An island getaway like in postcards, but affordable

The island paradise is small and not that easy to get to, you have to fly to Manila or Cebu, take another domestic flight in a 32-seater (or smaller) plane, hop onto a short 5-minute jeepney ride to a jetty to take a 15 to 20 minute boat ride to the island. But once you get there, you'll experience an island paradise like what you see in postcards. And most importantly, it's an affordable holiday in these lean times. A three-day package, including transfers, costs about $650.

Located about an hour's flight from Manila or Cebu, Boracay is in the western Visayas. The island is shaped like a dog bone, the island is all of 7km long and 1km at its narrowest width. You can walk the entire length of the island. The main part of the island is, of course, White Beach (or Long Beach as the locals call it). Aptly named because of its powder white fine sand.

White Beach stretches some 4km and is on the western side of the island. It faces the Sulu Sea and the crystal clear blue water makes it hard to resist a dip in the shallow sea. Boracay has been named one of the best beaches in the world. Only those who've visited the island can see and understand why.

Apart from lazing under a palm tree, you can go on a short hiking trail. Hilly areas in the northern and southern parts of the island rise up to 100m above sea level. There are numerous intertwining trails, some leading through tropical jungles for hikers to explore.

While you won't get any of the infamous Philippine-styled mega malls here, you can still find some souvenir shopping in Boracay. The Talippapa Market offers some bargains for the usual souvenirs, from trinkets and magnets to beach sarongs and beach hats.

When night falls, you're in for another surprise. The entire stretch of beach turns into an alfresco bar and dining area. You'll find some 200 restaurants and snack bars around the island offering cuisine from local Filipino to French, Italian and even Middle Eastern. This just goes to show the diverse tourist crowd that throngs the island.