Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino

As with most airport hotels, the biggest positive for many guests at Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino is its convenient location. The property attracts a wide variety of guests -- from families to business travelers -- but most tend to be overnight stays coming from or going to the airport. Thanks to a lively 24-hour casino on-site, this hotel can get a little noisy, but surprisingly, past guests have complained more about noise from neighboring rooms than from the nearby airport. Decor could use a revamp in the common areas and guest rooms due to widespread dated furnishings. Outdated floral-print carpeting in the lobby, stained-glass artwork, and rattan furniture all age the hotel, as does the musty smell reported by many previous travelers. Still, its solid list of amenities put this property a notch above the typical airport hotels in the area. 

Guests are so close to the airport that they can theoretically walk to it. However, with luggage in tow, the hotel's airport shuttle may be an easier alternative (free with some rates). It's a three-minute drive from the hotel. There isn't much within walking distance aside from a handful of nearby restaurants. However, Starbucks and waterfront restaurants like Bucket Shrimps and Marina Seaview By Blue Elephant are within a five-minute drive (up to 20 minutes on foot, depending on the destination). The historic sights in downtown Cebu are 20 minutes away by car. Expect a 30-minute drive to Vano Beach or Lapu-Lapu City.

Rooms here are nothing to write home about, with their generic fittings and dated style. Though there are slight decor differences between them -- think patterned versus plain beige carpeting -- the overall look is the same. All rooms have a neutral color scheme with off-white walls, simple white bedding, and rattan furniture, and there's little in the way of art to perk things up. Underwhelming design aside, rooms are spacious, and equipped with comforts like free (spotty) Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, safes, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Marble bathrooms have shower/tub combos or walk-in showers and separate tubs, plus free toiletries and hairdryers. Upgraded rooms add separate sitting areas -- some with large dining tables -- and bathrobes. Airplane noise doesn't seem to be an issue, but some past guests have complained of hearing travelers in neighboring rooms. Executive and Ambassador Suites have access to the Waterfront Ambassador Club lounge for additional perks.

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino offers a good array of features, one of the most prominent being its 24-hour casino. There, guests can hear live music and partake in slot machines, card games, and roulette. Additionally, the 24-hour Cafe Fortuna serves international and local cuisine in a windowless area just off of the casino. The other eatery is an international buffet restaurant, Uno, which receives mostly positive reviews and is set in a bright, spacious dining room. The Lobby Lounge is open 24 hours for cocktails. For less indulgent pursuits, the decent-size outdoor pool has a shallow section for kids, and an adjacent hot tub. Wicker loungers are limited, though this doesn't seem to be an issue given that the pool rarely gets busy. Guests have access to the full-service spa and the free gym, but the latter is on the small side and equipment is showing wear. Wi-Fi is free throughout, however, the signal can be spotty. A club lounge for Ambassador- and Executive-level rooms provides free breakfast and all-day beverages, plus a business center and meeting rooms.