Cebu debut: locations?

@It2VN

Welcome to the Philippine Forum IT2.

So you have spent sometime I see in Da Nang on the east coast of Vietnam that seems to be a favourite with the vlogger brigade. I spent a few days there a couple of years back and found the place somewhat clinical albeit efficient in the provision of service and build quality. Glad I was not there during the rainy season. Loved HCMC though.

Has it occurred to you that your aircraft will be passing other incoming planes over the South China sea from the Philippines with expats just like yourself searching for vlogger induced nirvana asking the same questions you have?

I hear there is a new condo development in IT park in Cebu City that is full of expats just like yourself with specific requirements.

Its called ' The Cake & Eat it Heights'

@Lotus Eater

Thanks for your contribution.

@It2VN

Hi, you can try Newtown on Mactan island. Hotels, Condos, shops, restaurants, Cebu airport. We were there several times. It never disappointed us.

Andy

I’ve not been but other expats have recommended Minglanilla to the south of Cebu City and Bogo City and San Remigio to the north. Good luck!

4  & 5 thanks for the suggestions. will look into them.

Check out a video by Chad Foster from 6 months ago (7 minuets from IT PArk). He visits a friend living in an apartment block by Marco Polo Plaza and gives a room tour. The rooms look big and according to the video there is a Farmers Market every Saturday, plenty of swimming pools, jacuzzi, golf simulator, restaurants, etc. Looks like a nice quite area just away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Minglanilla has extremely heavy traffic - it can take an hour or two to get to Ayala or IT Park from there, or back, when traffic is heavy, which is most of the time now.

We spent 6 or more years in Cebu City living in Busay, which is above the city.  I liked it there. We were in a condominium complex called Citylights Gardens, which has a park-like setting and a beautiful pool and gym, as well as walking paths. All the units in the 4 towers have beautiful views in multiple directions. Very pretty at night and not noisy, until you go outside, because it is well off the road. Not many monthly rentals there but Marco Polo condominiums, nearby, usually has some. Like most newer developments they are smaller unit, but still pleasant. The air quality is a bit better up there also.

In March I'm heading to Cebu to see if it could be a place to settle.
My idea is to spend a month or two initially in Cebu city or one of its divisions or adjacent cities (Mandaue etc).
Staying in a hotel upon arrival then renting an apartment in a suitable area.
Looking for somewhere with a potentially peaceful aspect, in terms of noise and traffic (I know this is relative in SEA!), a bit of greenery (a park ?), cafes, even if there's a bit of an expat scene though this isn't critical. Want to be away from noisy bars and nightlife scene.
So, can I invite suggestions of places that might fit the bill?
Subsequent to a period in Cebu city I foresee spending short period in other towns on the island to gauge their suitability- Danao, Toledo, Bogo, unless I find Cebu ideal.
Thanks in advance. - @It2VN

I'm seeing a whole lot of videos like this on YouTube recently...

https://youtu.be/CTk4yHr3nG4?si=gJoBb1slj37_avdT

@It2VN

i live in Alta Vista golf and country club. It’s in Pardo, Cebu. It’s up in the mountains with beautiful views and a beautiful golf course. Very quiet and peaceful there. Plenty of lots available. The view in the back of my house is all mountain range as far as the eye can see.

In March I'm heading to Cebu to see if it could be a place to settle.
My idea is to spend a month or two initially in Cebu city or one of its divisions or adjacent cities (Mandaue etc).
Staying in a hotel upon arrival then renting an apartment in a suitable area.
Looking for somewhere with a potentially peaceful aspect, in terms of noise and traffic (I know this is relative in SEA!), a bit of greenery (a park ?), cafes, even if there's a bit of an expat scene though this isn't critical. Want to be away from noisy bars and nightlife scene.
So, can I invite suggestions of places that might fit the bill?
Subsequent to a period in Cebu city I foresee spending short period in other towns on the island to gauge their suitability- Danao, Toledo, Bogo, unless I find Cebu ideal.
Thanks in advance. - @It2VN
I'm seeing a whole lot of videos like this on YouTube recently...
https://youtu.be/CTk4yHr3nG4?si=gJoBb1slj37_avdT - @OceanBeach92107

Which begs the question as to why the OP is leaving Da Nang (Vietnam) for the Philippines. My acerbic post (2) to the OP highlights the fickleness of many expats.

Yes Lotus, home can be where you find it and having a good partner that sees the realities certainly helps.

Vloggers and bloggers aside that I don't bother with, one simply needs boots on the ground to choose the next destination and I don't mean a week or two but months and years of research both online and  mixing with the locals. Can be rewarding and at time frustrating, is any country offering better choices?

Personally PH. is my home and love my life here but can't come at city living, did that for a year in Manila and never again,,,, ah choices.

Cheers, Steve.

In March I'm heading to Cebu to see if it could be a place to settle.
My idea is to spend a month or two initially in Cebu city or one of its divisions or adjacent cities (Mandaue etc).
Staying in a hotel upon arrival then renting an apartment in a suitable area.
Looking for somewhere with a potentially peaceful aspect, in terms of noise and traffic (I know this is relative in SEA!), a bit of greenery (a park ?), cafes, even if there's a bit of an expat scene though this isn't critical. Want to be away from noisy bars and nightlife scene.
So, can I invite suggestions of places that might fit the bill?
Subsequent to a period in Cebu city I foresee spending short period in other towns on the island to gauge their suitability- Danao, Toledo, Bogo, unless I find Cebu ideal.
Thanks in advance. - @It2VN
I'm seeing a whole lot of videos like this on YouTube recently...
https://youtu.be/CTk4yHr3nG4?si=gJoBb1slj37_avdT - @OceanBeach92107
Which begs the question as to why the OP is leaving Da Nang (Vietnam) for the Philippines. My acerbic post (2) to the OP highlights the fickleness of many expats. - @Lotus Eater

The same guy who posted this video posted another one 2 months ago titled - Why You Should Never Retire in Vietnam (9 reasons). Go figure,

@Cherryann01

Well spotted CA. Without doubt over the past year or so there have been several new vloggers pushing the negative elements of life in a specific South East Asian country. Many are well researched and from my experiences accurate. I suspect that the word 'monetisation' is responsible. Bad review vlogs probably get as many eye balls as good reviews especially given the hitherto predominantly  positive eye candy material vlogs such as a beautiful Filipina standing by a palm tree on a beach. Men (and lets be frank its a 99.9% male audience) are soooo predictable when it comes to this portrayal.

We know that the number one destination for most expats is the Philippines so it should not be surprising that the country gets more negative reviews than other nations in the region. The inadequacies of the Philippine economy have not really changed much over the last 20 years. In terms of eye balls its the big kid on the block and vloggers using the Philippines as their content get higher revenue than say Thailand or Vietnam. Its stating the obvious but the male American viewer is a highly valued commodity to YouTube advertisers. There are more American expats in the Philippines than anywhere else in Asia. US expats generally have a higher disposable income than their British or Australian counterparts.

Spoiler Alert: Many of the above videos are 'faceless youTube channels' some of which I suspect are AI generated but nevertheless factually correct.

Thankyou for the continued input.

More devastatingly forensic analysis from the Lotus Eater .