Cebu City 2015

10 things we did in Cebu City
December 14-18, 2015

1. Castle Peak Hotel
2. SM Seaside City
3. Skywalk
4. Edge Coaster
5. Zipline
6. Wall Climb
7. Vertex
8. Ayala Town Center
9. Magellan's Cross
10. Food Trip

Notes

• Castle Peak Hotel per night for 2 (no breakfast) - P1600 
• Oceanjet ticket from Tagbilaran to Cebu City - P50
• Oceanjet baggage check in per piece - P100
• Port to hotel van transfer - P750 
• Taxi from hotel to Ayala Center is around P80
• Minimum jeepney fare - P7.50
• Crown Regency Sky Adventure Package (Entrance fee, Zipline, Edge Coaster, Skywalk, Paramount wall and Vertex) - P900
• Sky Adventure wrist band deposit - P100
• Soft copy of all Sky Adventure photos in USB - P1000
• Cebu Pacific fare from Mactan to Manila each without baggage - P570

Photos

December 14

We came from Bohol going to Cebu City via Oceanjet.  Travel time was about 2 hours.  We had a convenient ride, it left on time, the ac was cold, it was clean, the run was smooth, not too crowded, in fact, we were able to stay at the business class in the upper deck.  We arrived in Cebu City at 5:30pm and were picked up by a van to our hotel.

The business class section.

Castle Peak Hotel.  Travel time from pier to hotel in Mabolo was less than an hour.  I like this hotel so much.  Although we chose the newly renovated rooms, we expected it to be clean, spotless, in perfect condition, and it was.  We didn't bother without having a window because it was cozy, convenient and we're like in a luxurious hotel.  Complete with amenities like, TV, air-condition, mini ref, closet, USB slots, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, hot and cold shower, desk and chair, vault, telephone, electric kettle, coffee cups and wifi.  The staff were also very accommodating.  I will definitely choose this hotel again.

For dinner we went to Ayala Town Center.  It's about 10 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by walking from the hotel.  After having their famous lechon, we went back to the hotel to rest because we have to leave very early the next morning for our Oslob trip.  Check out what we had for dinner here.

December 15

Whale Shark Experience.  Check out my post of our unforgettable moments with the Butandings here.

Upon arriving to the hotel, we washed ourselves right away and head to Ayala Town Center for dinner.  Click here for the food we had.  

December 16

Basilica de Sto. Nino.  Just took some pictures of the church, the damage on the bell tower was still evident from the earthquake in 2013.  We also bought something for someone.

Magellan's Cross.  Just across the church is the famous landmark of Cebu.  The site is closed for repairs, we can't go inside to get up close to the cross so we just took some pictures outside.

SM Seaside City.  We took a taxi from Plaza Sugbo to SM, travel time was less than 30 minutes and the fare is about P80.  This is the 3rd largest mall in the Philippines.  It is a circular-shaped building with a viewing tower at the center, located in Cebu SRP.  It has been open for about a month when we visited.  Only the mall is open for the public, the rest of its features are still being constructed.  This is a must seen attraction when it's completed.  The Sky Park, Ocean Park and Seaside Tower with restaurants, coffee shops and viewing deck will be a major interest for tourists.  

After our seaside trip, we went back to our hotel to freshen up for Sky Adventure at Crown Regency.  But because we were a bit tired, had a lunch buffet plus the coziness of the room, we were all too lazy to go out anymore.  We just stayed in the hotel for the rest of the day and rest.

For dinner, I went out on my own because I met up with my old buddy Don and his wife who now stays in Cebu.  They brought me to a new lechon restaurant just outside Ayala mall and it was the best lechon I had in Cebu.  After that delectable dinner, me and Don stayed late at Starbucks for a chat.  Check out our dinner here.

December 17

Crown Regency Sky Adventure.  This was our only activity of the day and they open at 2pm.  From the hotel, we took 2 jeepney rides.  We were the only adventurers in the park when we arrived.  No queues, no waiting.  I thought we will be done in 2 hours but it took more than that.  Cameras were not allowed anywhere unless you are just a spectator.  We also prefer to do this in daytime for better panoramic experience.  We did the 5 combo package.  

Edge Coaster.  A two-seat platform that rolls on a rail situated at the 38th floor of the tower.  Enjoy panoramic views of the city of Cebu while you are fastened onto the seats as it goes around the edge of the building.  A control lever can be used to tilt your platform down for the ultimate gut wrenching experience.  

Since I don't have a partner, I asked a staff to join me to ride the coaster.  A view of the SM Seaside can be seen in the background.

Skywalk Extreme.   Walk around the edge of a building on a platform made up of steel and glass with a harness.  They will also let you stand and sit at the edge to test you fear.  It was still scary walking around even though you are attached to a cable but we still enjoyed the view as much as the edge coaster.

Tower Zip.  Everyone knows what a zipline is, but what's unique about this one is you will zip across two buildings.  You will cross between the buildings twice.  The first one is you zip your way to a second building for 8 seconds, it's a quick one.  The second is you will be pulled back to the first building, hanging 500 feet on a cable as you cross slowly for about 30 seconds.  For me this is the most intimidating ride in the package but still managed to look around and enjoy the views.

  

Paramount Climbing Wall.  I have tried wall climbing before but not on top of a 40 story building.  This makes it more exciting because of the view and wind factors.  Not one of us made it to the top neither have seen the views because we were focused to grab the next rock.  Going down was also fun as you are lowered down slowly by an auto-belay system when you let go.

Vertex.  Our last activity in the package.  This is a pole climb and it is the highest structure of Sky Adventure.  We got an unlimited 360 degrees view of the city when we reached the top.  It's about dusk when we were at the top, so we were startled as the city shifted from day to night.  We climbed our way up and a belayer lowered us down.  

  

Sky Adventure is done.  While waiting for our pictures and certificates, we hanged out in the sky lounge and savor the night view of Cebu City.  

From Crown Regency, we took a taxi to Rico's in Cabahug street for our dinner.  We were starving to death from the exhausting afternoon.  After dinner, we went back to the hotel to rest and prepare for a long trip to Malapascua Island the next morning.  Check out our dinner here.

December 18-20

Malapascua Island.  Check out our adventure here.

December 20-22

Bantayan Island.  Check out my adventure here.

Back in Cebu City from Bantayan Island, I went to SM City to reunite with my company.  We ate some snacks and bought some pasalubongs before going back to the hotel to get our baggage and head to the airport.  While waiting for our flight at the gate, we had our last lechon dinner and off we go to Manila.  Check out our dinner here.