One-night stay
Close to the airport or port, ideal for early transfers
Before & after your liveaboard trip
Extend your stay in the Philippines
Hand-picked hotels for before or after your Philippines liveaboard trip - close to your departure in Cebu or Puerto Princesa, from a quick airport overnight to an extended beachfront or island escape.
Why extend your stay
Turn an incredible diving holiday into a truly inspirational experience.
Whether you are travelling a few hours or halfway around the world for your liveaboard adventure with Master Liveaboards, taking extra time to experience each unique destination can enhance your trip and transform an incredible diving holiday into a truly inspirational experience.
Staying on after your cruise lets you experience the destination beyond the ocean. Discover vibrant cities, remote islands, cultural landmarks, wildlife, beaches, and hidden gems that make each region unique. Whether you choose a few extra days of relaxation or a week of exploration, extending your stay creates a richer and more rewarding holiday.
Arriving a day early gives you time to relax, recover from travel, and start your journey refreshed and stress-free. You can explore local culture, enjoy regional cuisine, and settle into the destination before boarding your liveaboard adventure.
A liveaboard may be the highlight of your trip, but the destination itself has so much more to offer. Add a few extra nights and turn your diving holiday into the ultimate travel experience.
Hotels we recommend
Master Liveaboards Recommendations
With hundreds of hotels to choose from, picking the right one can be difficult, so we have chosen a few to consider, based on different durations. We have access to thousands of different hotel options - if you are looking for something specific, please let us know and we will be happy to help you.
1
Mactan, Cebu - opposite the airport
Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan
Conveniently located directly opposite Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino is an ideal choice for a 1-night stay before or after your travels (day use also available). Combining comfort and convenience, the hotel offers spacious guest rooms and suites, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, multiple dining options, and complimentary Wi-Fi. With warm Filipino hospitality and easy access to both Cebu City and Mactan Island, Waterfront Airport Hotel provides a relaxing and hassle-free stopover for travellers in transit.
✓ Opposite Mactan-Cebu airport
✓ Day use available
✓ Outdoor pool and fitness centre
✓ Multiple dining options
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Puerto Princesa - near the airport
Hue Hotels & Resorts Puerto Princesa
Conveniently located just a few minutes from Puerto Princesa International Airport, Hue Hotels & Resorts Puerto Princesa offers a stylish and comfortable option for an overnight stay in Palawan. Situated in the heart of the city, the hotel provides easy access to local attractions, dining, and shopping while offering modern rooms designed with a contemporary island-inspired style. Guests can enjoy excellent facilities including a rooftop swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, restaurant, and complimentary Wi-Fi, making it the perfect place to relax before or after your travels.
✓ Minutes from Puerto Princesa airport
✓ Rooftop swimming pool
✓ Spa and fitness centre
✓ Central city location
Enquire
3
Short stay
A few nights before or after your liveaboard
Mactan Island, Cebu - minutes from airport
Mercure Mactan Cebu
Located on Mactan Island just minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Mercure Mactan Cebu offers a stylish and convenient base for a 3-night stay in the Philippines. Set along a beautiful stretch of coastline, the resort combines contemporary comfort with stunning sea views and easy access to Cebu's beaches, island-hopping adventures, and cultural attractions. Guests can enjoy modern rooms and suites, multiple dining venues, swimming pools, wellness facilities, and warm Filipino hospitality, making it an ideal choice for those looking to relax and explore the best of Cebu and the surrounding islands.
✓ Coastline setting on Mactan
✓ Sea-view rooms and suites
✓ Swimming pools and wellness
✓ Minutes from the airport
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Beachfront
Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa - beachfront
Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa
Nestled within 14 hectares of lush tropical gardens on the shores of Honda Bay, Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa offers an exceptional setting for a relaxing 3-night stay in Palawan. Just a short drive from Puerto Princesa International Airport, this expansive beachfront resort combines luxury, comfort, and natural beauty with spacious rooms, suites, and villas, multiple swimming pools, a spa, fitness centre, and a variety of dining options. Guests can unwind by the beach, enjoy island-inspired hospitality, or use the resort as a base for exploring Puerto Princesa's famous attractions.
✓ 14 hectares of gardens on Honda Bay
✓ Beachfront with multiple pools
✓ Spa and fitness centre
✓ Rooms, suites and villas
Enquire
7
Extended stay
Seven nights to turn your trip into a full holiday
Luxury
Dauin - beachfront
Atmosphere Resorts & Spa
Set along the beachfront in Dauin, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa is a luxury tropical retreat perfectly suited for guests looking to extend their adventure with a mix of relaxation, wellness, and world-class diving. Surrounded by lush gardens and the ocean, the resort features elegant suites and villas, multiple swimming pools, a private beach, spa, yoga pavilion, and exceptional dining. Renowned for its outstanding dive centre and easy access to Apo Island and Dauin's famous macro diving, Atmosphere offers the perfect balance of barefoot luxury, marine adventure, and laid-back island living.
✓ Beachfront luxury in Dauin
✓ Suites and villas in gardens
✓ Spa, yoga pavilion and pools
✓ Renowned dive centre
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Boutique
Coron, Palawan - town centre
The Funny Lion
Located in the heart of Coron, Palawan, The Funny Lion offers a stylish and relaxed setting for a memorable 7-night stay. Combining contemporary design with warm Filipino hospitality, this boutique resort provides the perfect balance of comfort and adventure. Guests can enjoy spacious modern rooms, a swimming pool, spa facilities, and the popular rooftop dining and sunset lounge overlooking Coron Bay. Conveniently located close to the town centre and departure points for island-hopping excursions, The Funny Lion is an ideal base for exploring Coron's world-renowned limestone islands, crystal-clear lagoons, pristine beaches, and exceptional diving sites.
✓ Heart of Coron, Palawan
✓ Rooftop dining and sunset lounge
✓ Swimming pool and spa
✓ Close to island-hopping
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Staff picks
Personal favourites from our team.
With our team regularly visiting each of our destinations, whether for work or for a well-earned holiday, here are some of their personal favourites to spend time themselves and to send their customers to.
Jan
Staff pick
If you're flying in or out of Cebu, the Waterfront right opposite the airport is what I always recommend. You can be checked in within minutes of landing, there's a proper pool to relax by, and plenty of places to eat without leaving the building - exactly what you want either side of a liveaboard.
Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan
Sonja
Staff pick
Hue Hotels is my go-to in Puerto Princesa. It's a short hop from the airport, the rooms are bright and modern, and the rooftop pool is a lovely spot to unwind before heading out to Palawan. Easy, comfortable and right in the middle of everything.
Hue Hotels & Resorts Puerto Princesa
How it works
We handle everything for you.
Adding a hotel to your liveaboard trip takes three steps. We do the work - you just tell us what you would like.
1
Choose a hotel
Browse our recommendations above and send us an enquiry, or ask our team for advice if you are not sure.
2
We confirm rates
Our reservations team checks availability and comes back to you with a quote for your dates. No obligation.
3
Sorted
We book the hotel, arrange transfers, and make sure everything connects with your liveaboard departure. One less thing to think about.
Common questions
Good questions, straight answers.
Everything you need to know about adding a hotel stay to your liveaboard trip.
Do you book the hotel for me?
+Yes. Once you choose a hotel and confirm the dates, our reservations team handles the booking directly. You do not need to book separately through a third-party site. We work with these hotels regularly and can often secure better terms than booking independently.
What about airport and liveaboard transfers?
+In the Maldives we arrange your transfer from the airport to your hotel and from the hotel to the liveaboard departure point. Several of the hotels listed also include their own complimentary airport transfers. Onward arrangements (resort speedboats, return flights) we'll talk through when we confirm your booking.
Can I book a hotel at both ends of my trip?
+Absolutely. Many of our guests book a one-night stay before departure and a few nights at a resort afterwards. Just let us know your plans and we will put together a complete package. You can mix and match different hotels for before and after.
Can I change or cancel my hotel booking?
+Cancellation and amendment policies vary by hotel. We will confirm the specific terms when we send you the quote. In most cases there is a free cancellation window. If your liveaboard trip changes, we will help you adjust the hotel booking to match.
What if my flight is delayed?
+All of the hotels we suggest have 24-hour front desks and are accustomed to late arrivals. If your flight is significantly delayed, let us know and we will notify the hotel on your behalf. This is one of the advantages of booking through us rather than independently.
Interested? Speak to our team.
We can help you find the right hotel for your dates, arrange transfers, and make sure everything connects smoothly with your liveaboard departure.
Send an enquiryWe respond within 2 hours during business hours
