When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Cebu?
Airfares tend to be more expensive over the festive period and in the summer months, despite these months being considered the low season in the Philippines. For cheap flights to Cebu, look to travel between February and May or between September and November. You will miss typhoon season and overall the weather will be very pleasant.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Cebu?
Booking your Cebu flights well in advance will be your best bet for snagging some great savings on your airfare. For a long-haul trip like this, book three to four months prior to your departure. Savings on last-minute flights are never a guarantee but it is still possible to find great deals on flights and hotels, even during the high season.
Flying to Cebu International Airport (CEB)
Originally a military outpost, Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB) is now the second-busiest civilian passenger airport in the Philippines. Located on Mactan Island, it is about 20 km away from Cebu City. No direct flights from the UK operate to Cebu. You will need to have one or more stopovers or transfers. Generally, you can expect the transfer destinations for your return flights to Cebu to be in the Middle East or Asia, usually Hong Kong, Manila or Singapore. Most indirect Cebu flights depart from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester International Airport. However, you can find some services departing from Edinburgh, Birmingham and even Aberdeen, but these don’t offer the same flexibility as the near-daily services from London and Manchester. Airlines operating Cebu flights include Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways and Asiana Airlines.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Currently, Cebu International Airport (CEB) is only a single terminal airport dealing with both domestic and international services. However, in summer 2018 a new, second terminal is due to open to deal with the increasing number of passengers using the airport each year. You’ll find currency exchanges and duty-free shopping available in the arrivals area. A business lounge is located in the International Departures area and a fee can be paid at the door for access. The lounge also benefits from Wi-Fi and there are internet kiosks available in iKonnect.
Getting to the City from Cebu International Airport (CEB)
By far the easiest ways of getting from the airport to the city are either by transfer or taxi. Organising a transfer from the airport with your hotel or guesthouse is probably one of the simpler methods of reaching your accommodation. Alternatively, there is a taxi rank around 30 metres from the terminal with two types of taxis; white and yellow. Yellow taxis are traditionally the official airport taxis and are slightly more expensive than the ordinary white taxis. Queues for white taxis, however, can be much longer resulting in a much longer wait time.
Why visit Cebu?
Like many of its tropical neighbours, Cebu has plenty of underwater adventures for snorkelers and divers alike. You don’t have to go far offshore to start seeing Cebu’s vibrant sub-marine life. With hundreds of species of coral, a variety of fish and even turtles, just one holiday won’t feel like enough time to see it all. Down by Oslob you can swim with the gentle giants of the sea: whale sharks. Locals feed them so that they remain in these waters all year-round.
You are never far from nature in Cebu. Mount Babag gives visitors the opportunity to hike through the forest and many of the local hiking groups organise trips for tourists. Canyoning is also a popular activity for those visiting the island, along with exploring the island’s many waterfalls. Of course, if you don’t fancy exerting yourself, there are numerous beautiful beaches where you can while away the hours under the sun.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
You do not need a visa when travelling to the Philippines for an initial period of 30 days, however, you can also apply for a tourist visa from the Philippine Embassy that’s valid for 56 days. You can only bring around £600 worth of Philippine Pesos into the country, any more and you’ll have to receive authorisation from the Philippine National Bank. Before catching your return flight from CEB, you will need to pay a departure tax of about 750 pesos.
