Montebello Hotel, Cebu

The garden still has the same lovely, timeless feel I remembered from my aunt’s wedding 20 years ago. I’ve come back now for a close friend’s wedding, and it brought back a lot of memories. The rooms are much bigger, though there’s no elevator if you’re on the second floor. I also really enjoyed the restaurant. There’s plenty to choose from and the food is delicious. It’s a lovely stay, and I can see why many foreign visitors stay here.

The staff, pool, and restaurant were all great, but the rooms are small, need remodeling, and I never got hot water. Prices for rooms have nearly doubled, maybe because they’re getting lots of weddings and convention business. The hotel is near a small, older mall, but there are much nicer, more modern hotels in better locations for less.

The gardens made the stay feel like a real break from the city. Even though Montebello Villa Hotel sits beside a busy mall and street, there was barely any noise. I especially liked walking around the pond and bridge with the lotus plants, and seeing the bougainvilleas near La Terraza. The grounds were peaceful and great for photos. Breakfast on our second day had lots of options, Western and Filipino, from bacon, eggs, waffles, pancakes, and beef tapa to ratatouille. The breakfast room felt warm and cozy. We also ate at Liu Dynasty, which has a more elevated Chinese dining experience, and La Terraza serves good sugba dishes on Thursdays and Fridays. Our room was simple but comfortable, and the staff were accommodating. Check-in was smooth. The hotel is at the back of Gaisano Country Mall, so shopping and errands were easy before we checked in. The grounds have a charming old Filipino-Spanish look, and the hotel may be older, but it’s clearly well loved and still busy. There were several events during our stay, including a debut and a birthday celebration. A few food and drink items were unavailable. When I tried to order lunch by the pool near checkout, some menu items had already run out, so it was hard to eat at the hotel before the 12 PM checkout. I started the year with a staycation here and found it relaxing and memorable. It’s a good city stay if you like gardens, a quieter feel, and nearby conveniences. I’d happily come back.

There’s lots of room for occasions and family outings, and the place has a vintage, old-money feel. The standard room and bathroom are both a bit small. It also takes a long time for the shower to get hot.