Are you looking for a high-end resort in Boracay that won't break your bank, yet provide you with comfort, luxury, and everything else you need to enjoy the beautiful beaches in Boracay? Then you might consider Henann Lagoon Resort. In this non-sponsored video, we will do a Henann Lagoon Resort Review and cover everything from the amazing pools, food, transportation to Henann, room and resort amenities, location, as well as our opinion on who this resort is best suited for and for what particular time of the year. This is our second time in Boracay and the third Henann that we've stayed in, so we will also compare our previous experiences. You can check out our review of Henann Crystal Sands and Henann in Bohol in the description below.
When you got off the airplane last year, you had to walk to the departure hall; this year, there's a bus waiting to transport you the 5-minute walking distance - go figure. For transportation to Henann, you have two main options. You can set it up with Henann directly while making your reservation, which is what we did last year, or you can book it with the Southwest transportation agency. Since we stayed in another resort after Henann that didn't offer transportation to the airport, we booked a round trip with Southwest via Klook.Let me say this- we don't recommend you doing it. There are a number of options on Klook; some offer this as a bundle, some have it listed separately, and if you order the wrong package - which is very easy to do given the messy website - you'll be stuck. The best part is that once you get off the airplane, you can go directly to the Southwest kiosk and book your transport there. The prices are about the same, so no need to hassle with pre-booking.So, this is when we found out that what we thought was a reservation for transport to our hotel was actually a voucher for some activities in Boracay which we had no interest in
doing. We ended up booking the transport directly with Southwest – which is what we recommend you do as well. To get to Boracay island, you first need to take a van from Caticlan airport, then a speed boat, and then another van. But don't worry, Southwest or Henann staff will take care of everything. Just make sure you have a few hundred pesos in change to give to the baggage carriers. They will be expecting it. 200 pesos at each point of transfer is generally enough for a party of two with 2 large and 2 small suitcases. The trip takes about 45 minutes altogether.If you arrive too early, like we did, you will have to wait for your room to be ready, but as usual, the Henann staff was awesome, and they had a room ready for us by 12 pm, which is 3 hrs before the check-in time. We were super exhausted after a 16 hr overnight flight, so we were glad that we could get to our room quickly.Before we look at the room amenities, let's look at the resort's facilities. As the name suggests – "lagoon" – this particular Henann boasts a huge, centrally located swimming pool. While it looks like one big pool, it's actually separated into smaller pools by bridges and walls below the bridges, so you can't swim from one to another, even though the water overflows between the pools.As we're used to from other Henanns we stayed in, the grounds of the resort are meticulously manicured and tastefully arranged. What's nice about Henann Lagoon is the location of the restaurant for breakfast, which is right by the pool. So you can enjoy your breakfast while looking at the pool.Now let's talk a bit about the food. The breakfast starts at 6 am to 8 am, and then they have a second part from 8 am to 10 am. The breakfast buffet is substantial with a variety of protein sources, starches, breakfast cereal, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. They even had Kimchi. The food varies slightly every day, so you won't get bored of eating the same food every day. We strongly suggest getting a room with breakfast; you won't regret it. We were usually so full from breakfast that we didn't have to eat anything until late in the afternoon. It's easy to get a table, but if you want a table by the pool, make sure to be there by 7:30 am. Even as early as 8 am, it can be quite busy.Even though this is not my typical health-related video, I will say that I strongly suggest you load up on fresh vegetables and some fruits every day after you finish your main breakfast to get plenty of fiber into your body. Along with that, drink lots of water during the day. The reason? You do not want to get constipated on your vacation. It is a very miserable feeling that can make you nauseous, cause you to lose your appetite, and give you a bad stomachache, which will spoil your entire trip. If fresh papaya and lettuce are available, definitely grab some; you will be glad you did. I would even go as far as bringing some Metamucil with you and take it daily. It's hot in the Philippines, and unless you drink more water than usual, it’s easy to get dehydrated. I have a video specifically discussing the dangers of constipation that you may want to watch- the link is in the description.The resort is really trying to push romantic dinners for two by the pool at the sound of live music, but even though the set-up is pretty nice, we did not find it particularly special justifying the price for the 5-course meal. But if that’s what you are looking for, they have the option for you. As you can see, there were not too many takers for that. You can order food or drinks by the pool, which is great if you want to enjoy your lunch or afternoon snack by the pool. We have to say that the food was very delicious and the portions were great to fill you up. The prices for the food are reasonable as well. In general, you can order meals for 300-600 pesos. Some more elaborate dishes cost about 700-800 pesos.Even though we don’t drink, the location of the pool bar right in the middle of the pool, in our opinion, nicely added to the overall great atmosphere. You can sit on the sunken pool stools and enjoy whatever drink you like. It gets busier after sunset when many people come to the pool and want to enjoy drinks at the pool bar.Now, let's talk more about the pools. The water in the pool is usually pleasant given the warm climate in the Philippines. During the day, the pool is generally empty for the most part and gets a bit more active after sunset. It is open from 9 am to 8 pm. You will get towels in two locations by the pool.Now, I was a bit surprised that the water in the pool was a bit murky, given that there were not so many people using it. I noticed that the pumps are not running non-stop and are turned on only during certain periods of the day. Overall, however, the pools are clean and are maintained every morning by the staff.Now, if you are one of those guys or gals that like to have a view of the pool from your balcony or room, then this resort is definitely for you. Pretty much all the rooms face the pool since the resort is built around the main pool. You can rent a room with direct access to the pool, but as we discussed in our previous videos, we personally would not do it again. Privacy for us is important and having to keep all the windows closed so that nobody is peeking into our bedroom is not quite what we are looking for.Also, consider that there will be conversations and children playing right outside your window. We didn't mind the few stairs leading to the pool. Additionally, we greatly preferred the expansive view of the swimming pool from our balcony. There are plenty of loungers by the pool, so you can find the ideal place in the shade to relax. If you want to get a massage, you can easily set it up by the towel station. You can receive the massage by the pool or in your own room. A 1hr full body massage by the pool costs only 700 pesos. My better half did get one, and she liked it, but her only complaint was the uncomfortable position of her neck. It would be a lot more comfortable if they had tables with a head cradle. Laying down on your stomach with your neck twisted for such a long time is really not comfortable. So for that reason, she would not do it again. Her neck was hurting for the next couple of days afterward.There is a gym facing the pool, but it will cost you 300 pesos for 2 hr use, and it is open only during certain hours.Now, let's talk about the rooms. The Hennan Lagoon features the typical open design with plenty of fresh air in the hallways. We booked a standard room, but even that one was really large and furnished with nice new furniture. Everything was clean and working as expected. The bathroom had a nice window to the room which you could close using a curtain, but we thought it was cute. The room had all the standard amenities like a safe, robes, and we even had a refrigerator which was great because we could keep the fruits we bought in the wet market at D'Mall there. My better half always likes the toiletries from Hennan, and she was not disappointed again. The size of the bathroom was great, and we had both a bathtub and a rainforest showerhead.The balcony, as I already mentioned, is a great place to sit and relax in the evening. You can order room service or bring your food up and enjoy it while listening to the sounds of live music, which is available every day at the lagoon restaurant/café.Each floor has a little rest area with a phone and water filter. The resort does not provide bottled water, but each floor has a water filter station. The reception is also nicely designed and has plenty of seats to relax before your room is ready. In the reception area, you will also find a small gift shop with basic souvenirs and some snacks.Now, let's talk about the location. Unlike Hennan Crystal Sands and Regency, Hennan Lagoon is not located directly on the beach. You will need to walk about 10 – 15 minutes from the resort to get to the beach and about the same distance to D'Mall. The resort is located past the D'Mall. On your way, you will pass a number of new construction projects which will likely be completed in just a few months. You will also pass the Hennan Garden resort.Now, the fact that Hennan Lagoon is not directly on the beach can be seen as either good or bad. If you are visiting during the bear months, which range from August to December, the beach and ocean at stations one and two might not be what you'd expect, especially when compared to what you might experience between May and July. The wind is quite strong, and the ocean can get quite wavy. We personally believe that Hennan Lagoon is a better choice if you still want to be near stations 1 and 2. Watch our next video to learn which resort we prefer during this time of the year to get the experience you're looking for.There is a shortcut to the beach, but be aware that it is not the most scenic walk.Overall, the Hennan group did not disappoint us once again and remains our number one go-to hotel in the Philippines. We can't wait to be back next year to check out another Hennan resort.
