Be Resorts - Mactan

Set on the Mactan shoreline, this 161-room resort is built for days divided between the water, the pool and an unhurried meal. You have direct access to a white-sand beach, an outdoor pool and a beach bar, so the essentials are close at hand rather than scattered across town.

The mood is informal and sociable. A garden, terrace, sun terrace, billiards, a library and karaoke give the evening a few different gears, from quiet reading to something considerably less quiet. English is spoken by the team, which makes the practical conversations easier when you are arranging a transfer, asking about a meal or sorting out the next day.

You are in Lapu Lapu, on Punta Engano Road, at the seaside end of Mactan. The resort sits directly by the sea, with a private white-sand beach furnished with loungers and parasols. It is the sort of location that lets you move from room to beach without turning the afternoon into a transport exercise.

Lapu Lapu city centre is about 5 miles away, while the airport is around 15 minutes from the resort. Mactan is an island beside Cebu, with beaches around its coastline and seafood as part of the local character. Parking is available on site, and an airport transfer can be arranged with the resort, either as a private service or a shared shuttle.

The room choice is mainly about how you plan to use it. Twin rooms with two single beds suit two divers who prefer not to negotiate for mattress space after a long day, while the quadruple categories give families or small groups a more workable base. Connecting or adjacent rooms can also be requested, which is useful when a group wants to stay close without putting everyone in one room.

For two people travelling together, the Double Be Classy Suite is the more natural pick, with a double bed and a little more of the feel of a proper retreat. The Be Chic and Be Cool rooms keep things straightforward, with private bathrooms, air conditioning, televisions, fridges and safes. Some categories also add Wi-Fi, coffee-making facilities, slippers, toiletries and a hairdryer.

Blackout blinds matter more than they sound when your body clock is still somewhere over the Pacific. Air conditioning helps after heat and salt, while the fridge gives you somewhere to keep water cool. Towels, a shower and a morning wake-up service cover the less glamorous but very useful parts of getting ready for another day. Room service is available, and the resort also has a lift.

SALT is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its cooking is international and Asian, so you can keep breakfast familiar before heading out and change direction later in the day. The breakfast buffet runs from 7am to 10am, followed by lunch and dinner service from 10am to 10pm.

There is one named bar: The Deck, a beach bar made for the part of the evening when footwear becomes optional in spirit, if not in hotel policy. Its specialities are boodle feasts and boodle beverages, with the beach as the backdrop. On Saturdays, music and live DJs take over the evening, which gives the resort a livelier edge at the weekend.

Breakfast is available as a buffet, while the meal arrangement depends on the room booking selected. Bottled water and coffee are available, and the resort has a café as well as its restaurant and bar.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to spend a non-diving afternoon, with a separate kiddie pool for younger guests. The beach adds another option, with direct access, white sand, loungers, parasols and beach equipment. If sitting still for too long makes you restless, kayaking and jet skiing are available on the water.

On land, the fitness room is fully equipped and open from 7am to 10pm, so you can train before breakfast or loosen up later without rearranging the whole day. There is also billiards, a library, a garden and a picnic area. None of this requires a timetable, which is often the point after several days of early starts.

Families have a playroom, a children’s play area, babysitting and childcare, as well as the children’s pool. For the evening, karaoke is available, and Saturdays bring music and live DJs at The Deck. The resort can also arrange excursions through its tourist information service.

Reception is open around the clock, useful when flights and island time refuse to cooperate. Check-in runs from 3pm to midnight, with check-out by noon. Express check-out, luggage storage, a concierge service and a currency exchange are available, alongside an ATM and free Wi-Fi.

Airport transfers are arranged by the resort and should be booked with the property using your arrival details. Parking is available if you are travelling by car. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are also available, and the building has a lift and wheelchair-accessible facilities.

The resort accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash. Children up to the age of 12 can stay, with extra beds available. A deposit is requested on arrival. The room booking determines which meals are included, so check that point before choosing your arrangement.