If I could give zero stars, I would.
This review is based on my booking and cancellation experience--not an actual stay.
I had a fully paid reservation at The Lind Boracay for April 17-20, 2025, but was forced to cancel for medical reasons. As someone immunocompromised, I faced serious bacterial exposure risks tied to the island's seasonal algae bloom--an environmental phenomenon that recurs yearly between March and May.
I began working with The Lind's reservation team on January 26 to confirm date availability. At no point during the process did anyone disclose that my chosen dates fell within Boracay's seasonal algae bloom period. This event is widely known to locals, yet there was no warning on their website, email correspondence, or booking confirmation. As an international guest unfamiliar with the region, I had no way of knowing this risk unless the hotel proactively informed me.
I completed full payment on March 3. The payment link contained no warning, no pop-up, no prompt requiring me to review their cancellation policy--only bullets buried in a long email thread. I had to dig through their messages to find it, and even then, the language was vague:
"For flexible rates, bookings can be cancelled at least 30 days prior to arrival except on peak dates as identified by the hotel. Bookings falling under peak season including but not limited to Christmas, New Year (23 December to 07 January), Chinese New Year and Holy Week are non-refundable and non-rebookable."
Notably, April 17-20 was never identified or disclosed as part of these blackout dates. There was no indication anywhere that my dates were considered non-refundable.
On March 20, I began seeing traveler posts and news images showing Boracay's shoreline blanketed in thick green algae, covering the sand and shallow water. Alarmed, I reached out to my doctor, who strongly advised me to avoid travel due to the elevated health risk. I immediately contacted The Lind with medical documentation, requesting a cancellation or refund on health grounds.
They denied my request, citing the refund policy and dismissing the algae bloom as "natural and harmless." That may reflect local sentiment, but for medically vulnerable guests, the risk is real. What's troubling is the hotel's ongoing refusal to disclose this environmental issue in advance--even though they are clearly aware of its annual recurrence.
I never checked in, so I can't speak to the service or rooms. But I can speak to what matters just as much--ethical guest treatment and transparent booking practices. In my case, those were sorely lacking.
If you're an international traveler, I strongly recommend asking in writing:
* Whether your stay overlaps with any known environmental hazards (like algae bloom)
* A clearly stated cancellation/refund policy tied to your specific dates
* Confirmation if your booking falls under their "non-refundable" peak list
What happened to me may be brushed off locally--but to global guests, it feels like a bait-and-switch wrapped in fine print.
*No guest should be penalized for canceling due to legitimate health risks--especially when those risks stem from environmental conditions the hotel knew about and chose not to disclose. read more