Broke in Cebu: Royal treatment at an affordable price

John Steinbeck was right, “People don’t take trips—trips take people.”

Cebu, the “Queen City of the South,” will indeed take you in with all its royal hospitality—and at an affordable price. But don’t limit your route in the red carpet. There are a lot of things learned from walking past those boundaries.
 
Getting there
 

If you’re not coming for the annual Sinulog Festival, fares tend to be affordable. (But don’t get me wrong: Sinulog is a definite must-see.) Just don’t forget to book your tickets in advance, during one of the seat sales, which run all-year-round. Depending on your luck and determination, a round-trip ticket could go as low as P 1,400.
 
From Manila, a trip to Mactan Airport would be roughly an hour and fifteen minutes. It would take another 30-minute ride to reach Cebu City.
 
If you’re coming in groups of 10, renting out a van for the day might be a good idea. Cost per person would run from P250 to P350, depending on length of travel and destination.
 
Travellers who don’t have a luggage on hand may also opt to ride a yellow multi-cab. Just bear in mind that there’s no direct route to the city, and you will have to change jeeps twice.
 
A taxi ride is also an option and would cost around P250 to P300, depending on the traffic and drop-off point.
 
Where to stay
 
Cebu may be the home to some of the best hotels in the Philippines, but don’t worry, the royal city has a wide range of accommodation to suit your budget needs.
 
For our case, we stayed at Islands Stay Hotels along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, which is a few minutes away Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, and Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino.
 
A room would cost about P950, with an additional 15% discount when you book 30 days in advance.
 
Another alternative is the Enmore Residence Hall along A. Jose. Avila Street, which costs about P700 per day.
 
Where to eat
 
At the lower floor of the residence hall, you will find Joed’s Lutong Hapon, a place serving authentic Japanese food at an affordable price. If you’re lucky, you might even get unlimited sushi rolls for P199.
 
You can also try Casa Verde, a restaurant serving Brian’s Ribs at P198. There’s one at IT Park, Ayala Center, and Ramos, Cebu.

Believe me, a trip to the Royal City wouldn’t be complete without a taste of Larsian, the city’s barbeque capital. Piece of advice: Drop the utensils. Feast with your hands.
 
And who can forget about Cebu’s lechon? Drop by one of Zubuchon's six branches and let us know if you agree with Anthony Bourdain's pronouncement of “best pig…ever.” Some of their specialties include FM Pritchon (P160), FM Zubuchon Dinuguan (P100), and FM Paksiw na Zubuchon (P130).
 
Up for more food? Try CNT Lechon (P175 for half a kilo), Mooon Café’s Mexican Baby Ribs (P198) and La Marea’s Warm Brownie Cup (P100).
 
Getting around
 
Home to various historical sites, a trip to Cebu will not be complete without a trip to Magellan’s Cross, Basilica del Santo Nino, and Fort San Pedro. Luckily, a visit to any of these won’t take up too much of your time—anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.

Magellan’s Cross, a commemoration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, is located at the heart of Cebu City.
 
From the famous destination named after Ferdinand Magellan, a trip to Basilica del Santo Nino would take about 5 minutes. There, you’ll see the statue of the Child Jesus, which was a gift from the Portuguese explorer over 490 years ago.  
 
Fort San Pedro, the Spaniard’s smallest military camp in the Philippines is only a 10 minute drive from the church.
 
If you’ve got more time and are feeling a little sentimental, walk through Cebu’s rich history in Museo Sugbo and relive the Spanish era in Casa Gorordo and Yap-San Diego Ancestral House.
 
The earthquake may have damaged the structure, but hey, it’s still worth the trip. Its most expensive entrance fee is P100.
 
If you’re up for a little adventure, a visit to Regency’s Sky Experience Adventure might interest you. “Sky Walk Extreme” is the Philippines’ first attraction, offering interested tourists a chance to walk at the edge of the hotel’s main outer rim 126.55 meters above the ground. Another attraction is The Edge Coaster, which offers riders a chance to enjoy the panoramic view of the Cebu landscape from the 38th floor in a two-seat platform that can tilt up to 55 degrees.
 
Coming in groups of 10? An entrance pass to the Sky Observatory, and a ticket to either the Edge Coaster or the Skywalk will cost P350 each. If you’d like to take both attractions, prepare P550.
 
Also, drop by Tops Lookout and witness the sunset at the peak of Mt. Busay. Believe me, there’s nothing like a good spot to watch the twilight. (Entrance: P100 per person).
 
When you’re done with the tour and would like a taste of the Cebu nightlife, drop by in IT Park or Crossroads, and dance your way into the night.
 
Should you be staying longer, you might find a trip to Kawasan Falls interesting. Just make sure you’ve got at least 8 hours to spare and a comfortable shoe for hiking. Believe me, the three hour bus ride to the spring waterfalls of Badian, Cebu (Cost: P130 one-way) is definitely worth your while.
 
Just in case you prefer going to the beach, Cebu has a wide range of options, from Camotes to Bantayan. But should you be coming from the capital, Moalboal—dubbed as the Diving Paradise of Cebu—is only about two hours away. Accommodations can go as low as P220 per person. — VC, GMA News