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WHY YOUR NEXT VACATION SHOULD BE WITH US. A vacation in Plantation Bay will be more prudent than in most resorts for the following reasons: A. Plantation Bay is a complete destination resort, where they can spend their entire holiday without ever going outside where they might be exposed at random to the virus. B. Plantation Bay is very spread out, and almost all its facilities are open-air. As now scientifically proven, most Covid-19 transmission occurs in close-contact indoor situations in which people stay close together for long periods. By its unique open-air design, Plantation Bay is inherently unconducive to catching Covid-19. There are no enclosed corridors and elevators where the virus may linger in the air up to 4 hours after someone coughed in that space, and we have vast lagoons and pools where people will not be tightly-packed. There are a lot of activities that guests can do inside the resort, so guests will not be tempted to go out where they might catch the virus in public markets or lower-end restaurants.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Lagoon View
Languages Spoken
English, Filipino
Location
Lapu Lapu 6015 Philippines
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
4.1 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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We used to go every year in a one-bedroom suite, but stopped in 2018 because the room was old and rundown and service/food poor. We just tried again and what a difference. The whole place is now brilliant. The one-bedroom suites have been fully renovated to high standard at a decent price. Food, wines, and service is now excellent at a moderate cost for such a hotel. Yes, the beach is not attractive like at Shangri-la, but the immense salted water lagoon is great, so are the fresh-water pools. We will be back soon.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would not go anywhere else for a relaxing time. The Mogambo Springs spa is a class all its own. It's my happy place. The resort staff is very accommodating, friendly and always willing to assist. Despite its size and the number of guests, it did not feel cramped, hectic or crowded. The room was spotless - not a strand of hair in the tub or shower area. My husband and I availed of their long term rate which came with a VIP package that included a private transportation straight to our room - no lobby check-in or out. It was a very nice experience all around.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Located in the southeastern part of Mactan Island, a 30-minute drive from neighbouring Cebu Island, across a road bridge connecting the 2 islands. The hotel has huge, beautiful and well maintained grounds. The beach is small. The Philippines has very high tides, Plantation Bay solved this problem with a huge seawater pool. The rooms are in good condition, furnished with everything you need. A nice bonus was having gifts consisting of a large bottle of whiskey and dried fruit. The rooms are supposed to be cleaned every day, but one time we didn't get cleaned, it turned out that when the maintenance staff was cleaning our rooms, I was in the room and we didn't get in. They don't knock, they don't let you know they're going to clean up, they just walk by and your room stays untidy. Keep in mind this service feature and if you need cleaning and you plan to be in your room, notify the reception in advance. Water is only replenished during cleaning.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As a business traveller who stays in 5 star hotels at least once a fortnight, I'm struggling to support the rating of this place beyond a generous 3.5.
On my first evening, I was disappointed to find the main bar closed by 7:30 pm. The only option was a peculiar, polygon-shaped, alien-themed bar above the café. Its karaoke-like setup, with fixed seating around an empty, uneventful center, made for an uncomfortable atmosphere. After a quick G&T—spent avoiding a crooked-neck conversation with my friend, we decided to give up on drinks and see if food at the only open restaurant at 10:00 would make amends. Sadly, the cafeteria style food from from the late night menu (the room service menu) arrived to our marble-esq plastic table cold and uninspiring.
Day two was an opportunity for a better start and the option between cold or cool shower proved to be a morning eye opener. I later learned from the staff that warm water is available if you run the sink tap and the shower on full for 5-10 mins before showering - not sure why I didnt think of that.
After a day of work and a 1 hour taxi ride I returned to the 5-star concrete contrived lagoon to find the bar once again shut. Thankfull, there is a prompt telephone in room dining service that will hurry an after work beverages to you within 35 minutes as long as you only want local beer (according to the person answering).
After an hour of clearing email, the growing hankering for a bite to eat remained insufficient to conquer the need to stear clear of the cold-food-school-dinner-cafe. But there must be something else..? the convenience store? A short walk to the reception lobby revealed that the hotel store was in darkness and the receptionist confirmed that 8:00pm is closing time for the inappropriately named 'Convenience" store, so off to school dinners for a club sandwich. You guessed it... closed... "please come back after 11:00 after we've finished cleaning".
A trip back to reception confirmed that while they don't have printed menus, there is a QR code link to the room service menu here on this piece of menu sized paper. After scanning and perusing the digital offering, I was guided back to my room phone-menu-in-hand to where the only room ordering service must be obtained from the bedside telephone.
The lack of basic amenities was also puzzling. There was no iron, ironing board, or shower cap in the room—standard for a hotel in Asia. Even a mini bar was absent. The experience reached an unexpected low when I encountered a 6-inch centipede in my bathroom, though I understand this was not the hotel’s fault.
In summary, it wasn’t just the unavailability of a decent place to relax with a drink or the subpar food options that contributed to my skepticism about this hotel’s 5-star status. Rather, it’s the overall lack of essential services and attention to detail that left me questioning the inflated rating.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked a Lagoon Side (vs Lagoon View) with King Bed via Agoda months in advance. We arrived around 2p and initially were told that there was no room yet available, which was understandable as check in is at 3p. We were meeting our nephew and his wife and were ok to have lunch while we waited and told that to the check in staff. He was to call us when the room was ready. Before we could walk away he found that a room had opened. He said it was Lagoon side but with a small Koi pond and sand we would have to step past to access the water. I offered to wait as we were not in a rush if that was not quite the room we booked. He assured me that it was. He got a porter to drive our luggage to our room but since we were running late to meet our nephew, we asked for the luggage to be dropped to our room. About an hour later we got back from lunch and entered our room. The inside was fine but we had a sand pit under construction in front of our room as our view. See pic. We immediately went to the front desk to ask for a room change. We were told that since it was over an hour since we checked in they would have to charge us a room change fee! I assured her we stepped in and stepped out without touching anything but she stated that to avoid the fee they would have Housekeeping inspect the room. We waited in the lobby for nearly an hour for this inspection to happen, which of course showed no use of the room. Now we were told the only room available was Lagoon Side with a little sand to walk through to the water. From the map she showed us, it was more than a little inset from the water. I asked if this was considered comparable to what I had paid for and she insisted it was. I had now already wasted 1.5 hours and gave in, hoping for the best. As you can see from the 2nd pic, we were placed not even close to Lagoon Side. No apologies, no complimentary anything for our troubles, not so much as a glass of water while waiting in the sweltering lobby. For $550 USD for 2 nights, I expected so much more. The property is well maintained and the staff throughout the resort are very friendly but they must do better to provide their customers what they reserved and paid for, or at least offer some kind of compensation if the reserved room type is not available.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were extremely disappointed with our stay at Plantation Bay Resort, to the point that we left halfway through. Since we booked through www.trip.com, we understandably did not receive a refund. However, we were not offered any compensation from the manager for the very expensive food and limited drinks we purchased, and we were presented with a full bill.
From the moment we arrived, we did not receive the 5-star experience that had been promised on the website. Upon check-in, we were informed that there was no king bed available as we had booked, only two queen beds. This was particularly disappointing as it was our first family holiday since the birth of our 4-month-old son. We received no apology; we were simply told, "That’s the way it is." After traveling with a baby, all we wanted was to rest.
After ordering water and ice (which was not provided), we waited 30 minutes only to be informed that we would be charged for the ice. We went to sleep feeling let down in a dated room.
The next morning, we were disappointed to find only instant coffee available in the room, so we headed to breakfast. The daily breakfast theme from a different country quickly revealed itself to be a gimmick. We would have preferred decent food and fresh juice instead.
We went for a swim, but the pools were dated and in need of cleaning as they felt slimy. The water was freezing, and our baby, who loves swimming, screamed in discomfort. When we inquired about a heated pool, we were told there was one in the spa, but we could not bring our baby with us.
We decided to claim our free welcome drink, only to find the options were limited to a can of beer or a shot of tequila, neither of which could be consumed by the pool—only in the restaurant. We learned that drinks could only be enjoyed at the swim-up bar, but no food or drinks were permitted around the pool (which is what holidays are about). The only other drinks available were two pre-made cocktails—a margarita and a Manhattan—that were overwhelmingly strong, tasting like straight tequila or whiskey.
This lack of quality extended to the very strange alien abduction bar and the Alpine Lounge, which was a freezing dark room with office chairs and a fake fireplace. Every time we attempted to get a coconut at the coconut bar, it was closed.
Additionally, we attended the set menu for Chinese New Year, where the main course consisted of half a plate of beef and half a plate of fat. The drink menu was extremely limited, featuring only San Miguel, cheap sparkling rosé, Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay, house red, or the two ‘cocktails.’
Overall, our experience at Plantation Bay Resort fell far short of expectations, and we left feeling disappointed and dissatisfied.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were a group of 4 friends. We booked an overnight stay (2 persons) through an online booking platform as well as day use packages for 2 on the day we arrived at the hotel. The overnight reservation was under my name and when my friend and I checked in, I honestly told them that I would not stay for the night and that a 3rd friend would sub for me. The front desk staff said they wouldn’t check us in unless I stay the night or pay an additional fee of P1,800. They said it was hotel policy as they were riddled with scams before. I told them I already showed them the booking confirmation, I was even volunteering to show the card used for booking and my ID. They insisted that we call the booking platform and have the booking details changed even if we showed them the platform’s notice that that booking details couldn’t be changed and that we could request directly with the property (Plantation). Also, we tried to contact the platform several times to no avail. We waited for almost 2hrs in the lobby coz they weren’t willing to check us in. We even talked to the manager on duty, same explanation. When we asked the manager what we would do, if we’d just loiter around the lobby since they wouldn’t check us in, she said ‘yes.’ The policy was ridiculous. They took our money and instead told us to add an extra amount or book another room. This is the first time I’ve encountered such unreasonable/illogical policy in my travels in the Philippines and abroad. The staff were rude, both the front desk and the manager. They didn’t care about locals and only entertained the foreigners.
Also, we tried the food in both Kilimanjaro and Fiji restaurants. Small servings, overpriced and too salty, not worth the money at all. Some parts of the lagoons are littered with sand that is so sharp I got wounded on my feet. Other parts were also slippery and filled with dead leaves.
Overall, this resort is not worth the high price as it offers bad service and too salty food.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Let me get to the point. The facilities are great. The Jacuzzi experience in Mogambo spring was refreshing and the staff was accommodating & attentive.
Food in Fiji restaurant is terrible. Their 4pcs tempura was priced at P1480 was overcooked, too salty and too messy to eat— its tempura bits were everywhere each time you take a bite. It was even served with a food flag captioned as “Worlds Best Tempura”, oh well. When you dine in Fiji, you’d be so confuse. Their logo is in safari theme, some of their staff wears safari uniform, the restaurant interior is like a log cabin, but the food they serve is in japanese and some random food cuisine that tastes I dont know. The chicken in the carenderia tastes way better than their P680 chicken. Hehe
And the worst part of our main stay was that the ac works like fan. Now i get it why they never bother to upgrade their sheets to comforter for an 11k per night room, because they know how warm their old ac’s are actually working. I thought i’d be more happy & satisfied to sleep in my own room at home. Trust me. And yes, they don't have bidets.
You can hear the walking of the guests in the 2nd floor even at 2am. That means, no sound proofing was even installed in the first place. Goodbye 11k per night I just paid for a complete stay of inconvenience.
By the way, your every move inside the hotel is being watched like a hawk and every move is with a corresponding additional payment. They don't have complimentary room slippers. What they have are beach/toilet slippers that they sell inside the room for an additional P100, room service is additional P300. Now I understand why this place survived through the years.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This resort is not worth of the price. The hype of this place is unreal. Every corner needs renovation. The pool or they call it lagoon is full of mildew. They will give you a coupon to get 2 towels! You are only allowed to get 2 towels! Mind you, the towels are thin and cheap! You have to bring back the towels to get the 2 coupon towels back. So cheap huh? The bathroom in the room is very outdated! They need to polish the bathroom faucets or just blow up the entire bathroom to get it renovated. The restaurants are too pricey! Food and customer service was very lame! Hospitality of the staff needs to step up. People look so unhappy working there. To end this, I don’t know why talking on the phone was not allowed in the restaurant. Some people just want to come up with ridiculous rules. I will not come back to this place and I do not recommend this to anybody.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Not a good place to stay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went as a family of seven across three rooms, and for the star rating this resort was disappointing.
Getting your room made up, a nightmare, by appointment only which is not made clear and even then disappointing as your day starts early in the Cebu so waiting till 1300 hrs and then only to have one of three rooms ready 😔.
Restaurants, whilst a large selection is advertised, the American Diner Route 66, does not offer a single American product, nor English for breakfasts. And even more shocking was that the six Filipinas I was with struggles with the Filipino breakfasts offered, even with the offer of payment we could not simply order an additional portion of a dish as all parties were still hungry, we were told no changes no substitutions, if you want an extra portion you have to purchase the whole dish. My new in-laws are locals, and I mean literally they have a home in Cebu and they found the food over salted and poor in quality.
Activities, range was as expected, archery a little disappointing, climbing wall fun, but the pitch and put??? Three holes, pitch and don’t bother.
Entertainment, we were lied too, on 30/05/24 we asked to book the dinner show, we were told more than once it was fully sold out, eventually they made us feel like they could squeeze us in on for us to get there and find half the tables empty, and the performance was terrible. Given the quality of acts I have seen across the Philippines and even the waiting staff in Hennans a few days earlier, this was awe full, poor costumes, poor timekeeping when attempted, and a lack of confidence all round.
Room facilities, trying to connect the kettle to a socket that works was a mission, then you have some sort of mug that burns your hand, you are given tea and poor coffee sachets for six but cream and milk for two, and not a tea spoon in sight, this has a lot of 2 star qualities. And with a 2 star you expect to ask for all. On check in we had water for one in a room for two, water for two in. Room for three? No planning or effort. Also not basic bathroom facilities, despite the occupancy you only get one shower gel per room? No dental kit unless you ask for it. And the room service, I gave up. Scan the code, get a load of menus, nothing clear about which items are for restaurant only or to your room.
Bedding, I’m only 6 foot and if I pulled the sheet up my feet hang out ?
We have been I the Philippines this trip for a wedding and visited 6 islands. And at the end split to see o ur respective families. This was rated the best of all the accommodations and resorts and it was by far the worst. I truly wish we had just extended at Park Lane Hotel in Cebu City,
Cannot bear to waste more time by adding photos. But given I’m writing this whilst still at the repost I hope it demonstrates my disappointment on behalf of my family.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Go else where.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The resort does provide a shuttle bus to and from the airport but only at certain times and you have to notify them ahead of time. You can send a message to them on Facebook.
Obviously too late for this traveler, but for any transportation or other pre-check in needs with Plantation Bay just email them. They are very responsive and provide great service
Email is rsvns at Plantation bay , won’t allow me to enter as an email but hopefully you can figure it out
There are more places to choose from in the Lapu Lapu area.
PRICE RANGE
$284 - $433 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
plantation bay resort and hotel lapu lapu, plantation bay hotel
LOCATION
PhilippinesVisayasCebu IslandMactan IslandLapu Lapu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
255
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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