Be Resorts Mactan: Where to Stay in Cebu (Splurge Option)

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The Kenneth Cobonpue furniture pieces easily hypnotized some of my friends who had been fans of the designer. “This is the first time I’ll be sitting on a Cobonpue chair!” exclaimed one of my colleagues right before he graced the piece with the warmth of his derrière. Our first several minutes in the hotel turned into a photo op session with inanimate objects. Such is life these days.

As we waited for the staff to make up the room, we went out to the beachfront. The hotel balcony provided a breathtaking view of the white beach and the outdoor pool. As much as we wanted to dip right then, we figured we should probably check in first.

The Room. The room assigned to us was spacious, bright, and had a very youthful vibe; thanks to its white walls and sheets, and pastel-colored accents. Round mirrors adorned the wall by the headboard, a plus for a very vain person like me. (Bakit ba?)

The beds were big and very comfortable although the bed sheets were not as soft as I was expecting. (I’m not really particular with thread count of sheets.) Our room had a great view of the beach and the neighboring resort. We spent most of the time just looking out the window if we weren’t talking about our plans for the day. There were also a safe inside the closet, a large TV, a bedside lamp, and a table. And oh, the bathroom was roomy and was equipped with a hair dryer and hot/cold shower.

The Food. I never really ordered anything else other than the free breakfast that was included in the booking. The buffet offered a wide variety of breakfast favorites from Pinoy (danggit, tapa) to American (bacon, hotdogs) to Chinese (congee). While there was nothing spectacular about it, I really enjoyed it because I’m a glutton and I love anything buffet.

The Amenities. Right after checking in, the first thing we did was dip in the outdoor infinity pool right beside the restaurant and lobby. If you’re the type who doesn’t enjoy swimming in the sea for whatever reason but loves the beach, you might find their pool a delight as it creates the illusion that you’re out in the sea when in fact you’re within the “safe” bounds of an artificial ocean. Many times while I was in the pool, I found myself obsessively staring at the sea which was just yards away.

Right by the pool is their activity center where children and children-at-heart alike can enjoy a game of foosball or Nintendo Wii. There are also plenty of lounging areas where you can just laze the day away.

The Location. One thing that is going for this hotel is its proximity to the airport since it is also in Mactan. But being in Mactan Island is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is set smack in a gorgeous landscape far from the crazy jolt of the city. On the other, it is far away from the city center, where many historical sites and major tourist-drawers are located. If you’re after a relaxing time on the beach and you do not wish to go to the more distant countryside, Be Resorts might be suitable to your needs. You will need to take a cab if you wish to get to the city or back in the middle of the night, though.

The Service. No complaints whatsoever. The staff were helpful and friendly. When I wanted to charge my phone during breakfast, one of them stopped what he was doing to find me an available socket. Our room was always clean and made up.

It doesn’t happen all the time that the best part of my trip was the hotel where I stayed. My last time in Cebu was pretty uneventful. I’ve always liked Cebu but this trip was a company outing and the places we were set to visit were those I had been to twice before. While it was nice to see Cebu’s top tourist spots again, I guess I can’t be blamed for wanting to finally go out of the city and head for the islands of Bantayan or Malapascua, which did not happen. Thankfully, our hotel was quite the charmer.

Be Resorts Mactan is lovely in all sense of the word. I usually do not mind the accommodations because I’m always more concerned about the tour. As long as I have a comfortable bed to sleep in and a clean room with good ventilation, I’m happy. Nonetheless, it’s great to be reminded how topnotch service and facilities can turn a travel experience around sometimes.

Posted: 2013 • 2 • 20