The luxury Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, at the far end of Mactan Island, sits on an expansive site that recreates the ocean landscape with a number of saltwater lagoons and freshwater pools framed by patches of sand (and live mermaids). Thirty minutes from the airport (with free transfers), the setting is tranquil, and facilities and activities include a spa, free bicycles to borrow, paddleboard yoga, wall climbing, and archery. There are five restaurants, and breakfast costs extra. A horse-and-cart transports guests around the expansive grounds, which adds to the plantation atmosphere. The 256 rooms offer a variety of interiors, some are dated, and some have avocado-shaped tubs or are built on stilts over the water. Travelers looking for more bright and contemporary rooms might want to compare rates at the nearby Moevenpick Hotel.