USUALLY, vacations are made in the company of friends and family, often times planned way ahead in order to fit into everyone's schedules. But last week, with the undying craving for what has been dubbed as the world's best roasted pig and just some time away from the hurly burly of work life, I booked a weekend getaway to the Queen City of the South within just a couple of nights' notice.
During official business travels, I usually fret the thought of staying in hotels all by myself as most establishments, including resorts and hotels, in the country are not that `single' friendly.
Waking up on a Friday morning, after a frantic night of packing, I was running late for my flight to Cebu. Thankfully, someone heaven sent reserved an exit row window seat for me on Philippine Airlines and enjoyed the extra legroom during the whole flight.
Upon arriving at the Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa, I was surprised with an upgrade from an ordinary suite to an Ocean Suite complete with perks at the Ocean Club Lounge.
Upon entering the room, I was surprised with a spectacular view of the Cebu Strait and the neighboring Hilton Hotel, which I was very thankful for as I barely knew anyone in the Queen City of the South and was thinking of hibernating the whole weekend inside my hotel room.
Thankfully, the view will keep me company, so I thought.
Being alone, I took the time to do whatever I wanted at my own pace and luxury in this wonderful resort.
With the beauty of the resort and the numerous amenities that it has to offer, Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa is one destination where I found out it's ok to be without a `plus one.'
With the colorful photos of the food and beverage choices available at the various dining outlets of the resort, it was hard to stay put inside the hotel room, and so off I went exploring.
First off, I headed to Acqua, an Italian restaurant at the ground floor of the Ocean Wing of the resort. The restaurant offers some of the best brick oven baked pizzas in the whole country. Albeit the restaurant has yet to provide an actual `single friendly' area, the staff can make anyone at ease, whether you are dining alone or with company.
A must try at the restaurant is the outrageously rich spaghetti chittara or spaghetti with lobster, the prosciutto di parma or pizza with parma ham, and arugula leaves. Lunch was capped with a huge chunk of crunchy layer of chocolate hazelnut complemented with a layer of chocolate mousse and another layer of rich chocolate cake.
Another thing to do at the resort is to head to the Ocean Club Lounge, an exclusive area for guests staying at one of the exquisitely appointed Ocean Suites on the 7th and 8th floors of the Ocean Wing of the resort.
With a huge flat screen to yourself or a silent corner to read, the lounge is a place where you can be by yourself and no one will mind. And yes, there are few people who go to the lounge.
Shortly before dinner, the lounge also served cocktails that can range from scotch to brandy, and to my favorite vodka; and yes, in multiple flavors.
During dinner I tried the highly recommended Cowrie Cove and was delighted with their array of bisques and succulent seafood.
Breakfast at the resort is always a pleasure with everything from bread and butter to a number of choice jams to the local delicacies of Cebu and its neighboring provinces.
And so for the rest of my trip it was one gastronomic delight after another, except during the times when I opted to venture out into the other places of Cebu, which I will write about in another article.
The professionalism of the staff and the nonchalant attitude of the other guests, which are mostly foreign nationals, make Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa a must visit destination for those who wish to spend some time in sweet solitude.
Now that it's the start of a new work week, I can't help but look back on the weekend that was and all the fun, gastronomic delights, the scenery, plush linens and luxury that came along with it, but I am also looking forward to the day when I will hop on the plane again bound for this corner of Mactan Island where I can enjoy my sweet solitude.