The Reef Island Resort Mactan, Cebu

If you're going to Cebu, I strongly advise you to avoid this hotel. For a hotel costing over 1,000 RMB a night, the overall standard is comparable to a budget chain hotel in China (like Hanting). First, let's talk about the room. When I checked in, the front desk confirmed a Queensize bed with me twice. I admit it was my fault for not checking the dimensions when booking, assuming a 'deluxe king room' wouldn't be small. However, upon entering, I found a very tiny bed. On closer inspection, it was a 1.54m bed – not only narrow but also short. If you're a bit tall, your feet would dangle off the edge. I figured it was just for one night before flying back home, so I'd make do. I didn't notice any smell in the room at first; I just dropped my luggage and went out to eat. But when I returned, the room reeked of sour towels. I tried to open the window for ventilation, but then the air conditioning turned off. The bathroom had a strong sewage smell. Since it was past 9 PM, I was too tired to bother changing rooms, so I just went to sleep. However, the air conditioner hummed constantly like a blower, even on the sleep setting. Next, the food. The hotel is located inside a complex, and after entering the main gate, you still have to drive for quite a while. Since I was traveling with my child and coming back from Bohol, I decided to just eat at the hotel. At the hotel's 'Kitchen' restaurant, three dishes including a stir-fried kway teow cost 500 RMB. The black pepper prawns had only five pieces for over 1,300 pesos. The portion sizes were tiny. I had a three-dish meal at Shangri-La Cebu for only 400 RMB, and the portions were twice as big. Finally, the facilities. There's a kids' play area with one hour free, and a game bar with thirty minutes free. Shouldn't these be standard amenities for a hotel? Seriously, cleanliness isn't even its biggest flaw anymore. Oh, and the curtains couldn't be fully drawn.

We were a group of 15 divers staying at the hotel, and the service was excellent. When we checked out, they arranged a large vehicle for us, and the staff were very proactive in helping with our luggage. The hotel's spa is also reasonably priced at 2400p and definitely worth experiencing.

The breakfast buffet was delicious! The pool and beach were also very close, which was great! We even got a free room upgrade, which was the icing on the cake.

The room was very clean, and the infinity pool was a big plus! We were able to relax both in the room and by the poolside. If you want a sea view from your room, I recommend requesting it in advance.

This was my first time staying at a hotel in the Philippines, and it was a pleasant surprise! The location isn't super convenient, but calling a Grab for transport wasn't an issue. The hotel has 2-3 dining options, and the quality is decent. I was very happy with the breakfast selection, it really suited my taste. Plus, the room offered a beautiful sea view, which was truly relaxing!

I was very happy with the room type; it had a small balcony with a nice night view. The air conditioning was strong enough. The food at the restaurant was also good. All these points are a plus. However, there were a few minor drawbacks: 1. Renting a lifebuoy at the swimming pool cost 20 pesos for one hour, which I found unreasonable. 2. Every time the toilet in the room's bathroom was flushed, a strong sewer smell came back up. 3. During check-out, the front desk forcibly charged me a tip. I didn't want to give it, but I had to rush to the airport, and my Grab driver had already arrived, so I reluctantly paid it. I didn't bother arguing. I'm giving a fair review, and the minor issues are based on my experience as a first-time guest at the hotel.