The Reef Island Resort Cebu Review: Affordable Luxury
Discover why The Reef Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu is the ultimate modern getaway for families and couples seeking affordable 5-star luxury with ocean views.
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Discover why The Reef Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu is the ultimate modern getaway for families and couples seeking affordable 5-star luxury with ocean views.
A sleek, modern 25-story property that brought a fresh wave of luxury to Mactan when it opened in late 2022.
For our recent family getaway to Cebu, we chose to stay at the highly-rated
"The Reef Island Resort Mactan."
This unique property combines standard luxury hotel rooms with residential-style suites for longer stays.
Here is exactly why we chose this resort for our family vacation in Cebu:
✅ A rare, modern, and newly built resort in Cebu (where older hotels dominate)
✅ A quiet, peaceful private beach perfect for pure relaxation
✅ Sleek 5-star aesthetics at an incredibly reasonable price point
Why We Recommend The Reef Island Resort Mactan |
1. Location: A Peaceful, Secluded Haven |
2. The Stunning Infinity Pools |
3. The Room: Spacious Deluxe Premium Ocean View |
4. Breakfast & Resort Amenities |
5. Great Value for Money |
The resort is tucked away at the quieter northern tip of Mactan Island.
Getting around was a breeze using Grab or local taxis, so the location never felt like an issue.
Because it's set back from the main commercial areas,
you do have to travel a bit to reach major supermarkets or off-site restaurants.
However, unlike chaotic, crowded resort areas where vendors constantly pitch to you outside the gates,
The Reef offers a quiet, peaceful sanctuary where you can truly unwind.
We absolutely loved the tranquil vibe.
Since we spent most of our days out on island-hopping tours anyway,
the secluded location was never a drawback for our family!
The swimming pools were easily our favorite feature of the resort.
While not sprawling, the resort boasts two beautiful infinity pools
along with a small kid-friendly pool,
making it perfect for a relaxing swim.
The ocean-facing infinity pool is breathtaking.
It was never crowded during our stay,
making it feel almost like our own private villa pool.
There is a chic poolside cafe right next to the water,
making it incredibly convenient to grab burgers, snacks, and cold craft beers.
We booked a 3-night stay here, and we spent one entire day
just lounging by the pool without leaving the property. It was pure bliss.
As one of the newest 4-star resorts in Cebu,
the interior design is incredibly sleek, modern, and upscale.
Traveling as a family of three with our child,
we chose to upgrade from the standard Deluxe to a Deluxe Premium Room.
The room was remarkably spacious,
featuring a massive bed that comfortably fit all three of us.
Best of all, every single room at The Reef features an ocean view.
Waking up to the bright blue sea every morning was incredibly therapeutic.
The bathroom featured elegant marble tiling
and came fully stocked with high-quality amenities.
Our favorite part of the room was definitely the balcony.
It was massive—large enough to fit a full-sized bed.
Some guests even drag their daybeds out here to lounge directly in front of the ocean views!
In addition to being spotlessly clean,
the room featured convenient modern tech, like a high-speed wireless charging dock next to the bed.
The Reef Island Resort delivers a truly polished, modern luxury stay.
The breakfast buffet was another highlight.
While the selection isn't overwhelmingly massive,
every dish was fresh and delicious.
They offer sweet, fresh local Philippine mangoes daily,
which we happily ate by the plateful.
Another unexpected hit was their soup station.
The pumpkin soup was incredibly rich and savory—
we kept going back for refills!
Beyond the food, the restaurant itself looks out over the ocean,
allowing you to dine in a calm, unhurried, and scenic atmosphere.
The resort also has a private beach where guests can rent kayaks and paddleboards.
Our schedule was packed with external tours, so we didn't get to try them,
but we made great use of the indoor game zone instead!
There is a kids' club on site, but since our child was a bit older,
we spent most of our time in the adjacent game room.
It features billiards, table tennis, basketball arcade games, and even a PlayStation.
Since it was never crowded,
our family got to enjoy the space completely to ourselves!
Compared to Cebu's older legacy resorts,
The Reef Island Resort offers incredible bang for your buck.
While major properties like Shangri-La often run over ~$198 per night
and Jpark Island Resort starts well over ~$132 per night,
The Reef Island Resort offers luxury rooms starting in the mid-to-high $100s.
↓↓ Check out the estimated nightly rates for July below:
Booking Platform | Rates (Approx.) |
~$117 | |
~$159 | |
~$163 |
Because rates change dynamically based on seasonal promotions,
you can compare live prices across all major booking platforms at the link below:
The Reef Island Resort Mactan Deals
Our stay at The Reef Island Resort was absolutely wonderful.
In a destination where many accommodations are showing their age,
staying in a fresh, clean, and modern building was a breath of fresh air.
While massive waterpark resorts like Jpark might suit families with very young toddlers,
if your kids are slightly older,
or if you plan on a trip packed with island-hopping tours,
we highly recommend booking The Reef Island Resort Mactan
for its sleek 5-star aesthetic, peaceful vibe, and unbeatable value.
📍 The Reef Island Resort Mactan, Cebu
72X8+G89, Dapdap, Lapu-Lapu, 6015 Cebu, Philippines
#Cebu #CebuTravel #CebuAccommodation #CebuResort #TheReefIsland #CebuNewResort #CebuValueResort #CebuFamilyTravel #CebuFamilyResort
Since the resort is located at the edge of the Mactan area, the surrounding commercial area is not very developed. You will need to use Grab or a taxi to get to restaurants or supermarkets. However, this allows you to enjoy a quiet and peaceful vacation without being bothered by touts.
All rooms offer an ocean view and feature a balcony spacious enough to fit an entire extra bed. As a newly built accommodation opened in 2022, the bathroom floors are made of marble, and the rooms are equipped with the latest wireless chargers.
The breakfast restaurant features an ocean view, allowing you to enjoy your meal in a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere. While the variety of dishes isn't huge, mangoes are provided as a staple, and the rich, savory sweet pumpkin soup is a popular menu item.
Based on standard deluxe rooms, while Jpark costs ~$132 or more and Shangri-La is ~$198 or more, The Reef Island starts from around ~$99 to ~$125. As of July on Agoda, it can be booked for around ~$112, making it a great value for travelers with many outdoor activities like island hopping tours.
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