Best Beach Hotels in Lapu Lapu, Mactan Island

The 290-room luxury Crimson Resort and Spa has limited beachfront access, but its three-tiered pool offers stunning views of the sea. In addition to the open-air spa, where treatments are performed by licensed specialists, this Filipino-inspired designed resort has a children’s room and a well-equipped gym with an array of cardio and weight equipment. Rooms are spacious and elegant, particularly the Ocean Front Private Pool Villa Suites. Almost an hour's drive to the town of Cebu, Crimson Resort and Spa is a bit out of the way, and given its expansive grounds, which sprawl over 15 acres (six hectares), travelers might want to opt for rooms close to the lobby; buggy transport service is available, but it can be slow to arrive. Travelers seeking a hotel with a larger beachfront might want to consider the Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu.

The 530-room luxury Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa has a beachfront setting, well-manicured tropical grounds, and chic rooms that stand out from the competitors on Mactan Island. On-site activities include a relaxing spa, snorkeling to the fish sanctuary just offshore, and a massive pool complex with a waterslide and aqua playground. Breakfast buffet is free and there are nine restaurants and bars from which to choose. Some rooms include furnished balconies and wonderful ocean views. The resort, however, can get crowded, and guests complain that it's difficult to book spa treatments or get seated for the breakfast without a wait. The resort is super popular with families and has very little just for adults. The nearby Movenpick Hotel offers beach access and contemporary rooms for lower rates, but it's not quite as luxurious as the Shangri-La. 

The luxury Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, at the far end of Mactan Island, sits on an expansive site that recreates the ocean landscape with a number of saltwater lagoons and freshwater pools framed by patches of sand (and live mermaids). Thirty minutes from the airport (with free transfers), the setting is tranquil, and facilities and activities include a spa, free bicycles to borrow, paddleboard yoga, wall climbing, and archery. There are five restaurants, and breakfast costs extra. A horse-and-cart transports guests around the expansive grounds, which adds to the plantation atmosphere. The 256 rooms offer a variety of interiors, some are dated, and some have avocado-shaped tubs or are built on stilts over the water. Travelers looking for more bright and contemporary rooms might want to compare rates at the nearby Moevenpick Hotel.

The 245-room luxury beachfront Moevenpick Hotel has a well-executed modern Mediterranean style. The ridiculously spacious Ibiza Loft Rooms, with tiny balconies and private hot tubs, are the pick of the bunch. With its beachside nightclub and sophisticated bars and restaurants, the Moevenpick draws plenty of young couples and solo travelers, but it's also family-friendly, with a kids' pool, arts and crafts, face-painting, and storytelling activities for children. Those looking for quiet should opt for rooms on higher floors (with better views too). The outdoor pool and whirlpool, surrounded by a wooden deck and palm trees, and the tranquil spa are inviting, and snorkeling and diving are available on-site. There's an extensive breakfast buffet, but it's not included in the standard room rate. The hotel operates a shuttle service to downtown, which runs every hour. Travelers could compare rates with the nearby five-pearl Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa, which has similar amenities.

The upper-middle-range Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, designed in a chic, Filipiino style, sits in a cove with its own private beach. The 165-room resort has three attractive lagoon-shaped pools and five eateries -- its Cove restaurant gets high praise for its fresh seafood. Family-friendly, the Bluewater Maribago includes a kids' club and playground, and offers such activities as beach volleyball, scuba diving, Jet-Skiing, and snorkeling. Amuma Spa features traditional Filipino therapeutic and healing treatments, but they can be pricey, and many guests head elsewhere for their massages. Axuma Spa Suites have outdoor showers and baths, while Royal Bungalows are right on the beach. But rooms that face the road can get noisy. Travelers seeking a location closer to central Cebu, which is a 55-minute drive away, might want to consider the Summit Circle Hotel.

The upscale JPark Island Resort & Waterpark (formerly the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa) is a family-focused beachfront resort, a few minutes' drive from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The 556 rooms are large and have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and balconies, though some have unimpressive views. Upgrades include Villas with private pools or whirlpools. The main attraction for most guests is the water park, complete with slides, swim-up bars, and lounge areas, though the white-sand beach is nothing to complain about either. There are also plenty of restaurant options, including Korean cuisine. Travelers without kids, or those wanting something a bit more luxe, should compare rates and amenities at the Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, which still offers plenty of activities for kids and adults alike.