The Philippines: CEBU Beach Resorts

Cebu is blessed with sandy shores and blue waters in the island of Mactan.

Mactan, whose capital city is Lapulapu City is connected to mainland Cebu through Mandaue City.  There are two bridges connecting the islands: the First Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the second one named Marcelo B. Fernan bridge.

Mactan is where the Mactan Cebu International Airport is, Cebu's link to other places in the Philippines and to the world.  It is also where most of Cebu's beach resorts are located.

Explore these resorts with me...
Crimson Beach Resort & Spa
Plantation Bay and Resort
Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa
Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu


More to come...

The Philippines: CEBU's Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu (formerly Hilton Cebu)

Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu is "a tropical captivating escape in Cebu."

We visited this resort when this was still distinctly pink Hilton Cebu.  Acquired by Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in 2011, the resort has changed management and will soon change colors but most of the facilities remain the same.

Let's take a look...

Known distinctively for its pink color, the resort is pink from floor to ceiling, with staff wearing pink uniforms, pink jeepney as service vehicles, pink, pink, pink everywhere...

This is the resort's rotunda, in between the two buildings where the rooms are. 

Manny O's Wine and Tapas illuminates the marina at night.  Located at the tip, it provides privacy and exclusivity to its guests.  There are four other restaurants in the resort:  Seas Restaurant (serves seafoods!), Vanilla Beach Cafe, Pink Lobby Lounge & Bar and the Sapphire Pool Bar.

This is the resort accommodation's living room.  The room we occupied, had a living room with an LCD TV, kitchen with refrigerator and oven, bedroom with a comfy king-size bed and another TV, bathroom with tub.

Making a Santa Claus face out of soap suds...hmmmm...more like reindeer face.  What does it look to you?

The resort has pools, fitness center, and a spa.  They offer water sports, like banana boat, jetski, tube rides, parasailing, etc.  Guests can even snorkel within the marina without going so far out to the sea.  Fishes abound within the marine sanctuary, especially as children and adults feed the fish.  Diving within the house reef is also available while the more adventurous divers can arrange for a diving escapade away from the resort.

The resort gardens are a beautiful spot for photo ops, even if just among friends.  Our photographer friends say, it's not the view but the moment captured in the photos that matter.  You won't see these beautiful girl-friends in Movenpick, though...*wink*

A photographer friend posed by the resort's mini-falls.

This is taken at the resort garden that has palm trees, green grass, lounges and umbrellas.

This is taken at the walkway from the garden to the main resort.

Visit Movenpick.

The Philippines: CEBU's Crimson Beach Resort & Spa

"Crimson Beach Resort and Spa welcomes you to a world beyond your wildest dreams..."

The newest built resort and spa in Cebu was opened in 2010.  And it does not disappoint.  It gives one a sense of peace and tranquility with its 3-in-1 infinity pool and gardens.

This very simple sight met us at the entrance of the resort.

Going inside, we entered an expanse overlooking a very pleasant view...

... 3-in-1 infinity pool, going down two flights to an adult, toddlers' and childrens' pools. 

Wow!  Looking out there, I marveled at the sea and sky which seemed to meet.  It was beautiful!

This is the Lobby, where the centerpiece is a "sungkaan", a native game played with small shells.

From the beach, this is the view of the main resort, where the deluxe rooms are.  The garden rooms and villas are located all over the place, separate from the main resort.  The villas have their own plunge pools...perfect for people who can't get enough of the water.... and romantic, too!

Our accommodation was a garden deluxe room, 44sqm, with its own veranda, huge king bed, LCD TV, and surprise...a toilet and bath with its own LCD TV in front of the tub! My son had a great time, luxuriating in soap suds in the tub and watching his favorite cartoon shows, at the same time! 

This is the view of the beach from the Azure open bar.  Imagine the bar at night, you having a cold drink, staring out to the starry or even a moonlit night, enjoying the breeze, listening to the sound of the waves and soft music ... ohh...bliss!

One of the resort's kid's and kids-at-hearts' activities is the fish feeding.  What's different in this fish feeding is you really have to walk around 200meters out to sea on a floating dock, where the fish are and feed them.  If you're not afraid, you can dip your feet at sea and have a fish spa! Ha ha..

Another kids' recreation facility is the playhouse where the colorful and educational materials available for toddlers and small children keep their attention for a long period of time, thus parents get some time for themselves. 

Day and night view of the fish spouts around the swimming pools.

Night view of the pool from the main resort...peaceful and calming...

Another angle of the pool at night

View of the main resort from the pools

There are many other recreational activities, like water sports facilities, fitness center, and badminton courts for the adventurous and fitness buff.

And of course, there's Aum Spa, where guests can spend a relaxing hour or two under the hands of expert therapists, a perfect way to end your day.  Well, this one, we weren't able to try since the spa was not yet opened when we went there...maybe some time in the very near future, that is, if I can afford it (gulp!).  And if I do that, I will surely tell you about it!

The resort also accepts guests for day use at a rate that includes buffet lunch and use of the resort's facilities.  The weekday rates provide value for money.  Try it.

"When you've been treated like royalty, the experience will linger long after your stay."  I say "Aye", Crimson Beach Resort & Spa lives up to their name, the color of royalty.

The Philippines: CEBU's Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa

"Beyond the usual, beyond the ordinary, beyond your imagination..." 

- Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa

This is the site that meets guests at the lobby.  After checking in, you may enjoy your welcome drinks in your room or at the lobby lounge.

The Lobby

The lobby lounge

Outside, the resort's waterpark and themed pools await the kids and kids at heart..

Garden pool with a swim-up pool bar in the isle at the middle.

The toddler pool with slides and ater from everywhere

Captain Hook's pool complee with a priate ship and slides

The adventure zone area with a view of the giant slides, for the adventure seekers

Captain Hook's pirate ship up close

Day and night view of the Amazon River Pool, a flowing river pool where you can ride around on inflatables

There is also a wave pool and a beach pool.  Lounge cabanas and umbrellas are all over the place for shade and easy relaxation.

Cabana lounge and lounge chairs

Accommodation in the resort are deluxe rooms, suite rooms, and of course, the villa rooms that are perfect for couples and honeymooners with a private pool and jacuzzi.  The deluxe and suite rooms are in the main hotel while the villa rooms flank the waterpark.

Villa rooms

Truly, imperial living in the queen city of the South!

The Philippines: CEBU's Plantation Bay Resort & Spa

"Whether you're looking for romance, relaxation, or family fun, Plantation Bay has something for you." - Plantation Bay Resort & Spa

The accommodations in the resort surround the lagoon and swimming areas.  The villas and rooms have great views anywhere.

There are four themed restaurants:  Fiji serves the best tempura, Kilimanjaro Kafe provides dining by the pool, Palermo Cafe Bar serves coffee and pasta, and Savannah Grill boasts of the best burgers in the place.

The beauty of this gazebo and lagoon meets the visitor when he is led to his accommodation

The picturesque resort provides the perfect view for a photoshoot, whether solo shots feeling liek a supermodel, whether with your barkada, with special someone for a wedding or a pre-nuptial, one need only to engage his creative mind to come up with that perfect shot!

Perfect place for photoshoots: barkada, wedding, pre-nuptials, family...

We were really pleased with this accommodation.  We went to the resort as a group of seven families, complete with kids in tow, and we were booked in this part of the resort.  Twas a very pleasant surprise as we practically had the pool to ourselves and we can just peep at the kids swimming from our rooms. Impressive!

If your accommodation is in any of the Piazza Palermo rooms, it would seem like you have your own private pool

Another view of the lagoon

Sunset from the resort's lobby

Night view: serene and peaceful

For a relaxing and therapeutic end to your day, the Mogambo Springs Spa inside the resort will do the trick for you.  Massages and treatments await your tired aching body.  There is also a beauty salon next to the spa.

Mogambo Springs: The Spa at Plantation Bay

For the active you, there's a gameroom, gym, lots of aqua sports options, firing range and more.  Our kids had a blast swimming, wall climbing, playground, cycling, even riding a horse-drawn carriage (calesa).

Kids just wanna have fun!

Calesa: Horse-drawn carriage

See you at the Plantation Bay!