Crimson Resort and Spa Day Trip

view of the two swimming pools and the sea at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
I was back there lately, and thankfully not for another evening party! This time, I had two friends who wanted to hie off to a seaside resort in Mactan, in place of a cancelled trip to Malapascua. Just for a day trip, since they were already checked-in at my little flat!

My first choice for them was actually the Imperial Palace as there is a waterpark. Last year, we really enjoyed Plantation Bay. So, I was thinking they’d have a ball at IP. We went there without calling! But when we were already there, things changed. The price! It is now P3,500 per head. I went to IP’s public phone bank to call up Crimson. Where'd I get their number? From IP's desk itself. Yep, that helpful! And we learned that Crimson is cheaper by a thousand at P2,500 per head. So, we went for it!

Hah, I must say, I was ecstatic! Why? Because this was like the nth time I was entering Crimson, but first time on a high noon! Not another evening party nor another wedding reception! Well yes, I’ve conducted two training sessions there, but what do you see at a resort when you are the sole trainer, right? No time! Thus, I have been imagining how this place looks during the day. Yey! Fulfilled!

Let’s hear my story…

On arrival, we were immediately ushered to the elevator and down to Saffron Cafe where the lunch buffet was to be had. Oh yes, we were told that the payment etcetera formalities would also be done there, at whichever table we settle at! The works!
dining room at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

The buffet! We were first in the area, so we had a ball taking pics of this and that.
buffet island at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

I even did a video clip! (now still uploading) The staff you'll see approaching was the girl who processed our registrations, paperwork, payments and those waterproof wrist tags!


What can I say? Ah eh… am no authority in this arena… I am just on see-food diet, like when I see food, I eat! But let me do some comparisons… with Imperial Palace

The place, the lunch area I mean..,
buffet island at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
...is probably just a third of Imperial Palace’s Familia Buffet Restaurant.


The entrée choices… probably also just a quarter than what IP serves!
main course setup at the buffet of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Not to mention that IP has an entire section just for Japanese food (none here). Rice alone, there are 3 (or was that 4) choices at Imperial Palace.


Desserts?
desserts at the buffet of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
There are also more at IP, more colorful and more attractively presented than these I saw here at Crimson. Am not fond of them anyway :) But all look cute!
cakes and desserts at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
I do know how to describe all of them... "sweet", right? hehe!
a whole pecan pie displayed at the buffet of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu


Fruits? There were only Mangoes, Pineapple, Watermelon and Papaya at Crimson...
fruit island at the buffet of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Over at IP, there are even those that I am not familiar with hehe! Like kiwi. Plus, at IP they even have a bar where crews busy themselves concocting shakes or juices from fruits you pick at the same bar!

Salads? (upper-right of photo above) Crimson does have a respectable array of everything salad, but it does not come even half (in terms of variety) to that at IP.

The taste? Ah, both are undeniably superb. Well, both are manned by no less real professional chefs from everywhere! I liked the grilled fish at Crimson. Was that tuna or tanguigue? Not so many herbs and spices to discern but just the fish taste, and I had the freedom to put in whatever I wanted (e.g., more soy sauce, more suka or even smudges of butter from my bread plate hehehe)!

The ambiance? Crimson for me is just right. Kind of intimately cozy. While over at IP, it feels like dining in the middle of a gymnasium where millions of spectators are watching you hehe!

Ah, let’s go outside, shall we?

Nice trellis-like area, but useless during lunch hour. Mainit!
outdoor dining area at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
There is a similar area at the other side but it is also ‘sunny’ being just glass-roofed. Ironically, the front area (turn left over at that end) is just bare without tables, but it is breezy there and covered from the sun by the building’s shadow. Probably even a good breakfast area since it is facing east.

Well, there are two native-style kiosks at both corners but can fit only a table each.

Let's roam...

From the native kiosk outside Saffron, these are the views...
part of the gardens of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
We sat here a while, to smoke, let the food in stomach settle... and people watch!
lounging beds and umbrellas at poolside of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Warning: with a full stomach on a breezy afternoon, you could snooze the day away!
one of the pools at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Even nice listening to the faint drop of water from those four spouts! Hypnotic lull!


So I walked up this bridge, to keep the brain cells active!
a walk-up bridge over one of the swimming pools at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
This crosses the infinity pool. Nice views wherever you turn to!

Looking right, a nice view of the main building... Oh there is my myself and I!
water cascade, waterfall effect from the second level of the building to a swimming pool at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Yeah, My Royal Highness reflected on that glass door of 'Score' - the sports bar!

Still on the bridge, looking left is this lovely view. We'll get to that other bridge soon!
view of the two swimming pools at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
And that is still a pool (even bigger) behind that bridge! And the sea further down...

Off the bridge, I saw these...
more poolside umbrellas and lounging sunning beds at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

This one is called "CrimZone"... to keep your tykes really busy with kiddie fun
kiddie play house and garden at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
No adults allowed in there, so you better go where adults are!
kiddie play house and outdoor playground facilities at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Don't worry, there are crews and staff to monitor your dear little kulits!


Let's go down to the waterfront area...


Now now... this is what Imperial Palace does not have!
a wide white sand beach at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
A wide white sandy beach area...
white sandy beach and umbrella kiosks overlooking the sea at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Where you can play, sun to tan...
beach side umbrellas kiosks and lounging sunning beds at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Or just frolic in the sand at the water's edge!


How about some massage with a view? You see that hut to the left?
massage hut on an elevated portion overlooking the beach at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Yes, this!
massage hut at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Wouldn't that feel good?! Ah....


Oh yes, the 2nd bridge...


Alright, standing on the bridge, looking inwards, this is the view...
view of the two pools from the second bridge at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

Looking out to the sea, this is the wonderful beautiful scene...
main swimming pool of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu


But that was not it!


Here is my 'likest', and this is where we took time doing nothing!
lounge chairs on a grass garden overlooking the sea and the beach at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
It's breezier here...
another view of the sandy beach from the grass garden at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
With even nicer vistas...
But let's come back to this place later. Something invited our undivided attention...


The "Four O'Clock Habit"!


A unique kind of activity/attraction in a resort! How is it done? Well, simple and easy...
3 poolside instructors leading guests on a zuma-style workout on the pool at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
At 4PM an instructor, together with two exercise buddies, appears at poolside...
guests following the exercise / dance instructions at the main pool of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Music plays, and voila! An instant aerobic exercise for people in the pool!
guests exercising / dancing with the instructors at the main pool of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
Yes, we joined them! The dance music and easy to follow movements makes this unique "4 o'clock habit" all too enticing! Healthy pa!


After huffing and puffing and swimming at the pool, I went back to water's edge.


For more of the panorama at sunset...
romantic beachside view at dusk at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

outdoor dining area at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

yellow path lights at dusk by the grassy garden overlooking the sea at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

sunset view at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

sunset view at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

sunset view at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu



Ah this is my kind of chillax place... The Azure Pool Bar
pool bar with changing lights at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
That wall keeps changing colors. Aliw!
pool bar with changing lights at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu
And they probably read my heart! Music was a continuous run of the best reggae hits!


But let's go back to the main building, shall we?


Everywhere you look is a nice view at dusk...
a pathway to some of the cabanas at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

garden path leading to the main building of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

the resort's main building at dusk at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

nice path lights accentuating the early evening view of the gardens and the beach at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

game room at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

evening view of the swimming pools from the game room at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

sports bar at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

the bar at the sports bar of Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu


One last thing I like in this place... a simple yet dramatic 'evening ceremony'!

At 6PM, I was out of the showers while my two ladies were still in there. And I knew it was going to take more time. Women! But I was fine chillin' by the poolside when suddenly, Bob Marley stopped singing... and what came immediately on was some kind of glorious, dramatic instrumentals. More of like a movie score really. Then lights at the pools dimmed, some path and post lights even went off.

Hmm, I sensed there was something, but I could not discern as to what and where...

Suddenly there they were, dancing with the music. More of like slowly swaying actually. Dancers clad in native visayan costumes, carrying lanterns, inching their way on both sides of the pool, going towards the beach. Wow! And of course, everyone around stopped what they were doing to ogle at or follow the dancers. I did! Tried capturing them with stills and videos to no avail. Fuji cameras just don't like darkness!

I know this ceremony. I've seen it somewhere and I have even adapted this for an event sometime ago. The anti-climactic end of this thing is actually the cute highlight - and the most tweaked, depending on the celebration. I was hoping Crimson had some gimmick or something that would follow this 'walk'. None! The dancers just said "Good Evening Crimson"! Anyway, appealingly beautiful enough that the few who were still by the pool and at the Azure bar applauded. And of course took chance of the photo-op! Nice one!
guests posing with the performers at the beach after the evening performance at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

Then I returned to main building finding my two friends already shopping at the souvenir stores - which of course I arrested hehe, telling them whatever they want in this place there will be the same thing at a cheaper price anywhere in the city!
evening view of the main building at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu

Out and about? Yep, but after my lovely friends grabbed things from this corner...
bakeshop at Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan Cebu


Oh, just a heads up to those taking cabs out of this place. It's a long queue in the evenings. Why? Because of many K friends who are either done with their day trip just like we did, or K friends who are checked-in but going out to the city for dinner. In our case, I counted the number of groups waiting... we were 9th. But the 5th group were 7 people and the 8th group was all of 21 people.

Technique? Gamble on departing from the norm. Which norm? Where the Crimson crews call the cab companies and you just add an extra P50 to the meter amount. Even if they keep calling and telling the companies to send more cabs, there are not so many who would head this way at such a time (rush hour in the cities).

So, gamble on grabbing the next cab that arrives bringing passengers into this place (there are a number of them anyway). That means you do not ask the Crimson crews to call a cab for you. This is what I did and the 3rd in line was not even close to departing when we left the place hehehe! Wala pang "plus 50"!

'Twas a nice day trip!


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