The Island Explorer

There are several new accommodations open in Cebu City. On top of that list is probably Yello, a budget friendly boutique hotel that satisfies both business and leisure travelers. Let me take a step back. When I go to Cebu, I usually stay at either Mactan or in Lahug. Even though Yello is not located in the central business districts, it is near enough for a good 15-minute walk to IT Park or Ayala Center Cebu. I say walk, but a 5-minuter taxi ride would be better. What I like about Yello is it's charm. From the outside, you'll know that it is one modern hotel. I used to stay in a lot of these budget hotels in Thailand and Malaysia, so I was quite happy to see that Yello that sort of resemblance. The lobby is well lit and functional. It is not as spacious, but a come-and-go hotel usually has this characteristic. The staff are well-trained and very blunt. Again, it is not what you may expect in 5-star hotels, but they get the work done. Check-in is fast and easy. Now, I got a sin...

I don't even know how many times I have been to Sumilon. But every time I go there, I always feel it's my first time. For this post, I will be posting pictures of the resort but using my iPhone and Instagram. I have so many shots on my iPhone that I never post on this blog, so I hope this is a start.

Moalboal is my Tagaytay in Cebu. If I use ant to escape the city, I usually end up driving here. Though it doesn't have the best beaches in Cebu, I love the vibe of the entire place. I have already featured Club Serena and Ravenala in the past. Now, let's take a look at another gem of Moalboal - The Dolphin House. The Dolphin House is located at the Bas Daku area, but it's not part of the shoreline. So it really is in between Bas Daku and Diot. But you take the road to Bas Daku to get here. The property is huge, and when you enter its gates, gardens of green await you. The resort is tropical in design and the rooms are in detached chalets. I love these types of resorts, wherein the rooms are spread out in garden paths. There is a pool but it doesn't look too inviting. It looked old, but it is still pretty decent. There are plastic pool lounges lined up by one side. The restaurant is bright and airy. It is actually the heart of the res...

After several failed attempts, I finally found a slot to stay in one of the last of Metro Cebu's resorts. And what a fitting finale it is indeed. One of the Philippines' pioneer boutique properties, Abaca Resort and Spa is also one the country's best luxury escapes. Abaca is known for its famed restaurant of the same name. It actually started out with the restaurant owned by Jason Hyatt. The restaurant has been named one of the country's best, so having meal here is an experience all together. In fact, I have eaten several times here already, but I have never gotten the chance to stay in their resort.  The Abaca Resort and Spa is already more than 5 years old, and has gotten a lot of good reviews from its visitors. The property is located between Movenpick and Be Resorts in Punta Engano in Mactan. I was always wondering how the experience would be different from Shangri-La or the Imperial Park, two of my favorite resorts in Mactan as well. To...

I have been regularly visiting Cebu for the past 8 years both for work and leisure purposes. I have always struggled with value hotels in the past. Now, this doesn't seem to be a problem anymore for the Queen City of the South, with the opening of new hotels such as the Alpa Suites, Elizabeth Hotel, Harolds and now, Quest Hotel.

I I wanted to end my Camotes blog with Santiago Bay, but if there's one thing that made my trip memorable, it was the impromptu bicycle tour that we took on our last day.

When one mentions a beach in Camotes, one would probably say Santiago Bay. After visiting Timubo and Lake Danao, we decided to grab a snack at Santiago Bay Garden Resort, perched on the cliffside of Santiago Bay.

Just like most islands in the Visayas, Camotes has primed up its popular tourists spots. The island has its share of destinations, making a day trip around the countryside worth your while. We hired at multicab to take us around for P2,000 a day. We were also picked up from the wharf with this  fee. We also had a bubbly and informative tour guide, who took us to the right spots. Our first stop was the Timubo Cave.

I find great satisfaction in discovering new places. The Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort was an accidental find, since we were really supposed to stay in Mangodlong Rock Resort beside it. When I saw the new resort, I was already lured towards it.

Finally, after 5 years of wanting, I found myself boarding the ferry to the island of Camotes in Cebu. If you have been reading my blogs on Cebu, you will be familiar with Camotes, as the destination I've wanted to go to, but never got the chance. So now, boarding this ferry is indeed surreal.

I discovered the latest hotel I am raving about after a last minute reservation with Agoda. Harolds (I mistook it for Harrods) is centrally located in Gorordo Avenue. I knew it was a business hotel and initially, I thought it was just any other new business hotel.

I was getting bored of the food in Cebu, so I asked for something different. I was looking for a place that was not fancy and non-Filipino. After some researching, we decided to head off to Guadalupe in Cebu City, near the capitol building for a hole-in-the-wall Spanish restaurant called Arano.

Sumilon Island is one of my favorite places on this planet. I have been here 3 times already, and every visit still becomes a memorable one. As I get older and seek for more relaxing getaways, I see myself coming back to this wonderful island more often.

I've been declaring that the best resort in Mactan is Shangrila, and yet, I have never written about it. And I'm frustrated that after looking through all my pictures, I don't have much on Shangrila. This recent visit with my family was the only stuff I have. For some reason, when I'm in Shangrila Mactan, I forget about my camera. Goes to show that when I'm in Shang Mactan, I really get to have a vacation. There are several reasons why I love Shang Mactan. One is of course the setting. The resort is sprawling with gardens, coconut trees and even a forest. There are outdoor lounges everywhere, facing the gardens, facing the sea. I also love its beach. Though it is already "enhanced" and manicured, the beach feels very natural. This makes it the best beach in Mactan next to Maribago Blue Water. The beach get so many beachcombers though, all wanting to spend an entire day on its sands. It is also the best swimming beach in Mactan, as the waters are clear and ...

The Imperial Palace is a relatively new resort in Mactan, Cebu. Opened in 2008, it has been touted as a true Shangrila opponent. I've been here a couple of times already, so let me share to you what it looks like. Like Shangrila Mactan, the place is also sprawling. It looks brighter probably because it is still new. Imperial Palace is owned by the Koreans, and has other locations in Fukukoa in Japan and in Seoul, South Korea. Did Imperial Palace live up to their name? Does it look like a palace? With its marble floors and gigantic pillars, it does feel like one, but I find something off with the over-all design. It strives to have an outdoor feel, with a lot of open spaces and views from the lobby. And since it is owned by Koreans, the clientele is composed of Koreans, mostly on a honeymoon, who are dressed in matching attire. As you go out of the main building, you will feel the grandess of the resort. The pool is huge, and located at the heart of the resort. I think they lacked t...