Bai Hotel Cebu Review: 2 Nights with Kids, Costs & Facilities

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Language: English | 日本語

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Cebu, Bai Hotel Cebu offers an outstanding balance of location, facilities, and service.

This time, our family of four stayed here with our two elementary-school kids. From the rooftop infinity pool to the kid-friendly staff and the convenience of being right by a shopping mall, here is a detailed account of what we actually experienced.

We booked through Rakuten Travel. You can also compare prices on Agoda and Expedia.

See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Trip.com

See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Agoda

For Bai Hotel Cebu (family of four), we compared Trip.com and Expedia on the four date ranges where both showed a price (12/29, 1/2, 3/24, and 3/27, all checked on 10/9). Expedia’s total was lower than Trip.com’s on all four (about 4–7% lower). Every room that came up for our family of four was a suite. None of the sites made clear whether children’s breakfast was included, so we have not marked any price in the table. (Prices checked in October 2026) Jump to the Trip.com and Expedia prices (table)

Bai Hotel Cebu Review: Our Family of Four’s 2-Night Stay

First, here are the conditions and the price of our stay.

Bai Hotel Cebu Rates per Night: About JPY 13,100 (About JPY 26,200 for 2 Nights)

Our booking details showed prices before tax, with a note that 12.75% would be added at payment.

Bai Hotel Cebu: Up to What Age Can Kids Share Your Bed? Our Two Elementary Schoolers Stayed Free

The official website (checked on October 11, 2026) does not say up to what age children can share a bed for free.

We booked through Rakuten Travel and stayed 2 nights in a Deluxe Room with 2 adults and 2 elementary-school children. The two kids shared our beds without extra beds, and there was no additional charge (the room rate is per room).

We have not checked whether each booking site handles children differently. When you book, enter the number and ages of your children on the booking screen and check whether the total changes.

We Came from Moalboal by Charter Car and Arrived in the Evening

The night before we checked in at Bai Hotel Cebu, we stayed in Moalboal.

After a whale shark tour and a trip to Sumilon Island, we moved to this hotel by charter car. We arrived and checked in during the evening.

Why We Chose Bai Hotel Cebu

• Located in Mandaue City, with easy access for sightseeing and shopping
• The rooftop infinity pool and rooftop bar are a big draw
• Rated 5 stars on Agoda (4 stars on the hotel’s official website), and relatively reasonable (approx. JPY 13,100 per night, including tax and service charge; what we paid in July 2024)

See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Trip.com

Check rooms and booking conditions on Agoda

We Saw 10+ Japanese Families. We Later Learned the Hotel Hosts English-Study Students

Every time we passed the front desk, I noticed how many Japanese mothers were there with their children. I saw more than 10 such pairs.

Out of curiosity, I searched the hotel name and found it listed as a place where English study-abroad students stay. I didn’t know this before booking.

I said to my kids, “If you got to stay at a hotel this fancy, you could do it, right?” By the way, we never saw those families at the pool. Maybe it was their study time.

Bai Hotel Cebu Check-In, Check-Out, and Local Money

Several Front Desk Counters, No Waiting

There are several front desk counters. We didn’t have to wait.

No Deposit Was Taken

The hotel did not take a deposit (security deposit). The hotels I’ve stayed at have handled deposits differently.

At the two hotels in Bangkok where we stayed in August 2026, we left 1000 baht (approx. JPY 5,000) on a card at each (in Japanese). Whether you need to keep some of your card’s credit limit free depends on where you stay.

We Didn’t Tip

There was never a situation during our stay where we needed to tip. Part of the reason is that we didn’t ask the doorman or other staff for anything special.

Check-Out Is at 11:00

Check-out was at 11:00. We went to the pool afterward (more on that below).

We Changed Pesos at a Money Changer Our Charter Driver Took Us To

We exchanged pesos at a money changer we were taken to during the charter car ride. The rate really was better than at the airport, and the place seemed fine, so we changed money there.

Cards Mostly Worked, but We Only Went to Nice Shops

Cards generally worked. Put the other way, though, we only went to clean, nice-looking shops that seemed likely to take cards. The only place where it felt like we needed cash was a souvenir shop in Moalboal.

Laundry: We Washed Swimsuits and Underwear in the Room

Since we used the pool, we washed only our swimsuits and underwear in the room.

Bai Hotel Cebu Deluxe Room Review

27㎡: Roomy Even for Four, with City Night Views from the Window

• At 27㎡, the room is spacious enough even for a family of four
• There’s a bathtub. Handheld shower and a clean bathroom
• Panoramic night views of the city from the window

Bathtub Included, and the Shower Didn’t Leak

At hotels abroad, shower water sometimes runs over toward the sink or toilet. In the room we stayed in, the water never overflowed. We had no complaints about the bathroom, including the water pressure and temperature.

However, specs vary by room type. I can’t say every room is the same.

What our room had and didn’t have

No Pajamas Provided. Bring Your Own Sleepwear

Room Amenities and Supplies (Toothbrush, Slippers, Fridge, Kettle, Hair Dryer)

Specs vary by room type. Please check when you book.

Bai Hotel Cebu Rooftop Infinity Pool and Other Facilities

Open 6:00–22:00, Free for Guests, and Swim Rings Were Allowed

The Pool Sign Is in Japanese, and Kids Can Borrow Life Vests

Here is what the sign said, as written.

• The pool is for hotel guests only
• Shower before entering
• Children under 12 and non-swimmers must be with a guardian
• Children should use a life vest, which is available on request
• No outside food or drinks

The sign was in Japanese. I think that shows how many families come here from Japan.

Open from 6 a.m., So You Can Swim Before the Heat, a Big Plus with Kids

You can swim from 6 a.m. Being able to swim before it got hot made a big difference with kids.

The Rooftop Bar Is Open Fridays and Saturdays Only, So Don’t Count on It

We had lunch at the pool. The rooftop bar is only open on certain days, so it’s best not to count on it.

• Play in the pool with the kids during the day, then enjoy some grown-up time with the night view
• Drink service available by the pool

See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Trip.com

See the latest Bai Hotel Cebu rates

We Could Still Use the Pool After Check-Out (After 11:00)

On our last day, we checked out at 11:00 and went straight to the pool. We swam from just after 11.

Before swimming, we had brunch at the pool. It was about JPY 1,000 per person. It wasn’t especially expensive, so we went along with the kids, who wanted to play in the pool, and ate there.

There’s Also a Kids’ Area, a Gym, and a Spa

Besides the pool, there are other places in the hotel to pass the time.

Food and the Area Around Bai Hotel Cebu

Parkmall Across the Street, with Cafés and Local Restaurants Within Walking Distance

• Parkmall is across the street (plenty of supermarket and restaurant options)
• Many cafés and local restaurants within walking distance

We Didn’t Use a Convenience Store. The Supermarket in the Mall Is a 3-Minute Walk

We didn’t use a convenience store in the hotel, so I haven’t checked whether there is one. We did our shopping at the supermarket in the mall. It’s a 3-minute walk. The mall is on the block across the street, but it’s large, so it takes about that long to reach the supermarket.

We Didn’t Use the Hotel Restaurants. We Had Brunch Right Next to the Pool

Bai Hotel has several restaurants on site, but we didn’t use them. We ate out or in our room.

The exception was brunch on our last day. There’s a place to eat right next to the pool, and we ate there.

INASAL Chicken for About JPY 500 a Meal: Savory and Delicious

Here are the places we actually went.

CHOOBI CHOOBI: About JPY 2,000 per Person, Full of Locals

CHOOBI CHOOBI was about JPY 2,000 per person. There were lots of locals, and the food was tasty. I remember, though, that our eldest son wasn’t feeling well at the time and didn’t eat much.

BO’S COFFEE: Small Drip Coffee 110 Pesos, Hand Drip 145–155 Pesos

At BO’S COFFEE, hand-drip coffee made with Philippine beans was 145–155 pesos (approx. JPY 390–415).

Why We Skipped Breakfast: It Looked Like About JPY 2,000 Extra per Meal

We didn’t add breakfast. Instead, we took it easy in the mornings and combined breakfast and lunch into brunch.

You can get a chicken meal for about JPY 500. Going without breakfast wasn’t a problem.

When I looked at the booking plans, adding breakfast looked like it would cost about JPY 2,000 more per person per meal (this is from memory, so it’s not exact). If it had been about JPY 500 per person, I think we would have added it. For a family of four over 2 nights, breakfast alone would have been a large share of the room cost.

So we booked room only. We either bought food nearby to eat in the room or ate wherever we were.

Safety in Cebu: What We Actually Saw

Cars Entering the Hotel Get Their Trunks Checked, and People’s Bags Are Screened

At Bai Hotel, vehicles entering the grounds go through a security check. Even taxis opened their trunks and had them checked before pulling up to the entrance.

People also put their bags through a machine like at airport security before going inside. We felt safe inside the hotel, but it made me think that the outside must be dangerous.

Security Gates and Guards at the Mall Too, Unlike in Japan

There was a security gate at the mall entrance too. I couldn’t tell whether it was really doing its job, but there were guards here and there inside the mall, and it made me realize that the safety situation is different from Japan.

Children Were Selling Towels to Cars Stopped at the Lights

When we walked across the road to the nearby mall, there were children selling things. They were selling towels about the size of a hand towel to cars stopped at the light. I also saw someone in a car hand them a McDonald’s bag.

Our kids saw this too. I don’t know what they took away from it. Still, I think it showed them that life can be very different depending on where people live or are born. I felt it was a very good lesson about society.

We Told the Kids It Was Dangerous Outside and Went to the Restroom with Them

We made sure the kids understood that it was dangerous outside. Unlike in Japan, we never let them go to the restroom alone. We always went with them.

We Mostly Took Taxis at Night Because There Was No Other Option

At night, we only walked as far as the nearby mall. Traffic was heavy, but no one was walking, so we stayed alert as we went.

Otherwise, we got around mostly by taxi. We took taxis to shopping malls and other places too. There was no other way to get around.

When Our Child Had a Fever: Our Visit to the Bai Hotel Cebu Clinic

During our stay, our eldest son came down with a high fever. When we asked the hotel for help, they gave us fever medicine.

The In-Hotel Clinic Has a Doctor and Nurse on Duty, on the 2nd or 3rd Floor

• Staff readily chat with you in English
• A doctor and a nurse are on duty (we confirmed this with the hotel)

This setup really did help us.

A High Fever in the Night: Using Travel Insurance to Find a Hospital with Japanese Support

We found out about the high fever the night before. That same night, we looked for a hospital where he could be seen.

We used the overseas travel insurance that came with our credit card. We emailed back and forth with the insurer’s local helpline, and they found us hospitals that could help us in Japanese.

Hospitals the Insurance Helpline Suggested (We Ended Up Not Going to Any)

• Cebu Doctors’ Hospital pediatrics … we were told they could see us from 11:00 that day
• University of Cebu Medical Center … close to the hotel, but the helpline said they couldn’t arrange care there
• Chong Hua Mandaue Hospital … within walking distance. It has a clinic with an insurance desk, and we were told they could see us at 10:30 that day

The In-Hotel Clinic Isn’t a Cashless Insurance Partner, So You Pay Up Front

What the insurance helpline told us at the time

At the time, the helpline for the insurance I used told me that the in-hotel clinic was not a cashless partner medical facility.

If you use it, you have to pay yourself first. They explained that you can then file an insurance claim for those costs after returning to Japan.

However, the helpline also said they didn’t know how much the in-hotel clinic could do.

Conditions vary by policy and over time, so check with your own insurance helpline before you use the clinic.

We Didn’t Bring Our Child. Only I Went to the Clinic to Ask (with Google Translate)

I went to the clinic the next morning. I left my son sleeping in the room, and I went to the clinic alone to explain his symptoms. My English isn’t great, so Google Translate was a big help.

Free Fever Medicine and Probiotic: 3 Doses for Mornings and Evenings

They gave us two kinds of medicine: a fever reducer and a probiotic. There was no charge. They explained that they could provide up to 3 doses for mornings and evenings for free, and we did receive 3 doses.

The probiotic was made for children. I think the clinic keeps medicine like that on hand.

Our eldest son sometimes runs a fever when he plays too hard. Up to the day before, he had been playing all out on the whale shark tour and at Sumilon Island. Being able to get medicine right there, abroad, meant a lot.

He was in 5th grade at the time. I don’t remember how we adjusted the dose.

We Hadn’t Packed Any Medicine. Next Time We’ll Bring a Fever Reducer, a Probiotic, and Anti-Diarrheal Medicine

If you decide before you leave what to do about your kids’ medicine, you won’t have to scramble later.

The Front Desk Knew He Was Sick, and Staff Asked After Him Every Time We Passed

Word of the fever had been passed to the front desk. After that, every time we walked through the lobby, staff asked, “Is his fever okay?” or “How is he feeling?”

They asked more than once. That means the information was being passed along among the staff.

Many families stay at this hotel for English study programs. I think that’s part of why they have this kind of system.

Staff Speak Slowly in English, Even to Kids

At the front desk, the staff answered kindly and with a smile, in slow English. They also asked the kids questions (See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Agoda), like “Who’s your favorite character?” and “When did you start studying English?”

I could tell they were used to children’s halting English.

Where We Booked Bai Hotel Cebu: We Chose by Points Expiry, Not the Lower Price

We booked this hotel through Rakuten Travel. But not because it was cheaper.

The reason was that our Rakuten points were about to expire. They would have disappeared if we didn’t use them.

I remember the price being a little cheaper on Agoda. But the difference from Rakuten Travel shouldn’t have been large. I didn’t keep a record of the prices at the time, so I can’t give the difference.

Even so, I decided it was the better deal to use points that would otherwise expire.

To compare under the same conditions, try this: See rates for the same dates on Agoda

To compare one more site, try this: See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Expedia

The cheapest site isn’t always the right choice for you. The points you already have and when they expire are part of the decision too.

Next time we book, we’ll compare Rakuten Travel, Agoda, and Expedia before deciding.

But we were only able to choose because we compared. If you only look at one site, you won’t even know which one is cheaper.

On later trips, we’ve used Agoda more and more after comparing. In Taipei, we found a JPY 160,000 difference for the same hotel on the same dates (in Japanese).

Bai Hotel Cebu Prices on Trip.com and Expedia by Date (Family of Four)

On October 4, 2026, we searched Expedia, Rakuten Travel, and JTB for three date ranges in December. The search was for the Deluxe Room we had stayed in, with a family of four (2 adults and kids aged 12 and 10) and no breakfast. For this party size, Expedia and JTB only showed suites. The cheapest suite plan included breakfast, so the prices in the table include breakfast. On Rakuten Travel, our kids’ current ages put us at 3 adults + 1 elementary-school child. The Deluxe Room holds up to 3 people there, so we couldn’t book it. On October 9, 2026, we also searched Trip.com and Expedia for date ranges from 12/24 to 3/27 (12/29 was rechecked; both sites showed suites with breakfast). The table lists Trip.com and Expedia, which you can book through our links; Rakuten Travel and JTB, which we also checked, are Japanese sites.

Some hotels and booking sites count 12-year-olds as adults, so check the guest-count conditions before booking.

Bai Hotel Cebu Review: Summary

Bai Hotel Cebu is a hotel where we stayed safely and comfortably, even with kids. (Its star rating is 5 stars on Agoda and 4 stars on the hotel’s official website.)

You can enjoy a good balance of sightseeing, shopping, and relaxing.

• See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Trip.com
• Check Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Agoda
• See Bai Hotel Cebu rates on Expedia