Suggestions On Good Areas Of Cebu

[dsummers]

I see lots of places advertised around Cebu that meet our under 20000 budget. 2 brm, a/c, good kitchen, etc. Touble is we have no idea what the neighbourhoods are like or how close they be to beach and stores.

 

Retired but mobile couple - under 65 with teenage daughter - Canadians all. Have lived overseas in UAE for 4 years. Visited Palawan for couple weeks so not unfamiliar. Know a lot of Kabayans here in UAE.

 

Looking for relatively cheap but quiet area within easy access to beach by tricycle or taxi, or own car eventually. Don't like big city - have always lived rural or small towns. Loved Palawan but few houses for rent there and maybe too quiet.

 

Just want to exclude areas that may have too much crime or be too poor. So not in Cebu City but within 30 mins. How about Lapu-Lapu area?

 

Until we come again to look in Dec or Mar, I'd like to narrow the areas down to those other expats have found pleasant to live in.

[MikeB]

The areas right outside Cebu City are not so much suburbs as uncontrolled urban sprawl. You're going to have to go a lot further than 30 min to find a "pleasant" area, imo. I'm more familiar with the south; past Carcar it starts getting relatively nice, that's about an hour and a half. There's a trade-off with lack of shopping and medical care but well worth it to escape traffic and pollution. You'll live longer.

[robert k]

Dsummers, I think you just stated the common wishlist. Whatever recommendations you get, I think there will be no substitute for boots on the ground survey. I would plan for somewhere temporary to stay for a month while you look around. Welcome to the forum.

[RBM]

Some of the beaches on Mactan controlled by resorts are nice during the week. All that I am aware of have a charge accept one or two public beaches. Totally forget them week ends.

Where to live....gee that's a hard one if you prefer near Cebu. Traffic, pollution, squalor make this tough choice especially after Palawan.

As suggested perhaps south of Cebu or north better but to trip in not easy.

Essential also do not commit yourself until at least 3 months boots on the ground, picking your gona be kinda shell shocked.

[robert k]

Remember that speed of travel in the Philippines is not that fast, except busses coming up behind you.

[frosty (chris)]

I see lots of places advertised around Cebu that meet our under 20000 budget. 2 brm, a/c, good kitchen, etc. Touble is we have no idea what the neighbourhoods are like or how close they be to beach and stores.

 

Retired but mobile couple - under 65 with teenage daughter - Canadians all. Have lived overseas in UAE for 4 years. Visited Palawan for couple weeks so not unfamiliar. Know a lot of Kabayans here in UAE.

 

Looking for relatively cheap but quiet area within easy access to beach by tricycle or taxi, or own car eventually. Don't like big city - have always lived rural or small towns. Loved Palawan but few houses for rent there and maybe too quiet.

 

Just want to exclude areas that may have too much crime or be too poor. So not in Cebu City but within 30 mins. How about Lapu-Lapu area?

 

Until we come again to look in Dec or Mar, I'd like to narrow the areas down to those other expats have found pleasant to live in.

I live on Mactan, in Basak, Lapu x 2, in a gated community, my rent and utilities are 12,000 pesos a month, 2 b/room, 2 storey, cr with hot water, is a closed community with filipino neighbors, usually very quiet. I have a friend that lives in a more upmarket area, house is a lot newer, better and her rent is 18,000 pesos per month. The mall from my house is an 8 peso ride away takes about 5 minutes, the mall is no SM but has everything I need to live and has the usual restaurants, so can always get a decent feed if we want too. Cebu (SM) is 30 minutes 200-240 pesos taxi trip going there, but coming back well that's any ones guess as they are doing roadworks and it's a bloody disaster at the moment, road works are supposed to be finished by December ( yeah right). If come home by taxi from SM we go around the airport, usually adds another 100pesos on the trip but you miss all the traffic and delay. You can go to SM by the ferry also, by trike to the ferry is 11pesos, ferry is 14 pesos, taxi from ferry to SM is 65-80 pesos, if there are 3 of you, best get a cab from Lapu.

         Good restaurants on Lapu are few and few between, Lantaw at Cordova in my opinion is the best, world class really, excellent food and better service, 3 of you would have a super meal and drinks with a wonderful view for around 1500pesos, well worth a visit, but only downside without a car is a bit hard to access. Beaches here as mentioned IMO are only so-so. You pay at all of them, forget them on week-ends and holidays, they are crowded, noisy and dirty. Having said that, you can catch a boat to Olango Island, just of the point of Mactan, taxi to ferry 150 pesos, ferry is 14 pesos, tric once on the island is around 100pesos to any of the little beaches there, lovely beaches, crystal clear water, just like a little island paradise again you pay, a hut is 300 pesos, big Red horse is 95 pesos, ice is 2 pesos ( be careful with the ice) so for a day there, without food, get you there and back for under a 1000 pesos, best take your own food.

          Lot's of people bag Lapu x 2 but I like it, where I live is clean, the kids play in the streets, have workers  and gardeners to keep it looking neat and clean. As for crime here, my g/f has been robbed twice in Cebu but she say's she feels a lot safer here, I know there is crime around but in all my time here have never once felt threatened or unsafe having said that I don't go on the street's after 10pm ( told by locals not too) and if out always, always catch a taxi home.

          Another upside, is your Visa, Island Mall has a BI office an 8peso tric and 9 pesos jeepney ride away, can get my visa in 30 minutes and close by is a very efficient and well run, clean McDonalds ( if you like that type of food).

          The best you can do, in all honesty, come here, book a reasonable hotel and spend your time having a good look, Really is the only way, welcome and good luck.

Edited October 5, 2014 by frosty (chris)

[Dave Hounddriver]

If you go as far north of Cebu as Catmon you will find the kind of area you describe (at least that is how it was up to 3 years ago).  There is a resort there called the Huna Huna which you could stay at for a couple days while you look around.  Unfortunately it is a good hour's drive to the good shopping at SM Mall Consolacion and further to downtown Cebu but any closer to the city keeps you in the 'urban sprawl' that MikeB posted about.

[dsummers]

Palawan and Puerto Princess are starting to look better with each post....LOL

[Curley]

Palawan and Puerto Princess are starting to look better with each post....LOL

 

Any particular reason why you want to live in the Phils? Is your wife Filipina?

Edited October 5, 2014 by Curley

[dsummers]

Cost of living, friendly people, climate, English spoken. My wife won't need to work. All Caucasian. Have looked at many other countries.