We had to do more to welcome the New Year than you trip to Sumilon Island, so we decided to check out the new resort and water park that opened on Mactan Island.  There has been a great deal of hype about the first water park in Cebu, but I was not initially too interested because I assumed the water park would just be a couple of sides that kids could use instead of diving into a swimming pool.  Well, I have to tell you, the Imperial Palace is really fantastic.

The uniquely themed water park, the first in Cebu, is designed by Dream Park International, experts in water parks, themed-parks, and family entertainment. The water park features five different themed pools: Amazon River Pool- a flowing river pool that you can enjoy best in an inflatable tube; the Wave Rider- an artificial tide pool; Captain Hook’s Pool – featuring a pirate ship and slides; Beach Pool and Toddler Pool. It also features three exciting slides including the thrilling Space Bowl.

The one-day pass for Imperial Palace costs P1,900 on weekends and holidays and P1,500 – and it’s a bargain.  From the moment you enter this place, you are treated like the most important person in the world.  The customer service is absolutely outstanding in every way.  There is a comfortable and clean place to change into your beach wear.  Next, you pick up your beach towel and you’re off to visit the many theme pools and ocean.  If you’re energetic, they even offer aerobics classes that you take while standing in one of the pools.  From time to time, the Imperial Palace offers dance troops who entertain you with various family-friendly dances and small skits.  If you have any questions about what to do at the Imperial Palace, you can ask any of the friendly and helpful staff who seemed to be everywhere just waiting to help you.

We noticed a wide range of adults and children from many countries, although there seemed to be a quite large contingent of Korean guests.  Everyone seemed to have a great time.  We were a bit concerned there would be gangs of screaming, out-of-control kids, but there was only lots of laughter as hundreds of people from all over the world enjoyed themselves.  Sure, a few of the pools had a preponderance of kids, but there were also quiet, peaceful places where you could relax and rest.

The Imperial Palace is beautiful, fun, and has one of the best luncheon buffets in the Philippines.  My friends and I were hard-pressed to decide if we enjoyed the great food or water slides the most.  All-in-all this place is about the best recreational value you can find in Cebu.  If you haven’t yet been to the Imperial Palace – you should go.

Guests are 70 percent Korean, 20 Filipinos and 10 other races.

VIEW ALL OF THE PICTURES HERE

For the holiday season, my friends and I decided to take a short trip to the small island of Sumilon.  The entire island, we learned from the Internet and mouth of moounth, is owned by the same folks who own the Blue Water Resort in Lapu-Lapu.  We left Cebu City early in the morning by bus and arrived in Bancogon, Oslob about three hours later.  Our bus ride was inexpensive but quite uncomfortable – as are most bus rides in Cebu.

We walked about a hundred meters or so from the place we left the bus to a small building with a sign that said “Welcome to Sumilon Island.”  Once inside we were offered a welcoming drink that consisted of some kind of lemon grass and lemon concoction.  It was not so delicious, but the long and bumpy bus ride left us parched.  We looked around the area briefly and found nothing of interest, so we waited more than an hour for the boat to arrive that would take us to Sumilon Island.   We were concerned the boat might be quite small and not particularly sea-worthy, but it was larger than expected and more than adequate for the ten-minute voyage to the island.

From the boat docking area you have to walk on a very rocky pathway that was overgrown with bushes and trees, making travel difficult.  If you are accustomed to climbing mountains, then maybe this route would be okay.  We, however, found this trek to be unwelcomed and irritating.

The Sumilon Island Resort is just about all you kind find on Sumilon Island.  I have to say the vista that greets you upon arrival is not quite a picturesque as the images on the Internet would lead you to expect.  “Grungy” and “dirty” are the two words that describe what the reality had, that the Internet pictures lacked.  After observing the dirty pool, limited dining options, and learning the only real venue of interest (a fish sanctuary) located an hour hike away, we decided to opt for the P1,500 day-pass rather than stay overnight.

We walked around the beach, took some pictures, and headed over to the buffet for lunch.  The buffet lunch seemed more appropriate at a company canteen than a beach resort.  All together, for our P1,500 expenditure we received the round-trip boat ride, use of the beach and leaf-covered pool, as well the buffet lunch that I would compare to P100 meal in Cebu City.  If you think that is not much of a bargain, consider an overnight stay at the Sumilon Island Resort will set you back P8,500.  So after arriving at 10:30 in the morning, we welcomed the 3:30 boat ride back to Oslob.

VIEW ALL OF THE PICTURES HERE