Enderts Beach and other Secluded Beaches

Where is best to stay in the Cebu, Philippines?

I am going to Cebu in July for one week. I want to be by a beach where I can do some scuba diving. I have read that Moalboal is the best area. Have you been? Ir can you recommend any other areas? I am also looking for accommodation. All I seem to be able to find are beach resorts charging $145 a night which is too expensive for me. I'm looking for backpacker accommodations. If you know anywhere please advise. Thanks

Public Comments

1. You are getting those high prices because you are looking on the internet. Those internet ads and pricing is for suckers who don't even come here anyway. Go to Cebu and you will find very good accommodations for a fraction of those prices you said. There are dive shops everywhere, mostly operated by foreigners (Aussie). Contact me if you want their info. Stop using the internet for shopping. Its a rip off. Just come here.
2. The best hotel I have to say is Shangrila Mactan in Cebu. We all know that all Shangrila Hotels are clean and neat. It's a hotel, also a resort and there's a spa too. There are a lot of things you could do there not just stay but you can also relax, unwind and do a lot of recreational activities. Here's what Shangrila Mactan looked at night: http://www.pixisnap.com/main/view/0000006346 I used a Photo Mosaic Maker to enhance more the beauty of the picture and of the place.
3. Five days? That’s all? You are correct Moalboal has inexpensive dive resorts with world class diving. Spend your last night at one of the upscale Mactan beach resorts. The rest diving at Moalboal. If you get off the plane by mid afternoon you can be in Moalboal for dinner. Moalboal is a two to three hour drive from the airport on Mactan (CEB). There are buses, vans and cabs that make the trip each day. I suggest you take a cab. It will cost ~2000P each way. Cebu City/Mactan has very nice upscale resorts but little quality diving. Plantation Bay on Mactan is an outstanding resort with a manicured sugar sand beach along with many other amenities. A nice room with meals (four or five restaurants on the grounds) there would be <$200.00 a night it’s a bargain for what you get. However the diving off Mactan SUCKS. The water is highly polluted with fecal coliform bacteria and industrial waste. The wall dives have poor vis because of the waste in the water and the coral is dead or dying. Nelsons at Moalboal is a five star PADI dive center and Filipino owned. Aircon lodging is about 1000 Peso a night at his sister Eve’s adjoining resort. Meals served there are simple healthy and very good. Three big meals about $10.00 total. There are many other dive centers and resorts some catering to Austrians, Germans or Japanese. Budget $150.00 a day for three boat dives food lodging and pocket money. You could spend less <$100? Wow, nice picture Gel! Gel is correct from what I have read Shangrila Mactan in Cebu is very nice.
4. If it is inexpensive, but nice you are looking for, try Compostela. If you want to see beautiful for $5.00 or so, take a boat to the Camotes Islands. They have the best and most inexpensive scuba area in the Cebu area. You could also go to Green Lagoon in Compostela if you like seeing live fish up close and no, it is not an aquarium. That beach has only a P5 entry fee.