Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel

At this well-maintained family-run hotel, a gated entrance leads through to a small beachfront plot where rooms housed in various buildings enclose the pool and facilities. It has the feel of a property that’s grown over time, though the layout is a bit disjointed. The design is Pinoy with Spanish colonial influences; think gabled and thatched roofs, capiz shell windows, terra-cotta floors, dark wood beams, and ornately carved furniture. Expect a relaxed and easy vibe, with occasional entertainment like live bands and local folk music adding a little energy. The hotel appeals to couples, families, and friends who value a sea view, Filipino hospitality, and local character over a modern, could-be-anywhere base.

The Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel fronts a small, palm-dotted, white-sand beach on Mactan Island. Mactan is home to Cebu’s airport and is connected to the city by two bridges across the Mactan Channel. The hotel is on the island’s south-east coast, in a quiet and secluded spot away from the area’s other hotels and dive schools. There’s nothing of note in walking distance, but access to diving and island hopping is good. Mactan-Cebu Airport is a 20-minute drive away. To reach central Cebu, it’s around 45 minutes by taxi or hotel shuttle.

Spacious rooms are grouped by their category in separate buildings dotted around the grounds. Decor varies between buildings, but all rooms have a traditional design with just a touch of Spanish colonial influence. You'll see details cream-tiled floors, hand-carved woodwork, and local art pieces -- though this changes. Amenities include coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, flat-screen TVs, free (sometimes spotty) Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning, The latter sometimes receive complaints from previous guests due to noise and may be old window units. Entry-level Superior Cottage Rooms are housed four-to-a-building in simple cottages. They have two single beds or a single and a double. We weren’t able to view these rooms but noted their location at the front of the hotel, close to the conference facilities and parking. For larger groups, whole cottages can be booked. Superior Northwing Rooms are more modern. The majority of rooms are Premier Deluxe Poolside Rooms, located in a long building that stretches alongside the freeform pool and toward the beachfront. These rooms have chicer textiles and a private balcony with shuttered doors. At the top end, Seafront Suites have plusher decor -- purple feature walls, bench footstools, and bathrooms with twin sinks, bathtubs, and separate walk-in showers. They also include panoramic sea views.

The Costabella leads out to a small private section of beachfront, with a guard to discourage beach vendors and a protected swimming area sectioned off by unsightly breakwaters. There’s a coral reef area for snorkeling with a floating platform. The sea view is a pro, but travelers looking for idyllic, unspoiled beaches will need to head onward to nearby islands. The two pools -- a freeform pool and a lap pool -- are the hub of the hotel, surrounded by sun loungers. Round white beach chairs and day beds are also set out on the sand.There are three options for dining. The large main restaurant, La Marina, has generous buffet stations, while poolside Brisa serves up Pan-Asian dishes, and Luna is a quirky tapas bar. The choice of well-priced cuisine is impressive for a small simple hotel, and buffet breakfasts are popular with previous guests. Other facilities of note include a 24-hour reception, a spa offering treatments based on ancient healing techniques, and an unsupervised kids’ play area. Wi-Fi is free -- it works well in public areas, but is patchy in the rooms -- as is parking. Smokers should note that the resort is hot on keeping the area smoke-free -- a dedicated area by the lobby is the only spot where smoking is permitted. A free shuttle operates to central Cebu, but it's only offered one way.