Boracay may be a tiny island, but it has a surprisingly wide array of accommodation. There are plenty of extremely posh five-star beachside resorts where you can step from your room right onto the sands of White Beach. Fortunately, there are also more than enough mid-range hotels, guest houses and cheap bungalow resorts for whatever your budget.

As with all islands, beachfront rooms cost much more than those a bit inland. The Boracay Regency is one of the island's top resorts. It sits right on the widest section of powdery white sand and boasts truly elegant rooms. Several swimming pools, top-notch service and excellent restaurants make this a popular choice for the well-heeled.

Nami Boracay Resort is another stunner, set atop a cliff overlooking the sea. A clever elevator makes the 20m descent to the sand a breeze, and the views from every room are staggering.

Club Panoly Resort is located on the northwest tip of the island. This five-star beauty has its own private beach and one of the best spas on Boracay. Waling Waling Resort's Mediterranean design sets it apart from other resorts. Situated as close to the water on White Beach as logistically possible, this place is the ultimate in beachfront accommodation.

White Beach is by far the most popular place on Boracay. Nearly every decent restaurant, bar and shopping spot is clustered along the pedestrian strip that parallels the postcard-perfect beach. There aren't many cheap bungalows on White Beach, but you get your money's worth in terms of views and entertainment.

White Beach itself has different sections with distinct characters. The centre section of White Beach is where most of the action is. The nightlife can party on until the early morning most nights, so hotels around here tend to be noisy and expensive.

The area south of Boat Station 3 is much more relaxed and the rooms are a little cheaper. North of Boat Station 1 is where White Beach's nicest and most expensive resorts are found. The beach is at its best here, and the area quite peaceful.

There are dozens of hotels and bungalow resorts located down footpaths and narrow lanes inland from White Beach. It takes just a few minutes to walk to the beach but the rooms here are much cheaper. There are also some inland options, like Mountain Resort, which offers jungle and panoramic views instead of sand.

Bulabog Beach is where you want to stay if you are on Boracay for the wind surfing or kite boarding. The beach is almost as nice as White Beach and it's much less developed. There are only a handful of resorts so far, but that should change.