Cebu 2018 Travel Diary: Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Mactan Island
I've visited Cebu three times in the past, but for me it was always only just a jump off point to Bohol or Siargao. I would just usually spend a day or day and a half in the Queen City of the South and I was not really able to experience this vibrant city. Cebu is probably the other city state outside of Luzon that is urbanized and equally progressive as Manila.
Although it is a metropolitan area, what I like about Cebu is that destinations where you can enjoy nature is easily within reach. Mountainous areas like in Busay is just a few minutes away from the city, world-class beach resorts in Mactan Island is just an hour away while Bantayan Island, Moalbal (diving site) and Oslob (whale shark watching) are just a few hours away.
So when I had the opportunity to go on a weekend trip to Cebu, even though it was somewhat unplanned and instantaneous I grabbed it in a heartbeat. Getting to travel early on this year excited me, it’s my first trip of the year, yey! Plus this will be the very first time that I'll get to really experience Cebu. I flew with fellow blogger and friend, Bettina via AirAsia.
I had a work-related opportunity to transfer my entire life to Cebu a few years back. I was excited of the thought of being able to live in a completely new place that no one knows me and plans of beach trips every weekend since there are a lot of beaches in Cebu that are just few minutes or hours away from the city. But I was a naive girl back then who threw her dreams away and turned that idea down because I was a complete idiot for a false love. It is one of my regrets in life but have accepted knowing better days are ahead and a dream that I can still do even if I am 30+ years old.
Anywaaaay, after our wonderful and luxurious stay at Bai Hotel we transferred to another equally luxurious and wonderful resort in Mactan Island: Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark. I was excited that I’ll be able to get my feet on sand moreover to enjoy the sea and sun. It will be a shame not to visit a nearby beach; after all Cebu is also well known for its beautiful beaches. Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark, is the only 5 star resort and waterpark in the country that is owned by a local family. The resort rolls out the red carpet for guests in a vibrant sun, sea, and sky setting and boasts as a quality single destination in Cebu. There are a lot of things to do (or not to do anything at all, basically up to you) inside this resort and waterpark.
It was also one of the venues chosen to host pre-pageant events during the 2017 Miss Universe pageant which is showcase through a photo wall along one of the hallways of the resort. So now, let’s get to the facilities and amenities that this resort has to offer before I go on with the accommodation and dining options that they have to offer.
The Water Park and Water Sports
At Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark, you’ll never run out of things to do. The resort has its own beach front, 5 swimming pools and 3 types of water slide. Before you go down the beach itself, there’s an area filled with sand lined with beach beds, lounge areas and a beach volleyball court. The beach is a bit rocky, narrow and can get narrower when it’s high-tide but the sand is cream colored and fine. You can do some snorkeling, jet skiing, fish-feeding, scuba diving, island hopping banana boating, wakeboarding or go to the floating slide just a few meters away from the shore.
Me and my blogger friends got to swim and frolic to 2 of the 6 pools inside the resort: Island Pool and The Amazon River. The Island Pool is the resort’s main pool where you can also find the Aqus Pool and Island bars where you can satisfying cravings while enjoying the cool waters of the pool. Cabanas line around the pool which guests can rent. These cabanas can give you privacy and is furnished with a sofa day beds, entertainment systems and a mini bar as well.
The Amazon River Pool is intended for kids but can be enjoyed by adults as well; jumped into one of the floaties, sit back, relax and let the slow movement of the river lull you around the pool. The Wave Rider pool gives guests some artificial waves to experience the fun of the sea without actually being on sea.
Other pools are Captain Hook’s Pool, Beach Pool and Toddler’s Pool and all pools can be enjoyed from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. By the way, your accommodation comes with a towel rental card which you will need to surrender to pool staff so you can be handed beach towels. Unfortunately, based on our experience, even if your room can house 4 people or more, they only give you 2 towels per room. Good thing we were able to convince the staff to give us 4 pieces.
The waterslides are the stars of the waterpark. Jpark has three: Open body slide (120m long slide), Tube slide (156 long) and the Space Bowl where guests lands into a space where they get spinned until being flushed into a 6.4 deep pool.
Cebu Suite
As for the accommodation, Jpark offers 7 types and me and 4 of my blogger friends got to stay at the Cebu Suite located on the 9th floor of the west wing of the resort. The Cebu Suite is a 110 sqm two-bedroom suite for 4 adults and 2 kids. The master bedroom has king bed and the other room has two twin beds and bathroom with bathtub, separate shower and toilet can be found in each room. There’s also a living room, a mini pantry (with fully-stocked mini bar and refrigerator) and a balcony with an amazing view of the resort, the waterpark and the sea. The room is also equipped with 32-inch LCD TVs with DVDs player inside each rooms, 37-inch LCD TV with DVD player in the living room area, microwave oven, broadband internet, safety deposit box, hair dryer, PABX phones and electric water kettle.
Besides my and Bettina’s bed, the balcony was actually my favorite place in our room where I got to wake up early on our second day, while drinking coffee and watching the sun rise. I was also surprised to see a phone beside the toilet hehe and that you also have a pillow menu so you can ask for your preferred type of pillow for a very relaxing sleep after a day of doing activities in and around the resort.
Jacuzzi and Private Pool Villas
We also get to check out two of the 48 Villas that Jpark offers. The villas are great for couples/honeymooners or group of friends. The 22 pool villas, 22 jacuzzi villas, 2 family pool villas and 2 family jacuzzi villas gives guests the utmost privacy and relaxation. The upper rooms are usually the Jacuzzi villas and the lower decks are the private pool villas.
They are strategically placed that you won’t be able to see from the lower deck and vice versa. The villas are equipped with a King bed, bathroom with bathtub, separate shower and toilet, mini living room, sun deck, retractable breakfast trays, 37-inch LCD TV with DVD player, radio clock with MP3 player dock, fully-stocked mini bar and refrigerator, wired broadband Internet, safety deposit box, hair dryer and electric water kettle.
Jpark houses 8 restaurant restaurants and bars to satisfy your every food cravings as these 8 dining options offers the world’s most-loved flavors. These are: The Abalone, Ching Hai, Olive, Coral Seaside, Maru, Aqus Pool and Island bars, JLounge and Havana by The Sea. We got to try The Abalone, Ching Hai, Olive, Coral Seaside and Havana by The Sea but I will blog about those restos on separate posts.
You can also hold about any social event or gathering at Jpark like Events, meetings, socials, product launches, conventions, themed dinners or weddings. Jpark has both Indoor Function Spaces (Triton Grand Ballroom, Nautilus, Pyrene, Cyprea and Triphora) and Outdoor Function Spaces (Coral Deck, Beach Front, Island Pool, The Abalone Garden, Maru Garden, Aquapolis and Boardwalk).
You will never run out of fun things to do in Jpark as the resort offers a wide array of fun activities for people of all ages. Aside from the waterpark, beach and watersports, there’s also the Cara Spa, Casino (for foreign guests only), games rooms, mini-golf course, playground, giant chess and go-kart. Or if you don't feel like doing anything, you can lounge around the hammocks spread across the resort or at Havana Lounge. The resort is pretty big but you can get around easily by riding the golf carts wandering around the resort. Jpark also offers shuttle services to Ayala, SM and J Centre.
Another thing that I found amazing at Jpark is that they support a group of women to empower their livelihood by setting up a place for them to sell local products and souvenirs for guests to take home with them.
We only got to enjoy Jpark for two full days but I must say that 2 days wasn’t enough to actually experience each and every thing that this wonderful resort has to offer. The resort greatly reminded me and gave me the feels of the Disneyland Hotel in Hong Kong that I visited a few years back. Probably because of the almost never-ending things that you can do inside and around the resort and the warm and delightful service that I got to experience while staying at Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark. Crossing my fingers that I can go back to Cebu and stay at Jpark once more.
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