The experiences you gain when traveling are unforgettable and often a formative experience for children. Families in Shanghai are blessed with having many incredible destinations right at their fingertips and the opportunity to share these wonders with their children. We asked families around Asia to tell us their most treasured memories and favorite family-friendly destinations. Read on for some fun stories and insider tips!
Boracay is a small island located approximately 300 km south of Manila in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is famous for its white powdery beaches, crystal clear water, kite boarding and vibrant nightlife.
We chose to visit Boracay to see a family that we met when we first moved to Shanghai who now live there. They have children the same age as our son Justin and we thought it would be a great family getaway.
We frequented White Sand Beach – the main beach on the island. It is sectioned off into ‘stations,’ which made it easier to navigate the area. It can be very busy, especially at night (stations one and two in particular), but it is easy to get away from the crowds and find sections of that are great for kids. For families, we would suggest going to station three as there were not many people and the water was warm, clear and very calm.
One of our favorite memories is hiring a catamaran for a day and going sailing around the island and visiting private beaches. We did this twice on our trip we loved it so much. The captain and crew cooked up a BBQ lunch on a secluded beach and they provided snorkeling gear and other beach games for us. We even saw a turtle – the kids loved it!
Since having our son we have used Airbnb more than hotels, which has become a favorite of ours over the last few years. We rented a house in a six-villa compound with its own pool and excellent staff. It was on the east side of the island on Bulabog Beach (opposite side of the island to White Sand beach), where rentals are cheaper. However, if you want to be as close to the action as possible, then it’s best to stay somewhere on White Sand Beach.
Insider tip: Hire a catamaran and barter for around PHP6,000
Best age group: Any
Best way to get around: Motor tricycle
Travel time from Shanghai: ~7 hours with one stopover and ferry ride
Suggested minimum stay: 5 days
Read more Family-Friendly Travel Destinations here.
