Cebu Airport International Departure Plaza Premium Lounge Review
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This is a full Cebu Airport International Departure Plaza Premium Loung review with seat, food, drinks, and price information for your Cebu travel.
As a frequent traveler who loves exploring Southeast Asia on my annual leave, I always love having airport lounges as my first and last stop. Because most credit cards, like American Express are provide complimentary access and it is a pity not to use them. Additionally, it is a good place to relax and chill before and after a fulfilling journey. By factoring in the time for the lounge, I will need to arrive at the airport early. This is particularly important when you are dealing with some busy airports like Bangkok, HCMC, or a messy airline like Vietjet.
Of course, not all the lounges are the same, even under the same group like Plaza Premium. In this blog post, I will show you my experience with Mactan Cebu International Airport Plaza Premium Lounge during my recent annual leave in Cebu & Bohol.
Where Is Mactan Cebu International Airport Plaza Premium Lounge
The lounge is in Terminal 2 (international departures), airside after security. Head to Gate 20, take the elevator down to Level 1 – it’s opposite the gate. This prime spot is close to most departure gates, unlike some lounges buried deep in terminals. It takes less than 15 minutes to reach most of the other gates.
For airport layout, check the official Mactan-Cebu site here. If you’re flying domestic, there’s a separate Plaza Premium in Terminal 1, but this review focuses on international.
Terminal 2 is modern, with shops and dining, but prices are steep compared to those in Cebu City center. For example, a standard burger could cost over 10 USD, not to mention those overpriced dried mangos in the souvenir shops.
So, given the convenience of the lounge, it is better to relax and enjoy the last moments of the Cebu journey there than to shop at overpriced shops.
Is Plaza Premium Lounge Free?
No, it is not free. The walk-in price during my last visit was around 2,650 PHP(~ 46 USD) with a 10% discount for booking in advance online. The fee is much more expensive than those lounges I had in Thailand or Vietnam. However, if you have a credit card with complimentary access like me, you should definitely pay a visit to the lounge.
The lounge also operates 24 hours daily so you can enjoy that regardless of your departure time.
Facilities Inside The Cebu PPG Lounge
The Cebu PPG lounge probably has one of the best views amongst all the airport lounges in Asia. Inside there, you have a full view of the runway. The chairs are comfortable with modern and industrial-chic décor. Seating includes comfy sofas, pods for privacy, and tables for work. It’s not overcrowded, even during peaks.
Other than the spacious sitting area, it also has a large children’s corner suitable for travelling with toddlers. Private toliets, free wifi and paid shower rooms are also available.
I took a short video to show how great the environment is there.
Food And Drinks: Basic But Satisfying
Similar to other lounges, PPG Cebu also has buffet food and beverages. For the beverage, it includes bottled water, soft drinks, juices and alcoholic drinks. I appreciate the cocktail session, which is at the corner of the food session. There you can mix cocktails by yourself, which is great for someone who wants a good sleep during the coming flight.
Unfortunately, the food on the other hand is rather disappointing. There are only a limited number of hot dish options, with around 3 or 4 choices. Unfortunately, most of the dishes are very salty with excessive salt. The noodle session is also very so-so compared to the one in Hong Kong. The desserts were mainly basic cakes, and the salad was not attractive either.
In Short, It Is Worth Going If It’s Free
The Cebu Plaza Premium Loung at international departure is comfortable with enjoyable beverage. It is a good place to relax before the coming flight and as a last stop for your journey. If you follow my itinerary, in the previous days you should have been several island hopping tours, snorkeling with whaleshark or maybe even seatreking in Cebu. So on the last day, it is good to be restful. Additionally, it has one of the largest children’s playgrounds for families with toddlers.
Despite so, the food is far from satisfactory. At least I don’t find a lot of special local dishes there. If I were to pay the walk in price of ~ USD 45 for the stay, I would have just had the ~ 10 USD burger outside instead.
Comparatively speaking, the lounges I had in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand are a lot better than the one in Cebu, as for food quality.
However, if you have a credit card with free lounge access, this is still a good option to go. And it is always good to arrive airport early to avoid missing the flight.
