Fun things to do in Cebu City

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like what I've Said, the main Attraction of Plantation Bay resort is their huge and sprawling salt water lagoon with many extras like slides, jacuzzi and more.

Plantation Bay has a beach front but it is small at just 50 meters wide and although it has white sands, the sands are coarse and not as fine as in boracay or at kata beach in phuket thailand and the water near the beach is rocky and is very slippery (see my video) but the waves are not strong. The beaches in other resorts like Movenpick or Shangrila Mactan is better.

The Beachfront here is more for sun bathing and beach activities ;like beach voleyball, not on swimming or snorkelling.

Plantation bay is a high end resort cum hotel complex that caters both to affluent locals and foreign tourists as they promote the "staycation" at theire sprawling resort. Opened in 1996 from formerly marshlands and dead mangroves, they transformed the ares into a Carribean Style Beach Plantation with assorted Caribbean Style Colonial Rooms and Suites that are high end (average nights stay is 12,000 pesos a night) Plus a huge man made saltwater lagoon that surrounds the complex.

they also accept day tripper packages for people who want to experience and swim at the huge man made salt water lagoons surrounding the complex.

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part 2 of my two part swimming tip with more pictures around the sprawling plantation bay and resort.

The Main attraction of the Plantation Bay and Resort as compared to other high end resorts in Mactan Island is their salt water man made lagoon at the center of the complex! and the assorted fresh water pools, slides, deep hole and water activities you can do while in the lagoon (and take picture and videos to if you have a waterproofed camera).

according to their website:

Pools, Slides, and Much More

Plantation Bay is a symphony in water, with enough water features to keep most families happy for days on end. Four freshwater pools of outstanding design; water-slides of all shapes and lengths from thrilling to scary; mist-caves; whirlpools; volcano fountains; bubble-benches; rainmakers; waterfalls of every size; and 2.3 hectares of saltwater lagoons for unlimited cavorting.

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this will be a two part swimming tip with more pictures around the sprawling plantation bay and resort.

The Main attraction of the Plantation Bay and Resort as compared to other high end resorts in Mactan Island is their salt water man made lagoon at the center of the complex! and the assorted fresh water pools, slides, deep hole and water activities you can do while in the lagoon (and take picture and videos to if you have a waterproofed camera).

according to their website:

Pools, Slides, and Much More

Plantation Bay is a symphony in water, with enough water features to keep most families happy for days on end. Four freshwater pools of outstanding design; water-slides of all shapes and lengths from thrilling to scary; mist-caves; whirlpools; volcano fountains; bubble-benches; rainmakers; waterfalls of every size; and 2.3 hectares of saltwater lagoons for unlimited cavorting.

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a lot of resorts in Mactan Island offer Day Tripper packages to non check in guests who want to experience what the resort are offering and prices vary but the expensive ones will be at the Movenpick Resort and Shangrila Mactan at 3,000 pesos per person for a day tripper rate and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa at 2,000 pesos per person. you can either reserve online or go to the front desk of the resorts and just pay the corresponding day tripper rates. they are available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm everyday and included in the day tripper package is the free use of the swimming pools and jacuzzi, beaches, water crafts like banan boat or paddle boats for 15 minutes, ala carte lunch in one of the restaurants in the complex, free towels and shower rooms and discounted rates if you use their spas.

we did the day tripper at Plantation bay Resort as they have the best facilities (although not the best beach front) and has the best swimming pools via a salt water large lagoon type. Lunch is at Kilimanjaro Cafe in the premises.

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Like what I've said, Mactan Island is the Main Tourist Area of Metropolitan Cebu and in the island you can find all kinds of beach resorts, spas, hotels, resort, inn's and more for all types of Budget. The most popular Destination in Mactan Island Resorts (but not a cheap option!) is the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, located in Marigondon, Lapu Lapu City.

Plantation bay is a high end resort cum hotel complex that caters both to affluent locals and foreign tourists as they promote the "staycation" at theire sprawling resort. Opened in 1996 from formerly marshlands and dead mangroves, they transformed the ares into a Carribean Style Beach Plantation with assorted Caribbean Style Colonial Rooms and Suites that are high end (average nights stay is 12,000 pesos a night) Plus a huge man made saltwater lagoon that surrounds the complex.

they also accept day tripper packages for people who want to experience and swim at the huge man made salt water lagoons surrounding the complex.

according to their website:

Set in 11.4 hectares of secluded grounds yet only one hour (when traffic is bad) from Cebu City, Plantation Bay offers one of the largest privately-owned waterways in the world, with the clean elegance of colonial-plantation architecture. Decompress from life’s pressures in the healing tranquility of an environment that truly feels “away from it all.” If you have ever spent time at a tropical plantation, you know what we mean. If not, come and discover a refreshingly different Flavor of Life. Whether you’re traveling for a family vacation or romantic getaway, for business or pleasure, this is far and away your best choice in the Philippines.

Opened in late 1996, Plantation Bay has already had over a million visitors from every corner of the globe. Virtually all of them agree that this is one of the best resorts they’ve ever been to. Experienced travelers in particular will feel right at home at Plantation Bay. English is spoken throughout the resort; we also have Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish-speaking staff members.

There is NO TIPPING at Plantation Bay. All our guests receive the highest standard of personal attention without ever having to worry when, whom or how much to tip. If you’ve never been in a No-Tipping resort, you just don’t know what you’re missing. Why not find out?

Not just a resort, but an experience. Many leading resorts offer extensive facilities, terrific food, and lovely rooms. But regardless of the purpose of your visit, the one element that sets Plantation Bay apart from all the others is the absolutely authentic “feel” it recreates – like distilled Essence of Plantation Living, suffused with a sense of serenity and timelessness that you will remember and want to come back to.

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Mactan Island is the biggest tourism draw of Metropolitan Cebu and the Island host the most number of white sand beaches and lots of resorts, beach resorts, resort complex, inns, hotels to fit any tyoe of budget. The Island also hosts the main export processing zone of Cebu Province. The island also hosts the shrine to Spanish Conquistador Ferdinan Magellan and Local Chieftain, Lapu Lapu,as the island was a Muslim settlement before it was colonized by Spain in the 16th century. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the island in 1521 and became involved in tribal warfare among the tribal groups, only to be killed in battle by the warriors of Datu Lapu-Lapu, one of the chieftains in the island.

The Island also Hosts the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the main gateway to Cebu and Southern Philippines.

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this bridge the the newer of the 2 bridges that connect Mactan Island to Mainland Cebu Province and is an architectural wonder than the older Macten-Mandaue Bridge. The Newer was opened in August 1999 to decongest the traffic from the older Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and is longer than the former at 1,274 meters and is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines. It has 2 lanes on either side and pedestrian lane for pedestrian (which no one uses).

The Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an example of the architecturally pleasing extradosed cable-stayed bridge.

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The Mactan-Mandau Bridge may not be an architectural wonder but upon arriving from the airport, you would surely pass by this 846-meter long and 9-meter wide box truss bridge that connects Mactan Island to Mainland Cebu Province via Mandau City. If ou are brave enough to walk from one end to the other end of the tall bridge, you may do so as the bridge has a pedetrian walk on both sides (but hardly any people do them nowadays).

the view here at night is wonderful.