Cebu, Marriott Cebu City Hotel

Go!!

I stayed at the Marriott two nights in April 2005. For about $68 a night, I felt like I was in a $100 a night hotel. The bellhops were very courteous and helpful, and I felt quite at home, as everyone I came across spoke wonderful English.

The restaurant in the lobby had a nice selection of food, though more affordable alternatives can be found in the city.

High-speed internet connections are available in the rooms, though I suspect the charges are quite outrageous. Of course, because this hotel caters to foreigners with more valuable currency, the prices for everything are very un-Philippines-like.

Overall, this is a nice place to stay, though even the $68 a night can add up quickly. Also, there are more exotic places in the country than Cebu, so you may not desire to stay much longer than a few days.

BE AWARE: Security forces in the Philippines are much more evident than here in the U.S. Our taxi was not allowed to proceed to the front door of the hotel until we passed inspection by two armed guards. Also, upon entering the hotel we were greeted with metal-detecting wands, and our bags were lightly searched. All of this is obviously done to protect us, and I did feel much safer because of it.