Polish Blogger Thinks Boracay is “Probably the Worst Island I’ve Ever Visited”
The Christmas season is now over, and even if the cold weather is still settling in, many Filipinos are probably already scheduling their summer vacations. One of the popular spots is definitely the world-famous Boracay, with its white sand beach, crystal clear waters, and endless blue skies. The world is captivated by this little island, Filipinos included. Except this Polish travel blogger, who has traveled to 61 countries in the past 10 years.
Anna Lysakowska of Anna Everywhere wrote about her trip to Boracay, and called it “probably the worst island I’ve ever visited.” She called it a tourist trap, and was “incredibly disappointed when I left the island.” She visited the island because of its white sand and great parties.
She started describing getting to the island:
To start with, I was on a bus with a group of teenage Filipinos that decided not to respect anyone else by playing their music incredibly loudly while screaming to it and throwing chips on others.
Boracay is one of the world’s premiere party places
And when she reached the port going to Caticlan, she was bombarded by locals offering to carry her suitcases. When she declined, this is what happened:
They still asked for money and wouldn’t leave me alone unless I gave them something. I have nothing against tipping, but yelling “Give me a tip now!” isn’t going to make anyone give them more money, actually quite the opposite.
She also criticized the number of foreign backpackers she described as “horrible.” She said:
I don’t remember the last time I was surrounded by so many ignorant people. The majority of people who come to Boracay are either Korean tourists, which are fine, or the worst types of backpackers who go there with one mission – to tick the Philippines off of their list, get wasted, and have sex with whoever comes along… I think most of these people had no interest or knowledge about Filipino culture and were only there to party.
Boracay sand castles are one of the attractions of the beach
Anna also described the lack of Filipino culture in Boracay. She said that locals adjusted the culture to foreign tourists.
And sometimes, they don’t care at all. She described how a class she enrolled at was cancelled at the last minute. When it was rescheduled, no one from the class was present. Anna also described the number of “annoying” vendors:
The moment you step out of the hotel in Boracay, you’re practically under attack. Annoying vendors are everywhere: the streets, the shops, and sadly, even the beach.
Even the beach did not escape Anna’s post. She said that the worst thing about Boracay is the beach because it is constantly being destroyed by consumerism. She warned readers to think twice before flying to Boracay, and to consider other Philippine islands.
Oh and needless to say, we still love Boracay! Here’s our favorite things to do in Boracay – Top 10 Things to do in Boracay
What do you think? Is she right? Share you thoughts in the comments section below!
Polish Blogger Thinks Boracay is “Probably the Worst Island I’ve Ever Visited
I agree the vendors should stop following all the visitors of Boracay to offer their services and give them the privacy they need. If we need to go on island hopping,a massage or buy a souvenir it is all over the island.The Boracay authorities should regulate and do something about it if we still want Boracay to be the best island in the world
She nailed it, every single part of it. The truth about Boracay is that it’s now being sullied by over urbanization. The water is dirty with garbage, and the shoreline is depleting due to over development by many greedy businessmen, and the fact that the island is rapidly adapting itself to foreign culture — it’s no longer a Philippine island.
That’s true, especially about helping to carry the luggage then the asked for money in returned nakakahiya, may nakasabay kami German , ganun ginawa,..at galit na galit
Well she’s not lying. Sad but its true.
Classic Filipino commenters who claim that they have “brains” to digest things. When a person from a different country said something horrible about our country, their first reaction is to “Yes. He/she has a point. We are in the wrong on this one”. It’s easy to take the other side than to defend our already sinking country, eh? Yes, the writer may be correct (never been to Bora, and has no plans to visit). BUT, the big question is, are you still concern to our own country? Have you done something, big or small, to, as what Mahatma Ghandi said, “see the change that you want to see”? Have you tried, even for once, think “Foreigners are hatin’ our country. What would be the best way to change their perspective?” Or you just go “Well, (insert negative stuff against our country), It’s more fun in the Philippines”. You may say that it’s an old saying, but if we Filipinos won’t love the Philippines, who will?