Imperial Palace

Our first stop on our tour in Mactan was the Imperial Palace Resort, a wonderful five star resort with around 550 rooms and villas.  I understand that this was built as a time-share around 7 years ago by some Korean entrepreneurs, and the concept was expanded to include a water park, some villas and a spa.  I also understand the project was partly funded by the Land Bank of the Philippines, and that the hotel is now owned by some Cebuano businessmen.  The hotel was bustling with activity when we arrived, and I noticed that a good 70% of their target market were Koreans on family vacation.  I would suppose that since Cebu is a mere 5 hour plane ride from Korea, the resort is sold as the ideal long weekend getaway--a boon for Philippine tourism!

Facilities are top notch.  Dining at the resort will probably go for around P1,600 per head on the average.  We were informed that room rates would be placed around P10,000 per night on the average (a bit above US$200). 

The main attraction for the kids is the Water Park, which has a river-like feature that runs around the complex.  Water slides are another favorite, and the water park also has a feature that injects man-made waves in the swimming pool.  I understand that the resort also has a day-rate, which includes swimming and lunch for around P3,500 per person.

The beach area isn't anything spectacular.  It's not a true beach, but you can see in the picture below that they have a stairway gently sloping into the water.  The water is very clean, no jellyfish or stones, and I could see that the water was waist deep for around 30 meters into the sea, which is good for swimming and snorkeling.

The villas are very near the beach and are popular for bigger families.  I like the relaxed and private atmosphere the villas project.  A good place to bring the family--I was hoping that Vicky and Monique would approve my vacation plan, but since they are not beach people, it doesn't seem plausible for the summer of 2013.... 

Movenpick

During the nineties, Cebu was marketed as an island in the Pacific, without reference to it being a city in the Philippines.  That was an effective strategy--despite continuous depressing news bits from the rest of the country (e.g. kidnappings, coup attempts, terrorist bombings, and the like), the city was pretty much isolated from the negative publicity in the eyes of the international tourists.  Mactan Island was a favorite of the weekend tourists and the boom led to the construction of several resorts, among them the Hilton complex.  This project consisted of three buildings--a residential condominium, a time-share building, and a hotel, all sharing a common beachfront.

I recently learned that the Hilton contract had expired, and that the owners decided to enter into a management contract with Movenpick, the Swiss chain.  The hotel is due for a total shutdown in July 2012, and will reopen in January 2013, after undergoing a full renovation. If you look at the pictures below, you will notice that the room interiors are very 90s, and a much-needed face lift is in store for next year.  Present room rates for regular rooms hover around the level of P6,500 per night.

The Mactan seawater is absolutely so inviting!  The view from the room makes one want to dive right in.  The fresh water pool is located right next to the sea, and one has a choice where to swim.  Just the perfect place for a lazy day at the beach!

Mactan Shangrila

This recent overnight trip to Cebu was a tiring trip for me as I had to show some colleagues around the sights and sounds of the city.  Tiring but fun, as I became a tourist myself!  We landed in Mactan at around 9am, and we immediately took a tour around Mactan Shangrila.  I was amazed at the way the Shang people have taken good care of the place, and even though it's around 15 years old, the property still looks beautiful.

The hotel has expanded its facilities from the last time I saw the place.  I understand aside from putting greens, there is a mini golf facility for the kids.  They also have a boat center, and tours to surrounding islands can be arranged.  One of the best local resorts, I would say!

Be Resort

Here's a Mactan resort that I failed to write about.  I was thumbing through the pictures in my SD flash card, and I realized that I had forgotten to write about this resort, which I visited during my last trip to Punta Engano in Mactan Island.  Be Resort  is a 160-room resort right beside the Abaca Resort. While Abaca is serene, quiet and geared towards honeymooners, this resort is family oriented (they have large rooms) with plenty of verandahs and open space for group and family bonding.  As you can see in the inset photo, the pool is right beside the beach.  The architectural style is very much modern, and the colors used for the interior finishes are vibrant oranges and lime greens!  When I toured the place, I noticed that the resort was quite busy, and this probably means that tourism is on the rise! Rate wise, the hotel is not as expensive as the Abaca, the Shangri-la and the Imperial, and I was told that the large room could be given at the rate of P5,000 per night, inclusive of breakfast.  Reasonable enough!

Top 10 Philippine Resorts

Here's a list that I have collated, not in any particular order:

1.    Bellarocca (Elephant Island)
2.    Shangrila Mactan
3.    Shangrila Boracay
4.    Crimson
5.    Imperial Palace
6.    Misibis Bay
7.    El Nido
8.    Amanpulo
9.    Discovery Shores Boracay
10.  Plantation Bay

I've been to the ones marked in blue, and the rest I have put here based on the evaluations of my friends that have been there.  The websites are pretty informative and I think that you can already imagine what kind of holiday you will have!

Abaca

Having seen the family oriented Crimson Resort, the feeling I had at the Abaca Resort (also in Mactan Island) was a bit different.  The place was much smaller, more intimate, suitable for honeymooners and couples.  We had to honk our horn for the guard to open the gate, and as we entered, the tranquil Zen-like gardens signaled our minds to "power-down" in order to relax and enjoy.  With only 3 rooms and 6 suites (two of which have its own plunge pools), the resort is known as Mactan's best hidden getaway.  We had no time to have lunch (its cafe was overlooking the sea), but I noticed that set meals were reasonable at around P600 per head.  The hotel's infinity pool was very inviting, and although the seaside area had no sandy beach, the steps into the sea water was well made and I would guess the feeling entering the sea would be akin to stepping into a swimming pool.  Room rates though, were a bit on the high-end (rooms at P12,000 a night, while the suites go up to P21,000 per night).  Well, if the intention is to lock yourselves in the room, isn't that all worth it?  ;-)

Plantation Bay

Plantation Bay is a 5-star resort in Mactan Island which features a sea-water lagoon that wraps around the whole resort.  Went on a tour with some colleagues around this 15-year old property and we noticed that the place has been kept clean and well-maintained.  The colonial setting gives a laid-back feel, and the names of the cottages (marked alphabetically) evokes exotic images of the British Empire, safaris, and travelling during the days of the valise (Louis Vuitton's expertise)--names like Savannah, Xanadu, Kilimanjaro, Valhalla.  We enjoyed an afternoon snack of halo-halo (shaved ice with sweetened beans, topped with ice cream) and lounged around their coffee shop while waiting for our documents to be processed at the Lapu-Lapu City Registry of Deeds.  After the cool break, we had to get back to work--and we dreamily found ourselves wishing that we had more time to spare!  Room rates start at $170, for large groups, we recommend the Quantum Villa (4 cottages and a clubhouse) for only $800.

Crimson Resort

Took a quick look at the Crimson Spa & Resort in Mactan Island and I knew instantly knew why this newly-opened resort of the Gotianun Family had generated a lot of buzz.  The resort has a tropical feel to it, and is adjacent to a residential subdivision development of the family's Filinvest Group.  Nice and breezy Asian architecture, a welcoming pool-cum-ocean view and well-appointed rooms made me want to bring the family over for a couple of nights stay!  I hope their spa is as good as they say it is, maybe Vicky & Monique can try it out?  Hmmmm......