During the long APEC holiday last year, my daughters and I jetted off to Mactan, Cebu and stayed for several days in Bluewater Maribago resort. This is a sprawling property of about 5 hectares and is possibly one of the oldest in the island, having existed since 1989.
So far, I’ve stayed in three upscale properties in Mactan but it seems to be in Bluewater Maribago where I enjoyed the most. This is simply because Maribago is so ‘homey.’ It is easily distinguished by its Filipino design, particularly the thatched roofing and the use of bamboo.
This was the circular lobby where we checked in. Note the Christmas tree because it was already the second week of November…. time flies so fast!
The bungalows by the beach with individual balconies. I wasn’t able to take a look inside but the total floor area listed in the Maribago website is 66 square meters.
The Filipino theme is carried throughout the beach structures and the restaurants. I really liked it. At this point, am dreaming of my own nipa hut in the countryside, lol.
We stayed in the Amuma Spa Suite which had a daily rate during that time of P6,000 inclusive of buffet breakfast. If you ask me, this was reasonable knowing how pricey some Mactan resorts can get for tourists. The suites are located in the spa wing of the resort and were near the treatment pavilions and the gym. Our room faced the beautiful pool and it was definitely fine by me…
The suite we got was about 43 square meters and had two queen-sized beds. I remember that the room really had a musty smell when we opened the door, maybe because of the native materials. There was nothing fancy about this suite, but I loved the ample space. Plus the fact that we didn’t have to go through an elevator or a flight of stairs. That’s right. I don’t remember riding an elevator in Maribago 🙂
The best part for me was the bathroom. I thought it was as big as the room. I could easily jog or do tai chi in there, lol.
Breakfast the next day at the Allegro restaurant was satisfying. Locals like me appreciate it because it’s filled with Filipino savory dishes. When in Cebu, I always look for danggit in the buffet 🙂
Being a big resort, there are a lot of activities you can do in Maribago. The location isn’t far from the center of town either. You step outside the resort and there are also eateries and spas. The family was so predictable because we spent most of our time swimming in the pool. Either that, or we were lying in the hammock.
Life is good.
Maribago Bluewater is located in Buyong Maribago
Lapu-lapu City
Cebu, Philippines
Telephone (+63 32) 492 0100
email maribago@bluewater.com.ph
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