The Philippines : family friendly resorts in Luzon and Boracay islands

Let us share our experience with Filipino family friendly resorts in Luzon and Boracay islands as we went to the Philippines with two young kids for a wedding in February 2025.

We flew to Manila direct from Paris with Air France (this is a new line which started in November 2024). Manila is the capital city, it is situated on the largest island, Luzon. From there, we went straight to the wedding location, near the Taal Volcano. After a few days there, we flew with all of our friends to Boracay island, part of the Visayas islands, where we stayed for a week in two different resorts. To finish off our trip, and break down the flights, we flew back to Manila and spent two days at Nasugbu in the Batangas region in the south of Luzon island.

To be honest, we were quite terrified to go on this trip for various reasons (potential health issues, very long flights with kids, jet lag, risks of natural disaster such as typhoons and financial concerns) and we are so glad we did ! Everything went very well for us, we had the time of our lives and we are so happy we got to be there for our friends’ wedding !

 

A trip to the Philippines

Saying that, if it hadn’t been for our friends getting married we wouldn’t have never traveled so far for such a short period of time (13 days). Obviously, it is terrible for the environment and not how we like to travel. Thus, we really didn’t see much of the country… Indeed, the Republic of the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7 500 islands !

Located in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is a unique Southeast Asian country, with a rich cultural heritage influenced by the Spanish and american colonization it suffered. Its landscape is known for diversity, from postcard beaches to rice fields, volcanoes and big cities. To add to this appealing description, the Filipinos are recognized for being very welcoming and relaxed. Despite facing challenges such as the threat of natural disasters and economic inequality, it is a resilient and growing nation. The country is divided into three groups of islands : Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Things we would have loved to do in the Philippines :

Again, if we were traveling there for a longer period and with older kids.

• Go diving : honestly there seems to be so many amazing spots in different parts of the country, but would definitely have loved to see for ourselves the lagoons in Palawan, Coron and El Nido.
• Visit Bohol : to wander in the chocolate hills and to encounter tarsiers. Those tiny primate with large eyes are amazing indigenous animals.
• Explore more of Luzon island : most people seem to land and leave directly this island for others. We loved what we had seen there, and there was so much to explore just on this island (easily, conveniently and cheaply compare to hopping to a lot of other smaller islands). First the city of Manila with the historic areas, then the banaeue rice terraces and the green mountain landscape in the north, then the stunning volcanoes and finally the gorgeous beaches in the south.

 

Family friendly resorts we tested in the Philippines : on Luzon and Boracay islands

Family friendly resorts in Luzon island, Batangas area, Philippines

Between 1 hour 30 and 3 hours drive from Manila international airport, the Batangas area is easily accessible therefore great when traveling with kids. We thought it was a beautiful region with its stunning beaches, incredible lakes and volcanoes.

Pico Sands Hotel, Pico de Loro Cove

We had an amazing two night stays at the Pico Sands Hotel in the Pico de Loro Beach and country club complex. We are still dreaming about this stay !

First the location is so lush and green, we felt in the middle of nature, but with the most beautiful beaches accessible with a few minutes in a golf cart.

Our room at the Pico Sands Hotel

We stayed in a deluxe lagoon view room, it was spacious and comfortable. We loved the balcony peaceful view.

Activities at the Pico Sands Hotel

We spent one of the most amazing day we got to live as a family, on a private beach name Santelmo Cove which was just very short boat trip from the club. It was one of the most beautiful beach we had ever seen. The snorkeling was amazing, we saw beautiful fishes and even small sharks. To make this experience even more outstanding, we had an insane picnic lunch of delicious seafood.

We also did a very romantic sunset cruise (the kids loved it too!), including seeing impressive coves, drinking wine and eating from a charcuterie board. From the boat, we even spotted the national bird, the rare Philippine eagles. They are some of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world!

Every day at the club there are activities scheduled for kids and adults (such as dance, yoga, walks, football games, beach runs, etc.). On site, you can also enjoy have a full size bowling and a spa offering massages. Of course, you will also get to swim in awesome infinity pools, at the Pico Sand hotel or the beach club.

Activities we didn’t had a chance to try but would have loved to include diving, adventure camping , guided treks and jet ski.

 

Restaurants at the Pico Sands Hotel

We ate very well during our stay. We had a few meals at the Pico restaurant and particularly appreciated a dinner on the beach at the Lagoa. The kids menu plates were really good, offering a diversity of food and funnily shape desserts.

 

 

Kids Club at the Pico Sands Hotel

The Club Pico has such a big indoor space for kids to climb and play for hours. We were all very impressed. However, you can’t leave the kids there, a parents has to be present.

 

Club Balai Isabel, Taal Lake resort, Batangas

This was the most affordable hotel we stayed at, and the first one. It was great with kids and, even though the rooms were definitely a bit outdated, we really enjoyed our time there.

The fact that our room had a dinning table and a small kitchen was very handy with the kids. The view on the Taal volcano from the resort and the rooms was just incredible. We loved the different pools. The restaurants (I believed we tried them all) were offering very good food and we enjoyed the little coffee shop with games for the kids. We appreciated the architecture and the little church on the ground, it was peaceful and beautiful to walk around the resort, with the stunning view on the Taal lake.

 

Pondok Talisay Farm and Garden, Pondok Ananda

Our friends’ wedding took place in this breathtaking location, a beautiful farm full of trees and graceful plants, overlooking the Taal lake and volcano.

It had everything to make this day perfect: a stunning pool, a balinese gate, a small waterfall, a dragon fruit orchard, a pavilion, and a main house with a beautiful architecture, including a viewdeck. The view is a mind-blowing attraction to itself, showing the volcano island within the lake, containing itself another lake, which itself contains a rocky pinnacle (an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island).

 

Family friendly resorts in Boracay island, Philippines : Mövenpick versus Crimson

We followed all of the international friends invited to the wedding (and the bride and groom) to Boracay island. There, most people were staying for 3 to 5 days at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa. We extended our stay to make it a full week, but the Mövenpick was fully booked for the weekend. Annoyed to have to move with the kids, we decided to make it as easy as possible by moving to the next door hotel (they are sharing the same beach) : the Crimson.

We think it is perfect opportunity to give you a comparative of the two resorts. Though, we have to say we might be slightly biased as we had the amazing surprise of being upgraded from the cheapest room to a villa with a private pool at the Crimson !

 

The Mövenpick and Crimson’s location on Boracay island

Boracay is a very small island, known for its white sand beaches and incredibly blue waters. It is one of the country’s most touristy destination, and therefore a place with a lively nightlife. The busiest area of the island is White Beach (station 1, 2 and 3). This might be Philippines’ most iconic beach, and it is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world. This is where you will go out and shopping. The opposite side of the island is a lot more windy and therefore great for windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Both the Mövenpick and Crimson’s location (as well as the Shrangri-La’s), north of Diniwid Beach, is more secluded and peaceful. The white sand beach and clear water is quite as good as White Beach. The beach was stunning, it was perfect for swimming and even snorkeling if you were willing to swim further.

We enjoyed that both resorts offered shuttle to get to the shopping centers near White Beach, and if the time wasn’t convenient taking a tricycle (motorbike taxi) was a few hundred PHP for 15 to 20 minutes.

We started our trip in Boracay with the Mövenpick. The airport pick up was super expensive, so we went for a cheaper one we found online but it was a struggle with the luggage and the kids as you have to take several transport including a small boat in the middle to get from the airport to the resorts. The Crimson offered a luxurious free airport pick up and drop off, so appreciated !

 

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay

The Mövenpick’s rooms

Not a good start with the Mövenpick as the first room we were given at the Mövenpick had a vivid mold smell. It was so bad, we couldn’t even breathe. We had to change room twice before being given a nicer (and safe) room. Terrible with two young kids… We went from a classic to a superior room (in a different building than the one with mold issues). This last room was comfortable, with a balcony and a baby crib.

We have visited a Sol Marina Beach Suite, and it was very nice.

Amenities at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay

We really enjoyed the swimming pools (with some shaded sunbeds) and the beach. The resort was big so we weren’t super close to the beach but it was walkable with the kids. The resort atmosphere was very nice, green and beautiful to walk around.

Our friends tried the spa (sadly we didn’t get to do it ourselves), and they were all praising the massages.

We appreciated the diversity of the restaurants on the ground, and the food was very good. However, the wait to be served was super long, especially at the main one called The Market. This was difficult with hungry kids, even more because we couldn’t let them run while waiting as it was directly open over the pool with no fences.

Breakfast was very nice, with a lot of choices from local or international cuisines, everything you would want for a sweet or salty start of the day. They were able to cater for my lactose allergy and made me lactose free pancakes with I really appreciated. I absolutely loved that by the bakery section they had vegan options.

The little shop serving ice creams by the kids club was enjoyable. It was also great to be able to take drinks and fresh coconut on the beach. Every other night, there was a show at the beach club.

Kids at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay

The Little Birds Club was amazing. So many toys and activities, we loved that it had an outdoor space as well and toilets adapted to toddlers. Our kids had a truly amazing time there, and asked to be left alone. Our son wasn’t 5 yet (but in its 5th year) and they let him stay for free.

We hired a babysitter for our daughter, it went very well.

 

Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

The Crimson’s room

We got upgraded as soon as we arrived at the Crimson from a regular room to a villa with two rooms and a small pool. This was truly the best experience we ever had in a hotel, so comfortable and beautiful !

The villa location on the resort was perfect, just by the main pool overlooking the beach.

Amenities at the Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

The main pool, an infinity one with an ocean view, is the only one we tried because and it was perfect. There was also a kids’ pool just by this main one. We got to try the foam party in the pool, very fun for the entire family.

We really loved the beach amenities, and think it make such a big difference ! First of all, there was a big selection of kids beach toys we could use directly on the beach. Secondly they offered free uses of paddle boards and kayaks ! You couldn’t take them far out, but it was so nice to use those by the sunset and to take the kids on a little tour (they also gave life vests for every sizes!).

Because we had the villa (and the kids), we took all of our food to go at the villa or by the beach so we didn’t went inside the restaurants. But we really enjoyed all of the food we tried, it was so tasty !

The resort architecture was a bit special, not so much to our taste. It was complicated to get around, and there were lots of stairs. What was nice was a place to study named a library, and an art gallery offering some classes. Sadly, there too we didn’t had a chance to try out the spa.

Kids at the Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

Our son, obsessed with pirates, was very excited to discover the pirate ship playground. As for the Crimson kids club, it was well furnished in toys but sadly no outdoor space and no windows. There you couldn’t leave the kids unless you got a babysitter, but it was easy to organised and not too expensive. We tried this service and our kids had a good time.

 

Conclusion Crimson versus Mövenpick

The Crimson is definitely winning for best rooms, breakfast and (free) beach amenities. In terms of restaurants, the food was better at the Crimson but also more expensive. The airport pick up and drop off is a really big win for the Crimson.

Nevertheless, we preferred the architecture and the “vibe walking around the resort” of the Mövenpick. Also, the kids club was a huge win at the Mövenpick.

Overall, the Crimson was more expensive, but you have to take into account the free stuffs you get (airport transport, kayak, etc.).

 

Traveling to the Philippines as a family, with a baby/toddler and a young kid

To enjoy the family friendly resorts in the Philippines, we had to get there first. How was it to travel from Europe to the Philippines with a baby (almost toddler) and a young kid (4 years old) ?

Honestly, tiring and difficult (as it is anyway to travel two hours away from home), but absolutely no more than expected ! We will start with mentioning most Filipinos speak English so it is easy to communicate. Our four years old, who knows just a few basic English words, was able to play with other kids and communicate to adults its needs.

Flying to the Philippines with kids

Let’s start with a little reminder, the Paris-Manila time difference is between 6 and 7 hours. Jet lag is rough. The direct flight is a night one, and you arrive at night in Manila, so the first few nights kids didn’t go to sleep until like 3 am, but then they went back to a routine (ish) and it wasn’t that bad. Coming back was a little easier, I think we adults were more exhausted than the kids.

Again, coming from France/ Europe or even America, I wouldn’t recommend going to the Philippines (or Southeast Asia) for less than 3 weeks/or a month. We were very lucky a direct line Paris to Manila opened a few months ago, that’s a big part of the reason why we decided to go on this trip. But it is a long flight, 13 to 15 hours (depending on the direction). It wasn’t easy with the kids. Moreover, chances are you will get on more flights to hop around the different islands !

If, like us, your baby isn’t happy about being strapped to you during take off and landing, you will be please to know the baby’s seat belt it is not mandatory for flights in Asia.

Health and safety in the Philippines

We have already mentioned it, the country’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes it prone to earthquakes and typhoons. It is recommended to visit during the dry season.

Before the trip, we were suggested by the doctor to do two additional vaccines for both our kids (we had done all of ours for our world tour) : typhoid and hepatitis A. Our friends coming with kids from north America weren’t recommended the same.

Once there, it wasn’t too difficult to find diapers and baby food in chains like Watsons, but we definitely recommend buying some before going anywhere rural or on smaller islands. We found it more difficult to find a baby milk, formula, close to the one we are using in France.

Sun exposure will be a concern traveling with kids, as well as protections against mosquitoes. We used on our baby the French products Comme Avant, sunscreen and mosquito repellent (very expensive but safe to use from birth) and the repellent Insect Ecran Special Tropique for us and our son. An amazing tip we discovered on our world tour to get the best protection against mosquitoes and avoid to use too many harmful sprays on you is to get insect repellent clothes !

We traveled with a huge amount of medicine for everybody (mainly to stop diarrhea and vomiting) and are very happy we didn’t use it. We feel extremely lucky we didn’t had to see a doctor or go to the hospital there, so we can’t comment on this. Sadly, a baby from our group of friends had to be hospitalized in Manila. We believe overall he had been in good care and the hospital stay went smoothly and wasn’t bad. Just a reminder of the importance of travelling with an good insurance.

Eating and drinking with kids in the Philippines

Filipino food is a blend of indigenous, Spanish, Chinese, and American cuisines. We enjoyed it, it was easy to navigate the menu and we always found things to eat for our kids. We are very happy to say none of us had any stomach issue.

Like elsewhere in Southeast Asia, we didn’t drink tap water. In most hotels we were provided with free refillable water bottles, which we really appreciated rather than buying plastic bottles. To do the baby bottles dishes and to rinse our teeth, we were extra careful and used our tap filter Sawyer.

Driving and the car seat situation in the Philippines

Even before being there, we understood it would be very difficult to get proper car seats for our kids. We have tried, but have been told over and over, nobody use those here, they don’t exist, people won’t even know how to fix it / operate it. Our kids were at ages where it is difficult to travel with our own car seats, we have looked into foldable ones but weren’t sure it would be convenient. Please comment if you have tried any.

We were very worried about the driving, and terrified to imagine our kids with no safe seats in a crazy traffic like we had seen in other south east Asian countries (to name only one : Indonesia). Actually, the driving we have experienced in the south of Luzon island was pretty chill. Nothing crazy, no high speed.

 

Thank for reading our article, have you tried some family friendly resorts in the Philippines ? Share with us in the comment section, it could help other parents in our community !