PhilFAQS

Castle Peak Hotel, Cebu, Philippines.

Here’s an interesting, well-recommended destination location I came across recently.  Please note that this particular property is not one that I have stayed at, yet, but several trustworthy friends have.  I thought it was well worth featuring because so many hotels and resorts don’t bother to have a website, especially with complete contact information, so I want to take a little time and highlight those which I have found who have taken the time to smooth the path for a visitor

Castle Peak Hotel F. Cabahug corner President Quezon Streets Villa Aurora, Mabolo, Cebu City 6000, Philippines Trunkline: +63 32 233 1811 Fascimile: +63 32 232 6838 Email: reservations@castlepeakhotel.net

• 15 minutes from the Airport
• 5 minutes from the Port / Pier
• 20 minutes from the nearest Beach
• 2 minutes from the nearest Mall
• 5 minutes from Downtown or Uptown - Cebu
• 2 minutes from Cebu Business Park

Here are their latest posted room rates and a location map.  They will also be marked on the PhilFAQS Maps page for easy trip planning.  Stay here or stay somewhere else, but make the trip, you’ll be glad you did.  Cebu City is a great place to visit.

I just did a cursory search here on PhilFAQS and was surprised to see that I seem to have ignored an old friend of mine, the Montebello Villa hotel in Cebu.  This is a moderate price hotel located on the north side of the city (within walking distance of the Gisano Country Mall, so anything you could want is near at hand.  They offer airport shuttle as well, so just give a call in advance and no worries about getting a cab.

Single men, in particular, should take warning, though.  The Montebello is a famous location for weddings … they average several per day, year-round.  Don’t stand in one place to long and think twice before you casually say "I do".

Unlike many hotels, this one was originally the grounds of an old Spanish estate.  The grounds are quite large for a hotel, nearly ten acres worth and they are beautifully landscaped, with many ponds, bridges and other features to make a stroll pleasant.  There are two swimming pools as well.

In many hotels the food is, well, hotel food.  The Montebello Villa has several on-site eating places where they take great pride in the food and it is good.

In addition to standard and deluxe rooms, the hotel offers suites, honeymoon cottages and longer-term apartelles.  A recent check of their room prices showed about PhP 3400( ~ $80 USD), in the past I have always gotten a better rate at the hotel by just showing up and asking.  Making tawad (bargaining) is a fine tradition here in the Philippines and usually it evokes a smile from the business person you try it on.  At the very worst, you’ll just have to pay the published rate … you could save measurably.

Anyway, I don’t write about places I don’t know, and I know this one … it’s nice.  Cebu is one of my favorite cities and if you haven’t been there, I recommend a trip.

A funny thing happened during our last stay at the Montebello Villa.  My wife saw signs for organized city tours and my wife inquired about price and availability.  The answer: "Oh ma’am, those are for Japanese-speakers only".  A good laugh for us Americans who think we’re the ones who travel and spend money. The staff did, though, instantly arrange us a half-day taxi charter with an excellent Tagalog/English speaking driver who took us everywhere except those tourist-trap markets that bus tours seem to focus on the world-round.

Montebello Villa Hotel
Banilad, Cebu City
Cebu, Philippines 6000
Tel (03-32) 231-3681 to 89
Fax No.: (03-32) 231-4455
Email : info@montebellovillahotel.com
Website : www.montebellovillahotel.com