Cris Evert’s Note: I stay in all types of accommodation in Cebu City. Name it, I have tried it. Last week, I stayed at the Elicon House and Jeff said he wanted to go with me. This was unexpected and I was pretty sure that he won’t like it because he is definitely not the type who stays in pension houses. BUT I was wrong. Read his review below.
Cebu – Fancy life in a treehouse?
How about spending a few days in a Philippine jungle?
I’m not totally opposed to it.
Along as it comes with my personal butler!
Well true believers you too can experience a total ecological lifestyle at the uber-affordable Elicon House here in the heart of Cebu.
From its one and only corporate brochure which the receptionist let me borrow for a couple of minutes, it says: “Elicon House is a budget-friendly city hotel. It serves as an eco-hostel, youth and family hostel, student and professional dorm with daily, weekly and monthly rates for local and international travelers. For many decades our management and staff have provided effective, efficient and reliable Cebuano hospitality to a multitude of new and regular guests”.
Staying one night here with my wife (and much better half), we found the Elicon House to be something very different from the low budget hostels which dot this Philippine city. Most are pretty scummy – take it from me you wouldn’t want to walk around on bare feet – and hotel operators equate cheap with terrible.
But Elicon House is different.
For less than $20 usd we stayed in an extra-large bedroom with three beds; an exceptionally great air con which literally froze the air in the room last night; satellite TV and a double sized shower.
Breakfast starts at 6 a.m. The wife had Spam (she loves it!) rice and two perfectly cooked eggs. I had a wonderful two egg omelet with ham, cheese, tomatoes and onions.
YUM!
Bicycles are hefted above the public corridors and earth-friendly conservation quotes from Gandhi and more wisdomed ones adorn the walls. There is ambient natural light everywhere through the purposely built skylights; an indoor waterfall comes complete with resident turtles; reclaimed and recycled wood abound and even a root chandelier.
You will find the Elicon House to be THE CLEANEST small hotel anywhere on this planet.
There is not a speck of dirt anywhere and no processed chemicals are used to clean the rooms – just natural baking soda and “elbow grease”.
Patrons are forbidden from bringing outside food onto the premises or are fined $10 for smuggling in even a cheeseburger.
In this way the Elicon House is 100% free of ants and little crawling critters.
It’s not the Ritz in London … but you get more than your money’s worth at Elicon House.
