Plantation Bay a Real Resort with a Real Spa

The resort is quite far from the city and other tourist spots, so it's best to settle in and enjoy the facilities once you arrive. Grab can sometimes be hard to get, though there are shuttles to SM and the airport. Grab food deliveries are discouraged, with a ₱500 corkage fee per delivery. Room service costs around ₱300, so eating at the resort restaurants is usually more practical. There are plenty of activities for kids and adults, and free cart rides make it easy to get around. The breakfast buffet changes theme each day. During our three days, we had Mexican, Chinese, and Filipino breakfasts, which kept things interesting. Ma’am Ella at Kilimanjaro Café was thoughtful and kind, and always helped us at breakfast. Sir Jun was also friendly and accommodating when he assisted us with archery. A few things to keep in mind, but it's still a wonderful family staycation spot.

The room was clean and incredibly spacious, and even with lots of other guests around, the resort's size gave us a sense of privacy and calm. The pools were lovely for an early swim or a late evening dip. Cocktails at the swim-up bar were nice with Sprite added to dilute the alcohol. My fiancé and I spent six nights at Plantation Bay Resort in Cebu. We tried all the dining options and enjoyed the many complimentary activities. The standout was breakfast at Kilimanjaro Cafe, with a different theme each morning. My favorites were Chinese and Philippino. Staff were kind and greeted us throughout the resort, whatever the time. We met Paige (Manager), who would stop for a chat whenever she saw us and check that our stay was going well. We had a wonderful time and wouldn't hesitate to return with more family.

The spa stood out for its lovely theming and relaxing atmosphere. Housekeeping was solid, service was good, and I liked the shower and fancy bidet toilet in the room. Resort restaurant food was pretty good, though expensive. Getting around was easy with an on-call taxi, resort carts, and a shuttle to SM Mall. I wish the mall shuttle ran past 2 pm, since many resort activities finish at 5 pm. A few room and facility issues got in the way. Turning off all the lights also cut power to the charging ports by the bed, so we couldn't charge phones overnight without leaving a light on. Staff gave us an extension cord to use an outlet farther away, but the problem wasn't fixed and no one followed up or offered compensation. The TV wasn't smart, and we had to call the front desk to play a movie. The pool could have been cleaner, and the beach was small and rocky, hard to walk on without water shoes. Grab was difficult to use from the hotel, though taxis were readily available. Still, it was a comfortable stay with good service and amenities.

The views are beautiful and so calming, it really feels like paradise. My family and I were very happy with our stay. There are big saltwater and freshwater pools, plus lots of activities to keep you busy. We especially enjoyed the bicycle surrey as a family. The staff are friendly and professional, and the crispy pata was one of my favorite dishes, unbelievably good. The spa facilities cost 500 to enter and are absolutely worth it. A truly unforgettable experience. I'm glad I didn't listen to the bad reviews.