Guidelines for Arriving Passengers in Cebu, Philippines

COVID Rules for transiting and arriving in Mactan Cebu Airport

I recently went back to the Philippines to visit my family. In this post, I'm going to share some tips and my experiences traveling back to Cebu, Philippines during COVID times. Let's go!

Traveling back to Cebu, Philippines is not that easy anymore. As of November 2020, there are restrictions and rules that need to be followed when you arrived in the Philippines. If you booked with PAL airlines most flights from abroad lands or stopovers in Manila. Most likely your flight will be diverted to Cebu due to limited COVID testing in Manila. The good thing is the airline flies you back to Manila at no cost. 

Some links on this site might earn me a commission if a product/service is purchased." ^__^

Compare airline prices with Skyscanner

My main destination is going to Cebu, and I normally take direct flights from LAX to CEB. I booked with EVA Airlines which stopovers in Taipei for a few hours and goes straight to Mactan Cebu International Airport. I always go to Skyscanner to compare flight prices.

For OFW, the government shoulders the cost for hotel accommodation and swab testing. However, for Non-OFW you will have to pay for our own hotel and swab test.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE FLIGHT

1. All passengers who arrive in Cebu must book a hotel prior to the flight departure. Check the master list of hotels below this post for reference.

2. Make a room reservation for at least two nights, as the COVID testing results take 24 to 48 hours.  Print the hotel confirmation for your reference.

3. Five days prior to the departure date complete an online form. Register at Mactan Airport Website.  After completing the online form, you will receive a Travel Reference Number and a Bar Code in your email. Print it out as the airline upon checking in will confirm if you have it and you will need it when you arrive in Cebu too. 

4. Make sure to check your email for flight updates. My connecting flight was canceled and I had to rebook all my flights to match my schedule. EVA Air was able to refund everything which made things easy for me. Ensure that you visit the airline's website as you might need to fill out some forms in advance. For me,  I had to fill out the  Advance Passenger Information(APIS) for US/Canada with Eva Airlines. A passenger health declaration form was sent to my email days before my flight too which I had to print out.  

5. Make sure to print out the Airline health declaration form, Hotel confirmation, and the Travel Reference Number with the Bar Code.

CHECKING-IN WITH THE AIRLINE 

1. Passport 

2. Passenger health declaration form
3. Present Travel Reference Number and Bar Code

No more baggage drop-off. Everyone has to check-in at the ticketing counter as body temperatures will be checked.

DURING THE CONNECTING FLIGHT

1. Don't lose your boarding pass. You will need it upon arrival in Cebu.
2. Fill-out three forms which will be handed to officials upon arrival in Cebu. The airline will be providing these three forms on your connecting flight to Cebu.
3. Prepare your face shield. Everyone must wear a mask and a face shield upon arrival.

UPON ARRIVAL IN CEBU

1. Keep the mask on and wear a face shield.

2. Find your line: Foreign Passport holders are separated from Filipino Nationals.

3. An official will collect the arrival form. This is one of the forms given by the airline during the flight.

4. FIRST KIOSK

1. Passport

2. Boarding Pass

3. Present Travel Reference Number and Bar Code

5. IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE

1. Passport

2. Health Declaration form (provided  by the airline)

3. Remove mask for picture taking. Smile!

6. PROCEED TO CASHIER

Pay COVID19 RT-PCR Test cost PHP 4,900.00

Don't forget your receipt.

7. PROCEED TO COVID SWAB KIOSK

Present Passport

Two swabs will be done: nose swab and mouth swab.

8. COLLECT YOUR LUGGAGE

9. PROCEED TO THE WAITING AREA. A representative will inform your hotel driver that you're ready for pick-up.

10. PASS-THROUGH CUSTOM SCANNER. If you have nothing to declare hand over your last paper /custom declaration form (provided by the airline) to the official.

FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS - Compare prices with Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Booking.com

I love BOOKING.COM because they have a "pay later" or "pay upon arrival" when booking rooms. This gives you options to cancel bookings, manage activities and figure out the location, and if transportation works going to your destination. 

Most travelers I know booked from the AGODA.COM site. I try to be flexible when it comes to my bookings; I go for whichever gives me a cheaper price.

I've compiled here a list of the hotels as it was hard for me to check the PDF list on the Mactan Airport website so I made this for a clearer list. Reference: Mactan Cebu Airport Website

44 List of Transiting Hotels for Returning Overseas Filipinos and Balikbayans

Lapu-Lapu City -Closer to the airport

1. Appleton Hotel Mactan Check rates

Address:  M. Patalinghug Avenue, Basak Gate, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City

2. BE Resort Mactan Check rates

Address: Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu City

3. Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort Check rates

Address: Buyong Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City

4. Cebu White Sands Resort and Spa Check rates 

Address: Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City

5. Dulcinea Hotel Check rates 

Address: Pusok, Lapu- Lapu City

6. Eloisa Royal Suites Check rates

Address: Maximo Patalinghug Ave, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City

7. Felicity Island Hotel Check rates

Address: Basak, Lapu-Lapu City

8. Gabi Resort & Spa Check rates

Address: Purok5A, Gabi, Cordova, Mactan Cebu

9. Goldberry Suites Check rates

Address: Manuel Quezon Highway, Lapu-Lapu City

10. Islands Stay Hotels Check rates

Address: O&G Building 719, ML Quezon National Highway, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City

11. Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark Check rates

Address: ML Quezon Highway, Lapu-Lapu City

12. Plantation Bay Resort and Spa Check rates

Address: Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City

13. Savoy Hotel Mactan Newton Check rates

Address: Mactan Newtown, Lapu-Lapu City

14. Vivien’s Hotel Check rates

Address: Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City

15. Solea Resort Check rates

Address: Wahing Street, Alegria, Cordova, Mactan Cebu 

16. Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Check rates - Right next to the airport

Address: Airport Road Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City

Mandaue City

17. Bai Hotel Cebu Check rates

Address: Ouano Avenue, NRA, Mandaue City

18. Big Hotel Check rates 

Address: W.O. Seno St, North ReclamationArea, Mandaue City

Cebu City

19. Alicia Apartelle Check rates

Address: Gov. M. Cuenco, Avenue, Banilad, Cebu City

20. Amethyst Boutique Hotel Cebu Check rates

Address: #7 M.Velez St., Capitol Site, Cebu City

21. Bayfront Hotel Check rates

Address: Kaoshiung St., Cebu City

22. Cebu Parklane International Hotel Check rates

Address: Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City

23. Citadines Hotel Cebu Chek rates

Address: Baseline Center, Juana Osmena Street., Cebu City

24. Crown Regency Towers Check rates

Address: Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City

25. Diamond Suites and Residences Check rates

Address: No. 8 Apitong cor Escario Sts., Cebu City

26. Express Inn Check rates

Address: Osmena Blvd, Cebu City

27. Harolds Hotel Check rates

Address: Gorordo Ave., Cor. Rosal St., Kamputhaw, Cebu City

28. Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Check rates

Address: Cebu Veterans Drive, Lahug, Cebu City

29. MJ Hotel and Suites Check rates 

Address: No.80 Apitong St, Cebu City

30. Oyo Hedda Hotel Check rates

Address: #6 Junquera Ext cor R.R. Landon St San Antonio, Cebu City

31. Palm Grass Hotel Check rates

Address: y 68 General Junquera St., Cebu City

32. Quest Hotel And Conference Center Check rates

Address: Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City

33. Radisson Blu Hotel Check rates

Address: Pope John Paul II Avenue cor S.Osmena Blvd, Cebu City

34. Red Planet Hotel Check rates

Address: 36 Archbishop Reyes Ave. Cebu City

35. Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites Check rates

Address: F. Cabahug St., Ayala Access Road,Kasambagan, Cebu City

36. Seda Ayala Center Cebu Check rates

Address: Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City

37. Seda Central Bloc Cebu Check rates

Address: Cebu IT, Park, V. Padriga Street, Apas, 6000 Cebu City

38. Summit Circle Cebu Check rates

Address: Fuente Osmena Circle, Cebu City

39. Summit Galleria Cebu Check rates

Address: Benedicto St. Corner Gen. Maxilom Ave Ext., Brgy Tejero, Cebu City

40. The Henry Hotel Check rates

Address: Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, CebuCity

41. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel And Casino Check rates

Address: Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City

42. Wellcome Hotel Check rates

Address: 18 Molave St., Kamputhaw, Cebu City

43. White Knight Hotel Check rates

Address: General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City

44. Yello Hotel Check rates 

Address: Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City

I'm not a travel agent. Please keep in mind that you're responsible to do your own research. Some information may have changed and updated.

Have fun and be safe ^__^

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