Staying at The Reef Island Resort, Mactan, Cebu

Date: 2024-12-29

The Reef Island Resort, Mactan, Cebu

The Reef Island Resort is about 20 minutes by car from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, right on the seafront. Cebu Island and Mactan Island are connected by three bridges, with people crossing constantly throughout the day.

The northwest coast of Mactan is lined with resort hotels — including the Shangri-La, Mövenpick, Sheraton and Dusit Thani. The Reef Resort, opened in 2022, is the newest among them, operated by the local Abacá Group.

Arrival and Lobby

The car pulls up at the ground-floor porte-cochère; staff helped us with our considerable luggage. A lift takes you to the 2nd floor (lobby level L), where the reception desk is directly in front of you.

The lobby is designed to evoke a coral reef — the colours and forms of the sea translated into the architecture and décor. During our Christmas-period stay, a Christmas tree stood at the centre.

The Room: 8th-Floor Deluxe

Our room was a Deluxe on the 8th floor — the standard room type at 31 square metres, with one king or queen bed. A comfortable size for two.

The furniture includes pieces made by Cebu's local craftspeople — the island has a tradition of fine handmade furniture, and several workshops supply hotels and the export market. The room has a small balcony with a partial sea view — useful for drying swimwear.

The bathroom is shower-only, which is perfectly adequate in Cebu's subtropical heat; you shower multiple times a day and a hot bath feels less necessary. Toiletries are the hotel's own brand with a fresh, light fragrance — if you have particular hair care needs, bring your own products.

Daily room replenishments include 500ml water bottles, Nespresso-style coffee pods, and black and green tea bags. Other in-room beverages are charged.

Pools and Private Beach

The main lobby level (L) faces the sea and has three infinity pools: a deep adults' pool, a shallow children's pool, and a shaded covered pool. Looking out from any of them, the water line aligns with the horizon — emerald-green sea filling your view.

One level below, the porte-cochère level leads directly to the private beach. Snorkelling equipment and life jackets are available to borrow, and tropical fish are visible in the shallow coral water. The beach staff recommend 3pm onwards as the ideal time: the sun is less intense, and the building casts shade over the sand.

Breakfast: Abacá Baking Company

The Abacá Group — the hotel operator — is best known in Cebu for the Abacá Baking Company (ABC), a premium bakery celebrated across the island for quality. The hotel breakfast (served 6:30–10:30am) features ABC bread and pastries, available without restriction.

The breakfast spread is full Southeast Asian-style: congee (rice porridge) with crispy small fish, fried garlic and condiments on the side; adobo (the Filipino national dish — braised meat in vinegar and soy, a kind of tangy teriyaki) which goes perfectly with rice; salads (leaf vegetables are a luxury in the tropics, where the humidity makes them difficult to grow); and an abundant fresh fruit section.

The local fruits — mango, pineapple, banana, papaya — are all grown nearby and taste as they should: fully ripe, fragrant, extraordinary. The Cebu mango in particular drew a queue every morning and ran out quickly. Eating fruit from the tropics while looking at the sea is one of the genuine pleasures of being here.

Dining and Facilities

The hotel has three food and drink outlets: the main restaurant on the lobby floor (serves breakfast; open for other meals too), a poolside café, and an American-style beachfront bar serving cold beer, burgers and casual food.

Shopping at Mactan Newtown

For snacks, water, everyday supplies and a dose of normal life, take a Grab car or taxi (about 10 minutes; the front desk can also call one) to Mactan Newtown — a purpose-built urban development by Philippine property giant Megaworld. Offices, condominiums, a supermarket, restaurants, Starbucks, drugstores and shops, all within walking distance of each other. Many Japanese residents live in the Mactan Newtown condominiums. A practical and pleasant place for a grocery run or a coffee stop.