. Furthermore, the pool area was never crowded. This would be great place to enjoy Boracay weather if you find the White Beach too crowded.

The pool was cleaned and treated everyday.We were very happy to see the cleaning staffs worked so diligently to keep everything clean and orderly at all times

Situated on the ground floor, the Direct Pool Access rooms allow guests to walk directly from their patios and straight into the cool pool water. I would definitely recommend the Direct Pool Access rooms if you want the convenience going to the pool.


The lagoon sized swimming pool, complete with a center island with palm trees is undoubtedly, the main attraction of the resort. Guests can spend their afternoon relaxing on the sun lounges under the shade of the palm trees. This is absolutely the perfect place to escape the mass tourism from the beach.


The resort's fabulous main pool also features a sizable swim up bar that serves a dazzling array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Right in the middle of the pool, guests can sit back and enjoy their favorite drinks while wallowing in the cool water.

A complimentary buffet breakfast is served at the Lagoon Cafe every morning from 6 am to 10 am. 


Overlooking the pool, the Lagoon Cafe offers all-day poolside dining in a relaxed environment.

However, it was hard to get a seat by the pool. The cafe can get very busy during breakfast hours so you might want to get there early if you wish to get a seat by the pool. 

The cafe offers a variety of authentic Filipino and international delicacies that will satisfy any palate. An a-la carte menu is available for in room dining as well.

The buffet breakfast and dinner were delicious and filling, though we actually find the choice a little bit limited. However, the menu of the buffets change everyday so we would never got sick of the food.


Henann Lagoon Resort provides complimentary shuttle services to beachfront Henann Regency Resort & Spa. From Henann Regency, it is a 3 minutes walk to the beach. The free shuttle runs frequently, but we only used it twice since the beach is located just a short walk away. We feel that it was faster to walk to the beach than to take the free shuttle.

Henann Regency enjoys the widest beachfront area on the island and features a semi-private beach lounge area. The area is lined with plenty of beach lounge chair shaded by umbrellas and palm trees. The lounge chairs available on the beach are complimentary and for the exclusive use of Henann group of resorts guests.

Being part of the Henann group, we were able to enjoy the lounge chairs at the beach. To use the lounge chair, you will have to bring your beach towel from your resort (beach towels are blue with green stripes, not the usual white ones). Guests without their resort's beach towels are not allowed to sit on the lounge chairs.


Grab your favorite book and relax in one of the beach lounge chair under the shade of a large sun umbrella while the afternoon drifts away. We spent our evenings sitting on the lounge chairs waiting for the sun to set.

Overall, we have a really wonderful time staying at Henann Lagoon Resort. We were deeply impressed by the excellent service and hospitality offered by the resort. The staffs were very friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. They always greet us with a smile whenever they see us. We truly appreciate every little effort that the resort put in to make our stay pleasant and unforgettable.

I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone who is looking for a quality accommodation in an easily accessible location, at a relatively affordable price. This is just the ideal place for large group of family and friends travelling together.

For our budget, the room was a little too expensive, but totally worth it in our opinion. Its strategic location, cozy ambiance, well-trained staffs and top notch amenities has made our stay a very memorable one.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates on my 4 days adventures in Boracay! You might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.

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7 comments

  1. Wow! This is a very thorough review of Hennan Lagoon Resort in Boracay. I'm sure if somebody is having doubts in staying in this resort, he/she would definitely change his/her mind. :)

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  2. Hi Elin! Your review was remarkably impressive. Bless your heart for sharing your experience on your stay at Henann hotel. We need more good people like you after I went across your statement " Even though tipping is not mandatory, we still left a PHP 50 tip and a thank you note in our room every morning before we headed out for breakfast. Hopefully the housekeeping team will keep up the good work. "
    As you said, hopefully, we get more people like you doing reviews like these and please keep up the good work. ( I booked our family solely on your review of the hotel and itinerary :) RS

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    Replies
    1. Hi, thanks for reading and happy to know that my review has helped you in planning your trip. You might to read about my experience in Boracay in my other posts. There are labelled under the "Philippines" tag. Hope you enjoy your trip with your family. :)

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  3. Hi Elin! You review is very helpful to me. May I ask if Henann Garden Resort guest share the same mode of transfer as you? As I had booked their airport transfer service so I wanted to ensure the journey is smooth. Appreciate your reply!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cynthia, Thanks for reading. I am glad that my post is useful to you. I believe all guests under the Henann Group of Resorts will enjoy the same mode of transfer. Hope you have a nice trip.

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  4. Thanks for your prompt replied. Unlike what you had mentioned in your post, I was told by Henann staff that I need to look for Southwest Tours Bus Company's booth or one of their coordinators by myself within the vicinity of the Kalibo airport. I hope I'll be able to enjoy the VIP treat like you too. Once again, thank you!

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  5. Thank you so much for your bountiful information!
    I am going to Boracay with my friend on February and I was searching for informations including the airport transfer. With the email address in your writings, I just sent an email to the resort and am waiting for a response. I am very excited for this upcoming trip to Boracay and I just want to appreciate for all of the information you've given. Very Helpful!!:)

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