Cebu City is becoming one of the fastest growing and developed cities in the Philippines it can be compared to Manila, but only in Visayas.
Last July I was able to have a quick stay but only visited the usual tourist spots in the downtown area. And being a budget traveler, I always prefer to commute whenever I travel but Cebu's an exception. Due to lack of research plus the city is very huge, I had to take a cab everytime I go somewhere, when I go to a restaurant to eat, when I went downtown to explore and going to the airport.
I was on standby in the airport for hours and was able to take the 6:00PM flight.
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| Mandatory aerial shot |
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| Inflight treats ft the new PAL Mabuhay Magazine |
When I arrived in Mactan-Cebu airport, I had no idea how to go to the city, so I was supposed to take a cab but the line's just too long. I passed by the My Bus booth and saw that the trip is going to SM Cebu. I still didn't know exactly where SM Cebu is but I just know its in the city. So I bought the ticket for PHP25.00 and just took a cab from SM to the hotel. Its cheaper I may say since travel time from the airport to SM is about 30 minutes or more without the traffic. My friend who took a cab from the airport to the hotel spent more than PHP300.00 and I just spent about PHP 125.00 so I was able to save around PHP200.00.
I stayed in Verbena Pension House, a budget hotel located in Don Gil Garcia St. Cebu City. A single room cost PHP850.00 and PHP1,000.00 for 2 guests.
The room is very small but is clean, has A/C, own bathroom, flatscreen TV and cabinet. Towel and toiletries are provided as well. The lobby is very clean as well, very homey, cozy and the scent of their air freshener is very relaxing. I would want to stay here if ever I could go back, but since Cebu is a very huge city, I would prefer to try and experience other hotels as well. But, I will recommend this hotel because its very cheap and clean and staffs are very accommodating.
For dinner, of course I would want to have it in a local restaurant.
We had dinner in a local coffee shop called Degree 9 Coffee. We had frappuccino, lasagna and cake.
The tour I had is nothing special. I know most of you have been to Cebu and visited the more beautiful and unusual places but I'm still gonna share mine.
First stop is the Basilica Minore del Sto.Nino.
After this, we just walked for about 10 minutes and reached Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro. Entrance fee at Fort San Pedro is PHP 30.00.
Afterwards, we looked for a good restaurant to have lunch. A taxi driver offered to take us to Busay, the highest place in Cebu overlooking the city (if I'm not mistaken) and to see other spots around the area for PHP1,500.00. We declined, its expensive for us two! We just took a cab going to I.T Park and there we found Hikay.
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| Last meal in Cebu |
Aaaaand, meet my new found friend, Ann. She's from Pampanga, I'm from Makati and we first met in Cebu because of the same goal in life. But I'm not gonna tell you what we did there! :)
After lunch, we went back to the hotel and did a pasalubong shopping in the nearby store called Shamrock.
Afterwards, I prepared my things and took a cab going to the airport for my flight back to Manila. Flights are fully booked but they put me on premium class. #NonRev Wiiieee! Thanks guys!
Obviously, I haven't seen so much of Cebu and going back is for sure. In fact I already had plans of what to do for when I go back, and I'm putting them here just so I could track and not forget.
I know what I saw is never enough so I hope I could go back the soonest. If you have suggestions on what to do that's not listed in my Cebu bucketlist, please leave a comment.
xx, Joyce
- Crown Regency's edgecoaster and skywalk
- Stay in Movenpick Hotel
- Canyoneering
- Oslob whale shark watching
- Glamping at Bluewater Sumilon Island
- Explore more of Cebu City (e.g Taoist Temple, Temple of Leah, Busay, Simala Church and a lot more)
xx, Joyce
