Moonstar Cebu Hotel

The dorm was clean, air-conditioned, and had a comfortable bed. It had four bunk beds, two up and two down. I was on an island-hopping trip in the Philippines and chose hostels to save money, though I’m usually wary of them since the quality can be hit or miss. My friend, who’s a seasoned flyer and deal hunter, found Moonstar, and it turned out to be a great pick. Inside, the decor, dorms, washrooms, and shared lounge were all nice to look at, sanitary, and well kept, even though the hotel sits in a rather run-down laneway. There’s a convenience store in the main foyer with meals, snacks, travel essentials, and toiletries. The staff were friendly and genuinely hospitable, and the lounge was a comfortable spot to read or have a hot or cold drink. It cost just $16 CAD a night, about 666 PHP, which felt like incredible value. Water pressure was very low, but it wasn’t enough to put me off, considering the country. One of the better hostels I’ve stayed in.

The rooms are nice, the staff are good, and the place itself is great. But the lobby gets really hot, even at night, and especially around noon. There’s a couch, but the humidity makes it hard to sit there, so I went back to our room instead. I noticed an air conditioning vent, but it wasn’t running and I don’t know why.

Great value and a really nice place to stay. The staff are friendly, the rooms and beds are big enough for three people, and there’s free Wi-Fi and hot and cold showers. There’s a convenience store on the ground floor and a restaurant on the roof deck, with room service available for a fee. Parking is okay. I’ll definitely come back.

The rooms are very clean, and I liked the capsule room. Finding your way around feels like navigating a labyrinth, with a hidden treasure at the end. The restaurant is quite small. The place reminded me of entering an office in IT park.