Aklan, Philippines · January 2026
Part one · Getting there
Where I stayed · Discovery Shores Boracay
Four nights on I Prefer points, 50,000 a night. I moved them over from Citi ThankYou when the transfer was 1:4, so it was only 12,500 Citi points a night, about 50,000 for the whole stay. The cash rate was something around $400 a night. That was great value.
A celebrity was staying there too, Robi Domingo. Every Filipino person I talked to knew who he was. I didn't take pictures with him, but I sat close to him by chance a few days. He was very gracious with fans.
Part two · White Beach
Part three · My birthday
On the day I arrived I saw a lot of people arriving with drums. It was Ati-Atihan, a big celebration, and it happened to be on my birthday.
Coming next: video of Ati-Atihan, including some on the Insta360.
Part four · The helicopter
A helicopter ride around the island, about 20 minutes. It was something like 11,000 pesos per person. I definitely had the feeling it was a chance for a helicopter ride a lot cheaper than it would be anywhere else in the world, so I did it.
Coming next: the Insta360 video of the whole ride, from the mount at the front of the cockpit.
Part five · Around the island
Part six · Leaving