SDR Apartments is within 15 minutes of all beach resorts in Mactan. All these Mactan resorts allow day visitors for a minimal fee, which in some cases also includes a buffet lunch. Whilst enjoying the economical cost and location of your SDR apartment, you can jump in a taxi (costs less than US$3) or a jeepney (for those who want adventure and part with less than 50 cents) and enjoy the beach resort’s facilities without the huge costs of having to stay there!

Staying at SDR Apartments will allow you to enjoy a day in the sun and ocean without having to travel far. We are conveniently close to all major beach resorts in Mactan. And we are sharing our notes with you to make your planning easier. Bring a snorkel and mask (you can rent from SDR) so you can check out a number of beautiful tropical fishes even in the shallows.

Rates as of January 2010

Vista Mar Resort charges 400 pesos for lunch buffet and use of swimming pools and beach. Buffet lunch is good with extensive choices. You can use a locker for free. To get there, you can take a taxi or a jeepney, transfer to a tricycle then walk to the resort.

Hudsan Beach is a public beach and charges 40 pesos for entrance fee. You can reach it easily by jeepney or you can walk from your SDR apartment. Expect to see a busy beach during weekends and public holidays. Bungalows are also available for day rental if you want to relax out of the sun’s rays or catch a quite moment with your partner!

Costella Bella Beach Resort charges 595 pesos for lunch and access to its swimming pools and beach. The lunch is limited so don’t expect too much. The resort’s buffet lunch on Sundays for the same price is a much better deal. There’s no locker. To get to the resort, you can take a jeepney, transfer to a tricycle, then walk to the resort.

Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort charges 600 pesos for use of swimming pools and beach, meal or locker use are excluded from the fee. There is a special dinner by the beach every night for less than 1,000 pesos. Use of the swimming pools and beach is included in the dinner price. This is a good deal if you arrive after lunch hours and stay for dinner. You can easily reach the resort by jeepney, which stops right in front of the resort. You can also go via taxi.

Cebu White Sands charges 600 pesos on weekends and legal holidays; fee is inclusive of a lunch buffet and use of swimming pools and beach. The resort charges 400 pesos during weekdays without lunch. To get there you can ride a jeepney, which goes right in front of the resort gate.

Portifino Beach Resort charges less than 400 pesos including lunch. The resort also has jet skis for rent so it’s a good option for the more adventurous.

The Shangri-La and Plantation Bay also allow day visitors, but the charges are scary in the case of the ‘Shang.’ As of January 1, 2009, Shangri-la charges 2,000 pesos for a local and 4,000 pesos for foreigners for a day pass, which includes an awesome buffet lunch. Shangri-La has two massive resort pools, a brilliant beach, and all the trimmings.

Plantation Bay Resort has a small private beach but one of the biggest seawater swimming pools in the world. They charge 2,000 pesos per head; 50% less for kids from 4 to 12 years old, and free for kids below 4 years of age. Buffet lunch is served at Kilimanjaro Kafe. Plantation Bay is set on 11.4 hectares, and the themed “Tropical Plantation” architecture is very different.

The Hilton Hotel & Spa charges 1,500 pesos, kids below 4 years old are free. The fee includes a buffet lunch at their Vanilla Beach Café. The Hilton has a small private beach and huge resort swimming pool.

Now if you want to find powder white sand beaches, being lapped up by gin-clear waters…head for Bantayan Island. The island is located off the Northern coastline of Cebu. Incredible post-card like images will fill your vision. Think Boracay 20 years ago and you are getting close.

Also in the North, you will find another gem is Malapascua Island. Whilst this island is known for its incredible diving, those that visit her come back with memory cards full of sublime beach and sunset shots.

For those who have access to a car, taxi, motorbike, a great way to find the hundreds of beaches scattered around Cebu island is by taking a trip North to South. You will be stunned by the beauty of these areas.