Introduction

A city in the midst of overwhelming growth, Cebu blends its ancestral heritage and modern business savvy with flair. Crowned as the Queen City of the South, Cebu stands as the country's top business and tourist destination. It is here where business and leisure breathe together with office buildings and beach resorts finding its own place under Cebu's friendly skies.

The country's oldest city, Cebu is necessarily the place where relics of the past are aplenty. Colon Street, for instance, has the distinction of being the oldest street in the Philippines. Paved late in the 16th century by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Colon now houses malls, office buildings, theaters as well as museums and monuments. Other places of historical importance include Fort San Pedro, the oldest fortress in the country, Liloan Lighthouse, and the Bantayan sa Hari.

A bustling trade port since pre-Hispanic times, Cebu was named the country's capital by the Spaniards in 1565. Since then, Cebu has maintained its stature as the center of trade and commerce in Southern Philippines.

However, Cebu is more than just a city of increasing sophistication. With its colourful past, the city still retains much of its provincial warmth and charm. Indeed, apart from its numerous man-made landmarks and institutions, Cebu also features miles and miles of forest greens- a haven to wildlife and the place for a perfect picnic. There's the 15,393-hectare Central Cebu National Park,the 696-hectare Sudlon National Park, the Cawasan Falls and the Bolok-Bolok Mineral Springs. Nearby Mactan Island boasts of world-class beach resorts.

ISLAND HOPPING. A Cebu vacation would be incomplete without a view of its numerous tropical islets. Sun-kissed beaches, white sand beaches, colorful corals and abundant marine life are but a few of the attractions you'll find in Cebu. Sample the dive spots of Moalboal, Badian, Mactan, and Olango. Swim in the beaches of Argao, Oslob and Carmen. Explore the caves and lagoons of Calanggaman and Gato. The possibilities are endless.

How to get there 

Flights to Cebu are daily from Manila via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and PAL. There are also some flights with Seair from Clark in Angeles. Flight times and prices are subject to change so check with your local travel agent for more details and Prices.

Hotels

Cebu City Marriot Hotel

Located in the green expanses of Cebu Business Park, the Cebu City Marriott is the first truly international hotel to establish itself in one of the Philippines' most important centers of regional trade. With the most modern convention facilities in the city and state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment, Cebu City Marriott is Cebu's premier location for business meetings. The city's convention center and downtown district are a five-minute drive away. 

The impressive Ayala Shopping Center is within the block, and the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) is only 10 kilometers away. Cebu City Marriott offers 303 well-appointed rooms, which include 22 business and executive suites--equipped to meet the needs of the international business traveler. Cebu City Marriott is committed to offering the best business facilities in the region. Choose from a selection of four meeting rooms and two boardrooms, all equipped with comfortable executive seating, slide and film projectors and mircophones

This is a business class quality hotel and rooms start at US$155 with discount available (10%) Some seasonal promo offers and adjustments.

Cebu Waterfront hotel

The city's only airport hotel, Waterfront Airport Hotel is ideally located in the historical island of Mactan Cebu, Philippines fronting the Mactan Cebu International Airport. It is 10 minutes away from the shopping center, 15 minutes from Mactan's white sandy beaches, and 30 minutes away from the Cebu City's financial district. It boasts of 167 luxurious sound proof deluxe rooms with awesome view of the nearby islands.

Delight in its 7 restaurants dishing out Filipino, International, Japanese and Chinese cuisine and bars and lounges with live entertainment in the evenings. Six multi-purpose function rooms are readily available for small meetings, seminars, to large conferences. Relax and experience the luxury of its international standard spa with 13 private rooms and the privacy of its own swimming pool.

Another business class hotel rack rates start at US$145 with beeline discount US$95 again some seasonal adjustments and promo offers available on occasion.

Kiwi Lodge

Centrally located close to Cebu's major shopping and business district.  5 min away from Ayala and SM shopping malls. And near at hand to all the entertainment centers of Cebu.

When visiting Cebu Philippines, hotels can be a problem. Kiwi Lodge is clean and comfortable to make your stay in Cebu Philippines better than other hotels.

At Kiwi Lodge, you'll discover a friendly, family run hotel to make your stay in Cebu Philippines enjoyable and trouble free.

Kiwi Lodge is an economical and TSM friendly hotel. Double AC rooms are US$35 and include Airport Taxi service and free breakfast.

Plantation Bay  Matcan Island

5-Star Colonial Plantation charm - surprisingly affordable prices!

Discover a resort in a class of its own. Set in 7 hectares of secluded grounds, Plantation Bay offers one of the largest privately owned waterways in the world, with the clean elegance of colonial-plantation architecture. De-compress from life's pressures in the healing tranquility of another world. If you ever spent time at a plantation as a child, you know what we mean. If not, come and discover a refreshingly different Flavor of Life.

Truly international. Opened in late 1996, Plantation Bay has already had over a hundred thousand visitors from every corner of the globe. Virtually all of them agree that this is one of the best resorts they've ever been to. International visitors feel right at home at Plantation Bay. English is spoken throughout the resort; we also have Japanese, German, Italian, French, and Spanish-speaking staff members.

Feel like you're at your own private estate. Our rooms are a full 46 square meters (460 square feet), charmingly decorated with individually-selected furniture, oil paintings, and prints; equipped with remote-control TV, mini-bar, electronic safe, and split-package air conditioning. And you'll love the bathrooms - spacious, with stone and marble finishes, separate shower and deep tub, hair-dryer, and extension phone. At some hotels, there are a token few rooms with nice views (for the brochures!), while most guests get stuck with parking-lot or "garden" views. At Plantation Bay you are assured of a splendid, take- your-breath-away vista from every room.

Choose from a dazzling range of activities - jet skis, para-sailing, motor boating, sailing, water- skiing, fishing, tennis, mini-golf, billiards, and tabletop sports. Cruises on our private twin-deck yacht. Snorkeling and scuba-diving just offshore or in dozens of sites nearby. Pistol-shooting and golf available.

Our swimming pool is the largest in the country. It has 8 built-in Jacuzzis, and is complemented with 3.5 has. of private saltwater swimming lagoons with waterfalls, water-slides, dive-rocks, and hydro- massage pools, plus a tropical fishpond and grouper fishing hole where you can catch your own lunch.

Some resorts feel cramped and crowded. In Plantation Bay's extensive grounds and waterways, you always feel open, free, and relaxed.

FREE! Airport transportation, welcome drink, 24-hour butler service, mineral water, bicycles and selected sports equipment, children's activities, dinner entertainment.

Indulge your appetites at three signature restaurants providing a choice of international, Pacific Rim, and Italian cuisines. For groups and conferences, our award-winning chefs can prepare just about any kind of meal you desire. Haute cuisine? Nouvelle? Theme-party buffets? Marshmallows and beach bonfire? We've got a menu and a venue for you.

SAVE! You'll find Plantation Bay the best value for money in Asia. To come close to duplicating the Plantation Bay Experience, you might have to spend two or three times as much elsewhere. And our food, gift shop, sports, and business center prices are reasonable--no tourist-trap pricing!

Enjoy Service in a class of its own. Friendly, unpretentious, unobtrusive - but always attentive and professional. 24-hour butlers cater to all your in-house needs - not just in an "executive wing", but in each and every room. Many of our well-traveled visitors have described Plantation Bay's service as "the best we've ever had anywhere".

There is NO TIPPING at Plantation Bay. All our guests receive the highest standard of personal attention without ever having to worry when, whom, or how much to tip.

• FOOD - Kilimanjaro KafÈ, International cuisine. Fiji, Pacific Rim seaside restaurant. Palermo, informal Italian restaurant. 24-hour room service. 24-hour butler service. Dinner cruises on our private 60-foot twin-deck yacht. Rooftop mini-ballrooms. Banquets for all occasions - choose from a variety of air conditioned, open-air, and beach-area venues.

• SPORTS AND LEISURE - 1600 sq. m. freshwater pool with 8 built-in whirlpools, one of the largest in the world. Waterfall and 2 water-slides. Fishing-pond. Jet-skis, water-skis, para-sailing, yachting, island-hopping, wakeboarding, banana-riding, powerboat rentals. SCUBA-DIVERS' PARADISE! Plantation Bay Cave, walls, reefs, and our own lagoon. Whether expert or novice, divers can get to a suitable dive-site within 5 minutes of leaving their room. 2 tennis courts. 6-hole mini-golf. Playground for toddlers. Our internal road system is suitable for bicycles (free!) or roller blading (bring your own, please). In our Gym and Game room, exercise equipment, billiards, table-top soccer and hockey, pinball, darts, board games; bar service provided. Off-premises: pistol shooting range, golf.

Restaurants

In the Ayala Center in the developing Mabolo barangay you will find shopping malls with all the western styled fast food outlets and restaurants. Also within Robinson's Mall at Osmena Circle in the uptown district. Others to look out for :

Golden Cowrie -Salinas Drive Lahung.

 Seafood specialties like baked tahong, lobster, sizzling squid and blue marlin to name a few. Authentic Filipino cooking in a native setting. Economical too as not expensive.

Marina Seafood's Restaurant -Navil Hills, Lahung.  Ayala Center and at the Foodcourt in SM City.

Fresh fish and crab are the best sellers, menu includes bountiful breakfasts, mouthwatering tropical cocktails, beef and pork, salad the view at the Navil Hills outlet is spectacular and a panoramic view of Cebu City.

Cafe Laguna - Ayala Center and Cebu Business Park.

This little gem of a restaurant cooks some excellent native dishes including Bumbong ( colored rice flour steamed in tubes) Pancit Palabok (traditional noodle dish) vegetable rolls and Sinigang.

Seafood City - J.Y. Square, Salinas Drive Lahung.

This is a ship restaurant and live and fresh seafood is the specialty.

Chicka-an sa Cebu - Century Plaza commercial complex. Juana Osmena St.

A magnificent variety of authentic Filipino, Cebuano and Spanish heritage cuisine cooked right in front of you. Fresh seafood, prawns, rock lobster and Bihod. (The Cebuano Caviar) 

Nightlife

Cebu City & Mactan Island

Bar Policy.

Cebu is a little like MANILA for a price guide. Ladies drinks are anywhere from P120 - P200 more in higher class establishments. TG's/EWR's are usually around P1500 again in some places like the 'showgirl' bars it can be as high as P5000  Freelancers can be found easily and are negotiable from P500. Local Drinks can range from P40-P100.

Downtown Cebu Map.

Cebu City itself has many bars and a few go-go bars. The most commonly known are  Manny's Bikini Bar on Sanciangko St Thunderdrome on F Ramos St. Billion Dollar Babies on Osmena Blvd. There is also a disco on Osmena Blvd called Harleys . Apple Bikini Bar on Legaspi St. Midnight Sun, La Dolce Vita, Club Exotic and Papilion on Mango Ave. Above Papilion is a music bar called Cities.

 Other bars  to consider are, Firehouse Osmensa Blvd - with it's sister bar in Manila, Lonestar, Erotica, The Silver Dollar, Osmena Blvd. Volvo (showgirl)  and The Cougar Bikini Bar. Cobra Bar, is another although isolated a little at the Cebu Acropolis hotel NW of the city, on V Rama Ave about 10-15 minutes from Osmena Blvd.

There are a host of KTV bars as well (showgirl) and Karaoke bars. Cebu is not though like Angeles or Manila and you will need to go around by taxi to visit some of these places and others. (remember new ones are waiting to be discovered through a friendly taxi driver or hotel porter.) Massage Parlors are another avenue to explore and one to look for is the Finland Health Center is one that has had a few reviews in the past. There are many casa's around too.

Freelancers are easily available as well at the many discos. Some places to look for are downtown around Juan Luna Ave, Sanciangko St, Palaez St and Jakosalem St. There are lots of touts/pimps/girls working these Streets and a basic ST (Short time) can be negotiated from P500 up to P1500 for all night.

Mactan Island

About a 30-40 minute journey from downtown Cebu. Mactan is the island with the resorts and the nightlife is a little less evident. The main nightlife attention surrounds the KTV type Showgirl bars and casa's. The Plantation bay is THE place to stay a beautiful resort and very helpful 24 hr butler service. Most of the butlers are very good to get advice from.

The Jeepney station just 10 minutes from Plantation has various KTV showgirl bars with anything from 30-60 ladies in each. You had better have good negotiating skills though. Bus loads of Japanese tourists are shipped to these places from Cebu and are frequently charged P3000+ - You should be prepared to haggle and settle for around P1500. Prices do not include a tip for the girl.

Some prefer to bring a girl to Cebu and head for the resorts on Mactan. And there is nothing wrong with that. However, there is plenty of 'action' in and around Cebu to explore and a companion is easy to find. My advice, try the economical Kiwi Lodge in Cebu. Talk to some of the ex-pats there, they will put you on 'the right road' and after a night or two in Cebu, head to Mactan Island stay at the Plantation and talk to those butlers :)