$50 – $96

Over the past four years, SDR has been busy building new luxury serviced apartments at Kiener Hills Condos site. The original building was built in 1997 but now all the units they operate are less than 4 years old (the majority less than years old) and extremely well maintained. Conveniently located: a few minutes from the International Airport and Marina Mall on Mactan Island, SDR is approximately 10 mins from beaches and 5 minutes from Mactan Golf Course.

Standard Rooms (Studio Apartments) are the largest in Cebu at 36.5 sq/mtrs or 400 sqf ($50) inc. Tax. Special Weekly rates for studio apartments at $288 (inc. Tax) and Monthly rates $999 (inc. Tax) or USD799 per month for six month stays. All rooms have complimentary 4mb broadband internet connection (which we love), personal IDD/ Local telephones systems (voice-mail, intercom)kitchens (with cooking facilities and utensils), DVD players, refrigerators and surprisingly, even electronic personal safes. SDR also have loft apartments – which are huge at (65 sq/mtrs or 700 sqf) and a steal at $96 per night and they are available as one huge – rockerfella like – bedroom or two bedrooms. Both have two bathrooms. SDR’s special weekly rates on the Loft at: $488 or $1,500 per month.

Service is excellent. You will definitely not be ripped off on extras. You can drink the whole mini bar (which is not kept in a mini-bar but a large standalone refrigerator) dry and still be able to pay for dinner! If you forgot your laptop, don’t despair, SDR has a business centre with modern computers. There is also a DVD and library for guests to use complimentary during their stay. Unlike most accommodation, SDR’s philosophy is clearly “value for money”.

There is also two swimming pools. SDR has a restaurant bar being built next to the pools. No gym at this point in time, but we are told that one will be built in the near future. Extensive room service menu is available between 8am – 10pm

Located within 5 minutes walk of the Marina Mall complex (over 100 retail outlets); where you can buy groceries from the Save More Supermarket, or dine in any of the dozen or so excellent restaurants. For the golf lover, the closest course: Mactan Golf Course, is only 5 minutes away. Given the location and value for money, SDR is a great place to call home for a few weeks or even months. Whilst there is still ongoing improvement work onsite, SDR’s large modern rooms, free internet, kitchen (with microwave oven, dual-burner gas stove, full-size refrigerator, toaster-oven, rice cooker, cutlery, plates, etc.), personal room safes, free airport transfers and even a internet cafe for those with no laptop, more than compensates. In our opinion, SDR represents the best value for money on Mactan Island, Cebu, and SDR will only get better as they complete this large project.

If you’re a diver or would like to snorkel and explore the vast coral underworld, SDR has excellent day tours available with their in house PADI divemasters and instructors. Tours can be tailor-made to suit your time and budget.The same applies to tours to the Bohol and other neighboring provinces.

SDR SERVICED APARTMENTS
Location: Mactan Island, Cebu
Phone No.: (63 32) 238-3929 / (63 32) 340-7902
Email: bookings@sdrapartments.com
Website: http://www.sdrapartments.com

$100 – $1,490

At night, replendent with neon, the Waterfront’s exterior looks like something out of a Disney theme park. Fitting, considering it is Cebu’s answer to Las Vegas; albeit on a tiny scale. 567 Rooms in all. Standard Room rates begin at $100 for a very basic and simple 30 sq/mtr room and go up to a whopping $1,490 for a family suite which is 200 sq/mtrs.

No internet in rooms. The hotel boasts a large outdoor swimming pool. Apart from the swimming pool and the many good restaurant outlets, we weren’t impressed with the rooms. It seems that whilst a lot of time has gone into the various eating and drinking establishments, the rooms have been grossly neglected; left in a time warp.

For those that wish to stay close to downtown, have a gambling problem and enjoy eating at conveniently located hotel outlets: you’ll be in seventh heaven. If you’re looking for more bang-for-your-buck: look elsewhere. The highlight for us here was the bar – Treff and the hotel’s Italian restaurant.

WATERFRONT CEBU HOTEL & CASINO
Phone No.: (6332) 232-6888
Website: http://www.waterfronthotels.net

$282 – $2,540

Outstanding resort set on a massive 13 hectares beautifully landscaped and is resplendent with all the trimmings of a bride-to-be. The doyen of the ‘Queen of the South’, has two bold and extremely large pools, private beach, dive centre, small pitch and putt golf course, games room, gym etc. Be prepared for a large ‘extras’ bill, as the restaurants, in-room internet ($15 per day), biz centre rates, laundry etc. is all over-priced when comparing to other hotels. In short, if you don’t mind splashing your cash, this is the place for you. If you want good value for money, best to pick something else in the “cheaper” categories and simply visit the Shang as a day guest.

Standard Rooms are large at 34 sq/mtrs.

The Presidential Suite (216 sq/mtrs) costs in this resort per night is a whopping $2540 and includes: breakfast, dinner, use of non motorized water activities (kayak, sailboat, windsurfer), free broadband internet, a $20 credit towards the spa. However, for that price, we expected alot more!

Tides restaurant arguably offers one of the best buffets in Cebu. One of the few in the Philippines where you will find an on-call sushi chef; producing exquisite california rolls, various sushi and other Japanese delights. There is also a grilling station attendant, a noodle station serving the freshest noodles in town, an awesome salad bar and a desert station complete with a real chocolate fountain. If your not impressed with this, we suggest your impossible to please, as there is something for everyone.

Another stand-out outlet is Cowrie Cove. An outdoor bar/ restaurant set on an elevated verandah above the sea, providing a bird’s eye view of the island of Olango, the beach below and the sea. Here you can enjoy happy hour whilst you watch day turn into night. Cool music, twinkling stars above and the gentle sounds of the sea caressing the shore below. On right on cue they bring out low-light emitting lamps to add a special ambience.

The Shangri-la boasts its own dive center. Run under ‘Scotty’s Dive Center, you will be impressed with the facilities they offer. Diving there is expensive, but hey – this is the Shang.

The best part about the Shang is the service. You will also not feel deprived if you don’t venture outside the compound during your stay – although we suggest you do. However, having said that, the pro-management team of the Shang, have simply thought of almost everything – for a price. Now, bring on the Wedding! Our last piece of advise, is to avoid the Shang at all costs during peak holiday periods and most weekends. Unless you don’t mind lining-up in breakfast cues, not being able to reserve your restaurant of choice and to be sharing the swimming pools with what seems – and is – hundreds of other guests.

SHANGRI-LA MACTAN ISLAND RESORT & SPA
Location: Punta Engano Road, Lapu-lapu City
Phone No.: (032) 231-0288
Email: rsvn@mac-shangri-la.com
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com

$150 – $700

Great family accommodation. Set on a spacious eight hectares, The Plantation Bay resort is somewhat of a Disney Land for adults and children alike. With its own take on plantation themed rooms – all located around a huge (we are talking world record sizes) series of man-made salt-water and fresh-water pools – games centre, indoor shooting range, and even kayaks, you have lots of activities to help pass the time away. This charming establishment is located in the Marigondon area, which is approx. 25 minutes from airport.

The hotel’s food outlets in our opinion are very basic, expensive and nothing to rave about. Having said that, their Mogambo Spa is outstanding both in design and service. The design takes a leaf out of James Hilton’s Lost Horizon – a man-made ‘Shangri-la’. Worth noting is the extensive network of swimming pools and wonderful water slides. Kids an adults will both be a happy as fish in (lots of) water.

Given the resorts location – most points of interest – tourist spots, good restaurants etc. in Cebu and Mactan are a long trek from here. Therefore, we advise only staying at Plantation if you simply wish to chill out in a resort for a short re-charge and are not interested in touring around. Perfect for families.

For those with cash to splash the Penthouse Suite – which is 120 sq/mtrs – will set you back $717 per night. A strict no-tipping rule applies in the hotel. Wi-fi, internet is free for guests. They also have a decent dive facility.

PLANTATION BAY RESORT & SPA
Location: Marigondon, Lapu-lapu City
Phone No.: (032) 340-5900
Email: rsvn@plantationbay.com
Website: http://www.plantationbay.com

$202 – $2,144

Located on a (tiny) man-made private beach, the property is within 500 metres of the Mactan Shangri-la Hotel. Located 15 minutes from airport. Don’t think for one minute that you are coming to a resort with rolling grounds. The Hilton is literally built on a coin… Three huge – ghastly pink – high rise buildings sprouting up like Jack’s beanstalk on a four hectares of land. We believe the owner must have a fetish for pink; even their cars are pink! Given the high-rise nature of the buildings; the postage-stamp land size is dwarfed by gross over development. Not a good model for anyone interested in good planning.

This pastel-pink colored hotel is ok for very brief stays (1-2 days), any longer and you will be climbing the hotel’s fast closing in walls. Once you have exhausted the hotel’s food outlets you will be hoping it’s check-out time. There is not much to be seen outside the small compound either.

Standard rooms (30 sq/mtrs.) $202 per night. One Bedroom suite (42 sq/mtrs) $405. The Two Bedroom Ocean Suite (89 sq/mtrs.) is $882 per night. The biggest room in the house is the Presidential Suite (127sq/mtrs.) $2,230 per night.

Breakfast is extra $22. Lunch Buffet $20, Dinner Buffet $20. They also have al-a-carte options. Their signature restaurant is Manny O’s, which is located in a rotunda style building approximately 50 meters from the beach at the end of a pier. Superb views and some interesting wines. One of their self-proclaimed favorite dishes; is the “Kobe Beef Burger”. Yes, this little baby, priced at USD40 (more than a weeks salary if your a local) and various cuts of Waygu Steak priced at USD60 upwards, will knock your wallet into shape, faster than an Ali punch in his prime! Internet per day is $20.

If you are bored and need to get out of hotels limited food outlets and restricted size; go to Marina Mall near the airport. You will find lots of great choices for restaurants at very reasonable costs, a taxi will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes. Other (closer) options closer options (expensive) include the nearby Abaca (Western), Kaishu (Japanese) or Shangri-La’s restaurants. Anyway our vote is their are much better options so keep searching our listings.

HILTON CEBU RESORT & SPA
Location: Punta Engano Road, Lapu-lapu City
Phone No.: (032) 492-7777
Email: reservations.cebu@hilton.com
Website: http://www.hiltoncebu.com

$99 – $478

Located approximately 3 hours from Mactan Airport. This quiet resort is set on 8 hectares and is located on Badian Island. The resort also boasts an intimite spa next to the sea. Now for the bad news. Terrible value for money. Yes, the place is pretty but not exceptional. For the money you pay you could do far better. Keep in mind, you are literally in the middle of nowhere. There is three types of rooms. Junior Suite (63sq/mtrs.) Family Suite (63 sq/mtrs) and The Badian Suite (85 sq/mtrs.) This resort is perfect for families – with money – as there are a lot of activities such as diving, boating (dolphin watching), nearby golf course, etc. Keep in mind, you will be charged for all of the extras. They also have special cultural shows on certain evenings, which is not charged for – Thank-God. CA’s whisper is to do a day trip from Cebu to the famous nearby waterfalls, stop off for a lunch at this resort and head back home. You will have seen the best of the area and maintained a respectful bank account.

BADIAN ISLAND RESORT & SPA
Location: Badian Island
Phone No.: (032) 475-1102 / 416-6159
Email: badianisla@aol.com
Website: http://www.badianhotel.com

$154 – $309

Approximately 2 hours from Mactan International Airport. This unique property features 40 units. There is only one size room – Cavana Style (dog leg layout)- which is a massive (60 sq/mtrs.) The costs of the rooms vary; depending on the view. The standard (deluxe room – no or little view) is $330, whilst the Ocean View With Garden Room is $365. Internet is via wifi (reception is not great but works) but is free in the lobby area. This is definitely a good place to go to escape your own urban jungle.

They have a dive centre (Aqua Sports) at the resort. Apart from the house reef, most decent dives are a minimum 1 hour – 3 hrs boat ride away. The rates for diving: $65 (including equipment) for first dive and $20 per extra dive. You will also need add about $80 for the boat depending on the location. The divemaster at the resort is Romy, who has worked there since 1999 and is well versed on where the best spots are.

ALEGRE BEACH RESORT
Location: Calumboyan, Sogod Island
Phone No.: (032) 254-9800 / 254-9811
Email: reserve@alegrebeachresort.com
Website: www.alegrebeachresort.com