The ideal Christmas vacation is to get away some place new for the holidays. But the peak season travel rush and related expenses can be stressful, which is not a good thing for a time when days should be merry and bright. The next best thing is to spend Christmas on a staycation!
Staycations let you have the advantage of experiencing your locality in a new way without traveling somewhere too far. The good news is that hotels and resorts offer various deals to draw in guests for the coming holidays. Below are some of the best hotels in Cebu to consider for a staycation this coming Christmas season.
Bayfront Hotel Cebu
The imposing external view of Bayfront Hotel Cebu
Opened in September 2014, Bayfront Hotel Cebu is a mid-rise hotel with 168 guest rooms located in the North Reclamation Area. This place is ideal to stay in if shopping and having fun at nearby malls like SM City Cebu, APM Mall, and Robinsons Galleria Cebu are part of your holiday plans.
Café Breeze, the all-day dining restaurant of Bayfront Hotel Cebu
Facilities at Bayfront Hotel include Café Breeze, an all-day dining restaurant that serves Filipino and international dishes. Guests can exercise at their fitness room called Sweat Gym, or have a massage at Oriental Spa. A 7-Eleven convenience store can be found at the al fresco area of the hotel.
The bright interiors of a suite room at Bayfront Hotel Cebu
Bayfront Hotel currently has their Loyal Guest Promo. This website-exclusive offer gives guests a 50% discount off published room rates when they stay from October 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa
Aerial view of the sprawling beachfront property of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa
With Cebu having been recently voted number five in the Condé Nast list of top 20 best islands in the world, it’s almost perfunctory to go to the beach when in Cebu. One of the places where visitors can get their dose of sun, sea, and sand while at the Queen City of the South is at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
One of two pools at Shangri-La Mactan
This luxury five-star resort has 530 guest rooms and suites spread across 13 hectares of beachfront property. Their numerous facilities include a spa, children’s pool, marine sanctuary, and golf park. There are also water activities like snorkelling and scuba diving, to name a few.
A room with a view at Shangri-La Mactan
In celebration of their 23rd anniversary, Shangri-la is running their Paradise Rush sale where rooms can be booked at up to 50% off. Deluxe or premier rooms start at PhP8,800 per night for stay periods covering November 18, 2016 to December 23, 2016. Guests can also use weekday vouchers from Sunday to Thursday to enjoy marked-down rates for rooms.
Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan
A serene view of the Crimson infinity pool plus the beach during sunset
Lapu-Lapu City is home to many resorts, one of which is Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan in Seascapes Resort Town, Mactan Island. Crimson has 40 pool villas and 250 guestrooms in a six-hectare beachfront property. Facilities include a three-tiered infinity pool, fitness center, spa and sports bar. For water activities, guests can choose from kayaking, snorkelling, or scuba diving, to name a few.
Ibiza Beach Club, the beachfront restaurant of Mövenpick Hotel
For the holiday season, Crimson is offering family-friendly packages. Their Local Advantage promo lets two adults and two children stay in their deluxe rooms starting at PhP6,800 until December 31, 2016. The same rates apply for their Funtastic 5 promo until December 15, 2016. They also have their Best Rate promotion which gives guests a 10% discount for direct bookings made using a designated promo code.
Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
Ibiza Beach Club, the beachfront restaurant of Mövenpick Hotel
Another hotel in Lapu-Lapu City is Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. This five-star Swiss hotel houses 245 Mediterranean-inspired rooms and suites. Facilities include a beachfront restaurant, bar, swimming pool, marine sanctuary, spa, and fitness center. Adrenaline junkies can go parasailing or jet skiing, while children can enjoy arts and crafts or indoor games like foosball or chess. Nature lovers can also go bird watching in nearby Olango island, which is located five kilometres away from the hotel.
The Mövenpick Hotel de luxe room includes a private balcony.
From now until November 30, Mövenpick is running their Balikbayan Privilege promo. The package is good for two to four adults and one kid and includes promotions and discounts at Spa del Mar, The Sails restaurant, and water activities except jet skiing. Room rates start at US$150 net (PhP7,371.67)* for stay dates from October 20, 2016 to December 15, 2016
Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort
The inviting waters of one of the lagoon-shaped pools at Bluewater Maribago
Rounding out this list of staycation getaway spots is Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City. This seven-hectare property has 163 rooms and 110 meters of beach front. Facilities include three lagoon-shaped swimming pools with waterfalls, children’s playground, full-service restaurants, bars, and a spa. Guests can go scuba diving, snorkelling, or boat riding, among other activities.
Floating beds inside a premier deluxe room at Bluewater Maribago
From now until November 30, Maribago Bluewater is running their holiday advance saver deals. Guests can book a premier deluxe room starting at PhP8,800. The package is good for two adults and two children and covers stay periods from November 1, 2016 to December 20, 2016.
This Christmas, you need not go far to enjoy the holidays. A staycation treat with friends and family can be quite a mood-booster and make you happy for the holidays, which is just what you need before the New Year starts.
All photos courtesy of official websites and Facebook accounts of featured hotels and resorts
Converted Philippine peso value based on US$ exchange rate as of November 15, 2016
