During our short-lived Cebu vacation, we wanted to stay at Shangrila Mactan but it was truly an “out-of-our-budget experience” when we inquired about the rates.  Hahahaha!  At a company rate, they offered 13K for an overnight stay for two persons.  At a local rate they offered it at 7.9K (for 2 persons).  This would have been enough to have truly turned us off the whole thing but we’ve received great reviews from friends and from the net on the “Shangrila Mactan” experience. So we inquired about their day-trip.  The cost was 2K per person but was inclusive of: use of the beach, the pool, towels, and a lunch buffet at Tides.  These sounded reasonable especially when we heard of the lunch buffet so off we went to Shangrila Mactan.

Shangrila Mactan's beach

The beach was clean, the water was crystal clear and the sand was white as a man-made beach can be.  When you venture towards the water, I would suggest that you wear aqua shoes. Our feet had bruises because of the corals we had to walk through.  The fishes (for the animal enthusiasts) were “fabulous”. They were tourist friendly indeed!!!! Much to my panic.  We didn’t have food with us but they swarmed all around us (schools of them) even at waist-deep water!!!! I wasn’t able to mask my screams of panic when they followed me even as I walked away.

Fred's bading pose

A lazy afternoon (L-R: Sandra, Fred (asleep)

Shangrila had several pools but we stayed at the pool which was three feet deep with lounge chairs immersed in water because the pool for adults was already crowded with those playing water basketball and soccer.  It was a nice experience squirting water with the water guns that they had at the pool area but I still say I prefer lounging at the beach and sleeping it off.

Shangrila ... a different perspective

Ang walang kamatayang jumpshot

Okay let’s get to the good part … FOOD! I would say I looked forward to this the entire day because I heard so much about Shangrila’s food. The food was great but I expected more from the selection. I guess I expected the food selection to be almost the same as Circles of Shangrila Makati.  But needless to say we truly enjoyed the appetizers and the dessert!!!!

Shangrila Mactan was truly a binge experience

this was taken before we ate