Cebu Parklane International Hotel

The overall look at the Cebu Parklane is functional and polished, and it's a fairly standard business hotel that doesn't look or feel all that different from the rest of Cebu's three- and three-and-a-half-pearl options.  The clean and well-maintained, lobby sets the tone for the rest of the hotel -- it's perfectly fine, but fails to make any lasting impression. Guests will find the occasional hint that they’re in Cebu, like murals of local life on the lobby walls and Oriental carpeted staircases, but this isn’t somewhere to stay if you want to feel immersed in your surroundings. Rooms are a little more tired than other areas of the hotel, and the hotel has a generally busy vibe, with corporate guests constantly coming and going. The Parklane is geared toward business travelers, but the reasonable rates attract couples, families, and solo travelers too.

Cebu Parklane fronts a busy road on an intersection in Cebu’s main business area. It’s a convenient spot, with plenty of other hotels, restaurants, and shops within easy walking distance, it's also just a five-minute walk from the Ayala Mall. The location is popular with business travelers; it’s a five-minute walk to the Grand Convention Center and a 15-minute walk to the IT Park. Most of the city’s tourist attractions, including the Taoist Temple, Magellan's Cross, Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, and Cebu Tops, are 20 to 30 minutes away by car (longer in peak traffic). To reach the port, it’s a 15-minute drive, while Mactan-Cebu Airport is a half-hour journey by taxi or hotel shuttle (for a fee).

Rooms hold no surprises, featuring the standard neutral decor and functional amenities of older business hotels in the area: air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, a fridge, and free Wi-Fi (it can be patchy in some rooms). Bottled water, coffee, and tea are free. Additional comfort amenities include soundproofing and black-out curtains, but rooms are tired. You'll see lots of beige and brown tones, with heavy, traditional wood furniture and a few touches of soft pastel colors. Dated bathrooms have a shower/tub combo. Wall-mounted hairdryers and toiletries are provided. All rooms have similar decor and amenities, and vary largely by size. Entry-level Superior Rooms are 237 square feet (22 square meters) and have a queen-size bed, small seating area, and city and mountain views. Executive Rooms (269 square feet, or 25 square meters) have a king-size bed or two doubles and mountain views. Suites have separate living rooms and bedrooms, making them a fine choice for those looking to spread out. Plus Rooms include access to the Plus Club Executive Lounge, which adds two free hours of boardroom use and free cocktails.   

The facilities at Cebu Parklane are hit and miss. The lobby plays host to one of the hotel's highlights -- Bean Date: a small coffee shop area with a tempting display of cakes, breakfast pastries, and flavored coffee syrups. For larger meals, Manuel’s restaurant is a practical space, with a good choice of buffet stations. There's also an authentic Filipino restaurant that's open on the weekends. Food gets solid marks from previous guests and room service is available 24/7. A small pool peeps out from the underside of the high-rise part of the hotel, with a half-covered section and half out in the open. With the concrete columns that support the building almost in the water, and a setting that faces another high-rise building, it’s not a particularly relaxing spot -- highlighted by the lack of many sun loungers. Guests will fare better at the fully-equipped fitness center with rows of treadmills and bikes, as well as a weight-lifting area. A sauna and hot tub are also available, though keep in mind that gym towels cost extra. Business facilities are limited to a simple and functional Executive Lounge. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. A hotel shuttle to/from the airport is available for a fee, or there’s free parking.