While you’re in the Philippines, you’d probably be thinking about travelling from Cebu to Bohol by Ferry. In this post, we’ll highlight our process of …
Travelling from Cebu to Bohol by Ferry
cebu
8 Things to do and Attractions in Cebu Philippines!
You may think that Cebu is only a base for side trips in the Philippines but there are actually many things to do in Cebu! In this post, we’ll show you the top 6 things to do and attractions in Cebu Philippines!
What to do in Cebu?
1. Cebu City Tour
We hired a local driver by the name of Long (yes that’s his name!) who took us on a private Cebu City Tour!
2. Shopping at Ayala Mall
Ayala Mall is one of the main shopping malls in Cebu City and we got to shop, watch movies and play some arcade. Things that the locals do in Cebu! 🙂
What to eat in Cebu?
3. Golden Cowrie Restaurant
For authentic Philippines food, look no further than the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. The setting and ambience is warm and welcoming. The waitress who attended to us was also very patient, introducing us to the delicacies and translating the various dishes to us. Price was reasonable and the taste was great. Definitely a must-go-to place for great local tastes…
4. Ipar’s Authentic Spanish Restaurant
Across the street from our hotel was a banner that read “Authentic Spanish Restaurant”. We decided to head over to Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the authentic Spanish flavours!
5. CnT Lechon – The Best Lechon in Cebu
If you’re in Cebu, you must try the lechon (roasted pork) there. If you ask the locals, more often than not, they’ll point you to CnT lechon – possibly the best lechon in Cebu. The truth is, the meat was normal but the star of the show? The skin! Crispy, full flavoured and of course sinfully fatty! Which is why it went really well with rice. You can actually have mouthfuls of rice with 1 sice of skin!
6. Breakfast at Bo’s Coffee
Enough of Starbucks, try out the breakfast at Bo’s Coffee and you’ll soon realise that this local coffee joint can also give its US competitor a run for its money! Good coffee and food at a reasonable price. Ambience to match at that!
Where to stay in Cebu?
7. Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu was the first hotel we stayed at in Cebu and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay because of its spa!!! Made us go like little chicks…”cheap cheap”, “cheap cheap”…
8. City Suites Ramos Tower
There are several reasons why we enjoyed staying at City Suites Ramos Tower. Firstly, the room was more like a 1-bedroom condominium. It has a small living space, kitchen and even a balcony overlooking Cebu City. We could also see Tops from our room!
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our post on the things to do and attractions in Cebu!
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CnT Lechon: The Best Lechon in Cebu?
Golden Cowrie Restaurant Cebu: For Authentic Filipino Food!
Eat, shop, eat, shop, till we drop in Cebu!
Filipino Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Ayala Mall Cebu : Do What The Locals Do!
City Suites Ramos Tower: Good location with Great view!
Castle Peak Hotel, Cebu, Philippines: Good location, Low price!
Breakfast at Bo’s Coffee: One of Philippines’ top specialty homegrown coffee shop
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4 Top Attractions and Things to do in Bohol Philippines!
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Bohol Countryside Tour: Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and More!
Cebu/Bohol Trip: Day 8
This is our last day in Cebu and we were determined to make the most out of the last 5 hours here! We went to Bo’s Coffee for breakfast and time passed surprisingly slowly as we had time to people-watch and use the free wifi to keep in touch with family back home.
Drip Coffee (10 pesos with any order of mains), Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with Toast (150 pesos) & Corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancake (175 pesos)…
We then head back to the hair salon of the first floor of the Ramos Tower to get our hair done! I had a haircut and wash for only 100 peso, and Kate had a “hair spa” for 250 peso. We will really miss the massages, facial and hair treatments in Cebu when we are back in Singapore.
Though we were not hungry yet, we NEEDED to try the spanish food at Ipar’s Authentic Spanish Restaurant! Or rather, Tom needed. Haha. We had a satisfying lunch at Ipar’s and we had to drag ourselves back across the road to get our luggage and check out.
Starters of Churizo, Garlic Bread and a Big Carafe of Sangria at Ipar’s…
We arrived slightly early for our flight and the flight was delayed! 🙁 An advice for our readers: You do not need to arrive at the airport 2 hours early like how you would normally do for international flights because the airport in Cebu is really really small. And once you go into the waiting area, you have to sit on the cold metal seats to wait for your flight. But of course having said that, please do not be late either!! Please be considerate to your fellow passengers and not be the one who delays the flight 🙂
We hope you have enjoyed reading our posts as much as we have enjoyed our time in Cebu/Bohol and blogging about the trip!
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8 Things to do and Attractions in Cebu Philippines!
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Golden Cowrie Restaurant Cebu: For Authentic Filipino Food!
Eat, shop, eat, shop, till we drop in Cebu!
Filipino Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
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City Suites Ramos Tower: Good location with Great view!
Castle Peak Hotel, Cebu, Philippines: Good location, Low price!
Breakfast at Bo’s Coffee: One of Philippines’ top specialty homegrown coffee shop
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4 Top Attractions and Things to do in Bohol Philippines!
Peacock Garden Bohol : Awesome Premier Infinity Pool and Seaview Room!
Bohol Countryside Tour: Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and More!
Cebu/Bohol Trip: Day 7
Today we are leaving Bohol!!! Boohoo 🙁 But before we left, we enjoyed our breakfast in Saffron (we did not get to eat in Saffron the day before because of the dolphin and island hopping tour). The spread was decent but we still prefer the breakfast in Peacock Garden 🙂 But we need to comment on the added special touch at Amorita Resort – the waitress will put a fresh frangipani flower by the ear of female guests during breakfast and this makes the ladies feel pretty and extra special 🙂
Omelette Station and Buffet spread at Amorita Resort…
Our checkout was again fast and smooth. There was no hiccups with the bill and there was even a small box of cookies as a parting gift! I love the confectionery at Amorita resort! Keep it up! 🙂
Soon we were on the ferry heading back to Cebu. Boohoo again. After we alighted, we queued for close to 30 minutes before we managed to get a taxi to City Suites Ramos Tower. The fare was only 90 peso. We quickly checked in, left our luggage in our room, and walked out to the city. We shopped and ate around the Fuente Osmena Circle for a couple of hours before we filled our spare travel bag with local goodies and souvenirs for friends and family back home.
Shopping at Fuente Osmena Circle Cebu
To end the day, we indulged in a “All Meat Pizza” and San Miguel beer while watching the sunset from the balcony of our 20th floor unit.
All meat pizza and Turrones de Cebu for dinner while enjoying the sunset view at the balcony…
Kate dozed off while I watch the Matrix Trilogy!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
Day 7 just whizzed past like that and soon we were at our last day of our Cebu/Bohol trip. Boohoo…
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Castle Peak Hotel, Cebu, Philippines: Good location, Low price!
Breakfast at Bo’s Coffee: One of Philippines’ top specialty homegrown coffee shop
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Cebu/Bohol Trip: Day 2
There was so much planned for the second day of our trip! We had arranged to meet Long at the hotel’s lobby at 10.30am for our Cebu City private day tour but we wanted to explore the neighbourhood too so we woke up early and went for a stroll, looking for breakfast. We eventually settle for Alberto’s Pizza (nope, we did not have pizza, check out what we had by clicking on the link). We headed back in time to the hotel to meet Long, and our first stop was CnT Lechon! Haha…more food! Ahhh…i miss the crispy skin and tender meat *dreamy look*
Half kg of delectable crispy skin and juicy meat at CnT Lechon! – You may be visiting 2fatbears.com in the near future if we keep up our eating antics! :p
Soon we began our trip proper and learned about Cebu’s history at our first stop: Cebu Monument. As we could not stop along Colon street, we took a couple of photos and videos of the old street. The City Hall, Magellan Cross and Basilica del Santo Nino were around the same area so we covered these fairly quickly. It also started to drizzle very lightly but when we reached Fort San Pedro, the rain had stopped. We tried to remember the dates in Cebu’s history when we were walking around the Independence Plaza but found it really hard 🙁 We then spent about an hour and a half at Cebu Museum as there were 6 different galleries that showcased the different periods of Cebu’s history. We were not very keen to visit the Taoist temple but we were curious about the “Berverly Hills of Cebu” and wanted to check out the huge and expensive bungalows. The view from the temple was nice but it was nothing compared to the view from Tops. We wanted to stay till it was dark for a night shot but it was getting chilly and we did not pack a light jacket in our bag. But we still enjoyed ourselves, watching the skies changed colours as the sun set, enjoying our chilled San Miguel Lemon flavoured beer and SML.
Long drove us back to our hotel by 8.30pm. We wanted to pamper ourselves so we went up to the Twin Peaks Spa for facial at only 400 peso each. Kate had the extra indulgence of pedicure at 100 peso and had her nails painted bright fushcia pink 🙂
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
People usually think that Cebu is all about beaches and clear waters. But in fact, there are also other interesting attractions, history and food to indulge in. Stay tuned for the 3rd day of our Cebu/Bohol trip tomorrow!
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Cebu/Bohol Trip: Day 1
It’s more fun in the Philippines!! The tarsier’s eyes do freak me out when I see the advert on the tourism board webpage. But since we have never been there before, SGD is strong, the people speak english; and we want to go somewhere that is not crowded, nice scenery, laze on a beach, we decided to visit Cebu/Bohol. Many people ask why are we not going to Boracay instead…well, it’s more convenient to do Cebu/Bohol and everyone else has probably already visited Boracay. Cebu/Bohol has a good mix of everything – history, countryside, beach; and we definitely enjoyed every moment of our 8 days there!
We took Silkair ($774 including travel insurance) because of the flight timings.
It was easy to get around with the abundant metered white taxis (How to get from Cebu to Singapore). Our driver Long (yes, that’s his name!) was friendly and seemed honest. He asked us if we want to book his taxi for a day tour; we negotiated the itinerary and price and arranged to meet at 10.30am the next day at the Castle Peak Hotel lobby.
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
The room in Castle Peak Hotel was not ready yet when we arrived at 1.30pm but we were pleasantly surprised by the newly renovated Twin Peak Spa. Kate went for a one-hour massage while waiting for the room to be ready. After the massage, we were ready to check out what Cebu had to offer!
We chose to walk to Ayala Mall (even though our taxi driver mentioned that it may not be that safe) because it was still bright daylight and the mall could be seen from our hotel room so we reckon it is not that far. The walk took us 15 mins and there were proper traffic lights to allow us to cross the roads safely. The only gripe we had was that the pavements were narrow and uneven; and at times we had to walk on the road.
As it was a weekday afternoon, Ayala Mall was fairly quiet. We window-shopped and decided to catch a movie! While waiting for the show, we challenged each other at shooting hoops in the arcade. And of course I thrashed Kate …I am the best! *evil laugh*
Even though we were kinda full from the hotdog and popcorn, we can’t wait to try the local dishes! We quickly flag down a taxi and soon we arrived at Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant. The food was delicious and the price was reasonable. Washing the food down with cold San Miguel beer made it even better! With our tummy filled, we took a cab back to Castle Peak Hotel and rest for the night; in preparation for the city day tour the next day.
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Crispy pata and Squid in coco sauce – Must try from Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
Times fly when you’re having fun and this quickly rounded up our first day in the Philippines. Stay tuned tomorrow for the 2nd day of our Cebu/Bohol Trip!
Happy travels and a blessed 2014 ahead everyone!
Tom & Kate,
2bearbear.com
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City Suites Ramos Tower: Good location with Great view!
City Suites Ramos Tower is an apartment building with some units available for guests to book for accommodation while travelling in Cebu. Our first Cebu hotel, Castle Peak Hotel, is on the east of Cebu. So for the second leg of our Cebu trip, we wanted a hotel nearer to the Fuente Osmena Circle; and City Suites Ramos Tower seems ideal. The rates for one night is $73 which may be a little pricey as the unit is small with 2 twin beds and only standing shower but check out the view from the 20th floor!
Awesome view from the balcony of the 20th floor at City Suites Ramos Tower!
Small but well-equipped room at City Suites Ramos Tower
Video tour of room at City Suites Ramos Tower
We did not want to “waste” the view so we ordered in pizza and beer for dinner and sat at the balcony to enjoy the awesome view and equally awesome food 🙂
All meat pizza and Turrones de Cebu for dinner while enjoying the sunset view at the balcony
While enjoying the pizza, we also caught a re-run of Matrix Revolution! One of Tom’s favourite movie! (while Kate just doze away in dreamyland) Think the movie bumped up our stay by a notch 😉
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
Do note that there are residents staying at the Ramos Tower. It is like a serviced apartment with some rooms rented out while others have residential occupants.
The awesome thing about our room is its view (overlooking tops and Crown Regency Hotel that offers “sky experience”), room service (cheap and good pizza, with surprisingly tasty Turrones – must try!) and comfort. If you’re here in Cebu on a budget, City Suites Ramos Tower is definitely an excellent choice!
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Ayala Mall Cebu : Do What The Locals Do!
Ayala Mall is a short 15 minutes walk from our where we stayed – Castle Peak Hotel and it is a NEW mall that offers many shops and eateries!
How to get to Ayala Mall
Means of transport in Cebu – White cabs and Jeepney
Ayala Mall (also known as Ayala Center) is located at Cebu Business Park, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City 6000, Metro Cebu. Besides taking a short walk, you can also choose the various means of transport including the Jeepney (which follows a fixed route but costs only 8 pesos!) or the white cabs (safest form of taxi transport in Cebu)
What to do at Ayala Mall
We spent the evening at Ayala Mall just like the locals. Shopping, played the arcade and caught a movie – the Heat!
Shopping options & Alfresco Dining at Ayala Mall
Movie and snacks at Ayala Mall
Here’s what we did…
Arcade
7 peso per game
For 50 peso, we get to shoot hoops for 30 mins and enough “tickets” to exchange for 2 Hello Kitty erasers! 🙂
Movie
180 peso per ticket
Huge cinema (Hall 4, with toilets inside!)
Snacks for Movie
Hotdog 70 peso
Popcorn and Coke 100 peso
Kate usually needs her snacks to stay awake during the movie but The Heat is hilarious!
After our enjoyable evening at Ayala Mall, we headed next to Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant (arguably one of the MUST TRY restaurants in Cebu) for dinner!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
Hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of the Ayala Mall! Do stay tuned for our coverage of the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant next!
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Cebu City Private Day Tour
On the 2nd day of our Cebu trip, we had a private day tour of Cebu City by our friendly local guide – Long. But before we talk about the Cebu City Tour proper, here is a little background on how we got to meet Long
How to arrange a Cebu City Private Day Tour
Our taxi driver, Long, who drove us from the airport to Castle Peak Hotel seemed friendly and honest, so when he asked us if we wanted to book his car for a day tour, we agreed. His first quote for the day trip was 2000 peso, and when we wanted to add Tops into the itinerary, he increased it to 3000 peso. (The market rate for the taxi fare to and fro Tops from Cebu city is 1000 peso, according to our online research 😛 ) When we replied “too much”, he then asked us “how much?”. With our “experience from bargaining in vietnam/Indonesia”, we said “2000 peso”. Long then said “Ohhhh…cannot. Too little. Tops is very far. 2500 peso”. Kate and I decided that we do not really want to see the Mactan shrine and that would also take up some time due to the traffic to lapu-lapu city, we re-negotiated with Long and counter-offered “Okay, don’t want Mactan shrine. 2000 peso”. He turned around, smiled, and said “Okay. Tomorrow what time?” (After chatting with Long for the whole day, we knew more about his family, and decided to treat his family to a box of Dunkin Donuts. A great way to end the day.)
Attractions Cebu City Private Day Tour
Well, the great part of a Cebu City Private Day Tour is that you have the flexibility of where you want to go and how long you want to stay at one place. So these were some of the attractions that we visited in Cebu City…
Cebu Monument
Cebu Monument
The Cebu Monument is a structural representation that depicts all the major events that took place in Cebu beginning with the famous event of how a native chieftain by the name of Lapu Lapu killed the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
University of Visayas (Oldest University) & Colon Street (Oldest Road in the Philippines)
University of Visayas Oldest University in Cebu – Owned by a politician
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 1)
Colon Street – Oldest Road in the Philippines (Part 2)
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and City Hall
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
City Hall – Right across from Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross Cebu
It was said that Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, ordered the cross to be planted in Cebu. His quest was actually to prove that the earth was round and could be circum-navigated (i.e. sail round the world in one direction and return home). Eventually, his crew did prove that. However, he was killed by Lapu Lapu and he died in the Philippines.
Basilica del Santo Nino
Basilica del Santo Nino – Short walk from Magellan’s Cross
Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro – Entrance fee of 30 pesos
Fort San Pedro, built in 1738 is a small triangular (yes, unique shape for a fort) bastion fort built by the Spanish settlers in defence against Muslim invaders. Cost of entry is 30 pesos and you can also ask a guide to give you a tour of the compound. It takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to cover the fort.
Miguel Lopez Monument at Independence Plaza (Opposite Fort San Pedro)
Miguel Lopez Monument
Around Independence Plaza
Museo Sugbo – Cebu’s largest Museum
Entrance of Museo Sugbo – Entrance fee of 75 pesos
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Taoist Temple on Beverly Hills
Tops Cebu Lookout
Tops San Miguel and our driver Long
View of Cebu City from Tops in the Day and after Sunset
Video from Tops Observation Lookout – Day Time
Video from Tops Lookout – After Sunset
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
The day’s tour was essentially a stop for lunch at CnT Lechon, followed by the attractions above. After Tops, Long actually waited for us when we went to the supermarket to replenish our stock of mineral water and snacks. The great thing about having Long bringing us around is that the timing was very flexible. We could spend however long or short period of time at each stop.
Thank you Long! 🙂
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Breakfast at Bo’s Coffee: One of Philippines’ top specialty homegrown coffee shop
Kate noticed Bo’s Coffee striking logo in the streets of Cebu and decided that we should try the coffee and food there. There is one branch near City Suites Ramos Tower so that was what we had for breakfast on our last day in Cebu. Established in Cebu in 1996, Bo’s Coffee was founded by coffee enthusiast and entrepreneur Steve Benitez. The deco in Bo’s Coffee is warm and inviting; and the selection of food was also fairly extensive. We took some time to decide what to have for breakfast. We were also tempted by the cakes and pastries but unfortunately we were too full after our mains 🙁
Bo’s Coffee
Drip Coffee (10 pesos with any order of mains), Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with Toast (150 pesos) & Corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancake (175 pesos)
It was definitely a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries while people-watch as the locals make their way to work and the students heading off to school.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
So if you’re in Cebu, don’t just go for Starbucks, consider Bo’s Coffee for a change. Plus, the price is definitely safer for your pockets! 🙂
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CnT Lechon: The Best Lechon in Cebu?
Lechon (pronounced as lay-xi-on) is simply roasted pork and the most famous of them all? CnT Lechon!
CnT Lechon – Best Lechon in Cebu
According to locals (including our driver Long), CnT Lechon is arguably one of the best Lechon in the whole of Cebu. When you even mention Lechon, everyone will point you here…
For us, it was actually quite surprising to see only ladies at this joint. Have you seen how big the pigs are? They actually start with whole pigs and chopping them up according to the weight that customers want…check out this video of the strong women chopping up the lechon! In the video you may also notice this rather impatient guy standing in front of us whose head kept popping up because he wants to know if his food is ready! 🙂
We decided to go for the half kg (for only 200 pesos – $6 SGD!) for the 3 of us to share (including our driver Long). Not too much else we would have to run many hours on the treadmill to burn off the fats! Worst of all, we may have to rename our site to 2fatbears.com! Haha!
And here’s our half kg of lechon!
As the caption says, the skin was so crispy! It’s actually Tom’s favourite part. Crispy and slightly saltish, goes really well with plain rice and a dash of the sauce provided. The meat was also tender and juicy. It was good. However, not the best for us. The best pig? If you’re referring to pork knuckle, it has got to be the pork knuckle from Hofbrauhaus Munich. As for roasted suckling pig, the one at Serenity tops our list.
Nonetheless, for the value and quality, it is still a must try when you’re in Cebu!
What else to eat at CnT Lechon
In addition to the lechon, we also had mixed vegetables (30 pesos per portion) and fresh lumpia (12 pesos each)
The lumpia is a little like our popiah in Singapore. Vegetables wrapped in a fresh flour based sheet. Not too bad.
Location and Opening Hours of CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon is located at V. Rama Ave, Cebu City and its opening hours are from 8am to 6pm. Be there early as the lechon often gets sold out by mid-afternoon!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
Many locals have said that CnT Lechon is easily the best authentic lechon in Cebu. Have you tried it? Tell us more in the comments section below!
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Filipino Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Wakie wakie! Time to eat breakie! 🙂
The sun rises fairly early in Cebu and we were up by 6am. After washing up, we strolled around the neighbourhood to look for breakfast. We wanted something local but weren’t sure what to eat. Not far from Castle Peak Hotel, we chanced upon Alberto’s Pizza. The menu was decent and the price was reasonable. And although it was Alberto’s Pizza, we went for the local breakfasts instead! We choose the Hungarian and Cheese Krainer, each at 75 pesos (about $2!).
Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Each set came with a sunny-side up and garlic rice! Yum! However, the Hungarian sausage was a little too salty for our taste.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
All in all, the breakfast set at Alberto’s Pizza was a great way to kick start the day!
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Eat, shop, eat, shop, till we drop in Cebu!
The title of this post speaks for itself 🙂 We walked to the Fuente Osmena Circle from City Suite Ramos Tower and shopped in almost all the malls around it. Some of the buildings looked rundown and we did not dare to enter. Oh! Did we mentioned that there are security guards checking your bags when you enter the malls? We were not used to that. We also ate at Jollibee and KFC to see if there is any difference in the food served here and in Singapore.
Shopping at Fuente Osmena Circle
KFC in Cebu Philippines – 150pesos ($4.5)
For KFC, the price is definitely cheaper as compared to Singapore. They do have unique items such as the cookies and cream drink which we tried on the hot afternoon. The not so good thing? The chicken was pretty small!
Jollibee in Cebu Philippines – 108 Pesos ($3?!)
The standard of Jollibee in Cebu is pretty much the same as in Singapore (yes, we got to try the Singapore one after spending much time in the queue). Portion was quite generous as well. The only difference we thought was that the spaghettic sauce was a tad bit sweeter than the Singapore version. Perhaps they changed it a little to suit the local taste.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
You may wish to note that there are several shopping centres such as the Robinsons Cybergate as well as Robinson’s place around Fuente Osmena Circle. Tell us more about your experience at Cebu in the comments section below!
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Golden Cowrie Restaurant Cebu: For Authentic Filipino Food!
One of the best restaurants in the Philippines is the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. Known officially as the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant, it serves up authentic Filipino food at a very reasonable price in a restaurant setting…
Inside Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Restaurant – Best Filipino Restaurant Cebu
Touted as the best Filipino restaurant in Cebu, Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant embodies the pride in filipino cuisine and is one of our must-try when you visit Cebu (pronounced as SEE BOO). The funny thing was that although there was a Golden Cowrie Restaurant at Ayala Mall, we did not know about it at that time (so near and yet so far)! Therefore, we took a 10 minutes taxi ride from Ayala Mall to the Golden Cowrie Lahug @ Salinas Drive…
As we pulled up at Golden Cowrie, we were ushered by a security guard (meaning its a decent joint) who opened these big wooden doors for us to enter into the restaurant. The deco was nice, warm and inviting. Much like coming home. It has an alfresco dining area outside as well.
After being seated, our server Precious (see inset above), asked us politely if it was our first time here. She was friendly and patient in explaining the various local dishes (some of the dishes had Filipino names) while recommending some of the best sellers. Good service is always a great start to a meal isnt it?
What to eat at Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Precious then recommended for us to have the crispy pata (pork knuckle!!), squid in coco sauce, kang kong and shrimps with garlic. This was accompanied by garlic rice and free flow white rice! Oh, every order of normal rice is free flow. And you know what? We don’t usually eat that much white rice, but surprisingly, the rice was especially fragrant while the texture of grains full of goodness! No wonder even ladies pile up on the rice while eating at Golden Cowrie Restaurant! Yes, even Kate!
Crispy pata and Squid in coco sauce – Must try from Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
Kang Kong and Shrimps with garlic Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Guess what? EVERY DISH WAS GOOD!! The serving of the crispy pata was HUGE and when you take in a piece of meat together with the crispy skin, accompanied by the garlic rice? Simply SHIOK! Now we understand why many Filipinos enjoy garlic rice. It’s not only the fried garlicky taste that attracts you. When mixed in, it gives a different mild crunchy texture with every mouth. Yum!
Served sizzling hot, the squid in coco sauce was fresh and succulent, not the rubbery kind but the Q type with a refreshing taste of spices and charred taste. With a little chili on the side (not too much cause their version is actually quite spicy), it was just a perfect combination with the fragrant white rice.
The kang kong and shrimps with garlic also accompanied the rice really well. After typing for the last few paragraphs, we’re starting to wonder if dishes revolve around the rice? Because they complemented each other oh oh oh so well! Haven’t had this much rice in such a long time – SERIOUSLY!
Okok, here comes the best part. Our total damage? Only 824 pesos (including drinks) which is about $25 SGD!! This is less than a third of what you would have paid at a zi char stall in Singapore!
Where to find a Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Cebu
Here is a list of Golden Cowrie Restaurants in Cebu.
Ayala Terraces
Cebu Business Park, Biliran Road
Cebu City
Golden Cowrie Lahug (The one that we went to!)
Salinas Drive, Lahug
Cebu City
6000
Parkmall
Ouano Ave. North Reclamation Area
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie A.S. Fortuna
A. S. Fortuna St
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie SM Cebu
Lower Ground Floor, SM City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Cybergate
Robinsons Cybergate, Fuente
Cebu City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Mactan Marina Mall
Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Restaurant is opened at lunch from 11am to 2pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10pm.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
For the most authentic pinoy taste, head right down to Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
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Bohol is about 1 hour 40 mins away from Cebu if you take the fast craft ferry. The tourist class ticket for Oceanjet is 1000 peso per person (return ticket). I understand that there are other ferries or boats that will cost a lot cheaper than 500 peso (one way) but if you want comfort and safety, I highly recommend Oceanjet. Different ferry companies dock at different piers, so remember to double-check so that your taxi driver can drop you off at the right pier. Also, if you choose to alight outside of the gate of the pier, you do not have to pay a fee. Can’t remember how much it was…probably a very small amount but it was really not necessary to alight inside unless you have a lot of luggage.
Oceanjet Ferry from Cebu to Bohol
How to get from Cebu to Bohol
The check-in procedure was simple and fast. Soon we were waiting at Gate 1 for our ferry.
There are seats allocated so you do not have to rush to board. But there’s something I do not understand: there are sooooooo many people who just can’t sit in their designated seats! Either they can’t read the alphabet and numbers on their tickets or they ignore it. The Oceanjet staff was friendly and patient to get everyone in their right seats. And soon we were off!
People waiting to board Ocean Jet from Cebu to Bohol
Inside Oceanjet – 2 hours ride where we watched Hell Boy
Views from Cebu to Bohol
Is that really University of Cebu? Next to it – A grounded vessel
Sun, sea and clear blue skies from Cebu to Bohol
Blue skies and clear waters with the hills as the back drop made the ride really relaxing and we can’t wait for what was in store for us in Bohol! 🙂
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Bohol right here!
As we felt the ferry reduced its speed and we could see the clear aquamarine waters, we knew we have reached Taglibaran City, Bohol!
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Castle Peak Hotel, Cebu, Philippines: Good location, Low price!
Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu Philippines is one of the many boutique hotels that have sprung up in recent times. Kate scrolled through Agoda and found that the room is very affordable, has bathtub (always a plus!) and have amenities such as a spa, gym and dip pool! In addition it is just a 15 mins walk to Ayala Mall!
Entrance and lobby of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
The deluxe room at Castle Peak Hotel only costs $57! The great thing is that the new wing is newly renovated and everything had a new feel to it…
Watching TV while having a bath!
Take a tour of the Deluxe Room of Castle Peak Hotel with our video!
Facilities and Amenities of Castle Peak Hotel
The best part of Castle Peak Hotel’s facilities has got to be the SPA!! This is because, the massage costs only 400 pesos ($11.50SGD!) while the manicure and pedicure costs only 100 pesos! Here’s the best bit…the spa closes at 2am! Which means that you can head out to Ayala Mall to shop, have your dinner, chill and have some drinks before going back to Castle Peak to unwind with a massage! Shiok!
Dipping pool at the Spa
In addition, for a price of between 200 to 450 pesos, you can use the gym as well as the dipping pool of Castle Peak Hotel. Breakfast was also relatively decent at 200 pesos per person. Although we did not like their chocolate rice porridge, we loved their dang hoon (green bean vermicelli)!
Buffet Breakfast at Castle Peak Hotel Cebu
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Castle Peak Hotel Cebu, do tell us your experience in the comments section below!
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How to get from Singapore to Cebu?
If you’re plannning to get from Singapore to Cebu, this post can give you a glimpse of how the planning can be done…
Flights from Singapore to Cebu
There are several flights from Singapore to Cebu which includes Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines and China Eastern. Direct flights will take about 4 hours while non-direct flights with stop over at Manila may take up to 8 hours.
Shorter flight times usually translate to a higher cost. But sometimes, the additional time in Cebu may be well worth the cost (think both ways!)
From Changi Airport Singapore to Mactan Cebu International Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport
The Mactan Cebu International Airport is a small airport. So you dont have worry about losing your way after the customs. There are actually only 3 carousels for our luggage. However, we did wait for quite a while before our luggage came out. For a moment, we thought that we might actually have to activate our travel insurance!
How to get a taxi at Mactan Cebu International Airport
Where to get “white taxis” at Cebu Airport
There are some “taxis” waiting for you at the arrival area. HOWEVER, the official area to catch a cab is at the domestic departure area – the building opposite! So what you will have to do is to
1. Cross the road from the Arrival Hall
2. Walk up a slope and enter the next building
3. Continue walking along the path till you exit the building
4. If you’re lost, ask the friendly security guard for the “White Taxis”
You will then see this row of white cabs and there will be a guard standing at the front of the line to write down the license plates of the taxis. He will then pass you the slip of paper…
Ticket to ensure Cebu cab drivers follow the rules
This slip of paper actually helps to ensure that you are charged at the correct price and if you have any complaints against the cab, you can raise it to the appropriate authorities.
If you see that the cab is clean and the uncle speaks good English, you wish to hire him for a day tour. That’s where your negotiation skills come into play…
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Cebu right here!
We hope this post has helped reduce some anxieties in your planning from Singapore to Cebu!
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