We stayed in five different properties over our 11-day vacation in Cebu, with all except the Radisson Blu Cebu involving just a one- or two-night stay. This trip involved more accommodation changes than any vacation we’ve taken so far. But I guess it was ultimately unavoidable given how much travelling we were doing each day. We had three reservations in Cebu City itself at the Radisson Blu Cebu, so that property deserves its own review post.
For the properties we stayed at, our brief notes follow!
Oslob: Joaquim’s Bakehouse and Lodge (1 night, Double Room, SGD57/night)
Joaquim’s was a very small lodge-style property that sits along the main road. It’s located quite near the Whale Shark Observation area, which is a bonus. We checked in fairly late on the evening of Day 02 but were warmly received by the lodge staff and shown to our room.
The room was very basic with two double-sized beds, a TV that was not receiving any signal, and Wi-Fi that did not work (the staff said that a storm the previous night had something to do with it). Upon checking the bathroom, we saw two cockroaches scurrying across the floor — which our check-in staff immediately caught and apologised profusely for.
We were staying just one night and the rate was very cheap, so we managed our expectations — and we slept well too, being very tired from the day’s travel. I also did not get the impression that there were many higher-end accommodation options in this area. But if you have the budget for a better class of stay and can find one that fits your party size, you might want to consider that instead of this lodge.
Moalboal: Dolce Vita Resort (1 night, Family Room, SGD106/night)
After our somewhat “meh” stay at Joaquim’s, we were prepared for something similar at Moalboal. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised to get a large apartment-sized unit at Dolce Vita Resort. The unit had two separate bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom, a small kitchen, and a shared living area.
The furnishings were a little dated and water pressure in both shower areas was somewhat low, but the resort also had its own small pool, which the kids really enjoyed after the day’s whale shark swimming and Sumilon Island visit. The in-room TV also had YouTube access. And there were three very lovely house cats that the kids enjoyed interacting with.
The property staff were very friendly. While the resort itself was located several minutes’ walk from the main road where the dining establishments were clustered, I noticed that there was a security guard on duty at night. This property easily gets our recommendation.
Malapascua: Hippocampus Beach Resort (1 night, 2 × Standard Rooms, SGD47/room/night)
This was a beachfront property, and we had two rooms located on the second floor. Amenities in each room were very basic: just beds, air-conditioning, and a desk — with no TV and no fridge.
The steps leading up to our second-floor units were extremely steep, so much so that we had to get hotel staff to assist us with bringing our luggage up and down (they were very happy to help). Reception staff were very friendly, but note that this property does not accept credit card payments. Our booking via Booking.com required payment at the property.
The water from the shower came from seawater, so there was still a slight saltiness to it. Power also cut out briefly a couple of times during the night. I reckon this is simply part of staying on Malapascua, which is still a relatively undeveloped island — so again, expectations need to be managed.
Bohol: Blue Ocean Bohol Beachfront Resort (2 nights, Beachfront Family Room, SGD160/night)
This was also a beachfront property. In our research, most accommodations along Alona Beach seemed a little pricey, and Blue Ocean wasn’t very different in that regard.
The good bits: the room was large, there was a fridge, a decent-sized shower and bath area (the water did not have the same saltwater issue as our Malapascua stay), a TV with mostly news channels, friendly reception staff, and best of all, the property is located at the quieter end of Alona Beach — which is otherwise a very lively and busy stretch.
As for the downsides: firstly, the property is accessible by vehicle via a very narrow and bumpy side road. After that, access is only through the property’s back gate and down a short flight of fairly deep stairs. You’ll likely need help bringing heavy luggage down. Thankfully, we only had to deal with that twice — once at check-in and once at check-out.
The other issue — and a big one — was Internet connectivity. Both the hotel Wi-Fi and our mobile networks were extremely unstable inside the room. Step outside the room, however, and the connection immediately improved. I have no idea why — perhaps some sort of signal interference near the room.
So our summary: if privacy and relative quietness along Alona Beach are your top priorities, Blue Ocean might be worth considering. If stable Internet connectivity is critical, however — and you don’t want to step outside to deal with the constant sand flies — then based on our experience, this property is harder to recommend.
That’s a wrap for four of the five places we stayed at. Next post: the Radisson Blu Cebu!