Getting There:
Staying at Shangri-La is an experience from start till the end. We were met at the airport by the hotel representative and were taken to a private lounge (about a 5 minute drive) while waiting for the speedboat to take us to the hotel.
The speedboat ride to Fairways' port took about 15 minutes, we had to use their port because of the strong current. It was about another 10 minute shuttle ride to get to the resort.
Lobby:
They have a very spacious lobby and a lobby lounge with breathtaking views of the beach.
We were taken straight to our villa via buggy where Jane, a very friendly guest services associate introduced us to our butler and showed us our room.
While the Treehouse Villas are close together, you still get the impression that you have the entire area all to yourself. It gives off a very peaceful vibe that makes you want to just stay there forever.
Villa 32:
The villa has two floors, the first one is the bedroom and the one up top is the living room. Don't forget your keycard when you go up because you will be needing it to enter the bedroom.
The living room is spacious with a big tv which is perfect for movie nights with friends. Bring along your favorite DVD and relax. It also has an office desk if you need to do a bit of work.
By the corner of the room is a small pantry with a coffee machine, microwave and a refrigerator.
There is also a powder room. I would have preferred a full bathroom just because the jacuzzi is right outside and it would be nice to be able to take your shower there instead of heading back down to the main room.
The living room has a balcony with the most amazing view and to make your stay truly worth it, they placed a very big jacuzzi and a couple of daybeds.
The main bedroom is a bit smaller than the living room but it also offers the same spectacular view. Curtains are automatic so there's no need to get up to open or close it.
The drinks at the minibar are free except for the alcoholic ones. Enough water is also provided which is a good thing to combat the heat outside.
I also love the bathroom. There's a separate shower and bath, two sinks, L'Occitane bath products and fluffy towels. I also noticed that they have two kinds of toilet paper, use whatever you fancy.
Beach and the Pools:
The resort has several pools, a couple of free form and a lap pool / infinity pool.
It also boasts of its own private beach. They actually have two, one is dedicated to water activities and provides a good view of the resort.
The other one is right by the pool and several lounge chairs are provided. The staff is also very attentive passing around bottles of water and fresh fruits.
(There's also a faint wifi signal on the beach so you can bring your smartphone with you and do a little bit of surfing.)
Health Club:
The Health Club is likewise very impressive. It has complete facilities, cold water and fruits are also provided and the shower room has a jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna.
Chi, The Spa:
We didn't get to try any of their services since they were fully booked when we got there. (Call in for an appointment at 10am since their packages are offered at 20% off).
The spa has its own pool if you want to swim away from the crowd.
If you still want a little more privacy, one villa even has its own small pool.
Entertainment Center:
If you're bored by the outdoors or if its raining, you can visit the Entertainment Center. It has computer stations, Wii, PS3s, board games, a poker room and a couple of karaoke rooms. They do charge you to use the karaoke rooms unless its raining out.
The kids won't be left out as they have their own play area.
Surrounding Areas:
Shangri-La also has lots of area to let you just lounge about and stay put.
Service:
The thing that truly adds value to what you pay for is their impeccable service. The staff goes out of their way to make sure that your stay is very memorable. They also anticipate what you need, for instance, the lifeguard at the beach, upon seeing that the most coveted spot in front of the infinity pool is soon to be vacated, went out of his way to reserve it for us without us even asking for it.
We received welcome fruits and some Filipino snacks on our first day. Cookies / Crinkles are provided every turn down service and a goodbye treat was left for us on our last day.
When Danny got sick, the clinic sent him a meal again without us asking for it.
We were well taken care of until our last day. Their staff took care of us checking in at the airport and let us stay at their lounge to wait for our flight.
A few more things:
1. The resort is far from the main Boracay beach. A shuttle is provided at certain intervals, make sure to check the schedule. The shuttle queue is busy from the main beach to Shangri-La at around dinner time till 9pm. Talk to the person in charge there to ensure that you get a seat back.
2. If you miss the shuttle, you can take a tricycle. It costs 150php (5SGD) one way. The shuttle driver was gracious enough to take us down to where the main road is and we were able to take a tricycle from there at a fraction of the cost.
3. You can get snacks from their gift shop but it would be of course cheaper to just get it at D'Mall.
4. Get cocktails during happy hour at 50% off.
5. The best time to go to Sirena is just before sunset. It's actually quite dark at night so you won't be able to appreciate the cliffside view although they're open till late.
