As you know, Shangri-La is a fictional country, a literary allegory of the promised land. Traveling around the Philippine islands and staying in different hotels, mostly 5***** We have come to the conclusion that Shangri-la Mactan Resort & Spa is the best resort in Cebu, and possibly in the Philippines as a whole. However, the most expensive one, obviously. At the entrance to the hotel, we were greeted with live music, traditional beads, mango juice and... chrysanthemum footballs – it was a tribute to the upcoming World Cup. The huge well-groomed territory of a respectable resort, the riot of lush greenery of a tropical reserve, a cascade of clean warm pools, several cozy bars and exquisite restaurants with a diverse and commendable selection of dishes struck the imagination. Rich breakfasts with refreshing freshly squeezed juices, sushi rolls, cheeses, hot dishes, delicious various pastries. Of the entire assortment of fruits, we naturally preferred mangoes, because the most delicious grow in Cebu. The level of the hotel can be estimated by the number of towels in the rooms. There were 12 (yes, a dozen!) for two people here. towels are changed daily. There were enough sun beds on the beach and near the pools for everyone. Towels were offered several times a day, as well as water to guests who overheated in the sun. Swimming with a mask and looking at bright fish and live corals is a special pleasure. To the rescue. no one insists on wearing vests and special shoes, but if you swim "behind the buoys", the lifeguard on the boat will certainly catch up with you and politely but persistently offer to return to the water area of the hotel and will "herd" you to the shore. Well, safety is first, you can't object to that. The service is excellent everywhere, but the prices for everything are very impressive. The idea of a massage at the SHI spa had to be dismissed after adding up the price list with all taxes and service charges, they received more than $ 350 in pesos for an hour of relaxation for two, in terms of pesos, for a minute. The children did not bother, the noisy Asian guests simply amused with their swimming outfit: they splashed around almost in tight diving suits (not in the sea – in the pool!), hats, helmets and vests with their arms outstretched. Friendly hostess Natalia told a lot of interesting things about local customs, customs, and the specifics of recreation for representatives of different nations. For an informative tour of the hotel (it is simply unrealistic to explore everything on our own, and so we learned about the possibilities for organizing conferences and holding lavish weddings, for example) – special thanks!