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Mactan International Airport
When you land at Mactan International Airport look out of the window and
you will notice it is on an island just off the main part of Cebu Island,
the island is called Mactan Island and consists mainly of Lapu Lapu town
on the west inland side and the beach areas which are all along the east
side of the island.
Lapu Lapu
The town around the airport is called Lapu Lapu and while there is accommodation
there the only real purpose for staying in this area is to be close to
the airport, for example if you have an early morning flight next day
or if you have been visiting the other islands and need somewhere close
to the airport for connecting flights, the town itself has a few places
to eat but little else to sttract visitors. If you need a taxi from the
airport to most of the Lapu Lapu hotels it will cost around P90 to P150.
Mactan Island beaches
Also on Mactan Island are some great beaches these are dotted with resorts
and places to stay of varying cost and quality, a taxi to one of these
resorts can be between P150 to P250 depending on distance (the nicer resorts
and beaches are at the two ends of the east side of the island and furthest
away from the airport.
1/ Cebu City Port/Downtown area
2/ Cebu City central area
3/ Cebu City business area
4/ Mactan Island beaches
5/ Lapu Lapu accommodation
6/ Mactan International Airport
How to get to your hotel from Mactan Cebu
airport
Cebu City
If you want to stay in Cebu City itself there is lots of accommoation
ranging from basic guesthouses to top class hotels, in simple terms you
can split the city into three main areas:
1/ Port Area approx taxi cost from airport to here P120
- P150
2/ Central Cebu City approx taxi cost from airport to
here P250 - P350
3/ Business Park approx taxi cost from airport to here
P200 - P300
4/ Beach Areas of Mactan island approx taxi cost from
airport to here P120 - P300
So how do you get a taxi from the airport to your destination?
After collecting your bags from the luggage carousel you will find the
exit doors of the terminal are right behind you, (if you have pre-arranged
a transfer with a hotel then someone should be waiting for you here with
a sign), go through the doors and you will see a road right outside where
taxis, hotel shuttles and mini buses are parked up, you now have three
options:
1/ Fixed Price transfers
2/ Airport taxi (yellow)
3/ Regular Taxi (white)
 1/
Fixed price Transfers
On the right as you exit the terminal is a small booth (with
several eager sales people who will approach you to encourage you to get
a fixed price transfer). You give them your destination and they give
you a 'fixed price' for the trip.
Advantages: very simple and easy to arrange, no matter
how long the trip then takes even if held up by traffic the price remains
the same as agreed
Disadvantages: More expensive than taxi service (between
25% to 50% extra)
 2/
Airport taxi licensed yellow taxis
These are similar to regular taxis but they are the only taxi type to
collect from right outside the arrival lounge doors just walk out of the
terminal and you will see them queuing, go to the one at the front and
tell them where you need to go, when loaded in (bags and you) make sure
the driver starts the metre, these taxis have a starting fare of P70 and
then run on a metre that increases the price combined on distance and
time.
Advantages: Works out cheaper than fixed price transfer,
located just across the street from arrivals area and only properly licensed
taxis can enter this area so they are usually good quality vehicles and
drivers
Disadvantages: Meter starts at P70 and fare is variable
depending on traffic
 3/
Regular taxi licensed white taxis
The standard taxis that you will see all over the city, to find one of
these though you need to cross the road go up the ramp to the departures
lounge exit the departure terminal and flag one down from there (the white
taxis are not allowed down into the arrivals area), these taxis have a
starting fare of only P40 and then run on a metre that increases the price
combined on distance and time.
Beware some salespeople/officials may tell you that these taxis are
not available/allowed this is not true
Advantages: Cheapest transfer from the airport as the
Meter starts at P40
Disadvantages: You have to carry your luggage across
the street up the ramp across the departures terminal and out to find
these taxis, taxi quality can vary.
Tips on taxis
As a general rule if you dont like the condition of the taxi or have
an uneasy feeling about the driver DONT TAKE THE TAXI there will be another
one, just decline and walk away, I have found very few dodgy taxis in
Cebu, the industry is very competitive and most drivers take their jobs
seriously.
Make sure the metre starts at P40 and runs as you move, the most common
scams are:
1/ Not to start the meter then make up the fare on arrival.
2/ Say the meter is broken and 'they will do you a good deal' (it is illegal
for a taxi to work with a broken meter).
3/ Fiddle the meter so it runs fast - this is quite unusual as metres
are now checked and sealed.
4/ Take a long route to your hotel, making out that you know where the
hotel is and acting like you have been there before makes them less likely
to try this one.
All taxis have their company name on the side and an ID number and a
phone number for the taxi control. I have found some companies have better
quality taxis than others so look for a taxi that is clean and in good
condition.
Getting around Cebu City
Despite being the Philippines second largest city (after Manila) Cebu
City is suprisingly easy to get around, mainly because most things you
will need - hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, nightlife etc - are all
concentrated in nice compact groups, each area has a large shopping mall
(there is Robinsons Mall, SM Mall and Ayala Mall, a new SM Mall is now
being constructed and when it opens in 2015 will be Asias largest Mall)
The main entertainment areas are Mango Square and IT Park leisure are
both centrally located while business and offices are concentrated in
the business district and IT Park.
It is easy to get across the city by either Taxi or Jeepney.
The white taxis are all over these areas and you just
wave one down on the street, make sure they start the meter at P40 and
away you go, typical fares around the city between these
areas should always be between P70 and P180 Maximum.
Jeepneys also cover all the main areas and are P8
per trip you hop on pay the fare and signal the driver/conducter when
you want to get off, there are set routes through the city that the Jeepneys
follow, locals are usually very helpful in guiding you as to which jeepney
goes where, they are cheap (not always the fastest) ways to get around
the city, but they can get very crowded and watch for pickpockets!
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