Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu

A Mediterranean influence informs the Moevenpick’s modern decor. While the hotel’s three imposing, almost Gothic-like towers -- two in yellow, one in pink, and all rather faded -- give the exterior a dated look, they give way to a sleek, up-to-date interior. In the lobby, conventional check-in desks have been replaced by stylish standing-only pods, with built-in flat monitors. Hallways, however, are less spot-on, with faded yellowish-gray walls and ‘90s-style blue-white-and-purple swirl-patterned carpeting. Outside, a pleasant boardwalk alongside the beach connects different parts of the hotel complex, while the beach area is attractive, with plenty of chic white parasols and sunbeds. A decked path leads through the grass to the sand, with modern cabana-style huts along the way; a small, understated pool bar also sits on the grass, shaded by a large umbrella.The minimally decorated yet chic spa has a gorgeous outdoor hot tub with mosaic flooring and bamboo, and there's a semi-outdoor rainfall shower. An attractive and modern game room combines dark-wood flooring, mosaic-style cream-tile walls, and all-white seating, with suspended silver mobiles. The hotel’s Executive Club Lounge is similarly elegant, with plain brown walls, lightly tan-wood floors and patterned rug carpeting, and plenty of seats.The popular Ibiza Beach Club bar, restaurant, and nightclub has elegant and sophisticated throughout its indoor and outdoor spaces. An outdoor DJ booth, all-white seating with contrasting purple upholstery, and modern white canopies set the scene. The Ibiza has its own hot tub, too. In the evening, this space, along with the pool and areas of the beach, are lit up to great effect.The resort has multiple stylish restaurants as well. The Sails restaurant has pleasant gray rattan-effect chairs offset with bright yellow cushions, as well as high ceilings and an elegant overall design with plenty of neutral tones. The large, high-ceilinged Lobby Lounge combines dark-wood flooring with white walls, impressive white pillars, and more white in the form of modern indoor canopies plus an alfresco terrace space too. The Forum is perhaps the most sophisticated of the Moevenpick’s bars and restaurants, an elegant spot on a corner of a dark-wood deck overlooking the pool, with contrasting white furniture. Unlike the hotel’s other spaces, direct sea views are not a big feature here; instead, The Forum feels secluded, classy, and exclusive.While the Moevenpick’s design and ambience seem geared toward couples and solo travelers eager to party, the hotel also attracts plenty of families, who seem to feel just as at home here. 

Though there is little on the road immediately outside the Movenpick, the hotel has a beachfront location, and is about a 20-minute drive to  the airport; it's a similar distance to Mactan Island’s main town. The hotel provides shuttle service to the downtown area every hour, but the schedule can be irregular. Mainland Cebu is around a 50-minute drive away.

Guest rooms include Deluxe Twin rooms, which are small but well designed, with white-wood furnishings and neutral-color tile flooring. Beds are backed by floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and two accent panels of patterned wallpaper. Desks have flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations. Green-gray blackout curtains frame large windows that otherwise let in plenty of natural light. Furnished balconies, while small, have stunning sea and pool views. Bathrooms have elegant navy-blue tiling and walk-in showers. But the bathtubs are small.Bedrooms in King Suites have wide-paneled, tan-wood flooring, with king-size beds with arty, colorful headboards. They include flat-screen TVs, black-wood vintage desks, and wardrobes with frosted-glass fronts. Separate living spaces have long, attractive sofas and low tables, another flat-screen TV, and black-and-white rugs. Indigo thumbnail-tile walls in bathrooms are elegant, if a little overpowering; but Venetian mirrors and vessel sinks keep things stylish.  By far, the  chic Ibiza Loft Rooms are the standouts. They're much larger, with a two-story layout with the bedroom downstairs. Bathrooms have lots of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, built-in vanity sinks, and large walk-in rainfall showers. Hallways with elegant dark-wood flooring and white walls lead to a huge living area, complete with a large leather sofa and a separate leather chair on dark-wood-panel flooring, along with another flat-screen TV. An enclosed outdoor pod has a large hot tub; the main balcony, though, isn’t much bigger than those in the hotel’s other rooms, and still only has two small chairs and a small table. The Loft is completed with a small kitchenette area, again done out entirely in white, and a separate dining table; overall, these duplex suites have a modern, sophisticated design well worth the upgrade.All rooms come with well-stocked minibars and irons/ironing boards. Note that there are isolated reports of bad smells in rooms, as well as maintenance issues and trouble with rooms not being available at check-in. Those looking for a quiet stay should opt for rooms on a higher floor, farther from the late-night noise of the Ibiza Beach Club -- these rooms also have better views.

The large, curved, inviting seaview pool has walk-in steps as well as tub seats submerged at different levels in the water. A pleasant wooden deck surrounds the pool, along with sunbeds and umbrellas; there's also a separate children’s pool, and towels are provided. There is great snorkeling right off the beach, and the hotel can arrange scuba diving trips. The Executive Club Lounge has flat-screen TVs, and self-service coffee and other drinks. The spa provides relaxation in both its treatments and surroundings; the gym has plenty of modern equipment, flat-screen TVs, and a steam room. The separate game room has a billiards table, flat-screen TV, chessboards, and foosball table.The breakfast buffet, served in The Sails restaurant, offers international as well as a limited number of Filipino dishes, but it's not included in standard room rates. Food and drinks, though, are on the pricey side. The Sails also serves internationally themed dinner buffets, while the Ibiza Beach Club has grill and tapas menus, and The Forum is primary a drinks lounge but also serves light snacks; the Lobby Lounge has an a la carte menu, and runs the signature Moevenpick chocolate hour each day, with free bite-size chocolates for guests.Fast, reliable Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.