I'm arriving in Cebu in a few weeks and plan to stay in Lapu-Lapu for 3–4 nights. It's my first time in the Philippines before I head on to Mindanao, so I'm hoping to rest up, eat well, get some spa time and maybe do a little shopping.
I really love high-floor balconies with stunning views, and I don't mind paying a bit more for the right place. My budget is about $150 a night.
The Airbnbs I had my eye on at Tambuli are all taken, so now I'm looking for good alternatives. Ideally I'd like a one-bedroom place with a kitchen, but the overall experience, great views, nice amenities and location matter more to me than a kitchen.
I'd also love restaurant recommendations. Where should I absolutely eat in Lapu-Lapu or Cebu?
The only place I'm definitely going so far is Spiaggia. I'm torn between staying there and the Mövenpick Hotel, and I also really like some of the suites at Costabella Tropical Hotel.
Normally I'm very focused on healthy living and do a carnivore/keto diet, but I'm planning to cheat completely on this trip. So the food had better be worth it!
One very important thing: almost everywhere I travel I order New England clam chowder, mac & cheese, or both. I'm on a quest to find the best in the world.
So hit me with your recommendations:
Places to stay with amazing views around $150 a night
Best resorts, hotels or one-bedroom places
Must-visit restaurants
Best New England clam chowder
Best mac & cheese
Best spas
Anything else I shouldn't miss while I'm there
Thanks in advance! I'd really love to hear from people who know the area well or have recently stayed or eaten there.
If you have high expectations for the food, you'll be disappointed.
Please let us know if you find clam chowder or mac and cheese that's safe to eat and doesn't taste bland
Welcome to Cebu! 😊 Since it's your first time in the Philippines and you're staying around Lapu-Lapu, I'd definitely prioritize the Mactan area for the first few days. You're close to the airport and still have easy access to beautiful resorts, beaches, spas, restaurants and shopping. For your budget, look into Mövenpick Mactan, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Crimson Resort, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu and Shangri-La Mactan. If views and the overall resort experience matter more than a kitchen, I'd personally pick a high-floor room or suite with a balcony over an Airbnb. Tambuli is lovely, but there are plenty of great options around Mactan. For food, definitely venture beyond the resort restaurants. Cebu has everything from great Filipino food and lechon to Italian, Japanese, seafood and international cuisine. Since you're specifically hunting for New England clam chowder and mac & cheese, ask locals and recent visitors about those two specifically, because they're not as common here as Filipino or Asian dishes. And since you're cheating on keto/carnivore for this trip, Cebu is the perfect place to do it! 😂 Try Cebu lechon, fresh seafood, a Filipino breakfast, chorizo, tuslob-buwa and some local desserts. Mactan has no shortage of resort spas, so choose one based on the treatment you want rather than just the hotel. And if you have time, don't spend the whole trip inside the resort. A little sightseeing around Cebu City and Mactan is worth it, especially the historic areas, local food spots and the waterfront. For 3–4 nights, I'd mix a day at a beautiful resort + spa + a great dinner + a bit of Cebu sightseeing + some island/beach time. You'll get a much better first impression of Cebu that way. Enjoy your first trip to the Philippines! 🇵🇭💚 And please report back on the clam chowder and mac & cheese. I'm curious which place wins your world tour.
Wow, nice, 150 USD for just one night
Welcome to the Cordillera highlands. I don't know much about the south, but up here in the north, especially the Cordillera region, there are so many adventures to have. You'll pass Kennon Road, built in the 1900s by engineer Kennon with Klondike gold rush veterans. Come to Baguio City, it's basically an American city.
The Philippines probably isn't the place for clam chowder and mac and cheese 😛. Try batchoy (a soup) and lechon with hanging rice.
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