Spot Stays: Retreat to These Beachside Villas at the Northern Tip of Cebu
There's even a small farm and stables.
Kandaya Resort
Agujo, Daanbantayan, Cebu
Rates start at P5,700
At a Glance
Room: Best known for the privacy their 23 villas offer, really; but there are 18 guest rooms and four suites, too.
Food and drink: Two beachside cocktails for P350 at happy hour, need we say more? The Chinese food is surprisingly good too.
Staff: Always ready with a smile
Why you should stay: Get away from it all in this swanky beach resort at the northern tip of Cebu.
(SPOT.ph) If you’re looking for a fancy villa to get away from it all this summer, we got you. We checked out a resort that will give you the ultimate beach getaway at the northern tip of Cebu. If you’re a showbiz die-hard, this property was the one of the locations of Lovi Poe and Derek Ramsay’s The Escort. It was even name-checked in the movie. Don’t worry—the hotel is actually really family friendly, what with its sprawling lands, private villas, and lots of things to do.
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Everything you need to know about this Cebu beach resort
Despite what Google Maps says, the trip from the city will take over three hours. The resort has a white van that can pick guests up—you know the kind. Transfers are priced P5,500 one way and P9,500 for a round trip to and from the airport. This comes with chilled drinks and can seat a maximum of six people.
Once you’re in Kandaya, you’ll notice just how sprawling the property is. The good news is you can always call a buggy to take you around if you don’t feel like walking. Chances are, one will have to take you to your room or villa as the distance, particularly with luggage in hand, is a small workout.
The guestrooms are spacious, but the privacy that a villa offers can’t be beat. In the middle of the villa is a large bed with a memory foam mattress topper. It might not sound like much; you won’t even think anything of it until you’ve sunken in and are drifting asleep in no time. In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s every bit as honeymooney as you can expect it to be. (That said, there were a lot of families with small children during our visit. But the villas are spaced far enough that you won’t hear any temper tantrums.)
There’s also a free standing bathtub in the bathroom that looks like it was lifted from an interior design catalog. This also adds to the romantic vibe of it all. Toiletries are by the American brand MALIN+GOETZ (pronounced ma-lin and getz) which is best known for its candles and fragrances.
WiFi was often spotty so we had to rely on cable TV—and nature—for entertainment.
What to Do
Aside from the obvious—the infinity pool, the beach, and water sports—the resort has a stable on its premises. Yes, actual horses you can ride for P600 for 15 minutes. Join the stable (pun intended) of the new calendar girls as you gallop along the shore. This can only be done when the tide is low, so be sure to check in advance. If that’s too taxing, then maybe an encounter where you can groom and take pictures with the horses is more your speed.
Animal lovers can spend time with a wider array of animals in Michelle’s Farm, a menagerie with lots of rodents, reptiles, and birds. Children can also have a coloring session there. Entrance is P50.
Speaking of speed, use of non-motorized water activities like the kayak and paddle board are complimentary, depending on availability—although we don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be. They have a lot of them.
The gameroom has an arcade and the usual foosball and billiards tables. These are also free for guests. The same goes for the gym and basketball and tennis courts. Just bring your own rubber shoes.
There’s also a garden you can explore and a large playground across it.
Also read: The Cafés in Cebu to Check Out If You're After Stunning Views
Where to Eat
The resort has one restaurant on its premises. This serves as its all-in-one F&B outlet, Kusina Restaurant and Harana Bar. Breakfast is also served here and despite being laid out like it’s ready for a buffet, it is a plated affair. The Filipino plates are especially filling as you get both rice and pan de sal as well as Cebu faves chorizo and danggit on top of your protein of choice (tapa, tocino, or daing). Coffee and juices as well as sliced fresh fruits are refillable.
Harana serves a variety of intercontinental dishes; and they also take care of room service, so it’s the menu. Expect most of them to be fusion, or come with an unexpected twist. Surprisingly the Chinese menu was the most reliable. The dishes surpassed expectations as they were well-executed renditions of Chinese classics adapted to the Filipino palate.
You can also rent out the other dining areas like the Bangka Lounge for private events.