Travel

Getting to Cebu

Routes for everyone coming from the UK, Manila or Iloilo. However you arrive, Cebu airport is on the same island as the resort and about fifteen minutes away.

From the UK

Flights

There are no direct flights from the UK to Cebu. The two cleanest routes are both one stop via the Gulf. They land at Mactan-Cebu International (CEB), which is on the same island as the resort.

AirlineFromViaRoughly
Qatar AirwaysLondon HeathrowDoha~17h 55m
EmiratesLondon HeathrowDubai~18h 55m
EmiratesLondon GatwickDubai~18h 50m

Routes via Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul exist too, and are sometimes cheaper. Connecting through Manila usually means changing terminals, which is worth avoiding if you have a choice.

Schedules checked 15 August 2026. Worth a re-check before you book.

For Alex's family

From Manila and Iloilo

  • Manila (MNL) → Cebu

    About 1h 30m

    Fly direct to Cebu (CEB). Philippine Airlines domestic flights use NAIA Terminal 2; Cebu Pacific uses Terminal 3, so check the terminal before leaving for the airport. If this follows an international flight on a separate ticket, leave a generous connection or stay overnight in Manila.

  • Iloilo (ILO) → Cebu

    About 50 minutes

    Fly direct to Cebu (CEB) for the simplest journey. There is also an overnight Trans-Asia ferry from Iloilo City to Cebu City on selected days, but it is much slower and the timetable can change, so check directly with the operator before planning around it.

Routes checked 16 August 2026. Domestic schedules can change before February.

Before you fly

Entry requirements

British passport holders enter visa-free for 30 days. You'll need six months left on your passport and an onward ticket.

Do this before you fly

Everyone must complete eTravel registration in the 72 hours before departure, and show the QR code at immigration. It is free, but search results are full of convincing fakes that charge for it, so use the official site:

https://etravel.gov.ph/

Accommodation

Where to stay

Everything happens inside the resort, so staying there means no transport, no taxis, and no getting changed in a hurry.

Book through Shangri-La directly rather than a reseller. Several sites look official and add a fee on top of the room rate.

Book at Shangri-La Mactan →

Punta Engaño Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu 6015, Philippines

February

Weather

February is dry season, the best time of year to be there. Expect around 30°C in the day, mid-20s at night, and very little rain. Humid.

If you're making a holiday of it, there's a page of things worth doing while you're out here.

Planning a few days either side? See where we'll be around the wedding.

For airport transfers, Grab and other practical details, see the questions for international guests.