Cheap Cebu Accommodation

Cheap Areas to Stay in Cebu

With its rich history, scrumptious local fare, and heritage buildings dating from Spanish colonial times, it’s no wonder travelers flock to Cebu City, one of the largest cities in the Philippines and a gateway to tourist destinations in the Visayas region. Look for budget hotels along Osmeña Boulevard, where you’ll be close to either Fuente Osmeña Circle or Magellan’s Cross and 2 major churches, depending on your location on this long road. There are a few options on Pelaez Street and Pelaez Extension, which are near 2 universities and the public market. Stay along Archbishop Reyes Avenue for easy access to shopping and dining in Ayala Center Cebu.

Cheap Hotels in Cebu

Sampaguita Suites Plaza Garcia provides casual and colorful quarters, along with a restaurant. A 3-minute walk from Magellan’s Cross and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, it’s a good budget pick for groups as there are triple and family rooms. ABC Hotel Cebu features 2 restaurants and spa services, plus bright rooms. Suites with separate living rooms and kitchenettes are available, while the Robinson Place Cebu mall is just down the street. Meanwhile, the rooms in Red Planet Cebu are modern yet understated. This reasonably priced hotel doesn't have any facilities, but the Ayala Center Cebu shopping mall is a stone’s throw away.

Where to find cheap food in Cebu

Food in Cebu City is generally cheap, and you shouldn't miss the chance to sample local specialties like lechon Cebu, the province’s delicious take on the roasted suckling pig. There are popular BBQ joints and lechon restaurants in the city; ask a local for recommendations. You can also walk the streets in search of low-key eateries and fast-food chains, or if you’re in one of the malls, go to the food court for a wide selection of affordable meals. Alternatively, do as the locals do and sit down at a pungko-pungko, a roadside eatery that serves dirt-cheap food. You’ll find these stalls all over the city.

Cheap Things to do in Cebu

One of Cebu’s must-visit attractions is Magellan’s Cross, a landmark that commemorates the birth of Christianity in the Philippines by way of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition to the East. Magellan planted a cross in Cebu when he arrived, and the original cross is encased in the wooden replica enshrined in a small chapel with murals on the ceiling. The 18th-century Santo Niño Basilica houses the original Santo Niño, a statue of the child Jesus, that Magellan gave the local chieftain when he was baptized in 1521. Nearby is the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, built in the Spanish Colonial style, which is the seat of the Catholic archdiocese of Cebu. The city has a few other museums you can check out; if you’re strapped for time, go for Museo Sugbo, located in a stone-built complex that used to be the provincial jail. There's a minimal admission fee.

Cheap Ways to Get Around Cebu

Jeepneys are the primary means of transport in downtown Cebu, and you’ll find these colorful vehicles all over the city. There are a few jeepney terminals, including those at Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu. There are 2 bus terminals, Cebu North and Cebu South, where you can catch buses and vans to other parts of Cebu – the island’s beaches and diving destinations are not to be missed, after all. A cheap way to reach Mactan-Cebu International Airport is the air-conditioned MyBus. It only costs Php 25 to or from the airport, but you’ll have to buy a card costing Php 200, which includes Php 100 credit.