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 Cebu, Philippines travel tales
Our customers share their travelling experiences in Cebu, Philippines.
Read about first hand stories on travel tips and guides, events, entertainment,shopping, food, business and transportation.
Also, you might want to read our
Baguio city guide,
Bohol city guide,
Boracay city guide,
Cebu city guide,
El Nido city guide,
Manila city guide,
and Puerto Galera city guide.
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| J Miller |
01 June 2004 |
Stayed at Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan - Cebu, Philippines.
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The ground transportation system in the Philippines is interesting for Western travelers. From cheapest to most expensive the modes are - foot-powered tricycles (rare except in smaller cities), motorcycle tricycles, jeepneys, buses without air conditioning, buses with "air con", vans, and taxis. Tricycles are similar to pedicabs or "put-puts" and are bikes or motorcycles with a side car. They're not comfortable for long rides but provide a good way of going a few kms. The usual minimum fare for a short ride is 4 pesos (less than US$0.08). Jeepneys are for longer rides and ply regular routes like buses. They're colorful and not particularly comfortable, but riding one is something a visitor to the Phils. should experience. Don't display valuables (including cellphones) while riding and foreigners riding alone shouldn't ride after 8 p.m., but they're generally safe if often crowded. Check with a shopkeeper or hotel employee if you have a question about how much to pay a tricycle or jeepney. Buses are best for longer journeys and air con buses are very comfortable. Vans are usually the most comfortable way to get to smaller towns. Keep your knapsack, purse, camera, etc. in sight and watch out for pickpockets. Violence on buses is very rare, though. Fast ferries offer a safe, comfortable, and fast way to get between islands.
By getting away from larger cities and tourist spots, you can see more of the "real" Philippines and often pay very low prices. Filipinos are generally friendly and many enjoy speaking English with foreigners. "Culture Shock - Philippines" and "Considering Filipinos" are two very good books on Philippine culture. Learning a few words of the local language will earn you smiles from those you deal with. Educated Filipinos (the college attendance rate is very high) usually speak English and Tagalog and may also speak a different regional language (Visayan, Waray-Waray, Chabucano, etc.) These languages are not dialects but as different from each other as Italian is from Spanish.
Many parts of Mindanao and the islands south of there are dangerous for foreigners. Use caution in Manila and don't walk alone in the poorer sections until you develop a sense of what is safe. It's best to lock your cab door there. Most of Cebu, Tagbilaran, Baguio, and Tacloban are safer, but use common sense wherever you are. Generally, I feel as safe in Manila as I would in most large U.S. cities and as safe in smaller towns as I would visiting a town of similar size in the U.S.
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| G Hermesman |
30 May 2004 |
Stayed at Cebu City Marriott Hotel - Cebu, Philippines.
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A bar/restaurant complex, the Village, is located next to the Waterfront Hotel. If you like live music, it is worth checking-out. For spectacular views, check-out Mr. A's restaurant. It sits on a mountain top overlooking the city.
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| J Miller |
29 May 2004 |
Stayed at Days Hotel Mactan-Cebu - Cebu, Philippines.
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The Marina Mall in Lapu Lapu near the airport has Chinese, Italian (La Tegola - recommended), Thai (Krua Thai, also recommended), and Filipino food as well as fast food (Sunburst has a good vegetarian curry dish) and pastries. It also features an Internet cafe, ATMs, a modern supermarket, and specialty shops. Most of the stores and the Internet cafe open at 10 a.m. The SM Mall in Cebu City is about 20 minutes away and a 100 peso cab ride. To see more of the Philippines, take a ferry to Bohol, Leyte, or Negros (foreigners should avoid Mindanao) or a bus. Photographers can take a van or bus to a smaller city (e.g., Toledo City, Liloan, Argao) and then hire a tricycle with driver to see the local sites. Ask at a gas (petrol) station for a recommendation; make sure you can communicate with the driver. 100 pesos per hour is a generous rate and the more frugal can probably pay less. The tricycle driver may assume you want to see the most impressive sites (a new school or factory), so you should plan the kinds of photos you want (his home area, the coast, etc. and advise him). More conventional travelers may want to spend time at the Mactan Island beach resorts.
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| D Craig |
17 May 2004 |
Stayed at West Gorordo Hotel Cebu - Cebu, Philippines.
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Most of the Hotels are pretty nice in Cebu and a beter deal than in Manila. When you go on to other smaller cities you find out just what you are missing. Watch out for the taxi divers. Manila is worse but Cebu and smaller cites are catching up. What ever you do, don't pay "800 pesos to your hotel" the fair/metered rate is about 130 to 200 pesos every where with 200 being top dollar...The metered rate is 25 to 27 pesos to start and 2 pesos per 2 minute. You only hurt your self and raise prices for the next tourist wondering why they got ripped off. The locals almost never tip as most of your bills have a built in service charge already. It's OK to tip but just don't go over board. The Philippines is one of the best buys in travel for now.
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| M Stewart |
10 May 2004 |
Stayed at West Gorordo Hotel Cebu - Cebu, Philippines.
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Cebu is nice. I plan to go to Bohol as well. Mr. A's is a nice place to eat and enjoy the ambiance. Seafood city is also a nice place to eat as well. Tops is a very nice view to share with some one special.
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| J Leoncio |
28 April 2004 |
Stayed at Casa Del Mar Golf and Dive Hotel - Cebu, Philippines.
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Cebu is a very interesting and beautiful place to visit. There is a big shopping mall (SM City) where you can buy almost anything at very cheap prices. If you are in Cebu for a relaxing holiday, I suggest going to a resort far from Cebu City as they are very beautiful. Be warned though that this could mean a 2 hour drive so perhaps spending one night in Cebu city to be at the airport on time for your flight may be a good idea.
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| P Stevens |
22 April 2004 |
Stayed at Holiday Plaza Cebu - Cebu, Philippines.
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If you stay here, visit the Cowboy Bar & Grill across the road for great live bands good food and beer. We'll be back.
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| D Erling |
16 April 2004 |
Stayed at Cordova Reef Village Resort - Cebu, Philippines.
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The first few days I was here, I relied on Taxis to get around. After that I kind of got accustomed to the area and rented a car instead. Be warned though driving in the Philippines is like no other place. I have finally determined that the only rule in driving here is the first person to obtain force their own right of way, gets the right of way. It can be scary but having total mobility is great.
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| T Medak |
16 April 2004 |
Stayed at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort - Cebu, Philippines.
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Only 15 mins from Cebu airport making it very easy destination from HK or Singapore. Not much else interesting in Mactan, including lack of restaurant alternatives without travelling to Cebu City. Did a day out (Ps4600 for taxi return trip including wait all day) to Panagsama Beach near Moalboal, which was very quaint and Boracay like before the latter was discovered. Superb scuba there - Pescador Island awesome.
Overall a great value holiday - relaxation, sunshine and scuba duly achieved. Personally I prefer Philippines to Thailand since it's less packaged and open to mass market tourism - just a shame that Philippine food can't hold a candle to Thai.
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| A Butt |
12 April 2004 |
Stayed at Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort - Cebu, Philippines.
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The Maribago is within 15 minutes of the airport and a 30 minute journey from a large shopping mall. We did the island-hopping trip offered at the hotel which included snorkelling and this was enjoyed by adults and children alike.
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