HILTON Another world-class resort in Cebu

Cebu is the traveler’s fantasy of a tropical island come true - balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts with all the frills of modern living. Its immediate surroundings are home to some of the best dives in this part of Asia, with world-class dive sites like Boyong Reef, Cordova Reef, House Reef and Marine Sanctuary off Gilutungan Island.

Mention Cebu and an endless list of possibilities immediately conjure in one’s imagination. With hundreds of thousands of tourists regularly visiting Cebu for fun, leisure, and relaxation, there’s not a doubt that the island is the undisputed holiday capital of the country.

And if you think that you’ve been to Cebu’s destinations and done that, think again. A new boutique resort and spa, nestled on a private beach on Mactan Island, is now attracting tourists from the different corners of the world.

The Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, an added attraction to Cebu’s list of world-class destinations, is a French Mediterranean-inspired, 246 guestroom resort and spa within a complex of three post-modern buildings in coral pink with rooftops painted in murano blue.

Superbly located at the tip of the most beautiful coral island of Mactan, Hilton basks in year-round sunshine and offers its pampered guests an exclusive tropical beachfront and a variety of water sports.

The brand new hotel is part of a 3-tower complex that includes residential condominiums and service apartments. The complex design is French Mediterranean-inspired with its solarium lobby and live foliage designed by California-based architect Roberto Viggayan and tropical landscaping by internationally renowned Belt Collins of Hawaii.

Clear, sapphire waters lap the white sand beach, which gives way to a landscaped garden and the luxury of this boutique resort on an island that is renowned for its reef diving locations.

Of course, with Hilton’s world-famous hospitality and the allure of the spa calling, one may not want to leave this luxurious oasis that is complete with superb restaurants, bars, and entertainment centers.

"You will never get tired of the smorgasbord of gastronomic delights at Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa," says Marketing Communications Manager Reno Bacolod.

You can soak up the tropical ambience and sea breezes at the Vanilla Beach Café, bask in the laid back aura of Sapphire Pool Bar with its delicious snacks and exotic drinks. Casual dining overlooking the Marina is the order of the day at Manny O’s Restaurant or indulge your taste buds with delectable Asian and Western seafood cuisine at the Seas Seafood Restaurant before a nightcap at Pink Lobby Lounge bar.

The variety of trendy modern restaurants with open kitchens were designed by the renowned Dan Kwan for an ultimate dining experience.

The Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa boasts of 246 stylishly appointed rooms including one and two bedroom suites, deluxe rooms, Executive Floor rooms and Executive Club lounge. All rooms are air-conditioned and feature private balconies, mostly facing the ocean. All suites and rooms also feature cable TV, in-room video games, IDD telephone, high-speed Internet access, and fully stocked mini-bar.

So many activities are on offer including beach games, diving, snorkeling, island-hopping, jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, water skiing and tennis. For leisure, there is a full service health club equipped with a professional gymnasium and steam room.

The resort is just ten minutes from the Mactan International Airport and 25 minutes from cosmopolitan Cebu City, with its vibrant nightlife, extensive shopping malls, and 24-hour casinos.

"Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa is indeed the perfect place you’d rather be," says Bacolod.