Luxury Staycation at Mövenpick Mactan Cebu (2025) | Room Tour + Beach Walk 🏖️🌴

Are you planning a beach escape in Cebu and wondering if Mövenpick is worth the hype? Let me take you inside one of the most luxurious and relaxing staycations I’ve had recently — complete with a room tour, walk-through of the resort, and all the little surprises that made it extra special.

🌴 First Impressions

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with refreshing welcome drinks — a small detail, but it instantly made us feel relaxed and pampered. The check-in process was smooth, and the staff were incredibly warm and accommodating.

🏨 Room Tour: Spacious, Fresh, and Insta-Worthy

Listen, my husband and I couldn’t stop gushing over how nice the room was — and honestly, it smelled really good, too! The room had a modern coastal vibe, complete with a stunning view of the ocean. Everything was crisp, clean, and curated to make you feel like you're truly on a break from the hustle.

Fun fact: I didn’t even realize there was a welcome basket in the room until the next day! 🎁

🚶‍♀️Walk Tour: Beachfront Bliss + More

We took a casual walk around the property and wow — the beachfront, the pool area, the garden paths, and even the lobby were all designed with elegance and relaxation in mind. Mövenpick knows how to balance luxury and comfort.

🍴 Dining + Treats

While we didn’t go all out with dining in this vlog, Mövenpick’s restaurant options are definitely worth mentioning — especially for those who want a gourmet experience by the sea. You can even grab some Mövenpick ice cream (a must-try!).

💬 Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a luxury getaway that's just a few hours from the city (or a quick flight if you're coming from outside Cebu), Mövenpick Hotel Mactan is an excellent choice. It’s great for couples, families, and even solo travelers who want a relaxing, beautiful space to unwind.

📺 Watch the Full Vlog

Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Mövenpick or are planning to go! And if you’re looking for more travel tips, staycation ideas, or budget-friendly escapes in the Philippines, hit that follow button or subscribe to my channel!

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The Hideout in the city

What?

• Papa's 64th Birthday

We opted to do away with our usual birthday lunch or dinner celebration today for our dear old man so we decided to look for a new place to celebrate. Glad we didn't have to go far away to find the perfect venue... 

pardon us! i know its pop's birthday -- just wanted to share a poolside snap hehe

Where?

• The Hideout - a residential house located in hillsview drive subdivision in Lahug which is just within the city. 

Place rental: Php 1800.00/8 pax (good for 8 hours) wow!

Inclusions:

Free use of swimming pool  

Free use of kitchen 

Free use of dining area

Unlimited Karaoke

Add-ons:

Php 150/pax for additional guests over 8

Php 500 = use of 1 room

Billiards table = Php 350.00 (whole day)

Php 150.00 = use of gas range

The swimming pool is not that big but is perfect for small groups with a depth of 3ft - 6ft.

You can cook your meals at the location but we just brought with us our own food provisions since we found it more convenient.

They have a number of song choices for the oddballs like me who go cray for karaoke... I must say among all of us, there's no doubt it was ME who enjoyed it the most haha! 

We had the place for ourselves from 10am - 6pm today -- which was actually the best part! The hideout is a private place for you and your loved ones to chill in the city and enjoy each other's company as if you're in one of those out of town trips. 

Digyo Island: Last Hurrah for Summer

Summer trips are fun when you travel with the fambam... It's almost like an annual tradition of the gang to go on a short yet sweet summer escapade to my mother's hometown in Inopacan Leyte for the feast of their patron San Isidro Labrador that's celebrated every 15th of May. It's something that we have always looked forward to when summer months unfold. This tradition has been an awesome opportunity for us to visit and bond with our relatives whom we only get to see once a year --- not to mention the good food and the beautiful white beaches everyone including an oddball like me would love. 

Leyte province is undeniably gaining popularity these days because of Kalanggaman Island and Canigao Island. Local and international tourists have flocked their way to these islands to marvel at nature's finest waters. However, aside from the well known Canigao and Kalanggaman Island, Inopacan Leyte also has its own pride; the "Cuatro Islas" (Mahaba, Himokilan, Apid, and Digyo Island). 

How we transported ourselves to the Island?

We had to go to Inopacan's Baywalk / Reclamation Area  which serves as the docking area for all boats going to the Cuatro Islas.

Rates:

Boat rent ranges from Php 2500.00 - Php 5000.00

Environmental Fee - Php 10.00/pax

Entrance fee: Php 60.00/pax

while waiting for our boat...

with the man - my favorite travel buddy

We have been to the other 3 islands before so we skipped the island hopping and headed straight to Digyo Island for our most awaited swim -- haha!!!

Digyo Island --- is the smallest among the 4 islands hence its called digyo which was derived from the old Cebuano word "digyot" which means small. True enough, the islet's land area is pretty small that we've circumnavigated or literally walked around it in less than 30 minutes. We rented a cottage for Php 300.00 only for the day but you can do away with the cottages if you bring your own tent with you, especially if you plan to stay for the night. 

The island offers inviting crystal clear blue waters, white sandy shores and its own sandbar that glares brightly under the sunlight. No wonder the number of beach hungry tourists have increased overnight. I used to love it here since I get to enjoy the serenity of the island with my family and a few other people who knew about the place but with its soaring popularity, it's now jam packed with a lot of tourists and I fear people may abuse this virgin island and strip off of its beauty.

Take a peek... 
#phonephotography 

the gang en route to Digyo Island :P

3 bananas underneath the big blue sky! lol!

fambam  "ohana"

sandbar :)

happiness <3

On our way back to mainland Inopacan, we had the most amazing experience with unexpected beautiful creatures. Our boat was filled with shrieks of delight as we saw magnificent and playful dolphins swimming alongside our boat. Boy we were in for a treat! The only regret I had, all our cameras and phones ran out of juice. .. :(  Nevertheless, it was one fine summer day... definitely another one for the books! 

Shells on the Shores of Lambug Badian

Beachfront

woke up like this snap! :)

Been looking forward to beach bumming since summer started this year and alas got the chance to crash an outing -- haha! Finally, Lambug Badian is another one that's off my bucket list. Heard about it from people's blog-pages but never really got the chance to see it till this weekend.

Thoughts:

Didn't expect much from this place... It was prolly my way of trying not to be disappointed if it turns out otherwise from the the blog posts I've read.  

Transportation:

We transported ourselves to Badian by taking a bus with Cebu-Bato (via Barili) route from the South Bus terminal. The air-conditioned Ceres Bus only costs php 130.00/pax to get there. Whew! It's a 3-4 hour ride, shout out to the man-friend for the good playlist we listened to throughout the entire trip. We had also taken power naps along the way and busied ourselves in munching on some chips. 

We dropped off the bus and took a motorcycle to get to the resort. Don't be deceived, the motorcycle fare only costs php 25.00/pax. 

Accommodation:

There's really not much to choose from if you're looking for nice and fancy hotels. However, they have cottages decent enough to stay and light on your pockets. 

We stayed at Magic Beach Resort. 

Standard Room Rate: php 1500.00
Air conditioned Room Rate: php 2500.00
Tent: php 500.00
Own Tent: php 200.00

The resort provides plates and utensils for their guests and a dirty kitchen to cook meals out back and a refrigerator too. The shower rooms and toilets were clean even though its common for all house guests.  

Food and Drinks:

Well, we brought our own food provisions to Lambug Badian. Buying drinks and chips was rather easy since they have convenient stores just right beside the resort. The convenient store also offers a Karaoke Machine to sing our hearts out for php 5.00 only and get to have two song choices. Now isn't that a bargain? 

Verdict:

The white sands, the blue waters, and the fine weather made it almost perfect -- But it was his company which made it complete!   

Here are some snapshots I took with my phone camera...

with my man! <3

Karaoke at the beach

Karaoke at the beach

Breakfast - shout out to mommy aimee for preparing our meals!!!

Fun on the sandy shores

Strike a pose with mother :)

Just strollin'

Kawasan Falls - #itsmorefuninthephilippines

Oh how I love being spontaneous!

Wearing our I <3 Cebu Shirts :)

Thoughts:

We had an unplanned trip down south one fine day and had the chance to dip in the cold waters of Kawasan Falls. Had absolutely no plans that day when Mama woke me up early urging me to go with them to Kawasan. Half awake, I found myself all packed up for the trip just like that. 

How we transported ourselves to Kawasan:

We took a bus at the South Bus terminal at 3am. The fare was only around Php120 to my surprise going to Badian. It was approximately a 3-hour ride to get there so I was able to catch up with sleep and slept my way through the whole bus ride. Since we left early dawn, we managed to get there at 6am in the morning which was perfect. 

The Experience:

It was my first time to visit the place... I was psyched! I gotta say I was pumped up since I got out of bed that morning! Must have been so pumped we went swimming as soon as we rested our bags at the table we rented for Php 300 which I find affordable though. The water was literally ice-cold, yet the cold did not bother us anyway.... haha! They have tables, bathrooms, toilets, and rooms for those who wished to stay for the night. It's great to know you can witness such a beauty without having to travel far away from the city and you don't even have to spend much.

Verdict:

It was nature at its finest! Will definitely go back one of these days... #itsmorefuninthephilippines

Here are a few snapshots we took with my phone camera (sorry for the low quality photos) :

moi

my love

just look at that bamboo raft!

wearing our buoyancy vests that we rented for php 50.00

Boracay Island - Travel on a tight budget

Thoughts: reminiscing paradise

 Albeit it's a little late, just wanted to share a little bout my sweet escape to paradise...


I bet most people think going to Boracay is quite expensive and would mean draining your pockets. Well, I proved it otherwise. It's a good thing there's Cebu Pacific airlines that constantly offers cheap promo flights so might as well take advantage of it. My sister and I booked our flights 3 months earlier and got a really good discounted price. We thought it would be an awesome birthday gift to our mom and to our aunt -- well, err I guess to ourselves. With the daily stress from work and the busy urban life, we all deserve to getaway right? Alas Boracay is just the perfect place to unwind.

Preparations: there's really not much

• read blogs/reviews about Bora
• checked hotel tariff rates
• compared water activities to try out
• familiarized ourselves with the vicinity maps
• checked out affordable restaurants

Fast forward to 3 months later...

Hooray! It's time to go but wait, we didn't have any hotel reservations. We figured there's going to be a lot of cheaper deals we can find once we get there. To our delight there were a lot of friendly locals who approached us when we arrived. They asked if we have hotel reservations and offered us pretty good deals which was really hard to say no. They took us to Jerome's Lounge which I may say was a very decent place to stay. It was neat and very light on your budget (fyi: room rates starts at Php 1500.00). Plus, it is located in Station 2 which is the life of the party. To top it off, it's prolly just a minute or two walk to the seafront.

Where to Dine?

Contrary to public notions, you can find affordable and cheap places to eat. I sure was surprised to see Mcdonald's and Andok's chicken at the d'mall. Yup, we ate there when we arrived... haha! We also tried other inexpensive restos where you can have a meal for Php 95.00 per person and a dinner buffet at La Carmella Boracay Hotel that only costs around Php 350.00/pax. We also bought food, chips, and other provisions from budget mart convenient store since it was cheaper compared to other commercial establishments there.



Water Activities:

There were a lot of fun activities to choose from depending on your budget though. I like the idea that they were offering cheaper prices to locals. We had parasailing for Php 1,100.00/pax while foreign tourists were charged Php 2500-3000 for the same water activity. Isn't that great? here are some activities you can try.

note: we didn't get to try all of them due to time and budget constraints. haha!

• helmet diving
• parasailing
• banana boat ride
• fly fish
• island hopping
• atv and buggy car
• scuba diving

Verdict:

Ooooommmmggeee!!! I sure love it there. I Will definitely visit the place again one day. The people were very friendly and accommodating. I call it a happy place. It's a party where people from different parts of the globe meet and get to interact with one another at the same time enjoying the beautiful white sandy shores and crystal clear waters of Boracay. 

Unexpected Staycation

April 23, 2015 -- I would probably never forget how I had to bring myself to the Emergency Room all by myself at quarter to 4 in the morning. Yes you got that right ALL BY MYSELF!

Woke up the night before at around 10 pm with an unexplained pain in my abdomen. Had to dismiss the uneasiness I felt since I had to report for a graveyard shift that night. I thought it was going to disappear after taking some pain killers but to my dismay it only grew more painful. Paid a visit to the clinic several times and got myself only an hour rest before my break. As I lay down the employees' sleeping lounge I wasn't able to bring myself to sleep and this time I felt something unusual at the lower right region of my abdomen. It was excruciating and I was barely able to walk. Panic hit me... I slowly found my way back to the clinic and asked the nurse to bring me to the nearest hospital because I know something was terribly wrong. Sure I got disappointed to know the company doesn't offer a shuttle service to bring me to the hospital and was told that my manager had to take me to the hospital herself. I waited for my manager which made matters worse. I got furious with her least helpful, unconcerned and passive tone. It was supposed to be her initiative to take me to the hospital since I was her liability. I ended up taking a taxi cab with  a driver who cares nothing more than himself. 

Happy Birthday to Me

Wow! how i missed writing... This is practically my first entry for 2014 following my last post back in August 2013. Had my hands full lately forgetting about my little blog vice.

Mr. Sun hasn't really showed up since December of last year and so I woke up early to this cold Wednesday morning January 22, 2014. Yes, today's the 22nd and is my natal day. Since I'm a year older, I guess I'm supposed to be wiser and smarter. I find it sad, been working my a** off on a graveyard shift for the longest time and didn't realize I am getting older not enjoying life itself as much as I should have.

Happy Birthday My Love!

happy happy birthday to the best buki ever! thank you for always being there for me and for always taking life's punches for me. on your special day, i wish nothing more but good health and happiness. stay as loving and caring as you are my love. i love you! ^_^

We are "Better Together" ^_^

I am not good with this but I took the time to put up a short clip for the best boyfriend ever who never fails to comfort me when i need him... who's ever patient with my childish ways and idiosyncrasies... and who never gets tired of loving and taking good care of me... I wanted to show this to you on our anniversary on August 7th but I just couldn't wait so here it is... I love you lovey!

Gwiyomi Mingtik Style

Just got a little bored and decided to upload one of my personal videos on my mobile phone. I took this a few months back when this song became viral in YouTube but never really showed it to anybody. Anyway, here it is and I call it gwiyomi mingtik style! 

It's a newbie's work and it's not something that one can be really proud of. I know I don't have enough knowledge and skills with video editing but here's for a little entertainment to lighten up your mood. :)

KFC Krushers with Insecta Diptera

How would you like to take a sip from my cold thirst quencher treat--krushers from KFC?

It was my rest day which I've initially planned of spending with my man. Things didn't really go as I've wanted unfortunately, which made me upset if I may say. I had a lot in mind I confess. I wanted to have my hair done and get a different hair color, go for a quick swim in a resort within the city, or perhaps just watch a movie that day. Tell you what, I was totally set in the mood that morning and wasn't expecting things to go out my way. But I guess shit happens when you least expect them. So to cut the story short, after claiming a my man's gift certificate in Mandaue City, we ended up in SM City Cebu and grabbed a late lunch at around 2pm in the afternoon. We were so hungry and decided to go for a fast food chain and yes, we went straight to KFC. We ordered our meals and bought krushers for our drinks. I was actually not in the mood anymore since I didn't get to do what i wanted. I was tired, really tired but I tried my best to just enjoy my food and entertained the idea of shopping afterwards. And then something hit me as I was sipping on my krushers. It took a moment before I could tell my boyfriend what I saw inside the beverage's container. It was an awfully gross housefly inside my drinks. He took the plastic glass from me and turned to go the manager to show them the special ingredient in my krushers. What's worse about it is that the branch manager was pathetic and apparently lousy at apologizing since it was clear enough for me she wasn't really sorry. She even got the nerve to tell me the stupid fly might have gotten inside the plastic glass while it was on my table and that it hadn't been there when it was prepared when we ordered it. Upon hearing this from her, I was definitely disgusted that I didn't even realize i was already raising my voice and that i was pounding on the table. I was probably so mad I can't even recall what she had said. My boyfriend said she promised to get back to us regarding the matter but we never heard anything from them. Though I'm upset, still I'm thankful coz I didn't really have any stomach problems after that. Nothing serious happened to me I know, but I am never gonna eat there ever again.    

So, how would you like to take a sip from my cold thirst quencher treat--krushers from KFC? forget it!!!

OUR STORY

I'm head over heels in love again and I never felt so strongly for someone for a long time.

First Love

I felt the sweetness and bitterness of first love when I was in high school and fell madly in love with someone  -- and yes, I've been secretly in love with him long even after we broke up. I have been in and out of different relationships and have seen my first love fall for someone else yet it never changed what I felt towards him. We met a couple of times and declared our love for each other which has always been there and has never left us yet chose to remain friends due to the circumstances and because we both have separate lives in the arms of our present lovers.

The Past

All along I thought everything was going just the way I planned it but things turned sour without my anticipation. All my dreams and plans shattered right before me. I was lost and didn't know what to do with my life when my boyfriend for 8 long years and I broke up. I was back from scratch and was horrified at the thought of starting all over again. I was ruined I thought, but it was actually the perfect moment. In truth, I wasn't totally in love with the last boyfriend I had. It started all wrong. He only became my comfort zone and I didn't want a long relationship like that to just end. I found myself in a mess, spending and partying just to forget. But it was at that lowest point of my life that I found you.

You – My Present & My Future

I've known you for a year since we were wave mates. We've talked a lot of times and shared each others' problems in the past, that's why talking to you about what happened to me was easy. You listened and comforted me. You allowed me to pour everything out and saw me cry many times. We then became closer to each other day by day and I was really happy to have found a friend in you. You came just when I needed you. I listened to your advice and was amazed to know how deep you are, and since then I have looked up to you like an older brother. Little did I know that our friendship would turn into something more beautiful like what we have now. You gave my life a new direction and made everything clear for me. You brushed away my fears and helped me create new dreams in life with you in it. I never really thought that I could love someone as much as I love you and right beside you is definitely where I'd like to be. Now that we have each other, I will love you in the best way I know “buki” my love. Thank you for being you coz I love you just the way you are.

Looking back, I'm simply thankful to God for giving me you. I feel so blessed to finally meet that one person who I would like to spend the rest of my life with – YOU!

Social Media and Social Networking

People these days use the term social media but I bet they don't even know what it truly meant. Every time I hear people talk about it, I always find myself thinking of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social networking sites out there. 

What is Social Media? 

What is social media? That, I'm not quite sure in truth. It seems like its definition has become a blur when I tried to Google it. It doesn't seem to have an exact definition of what it is. Instead, I got a whole lot of  gobbledygook and it just didn't make sense. 

As far as Wikipedia defines it, the term social media simply refers to the means in which people interact and communicate with each other, exchange information and ideas through virtual communities and networks. 

At a more technical aspect, social media is defined as a group of internet-based applications that build on the technological and ideological foundations and allow exchange of user generated content in this fast paced world of technology. 

Social Media in other forms like magazines,  pictures, and other prints have been in existent for the longest time. However, with the birth of the World Wide Web or the internet, it has taken a brand new form and later on gave birth to numerous social media / social networking services that we now enjoy. 

Social Networking, What's in it for you?

I know there are a number of them but I'm more into Facebook and Instagram among all other social networking sites. Recent Studies suggests that these services have totally changed the traditional way on how people interact and communicate with other people. Facebook for example has somehow become one of the leading media which people use to communicate with friends and families. 

Ease of Use - This form of media is very convenient for since you can get in touch with everyone anywhere you go. It's mobility is perfect especially for people who are always on the go. Laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic gadgets make it possible for you to stay connected. 

Being socially aware about what's in, what's not and what's happening around without the need for you to go out of your room is awesome. Unfortunately, other studies suggest that social media services have certain effects on people. The more social networking communities and websites out there, more and more people seem to feel lonelier than ever. Many were observed to devote and spend more time in these social networks leaving them unproductive for the day and passing house chores and far more important things. Though people get to stay in touch with their old chums, and find their childhood friends through these social networks, they subconsciously get affected with what they see. They may become excited to hear from long lost friends yet they may also start to envy what their friends have achieved and eventually start comparing themselves and their achievements. Which in turn makes them fretful, lonely, and down. What they don't realize is that most people would only post the good stuff and what they want others to see. Those people who appear happy in those pictures might have a bigger problem than you think. 

The world indeed has changed since the last time I checked... But then again, whatever it may offer just enjoy it and know well when it's too much and when to stop it.  

My Lucky Charm - My Chinese Zodiac

I was born in the year 1987 which was the year of the rabbit. The rabbit was the fourth in the 12-year cycle in the Chinese Zodiac.  The rabbit represents hope for the Chinese People and is said to be tender and lovely. People who are born under this sign are said to be gentle, sensitive, compassionate, amiable, modest, merciful and have strong memory. They have good sense of humor, resent a dull life, romantic, soft-spoken, welcoming, and adore a peaceful love life. They are submissive, hospitable, homebody, and do not anger easily. However, rabbit people may lack determination and are often stubborn.  

Lucky Colors: 

• red
• pink 
• purple 
• blue 

**Avoid dark brown, dark yellow & white

Lucky Numbers: 

• 3 
• 4 
• 9 

**Avoid 1, 7 & 8

Today, my boyfriend bought me this charm bracelet to protect me and bring me good luck in this year of the snake (2013) although it was said that rabbit people in general will be fortunate this year. Unexpected barriers can be defeated with a positive attitude and a strong will in life. The lady who sold us this charm bracelet did some sort of Feng Shui and said I can rub the rabbit 7 times in an upward direction and make 3 wishes. Wow! Isn't that great? I just made my 3 wishes today. I was already positive this year is going to be a good year for me but with this new lucky charm, I know things will be a lot better for me and my loved ones. ^_^

Fiesta Señor

As always, the streets and every corner of the city are flooded with people at this time of the year. The Sinulog Festivity is just around the corner. It is a grand celebration in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño which is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January. The Novena mass jump-started the celebration last January 10, 2013 and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño has been filled with devotees since then.