Living in VisMin and flying out of the country? Make the Cebu airport your international gateway to the world and back home. Why? It’s way more convenient with its next door-walkable domestic-international connectivity, far less crowded, quicker immigration clearance than Manila’s. Plus, MCIA is far more aesthetically pleasing in- and outdoor, and passenger-friendly than any of the NAIA terminals today.

With the Cebu hub offering a good list of international carriers, non-Cebu residents may need a separate ticket for their domestic leg of the journey. If it’s not with the same airline, it’s best to plan well, especially if you have trust issues with local carriers having a reputation of “plane always late” or changing, if not cancelling, flight time moving it too close to your onward flight. It can be anxiety-inducing, truly. Best option? Arrive a day earlier. I would. I did. It relieves the stress of being late, or worse, missing the flight to the USA. 

What to do in Cebu in 24-hours or longer? Plenty. An airport hotel like Waterfront Airport Hotel can be the most convenient choice, but its sister property, Waterfront Cebu City hotel in the city center, is a smart choice for longer layovers. Here’s why. 

Convenience, comfort and location. Arrange for a hotel transfer and spare yourself of the hassle lugging luggage and hailing a cab to the city center. The efficient reception carries through check-in all the way to the comforts of a well-appointed, spacious room, onto the rest of your stay. No soiled clothes in the luggage, your day’s look can be freshly laundered, pressed and ready for the next OOTD abroad. Ring up housekeeping for this service. 

Dining out feels without leaving the hotel. Cebu City’s vast culinary offering is exciting, but you need not stray far to dive into the scene. There are three dining spots steps away from your hotel room. Along the Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu are three specialty restaurants marked as favorites by the local foodies: Mizu (Japanese), Tin Gow (Cantonese and Szechuan) and La Gondola (Italian). It may be a challenge to enjoy the house specialties of these three given the limited time, but who says you can’t hop? A sukiyaki or sushi at Mizu, the Crispy Sweet & Sour Pork or Peking Duck at Tin Gow, a pizza or pasta dish at La Gondola, more at each stop if you have a hearty appetite (or you can always return to Cebu for another bout). Don’t forget the desserts! The Green Tea ice cream and the Gelatos are such great meal enders. 

Last minute pasalubong shopping. Admit it, you may have ticked your checklist for everything you need but there is always that nagging feeling that you forgot something to pack. Worry not, there’s a gift shop in the hotel, and a few steps across Waterfront will take you to the Central Bloc Mall. Gifts? Extra clothing? Local delicacies? Toiletries and meds? Find it there. 

Have a nightcap before calling it a night. A Gin Tonic or freshly brewed coffee can make for a good nightcap at the Lobby Lounge. Under the iconic world map painting is a good spot to relax and people watch while enjoying a drink. 

Load up before a long trip. Have a hearty breakfast at Cafe Uno if you have a morning flight. Cafe Uno’s breakfast spread will have a local dish that will that you’ll miss abroad, like a bowl of hot Champorado (chocolate rice porridge) paired with Danggit (local dried fish), or Taho (fresh silken tofu, tapioca pearls with brown sugar syrup). Lucky you if your flight is after lunch, you can have more of the house specialties of Waterfront’s Gourmet Walk restaurants. 

Now freshen up in your room and head to the airport. 

Fly Starlux Airlines thru Cebu's Mactan City International Airport. 

Flown Starlux Airlines yet? You should. The new Taiwanese Airline, serving Cebu, has a fleet of A350 aircraft which has configurations of 1-2-1 on Business Class, 2-4-2 on Premium Economy and 3-3-3 on Economy Class. The last, perhaps, making it the most convenient and spacious seat set-up among the long haul aircrafts. I can attest to it. Plus, getting an exit row seat, the 50 B, C, H, or J will offer the best legroom in the section. It may entail additional cost but it’s still far more economical (by half) than a Premium Economy seat (and I will sit in this section on my next trip). The Cebu-Taipei utilizes A321NEO with all seats having inflight entertainment systems. 

Starlux offers the lowest rate among other airlines at a recent seat sale. The Cebu-SFO/LA-Cebu via Taipei fare is around US$750, add the DVO-CEB-DVO plus baggage allowance via PAL, the total still is the cheapest among the airlines on the list. Like I said above, make sure you have ample time in between flights. Stay a night in Cebu if you must. 

Enjoy the new planes, comfortable seats, good food, yes, in-flight entertainment (not on iPad!) with a long list of movie titles, and the restrooms are constantly kept clean and smelling good by the crew all 11 to 14 hours long.