Bayfront Hotel Cebu - A Modern Beauty in Cebu City

I am a sucker for "clean and modern spaces" so when I accidentally came across Bayfront Hotel's page in Agoda, my interest was piqued. On any well-lit night, the top 6 floors of its 168 guest rooms look like stacks of cards in organized disarray. Got it? 

Once you get inside, you'd be enamored by the ceiling-and-wall design: ribbon-like strips of wood that irregularly head towards a single direction, looking like the aurora borealis. There's more, wide benches in pitch black, shaped like ribbons, complement the aforementioned irregular lines. Take about nouveau art.

A deposit of PhP1,000 was collected, then I headed straight to my room at 618. It had been a long day waiting at the airport since most Cebu Pacific flights can't seem to follow time tables and schedules. There's always a reason for delay. They have quick, albeit perfunctory apologies and "hoping to make it up to you on your future flights". These days, their delays are as normal as your morning bowels, you'd probably win the lottery jackpot if the plane flew on time. But I am digressing. Back to Bayfront, security is assured among guests because the use of the elevator would need your key card.

There's an elongated abstract painting adorning my rather spacious room. Silky black-and-gray draw curtains hanging down the glass wall. Outside, you get an eyeful of the north reclamation area. There's a container shipyard just outside. Just across the hotel is the vast SM Cebu grounds, with Radisson Blu to its left. Every part of the area's mercantile activity is within walking distance. Ain't that cool?

It's my first time in the area. When in Cebu, I usually stay at the Capitol site near Jones, Llorente and Mango (Maxilom) or at the Ayala area. But this location seems perfect if you consider the neighboring mall a prime component of your traveling existence. I don't, to be honest, but I figured this would be "new" for me. Moreoever, there's a 7-11 and a BDO ATM machine just beside the hotel entrance. How convenient is that.

My bed is firm and reasonably comfortable. They're actually two standard beds plaed beside each other. The amenities are more than adequate: a long table covered with glass; a Samsung LCD cable TV; an inverter A/C; a refrigerator, a safe, toiletries; there's even a torch (flashlight). The only other hotel I remember having a torch in place was a new hotel in Male (Maldives).

Under the mirror is a USB socket with LAN and phone connections. There's a desk clock, a big lantern hanging down the ceiling and a pair of lamp shades beside the bed. No doubt about it. This is a well conceptualized room, from the lobby to the interiors of each room. Agoda booking includes breakfast. There's no swimming pool, but there's a small gym at the 6th. Bayfront, which opened in 2014, seems particularly popular for celebrations: birthdays, weddings, graduation, etc, mostly because of its convenient location.

BREAKFAST BUFFET

My Agoda booking is inclusive of breakfast at Cafe Breeze at the first floor. It's a curious name for a restaurant, and makes you think you have to catch up on your laundry. But then is is probably thematic because of the hotel's name. Bayfront should have breeze, right? The restaurant has two buffet tables laid out at one corner, in a cramped restaurant that, on most mornings, cater to SRO crowds.

One table serves Pinoy dishes: longganisa one morning and corned beef the next; fried fish, a variety of noodle dishes is alternated; poached egg one day and scrambled the next; there's "suman" one morning and "biko" the next; plain boiled rice or fried rice. The other table has a variety of breads served with jam or butter; little pancakes that don't get replenished after 9:30 AM (buffet opens at 7 AM and closes at 10AM); seasonal fruits like bland, almost-tasteless pineapples and watermelon slices. On the whole, their very thick "tsokolate" was sumptuous, as well as their "longganisa". Orange juice is watered down to a diluted concoction, you almost don't taste the orange. But for what you pay, you can hardly complain for the hit-and-miss breakfast encounter.

Anyone caught smoking inside the room (stench alert) and you pay PhP2,000. How's the wifi connection? Each room has its own allotted wifi connection so you can understand the limited speed provided per room. Nevertheless, it's serviceable. Just don't expect you'd be able to download a hundred movies during your stay. A hotel room, after all, isn't for that. In my stays in Cebu, M Citi Suites along Llorente and Capitol Central Hotel still have one of the fastest wifis in this whole city.

Bayfront Hotel Cebu is located along Kaohsiung Street, North Reclamation Area, just across SM Cebu and Radisson Blu Hotel. Most drivers know it. Just tell them it's across SM.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Like aurora borealis.

My bed at 618.

SM Cebu and a container yard at the North Reclamation area.

View from 618.

Painting in my room.

6th floor hallway

Cafe Breeze

Breakfast buffet on my first morning meal.

SRO crowd. There was no place to sit down but the lounge chairs near the entrance.

Breakfast haul

My seat because I couldn't find a proper table. Place was ful at 9 AM. 

Small gym room at the 6th floor. Hardly anyone uses this.

Mandarin Plaza Hotel - A Pleasant Stay in the Heart of Cebu City

Cebu City is a favorite so I find myself repeatedly transiting here. To keep the experience fresh, I always try new hotels. Mostly though, there's always a factor during each stay that doesn't make it "perfect". A haughty front desk officer. A check-in that takes a little too long. An area that's not too tourist-friendly. A bland breakfast spread. But to my memory, there's one hotel with few annoyances - Mandarin Plaza Hotel.

Built in 2013, the design and amenities are quite modern, and the space for rooms is quite generous. The lobby is breezy with a winsome minimalist design, but to the left of the building are a row of giant chandeliers gloriously hanging down the ceiling, as you glide down the stairs (but hardly anyone uses the stairs). My room was at the 8th floor, as requested. I loved the idea of having so many elevators on service - 6? Or was that 8? How many elevator does Crown Regency have, 2?

There's a swimming pool at an upper level. Breakfast is at the ground floor restaurant. Mandarin is located just across Ayala Mall; there's Archbishop Reyes Street to its left and Escario Street to its right. A jeepney terminal is nearby, and 24-hour restaurants are a few paces away, not to mention a 7-11 some 3 blocks from the hotel.

Though the bed is standard sized, thus "smallish", it is comfortable. The elongated lamp shades are easy on the eyes; a very official looking desk, a glistening floor and a very clean bathroom are some of its features. Wifi is fast and available everywhere, though some guests have complained about about it being non-existent. Insist for a room with good signal, if you require it. If you want a swim, head to the pool which, at best, is serviceable; nothing fancy. I liked the demeanor of the staff. They're polite enough and non-obtrusive. Some guests may prefer a little more warmth, but as long as they're not rude - and reply when asked, I am good with that. I wasn't there to do 'chummy" with them. The front desk at Bayfront Hotel near SM is way more accommodating, albeit more welcoming. From my room, I could see the poolside view of one of my favorite hotels in Cebu - Quest Hotel which is a more expensive option.

You can arrange for an airport pick up. It's PhP950 one-way for a car, but if you're a group and require a van, the charge is PhP1,500 one-way. Mandarin Bar and Restaurant is open from 7AM to 12AM. There are a dime a dozen taxis waiting in front so vehicle is accessible at any time of the day. You can get your metered taxis at any time - or ask the door man to get you one.

With no untoward incident during my stay, Mandarin Plaza Hotel, with its well appointed 322 rooms, was a pleasant place to stay in Cebu City.

This is the Eye in the Sky!
 

Painting in my room.

The hotel's only restaurant.

For more information, visit their website @ http://www.mandarinplazahotel.com/ or email them at reservations@mandarinplazahotel.com. You may also call them at (63-32) 266-1111.

Mandarin Bar 

From my room also, I have a view of nearby Parklane's swimming pool which I always thought was Quest Hotel's (located at the other side).