Metered Taxi and Grab App Taxi in Cebu Travel Guide Metered white taxis are everywhere in Cebu City, Preminum Black taxi, Grab taxi and Grab car available via mobile app to offer fixed-rate fares or quotes Although convenient, don’t automatically assume online app based Grab taxi and car are cheaper to hire in Cebu, just because it offers a fixed price or quote.  When in fact it’s nearly always more expensive to hire an app based taxi in Cebu, because there are hidden fees not immediately obvious.  The more traditional way of hiring or […]

The good news is that Cebu City is one of the best places in the Philippines for socialising and nightlife​, even though Cebu City is a tourist hub, the most noticeable community is made of Korean and Japanese students learning English, followed by international tourists, students and backpackers Cebu nightlife is pretty compact and you’ll only need a couple of nights out to get familiar with the best venues, the major nightclubs are almost all located in downtown Cebu City with a few more in the suburban areas […]

To ensure smooth Customs clearance, please read these guidelines thoroughly.  All persons, cargo and baggage are subject to a search at any time. (Sections 2210 & 2212, Customs Law) General Provisions  All articles, when imported from any foreign country into the Philippines, shall be subject to duty and tax upon each importation, even though previously exported from the Philippines, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Customs Code or in other laws. (Section 100, TCCP) Prohibited and Regulated Articles  The unlawful importation of prohibited articles (i.e. marijuana, cocaine […]

One of the worst things any traveller could experience in Cebu is a layover, and the annoying time gap between a hotel checkout and the time of your departing flight, bus or ferr Most of the time, you need to check out from a hotel or hostel, between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm noon and then your flight, bus or ferry is not for another 5 to 8 hours, well Cebu City as the solution the “The Cebu City Travellers’ Lounges” and there is two to choose from At SM City Cebu […]

For Passengers Flying to and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) List of prohibited items has been expanded to include all liquid substances above 100ml such as beverages, lotions, shampoos, toothpastes, gels, astringents, and other items of similar consistency, these items shall be placed in the check-in luggage and shall be confiscated if found at the final screening point Subject to usual inspection but are not covered by this restrictions are baby formula, breast milk, or juice of a baby or small child who is traveling, prescription medicines […]

The Cebu Tourist is not affiliated to Bureau of Immigration, nor can we answer official queries related to any other Philippine Government agencies If you approched by a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, offering to expedite (fast track) your visa for cash away from the office or near, even if in an initial government office, kindly decline, you will likely be charged considerably more up to 50%.  If it appears out of the ordinary, it probably is To report or complain about a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, forward your concern/complaint to the Presidential Complaint […]

Cebu is a kaleidoscope of varying cultures and lifestyles, a meeting of east and west, a fusion of things traditional and modern This is influenced by the various phases of Cebu: being the spot where Philippine history began, becoming the cradle of Christianity, experiencing American and Japanese occupation, and later on transforming itself into a regional hub of everything from arts and craftsmanship, to business and information technology, all these, plus the convergence of personalities and groups from varying backgrounds give the island a culture and lifestyle […]

Cebu is very friendly place, and most tourist don’t have any safety issues International tourists should avoid travelling to certain parts of Mindanao, including Western and Central Mindanao and the Sulu Islands and unless you have a good reason to, we wouldn’t recommend travelling to those parts  Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago have on-going terrorist activity with clashes between the military and insurgent groups Power Output in the Philippines The Electricity in the Philippines is 220V, with a frequency of 50hz to 60hz, its recommended you avoid packing high wattage electric appliances, unless the output and frequency is the same.  You will be at […]

The Cebu Tourist is not affiliated to Bureau of Immigration, nor can we answer official queries related to any other Philippine Government agencies​. If you approched by a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, offering to expedite (fast track) your visa for cash away from the office or near, even if in an initial government office, kindly decline, you will likely be charged considerably more up to 50%.  If it appears out of the ordinary, it probably is To report or complain about a fixer (unauthorised agent) or government official, forward your concern/complaint to the […]

Cebu holiest church houses a revered Flemish statuette of the Christ child (Santo Niño) that dates to Magellan’s time The church is no stranger to hardship: established in 1565 (the first church in the Philippines), three earlier structures were destroyed by fire, before the existing baroque structure was built in 1737, it was also badly damaged by the 2013 earthquake but has since been restored, perhaps the church owes its incendiary past to the perennial bonfire of candles in its courtyard, stoked by an endless procession of […]