Shangri La Mactan, Cebu

Review from a client who has just stayed at the Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, Philippines


This is something of a hidden gem. I travel often to the Far East on business, mainly centred around Hong Kong and I've finally discovered what all the HKG locals and Ex Pats have been keeping a secret. Just a 2 hour flight lands you in Cebu, Philippines and what a wonderful place it is. For the first time in Feb this year, my family of wife and two children (one of each aged 9 & 7) accompanied me to HKG and after two days of business we flew with Cathay to Cebu. All organised by www.ninetyeast.co.uk (they do all my business travel too and are sooooooo helpful with changing schedules etc.) Anyway, the hotel is just 15 mins from the airport and is one of the best I've ever stayed in, probably THE best. Nothing is any trouble for the staff. Polite, friendly, helpful, attentive but never overbearing, just there in the background whenever you needed them. The hotel has everything, two great pools, a private beach, every kind of watersport, lovely gardens if you needed the shade with relaxing hammocks etc. There was nothing we could want that it didn't have, and that includes the Kids!! Food great - if you wanted the buffet, it had 7 stations all with different food - Sushi, Indian, Chinese, Western, Malaysian, Philippine and Carvery, all fresh seafood was spectacular. It also has 4 other restaurants which we tried and the staff went out of there way be helpful. When you are out of the hotel prices are cheap (with a little negotiation) and one key fact is that due to the American occupation years ago, almost everyone speaks English, even the street sellers. The Philippino people always seem a genuinely happy/warm bunch, never seen so many smiles! I don't normally write reviews, too busy but this one deserves 10/10, I could go on for ages about this place but if your considering having a break in the Far East I would suggest you try Cebu, and my vote would be for the Shangri La. You'll probably see me there, I'm trying to build a few days of R&R into my trips from now on.