Looking for Cheap but Nice Resorts in Boracay

We are booked for only two nights at Fat Jimmy's, but we are staying in Boracay for four nights, from Monday till this Friday (Jan 23). We wanted to save ourselves from worries in finding a place to stay upon arrival in the island. But we also wanted to have a chance to get a better deal in accomodation -- nice place but budget friendly.

The basic criteria are hot and cold shower and free wifi connection, the second set of "must-have's" are aircon, cable television and fridge.

Fat Jimmy's Fan-cooled room costs php 1,500 while Standard Room costs php 2,500. The only difference between the two is the aircon, but both don't have television and fridge. They offer free wifi though. Plus, set breakfast for two. Like earlier mentioned, this resort is near the wet market (they call it D'Mall market) and D'Mall (where souvenir stores, restos and coffee shops abound), your consolation for not being on the beachfront and walking 10 mins to reach the white sand. One real dissapointment on the other hand is that the street going to Fat Jimmy's is where the recycling bins for trash are placed.

My husband had earlier wanted a beachfront resort, but I told him it is so costly (basing it from the quotations I got after inquiring through the internet). When we reached the island, I realized I was wrong. After dinner last night, we strolled from the middle of station 1 to middle of station 3. We found plenty of good offers! And all these are beachfronts ---or safe to say, their facades are on the beachfronts but their cottages/rooms are some five to 10 steps away (and don't expect the likes of Boracay Peninsula and Regency please!). No, these resorts are not those which you have to enter narrow streets (called eskenita).

We were offered as low as php 700, but since it has no hot and cold shower, the first on our basic criteria, we didn't ask to see the room. The rest of the offers range from 1,500 to 2,500 -- all are with hot and cold shower, aircon, cable tv and ref, though not all offer free wifi.

This morning, we took our decision --we are tranferring to Isla Bonita Resort. The suite room on the 2nd floor is very nice and clean, you can see the beach from the veranda; and it has all the requirements we needed. It costs php 2,500, but my husband was able to get it at php 1,500. Great deal! Well, it could be because we are "walk-in" guests. I then realized that for Boracay first timers, it is indeed best to book accommodations in advance. The brilliant thing to do is not to book your whole stay and rather just the first night or two; then leave the rest of the decision making when you are already on the island. Exactly like we did.

Other beachfront resorts with nice rooms and budget price are Blue Coral, Casa Pilar, Villa Camilla and Arwana.