Hotel Review – Cebu
The hotel is 45 to 60 minutes a drive from the airport depending on traffic. We paid ₱1,700 for five people with luggage, which was much cheaper than the hotel shuttle at ₱3,500.
First impressions were positive it’s a nice-looking hotel. However, we weren’t informed at the time of booking that there were ongoing infrastructure works. This meant some facilities were closed, and there was noticeable noise between 10am and 5pm.
The rooms are spacious and reasonably well equipped. The “mountain view” is a bit misleading, as it’s not the main thing you see. That said, the beds were comfortable, the room stayed cool and well-ventilated, and amenities like bottled water and a kettle were provided.
Breakfast offered a good selection, but there are some issues. Bacon runs out quickly and the kitchen struggles to keep up. The omelette station was particularly disappointing I was given a number and waited 55 minutes, checking back three times, only to receive the wrong order in the end. If you want an omelette, it’s best to wait there and watch it being made.
On a positive note, the coffee is excellent, and the barista was very friendly just be prepared for small cups. Also, there’s a “no vests” policy in the restaurants, which I think is a good touch.
We spent time by the pool on our first full day. The area is lovely, with a nice breeze, and not overly crowded. The pool itself is quite cold but refreshing. Food and drinks (including pizza) were good. The pool staff including the lifeguard and servers were the standout team in the hotel: friendly, attentive, and always smiling.
Afternoon tea in the lounge, however, was a major letdown. We ordered one Western and one Filipino set. Coffee was served immediately, but since it wasn’t unlimited, we asked for it to come with the food instead. Even so, we waited around 50 minutes.
The Western set was disappointing smoked salmon wasn’t available and was replaced with a vegetable sandwich. The soup arrived late, after we’d already finished eating, which we had to mention. The “tea sandwiches” were just three small tuna fingers, which felt odd and limited in variety. Overall, it didn’t match expectations or value.
The Filipino set was slightly better, but still underwhelming. Some menu items were unavailable, and the hot items were only lukewarm. For a 5-star resort, the quality didn’t meet expectations. Neither set resembled what was advertised.
Suggestion: if the hotel can’t deliver a proper afternoon tea experience, it may be better not to offer it at all.
Happy hour (4:30pm–7pm) is a nice addition, but again, not without issues. We ordered a margarita and a mojito, only to be told after 10 minutes that they couldn’t make the mojito due to missing ingredients (mint) surprising for a hotel of this standard.
The hotel does provide a free shuttle to nearby malls, which is useful, though it operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
We chose Marco Polo Plaza Cebu because we previously stayed at Marco Polo Davao and had a great experience. Unfortunately, this property doesn’t match the same standard.
Nearby attractions worth visiting include Tops Lookout, Temple of Leah, and the malls.
Late checkout can be extended to 1pm for free, which is helpful; otherwise, it costs ₱1,500.
Overall, it’s a nice hotel with some strong points, particularly the staff and pool area, but also several inconsistencies. I might consider returning once renovations are complete, although I tend to try different places when visiting Cebu.
For comparison, other places we’ve stayed in Cebu include:
Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort – phenomenal
Holiday Inn Cebu City – fantastic
Radisson Blu Cebu – lovely
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino – very nice.
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