Having said that, one thing is for sure—we did genuinely enjoy our stay at this paradise. So whether you’re curious about our experience or thinking of staying at this hotel, here’s my honest review of Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan.
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan: The Ultimate Getaway Experience
Overview
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan is actually just one of the three hotels owned and managed by Chroma Hospitality—a member of Filinvest Hotels and Resorts. They also have accommodations based in Manila and Boracay.
And as of this writing, the Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan has already won 14 awards—even bagging back-to-back TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. This ultimately shows the quality of their service and overall hotel property.
Location
This award-winning destination is located at Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu and just a 20-minute drive away from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. It’s strategically situated near the Hilutungan Channel, giving you breathtaking views of the clear, blue waters.
If you like to explore more than the beachside, you can easily visit tourist spots such as the Lapu-Lapu Monument, Magellan’s Cross, and Fort San Pedro in only a matter of minutes.
Do note that Lapu-Lapu City is not as sprawling and busy as Cebu City so there’s lesser public transportation. Despite this, you can still hail a taxicab to go from one point to another as it’s a highly urbanized region.
Tip: Before getting on a taxi to visit other relatively far tourist destinations, do make a fare contract with the driver and be clear where exactly you want him to take you. This would reduce the chances of being tricked to pay for a larger amount of money due to misunderstandings.
Room
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan has over 250 guestrooms and 40 villas and offers 6 accommodation options. With each villa measuring 115 square meters, you can be ensured that your rooms have enough space for your personal belongings.
During our visit, my husband and I (together with our son) stayed at their Deluxe Garden room.
This room features a queen-sized bed, 42” LCD television with over 89 cable channels, an open-plan bathroom that has a sunk-in bathtub, hot and cold shower, and 22” LCD television, and even your own pocket garden at the back of the villa. Two adults and one small child (under 12 years of age) can comfortably fit in this particular room.
Here are the other room amenities:
- High-speed WiFi access
- An electronic safe
- A minibar
- Coffee/tea maker
- ND/IDD telephone
- Iron and ironing board
- Hairdryer
- Bathrobes
- Extra pillows and bedsheets
- Slippers
Regarding the mini bar, the drinks inside are free but you have to keep in mind that’s it’s consumable and not refillable. They also have complimentary water and upon request, newspapers.
As for the interior design or look of our villa, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan integrates locally-sourced Cebuano décor and beautifully woven Banig ceilings with a touch of contemporary design.
Overall, I found this room very comfy and relaxing. The size of the villa is also spacious enough for a small family like ours. I really like the amenities inside the room as they are all useful. For the pricing of their rooms, it all depends on the season.
During our stay, the Iron Man event is at full swing so we paid a little bit more for the rooms. The Deluxe Garden room costs us about ₱15,000 per night. Travel agency rates such as the Posh membership are also not applicable for discounts.
Please do note of these following information during your stay:
- Check-In – 3:00 pm
- Check Out – 11:00 am
- Early Arrivals – The hotel recommends booking the prior night for immediate access to your guest room.
- Late Departure – It’s also advisable to book an additional night stay but they can store your luggage until your departure.
Amenities & Facilities
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan has a lot of amenities you can choose from. Whether you want to go diving or just relax under the sun, they have it all!
Exclusive Beach
The resort boasts of an exclusive-for-guests beach. This Crimson beach is open daily from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The shoreline is a bit small but all in all, the water is quite clear! You can even see fishes underneath. As for the sand, it’s fairly light but if you already visited Boracay, you should know that the sand in Crimson beach is far from the quality at Boracay’s.
Upon checking their website, I also saw that they have a marine sanctuary, a watersports center, and a dive shop. These water-based activities are fairly decent options if you love to try out new things and are extremely adventurous. As for me, I like lounging around a chair and enjoying the beachfront views instead of partaking in any heavy activity. You can find a lot of these lounging chairs at the beachfront which are covered by umbrellas so you don’t get burned by the sun.
Swimming Pools
If you prefer swimming pools over beaches, you’d also enjoy Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan.
There are two swimming pools found at the hotel but the main attraction is their infinity pool with a depth of 4 feet. It has stunning views of the Mactan waters which you can freely enjoy everyday from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
The pool is lined with lounge chairs at the side, allowing for easy access to refreshing drinks available at the Crimson bar such as mojitos and sangrias. You can also try out an assortment of aquatic fitness options like water aerobics for that daily exercise needs. If you’re looking for more fun under the sun, you should definitely attend the foam party every Saturday.
Overall, I enjoyed the pools more than the beach. It was very clean and well-maintained and I can actually look out for my son better in comparison when we were on the beach. This is due to the fact that the seawater is relatively deeper compared to swimming pools.
I also asked my young niece about her opinion towards Crimson Resort and she shared that she had fun with the pools, specifically the Crimzone Pool. This is not surprising at all though as this particular pool has fun water features such as slides and sprinklers. By dusk, it also turns into a lit pool, perfect for those who want to take a dip during the night.
Crimzone for Kids
Aside from the Crimzone pool, the Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan Cebu also has a play zone specifically designed for children.
The Crimzone is open everyday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and there is both an outdoor and indoor play den kids can choose from. It offers a variety of play activities including slides, arts & crafts, and even video games like Super Mario, Splatoon, and Minecraft.
However, the use of this facility is only limited to 2 hours for in-house hotel guests. Do also make sure to be with your child at all times as they would charge you an amount of money.
Fitness Center
There’s also a fitness center located inside the hotel, perfect for gym buffs and athletic people. This is open daily from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
I really don’t go to the gym so I didn’t go inside. However, upon checking their website, I found out that there is a spectrum of workouts one can enjoy—cycling, running, yoga. The hotel also offers various gym equipment such as treadmills with a headset, cross-trainers, upright and recumbent bikes, and strength-training or core work areas.
Aum Spa
Like the fitness center, I also didn’t have the chance to visit and try Crimson Resort’s famous and award-winning spa service. Their different relaxation options look very enticing though, especially the Jet Lag Re-Emergence where you can bask in a warm bath to relieve aching muscles.
Other services include a sauna in their steam room, a dip at their outdoor jacuzzi, and the Gatas Bath which uses actual milk to hydrate your skin. Feel free to visit the Aum Spa daily from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Food
The Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan offers several dining options for their guests.
If you want breakfast comfort food, you can dine in at the Saffron Café where breakfast food is served even at night. There are also several international cuisines offered. Want to eat a sumptuous lunch? Visit the Azure Beach Club where the hotel’s resident DJ cooks your food. Going drinking? Head on over to the Score Sports Bar for small bites and bar chows. For your Spanish food cravings, you can go visit the Enye.
They also have a breakfast buffet for in-house guests. And while I really appreciate the numerous food choices they offer, I personally prefer traditional Filipino food and unfortunately, they don’t offer that.
However, if you really want to taste a wide variety of food (Asian, Spanish, Continental), you’ll definitely enjoy the Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan. As for me, I was just specifically looking for the menu I really love which is local food.
Health and Safety Update
Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan has been committed to safeguarding the health and safety of its guests. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 outbreak, the resort strengthened its protocols by implementing measures that intend to protect guests.
Aside from strict adherence to Department of Health guidelines, health and safety procedures are also followed at the Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Provision of sanitation Kits
- Use of thermal scanners
- Availability of Medical teams
- Disinfection and sanitation of rooms and facilities
Overall Experience
To sum up my experience in Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, the one thing I absolutely love about this place is the fact that this is a kid-friendly hotel (considering I’m traveling with my son and my stepchildren)!
Unlike other hotels that only have one room (or even none at all!) dedicated to kids, the Crimson Resort took it to the next level by offering a large play zone for the children, complete with various fun activities.
Overall, I really had a great time at this resort! I’m glad that I had the chance to bond and enjoy with my family under the sun and breathtaking views Crimson Mactan has to offer.
If you have any questions about the rates or discounts of this place, feel free to send a direct message on my Instagram account. You can also learn more about Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan through the following details:
Website: https://crimsonhotel.com/mactan
Contact Number: (032) 401 9999
Watch my video here for a more detailed hotel tour.
Check my blog for more articles about my travel experiences in the Philippines and abroad as well.
