I mostly blog about things that captures my interest. And you would probably guess that one of my major interests is blogging about travel destinations and hidden gems and places in our country and sharing my experiences in the hopes of inspiring someone to discover more of the Philippines. So it was a nice surprise for me that last December I opened a message that invites Penfires to experience a beach resort tucked away and off the beaten path in Daan Bantayan, Cebu. The email was from Ron Perry, owner of Virgin Beach Resort Cebu. Finally after a long while I took the road again to travel to the last town of Cebu North – Daanbantayan.
But before the trip happened, Virgin Beach Resort Cebu launched a promo blitz via Metrodeal and I was able to purchased one voucher for a discounted stay at VBR at 50% off. Cool! I get to bring my sister, mom and bf along on this quick getaway hehehe.
Please read here for specific instructions on How to go to Cebu North Bus Terminal to ride a Daanbantayan bound bus.
Additional readings for a Cebu North sidetrip: Day Tour in Daanbantayan Town.
Welcome to Virgin Beach Resort Cebu
You won’t be lost as long as you ride a bus in Cebu North Bus terminal bound for Daan Bantayan via Maya – Bagay route. Travel time from Northbus to the VBR welcome road signage below is about 3 and a half hour (can be more) and you will pay P140 for the ticket fare per person on a non-aircon bus. Just for insurance inform the conductor that you will be getting off in Sitio Suba just before the Malbago Elementary School or simply tell the conductor to drop you off sa eskina ng Virgin Beach Resort.
Road Sign for Virgin Beach Resort Cebu
As you get off the bus, you’ll see a waiting shed where you can wait for the resort’s free pick-up service. You have to call them to pick you up by the way. If for some reason the vehicle is not available, please take the habal – habal motorcycle ride for P20 per head. You can always walk the whole 1.5 kms stretch to VBR from the national road but I strongly advise against it. It’s far, and if you walk it might zap your energy that otherwise you can use to explore this Cebu resort once you arrive.
Conserve your energy for when it matters most, right? Hehehe 
VBR Transpo Service to Pick-up Guests
Once you arrive at the gates of VBR you’ll see another sign that welcomes you to the resort and then you will fill up your registration form at the front desk of the resort’s main building.
Virgin Beach Resort Welcomes You!
VBR Main Building – Hotel
After you check-in, you’ll be led to your hotel room or your duplex cottage. We stayed at two superior rooms at the hotel, one for Titus and the other shared by me, my mom and sister.
VBR Superior Room with Double Bed
Don’t be surprised but you’ll see picture frames of past guests of the resort decorating the walls of the rooms. Different people might have different take on it, for me it was no biggie but my sister find it disturbing as the pictures on our room as well as Titus’ room only shows couples and not barkada or family shots. The displayed frames might lead some people to think that the resort only caters to couples and honeymooners but no, far from it. Virgin Beach Resort welcomes couples, barkadas or group of friends, employees on incentive getaways or summer teambuilding activities, conferences and seminars, special events like parties and weddings, families on vacations, retirees, long term stays and more.
Superior rooms at Virgin Beach Resort are with aircons and come with a mini safety deposit box, mini ref or fridge, clean restroom, bath with water heater, one special personal pack with toothpaste, soap and shampoo, tv (no cable) and dvd player. Some of the cottages meanwhile offer amenities same as above and in addition cable television and a kitchenette so you can cook your own meals. Cottages are perfect for those looking to book for an extended period as VBR offers special discounted packages for long term stays. Inquire with the hotel for a package that’s perfect for your need so you can save!
Way to the Cottages
One of the VBR’s Cottages
Because it was raining when we got to the resort we can’t venture outside. Great thing there are these books, games, magazines, dvds, cable tv on the hotel’s central entertainment area that you can borrow for free. My sister got her hoard of National Geographic magazines and read as we wait for the rain to stop. BTW, this area also comes with free wifi connection. As for me, I was busy exploring the main building =)
Entertainment Area at VBR
VBR Cebu also has a function room that can accommodate more guests which you can reserve and book for special events like parties, conferences, wedding reception and more!
Function Room at VBR
Luckily the sky cleared before dusk and we were able to explore the grounds of Virgin Beach Resort. Our feet led us all the way to the beach area and the breakwater! We got tens of pics at the breakwater; it was without a doubt mine and Kenneth’s favorite pictorial place at VBR. You have no idea how many pics we have from there hahahhah 😎
Raising the Waves
Field Trip Boy and Penfires
Three Marias enjoying the sea scene
Virgin Beach Resort is strongly connected with St John the Baptist; hence you can find this statue of San Juan facing the sea.
St John The Baptist at VBR
At the side of the statue is a beach volleyball court, one of the facilities offered by this resort in Daanbantayan. They also have a basketball court for those who want to shot some balls and a billiard table at the main hall. What interested us was the facility for wall climbing. You can’t stop us from climbing VBR’s wall hehhehhe!. If you are a bit tired or afraid of heights, you can just climb onto the duyans by the pool or at the hotel. But you will be missing out a lot so you better not hehhehe
Volleyball court for Jump Shots
Cimbing the Wall
Duyan to relax
From atop the wall you can use the zip line to get down, but unlike the previously mentioned facilities, you’ll pay P200 to use the zip line. They also have mountain bikes that you can use to tour the 2 hectares resort for a minimal pay.
Mountain Bike at VBR Cebu
You’ll also find on the resort ground these curious things which later on I found out were golf holes so guests can play a game of mini golf. We did not get to try to golf but we took pics of them hehhehe as the holes represent something significant for the Philippines like the Mayon Volcano, Chocolate Hills, Magellan’s Cross, Guitars, Fishes, Coconuts, Bridge (San Juanico? ), Bahay Kubo and an Outrigger Boat.
Mini Golf Holes
But one of the main draws of Virgin Beach Resort is its swimming pool with a water slide. Lots of kids were playing in the pool the afternoon we arrived at VBR.
Virgin Beach Resort Cebu Swimming Pool
Testing VBR’s water slide
Kids at Play on the shallow portion of the pool
For day trippers, entrance fee per head for Virgin Beach Resort is P100 for both kids and adults. Day trip is more applicable to guests living in nearby towns but for us who came all the way from Mactan, having an overnight accommodation is a must. You can just bring food with you and spread it on your kiosk counter-top to feast on in between enjoying the pool.
Kiosk Cottages for Day Trippers at P100 and P200 only
*titus just jumped in, hence the water splashes hehehe
Food Choices
What’s a trip without food right? Food dishes offered at VBR usually are in the range of P120 to P150 a dish. For dinner we had calamares (You MUST try their calamares, I am more than satisfied. I love it!), beef steak, chicken adobo (given to us for free yey!), and chopsuey. One main dish comes with free 1 cup of rice.
Dinner Choices at VBR
Breakfast the following morning – all Metrodeal voucher holders will have free breakfast of French toast and coffee. Good thing their staff Jomar mentioned that we can exchange each of our French toast for a cup of rice. As expected, we exchange the toasts to rice and then we just ordered calamares (again, I really love it), pancit canton and pork adobo. These three viands cost us P150 a dish so it was still affordable.
Breakfast Yum!
Enjoying our breakfast fare =)
Waiting for Sunrise at Virgin Beach Resort
Kenneth woke me up around 5:30 am to ask for the camera as she was bent on capturing the sunrise at Virgin Beach Resort Cebu. Since I could not sleep again, I’ve also went out that early and mannn was I glad. Why? Because we got more awesome photos at the breakwater, this time with the wonderful sunrise!
Sunrise silhouette at the breakwater
Sun rises at Virgin Beach Resort Cebu
Palms, Sun and Sea Perfect!
Fieldtrippers in VBR
Virgin Beach Resort Cebu Beach at Sunrise
Sea Creatures that’ll delight inquisitive minds!
We went back for breakfast at the pool area, did not hurry up since the pool was still being clean then. At mid day we went back to the beach of VBR for a last glimpse.
Virgin Beach Resort Beach
There were already local kids enjoying the waters. They were happily jumping from the breakwater and posing for cameras. Before us, some guests were there too and these kids enjoyed having their photos taken. I requested them to jump in unison, they cooperated only the execution was not flawless hehehhe, nevertheless I am glad that they were enjoying themselves immensely based on their wide smiles and hearty laughs.
Neighborhood Kids Enjoying the Sea
NOTE TO READERS: The resort is tucked away in the sleepy town of Dannbantayan. If your idea of a fun resort vacation is loud parties, mass of guests and dazzling lights, VBR is not for you. BUT if you want to leave reminders of the big city, de-stress and find a venue to truly just relax and enjoy, get on a bus or drive your vehicle and visit Virgin Beach Resort Cebu. Or gather your friends and barkada or colleagues and organize a fun filled party at the resort! The options are limitless!
Heading Back Home from Daanbantayan
We left the resort close to 11am, the resort’s vehicle was not available then so we had no choice but to have the staff call for habal – habal. Drive back to the shed was a breeze, good thing it was not raining too for rain would have been a problem.
Riding the Habal – Habal Motorycle
After just about 5 minutes of waiting, a red Powow bus approaches and we rode on it. After 10 minutes or so, a Ceres bus has overtaken us hehehe. So anyhow you see, buses passes by Brgy Malbago one after the other, longest wait will probably be around 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Getting back to Cebu City by public commute is not a problem at all.
Last bus trip usually pass by the waiting shed around 7:30pm and the earliest will pass at around 1am, so be guided =).
Our visit to Virgin Beach Resort Cebu in Daan Bantayan is a good way to start Summer 2012! We enjoyed and had an awesome time and you will too! Pack your bag and head to the road, VBR is waiting for you!
For more resources, inquiries and contact numbers of Virgin Beach Resort Cebu, please head to these links:
Reserving and booking a room is easy just email them at virginbeachresortcebu@yahoo.com
Thanks for the great blog, Cille. Glad you and Field Trip Boy and your family enjoyed Virgin Beach Resort. I have been in restaurants all over the world that have pictures of their guests and thought I would do that at our resort. Some people find it strange but I have found other resorts in the Philippines have done that also. We have had at least one guest remove the pictures from the room while they stayed there…no problem. But many guests find their friends/relatives in the pics and enjoy them. Some of the guests in the pics ask their picture to be in the room that they stay in, that is why some couples pics are in specific rooms as that was the room they stayed in originally and when they come back, they want “their” room.
Yep it was a great family bonding time! =)
On the pics, I too have seen walls of appreciations for past guests in resorts, hotels and restaurants especially those with local flares as it gives the place more character. These galleries are great to view as the photos captures how much past guests enjoyed a place, although per my experienced having travelled much of the country and stayed from 5 star establishments (courtesy of my previous job) to the simplest backpackers inns (personal travels hehehe), these picture galleries are usually confined to public areas like the restos and lounge centers. So my sister who isn’t as travelled as I am was shocked to see pics on a hotel room. Will be informing her that it’s VBR’s way appreciating guests even more and giving in on guests request to have their photos on the hotel room wall so they’ll see it when they come back or their friends can see it. This makes VBR very unique as you guys treasure happy moments of your guests during their stays which is great!