Business
Hours
Banks
follow widely used in banking hours: Monday through Friday,
9 am to 4 pm. The government offices at Balabag
Plaza and most private business are open
Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, the post office
8 am to 3 pm. Airline offices open at 7 am
and sometimes close after the last flight has left, or at
5 pm.
Market stalls open between 6 and 8 am and
stores between 8 and 10 am. They close at
around 8 pm. Most restaurants open at 7 to
8 am and often do not close until the last customer has left.
There are only few restaurants the are open 24 hours.
Money
Matters
Major
international currencies can be exchanged for peso at banks,
the Boracay Tourist Center and at some resorts, restaurants
and and bars. Exchange rates are than in Manila. Credit cards
are accepted at most big hotels/resorts, restaurant and bars,
but a surcharge is sometimes added to your bill.
Medical Services
Only
basic medical services for relatively minor illness and injuries
are available on Boracay at the Boracay Island Hospital
and at several private clinics. The hospital and clinics provided
emergency services, and some clinics are open 24 hours.
In case
of any serious illness of injury, treatment at the Aklan
Baptist Hospital in Caticlan is recommended, but
is even better in Kalibo, Iloilo and especially in Manila.
Drugstores are usually located near the private clinics. Bysshe
drugstore can be found in D'Mall.
Electricity
Electricity
was first installed on Boracay in 1991. Today, electricity
is stable and good. There are sometimes blackouts (called
"brownouts" in the Philippines), however, but they
seldom last longer than an hour. Many establishments have
back-up generators. Voltage is 220 volts with 60 cycles. Plugs
follow the US standard. Adapters for European standards plugs
are available in bigger cities at department stores and at
hardware stores in Boracay.
Information
The
Department of Tourism (DOT) has had a field
office on Boracay since tourism began on the island. The office
has two main functions: to facilitate tourist/guest-related
activities and to monitor tourism projects on the island.
The Boracay Tourist Center is a service center
not only for tourist, but also for Boracay residents and business
establishments.
The following
fast and reliable service are available: money transfer, foreign
exchange, credit card facilities, postal, telecom and internet
services. Airline and boat reservations and ticketing can
be done at the Filipino Travel Center desk.
