Pricing as follows:
Entrance 200 pesos per adult person
No tent incld. 1 table and a few chairs 500 pesos
With tent " " 1,000 pesos
Beach front tent " " 1,500 pesos
From the bridge closests to Mactan International Airport you keep going instead of turning towards the airport. You keep going until you see a sign that says Mactan Newtown. You'll pass the new building structure until you arrive unto an unpaved path. Follow the path, right until you see a parking lot for Mactan Newtown Beach. After parking you'll pay the entrance fee then follow the path until you see the information booth. We were told that as long as your picnic items were categorized as snack type items (ie: burgers and fries) there will be no additional charge for bringing outside food. There you'll be greeted by staff and will give you the run down of pricing for various types of cottages, tents, and the rest. We opted for just a table and some chairs without a tent as we were not planning on staying long. We were given a decent view of the beach but that's where the positive aspects ended.
The beach was riddled with various sizes of rocks, some sharp so I'd wear some type of water footware. The water kinda murky and I noticed what appear to be drainage outlets on the sides of the beach. There was a couple of people show boating the jet skis, I suppose to entice people to rent it. One came so close to where patrons where swimming they were short of a kick away from being hit. If they were part of Mactan Newtown's Beach staff, they were unprofessional in that manner. We swam, rather, waddled around for about 30 mins and decided it was time to go. I felt a little itchy while in the water so that's what lead to our immediate departure. I must be spoiled with the type of beaches Bohol and the likes offer beacause I was left disappointed and unimpressed. It certainly was not anything or anywhere I'd want to return to. I was told this was previously called Portofino but was purchased by Megaworld Builders. If you are expecting the same type of "new'ness" as the nearby structure, you will certainly be disappointed. Mactan Newtown Beach felt tired and worn out despite of the vibrant colors painted on their cottages. Now on to the shower area.
Be warned **bring 5 peso coins with you**. Yes, you read right, you must pay to rinse off. A 5 peso coin gets you 2 minutes of running water. Wasteful, might I add, as there is no shower head above but a plastic pipe that runs a thinly but thick heavy flow of water. Also a strong odor of urine was overwhelming in the stall I entered. Floor was slick because the type of tile used, so be careful!
Grounds were riddled with dead leaves and trees were not pruned. Parts of the pavements were not maintained and looked like an earthquake came through. Like I said, tired, no maintenance. I sure hope that they renovate and update. Grounds staff were friendly and helpful, and didn't bother anyone much.
Overall, until a serious renovation happens, I will not return to this place. read more