Travel would be more enjoyable if one knows the Dos and DON’Ts of the place. With the advent of the Internet, it is basically very easy to know about the place with just one click. So the follow general tips are compiled from those who already visited Mactan and these tips might be of help for those who are planning to visit Mactan one day:

• When attending special occasions in the local community, avoid wearing sandals. Wearing shoes is a sign that the event is important to you.
  Pssst is another popular way to get someone’s attention. However, it is proper and preferred to call the person by name. It is even better to use nicknames, because these are reserved for close friends.
• Do invite people at least three times. Local residents are taught that it is proper to refuse the first time or two. To them, insistence is a clear sign that the offer or invitations is genuine.
• Do give the local residents a way out of the situation so he can save face, thus avoiding embarrassment. Embarrassing him will cause “hiya” or loss of face.
• Don’t use the common sign of OK In the local community, it means money. You may use the new sign OK. This is the thumbs- up sign which has been commonly seen on television.
• Don’t use your forefinger upward to call a local resident-it is considered somewhat degrading. One way of calling is to beckon with the hand in gentle downward motion.

Yeah right, some of these tips are quite amusing in a way but yes, they are true. On a more serious note, these are some tips and expectations when you get to Mactan:

A sign of saying approved.

Transport. To visit Cebu city or points of interest you will need to make special arrangements. Taxis usually need to be booked in advance and can be expensive as the resort will often extract a booking fee. A few resorts have a shuttle bus service to Cebu city but only at certain times. This limits your ability to explore independently. Very rarely can the visitor simply hail a taxi outside the entrance to a particular resort.

Booking. Once booked into a resort, the visitor will usually eat “in-house”. Mactan has a few restaurants but eating out will mean arranging transport to/from the resort in advance coupled with a long drive if travelling to Cebu city. The majority of restaurants on Mactan are situated along the main road leading to the airport which is typically a 15-20 minute drive from the resorts. For this reason, many resorts tend to over-price the food, knowing that they have a captive market. Its not possible to stroll down the beach and choose from a range of local fish restaurants for example.

Staying on Mactan, the visitor is somewhat sheltered from the “real” Philippines. Prices for many goods and services are artificially high, particularly in the more luxurious resorts. The more adventurous and independent visitor is likely to find Mactan somewhat limited.

The Accomodation when staying in Mactan

Most of the activities available are offered by the resorts eg. island hopping tours, jet skis, parasailing etc. Again, these activities tend to be expensive as many visitors don`t know of alternative places which may offer the same activities at a lower cost.Travel Destinations Guides – Travel destinations, resorts, vacations, trips reviews and tips. Use the knowledge of other experienced travelers to pinpoint your own places of interest.