Fleur de Liz Inn

This 20 room establishment is what one might call a motel (albeit three storey) in Australia or the United States of America but in Philippines it is closer to being a 'pension.' It was a six kilometre, P50 shared van trip from the Airport taking about 10 minutes. The hotel is in its own compound a little to the right of and set back from the 7-11 and the 24 hour chicken fast food restaurant, Andoks. The reception was fast at issuing my key for room 10 on the third floor (two floors above ground level.) The stairs were spotless and set the tone for the whole place. A boy carried my luggage up the stairs without fuss. My room was on the entrance side and had a double bed rather cozily stuck in the 'L' shaped area which meant to get into bed one had to first move onto it - hard for someone of advanced age if slightly disabled. The bed was comfortable even though there were rubber pillows. I slept well thanks to the extremely efficient airconditioning which when set on 'low' is quiet, although not as noiseless as split system units. There was a wooden small table and black wooden chair and a chest of drawers. The curtains efficiently blocked light. There is a shelf for one's suitcase. The bathroom was poky but the shower worked well, although it and the handbasin were very slow to drain. There was a flatscreen TV with a limited range of channels. There is a small lounge area on each level including at reception. For reference, some tourism brochures are available - not always the case in Philippines. The pool was clean and refreshing, and is as much as 166 centimetres deep at one end. There looked to be a BBQ just away from the pool, separated by a fence. Apart from the 7-11 and Andoks, both open 24 hours, there are a couple of native restaurants while across the street towards the airport there is a large petrol station. Taxis to get into central Iloilo City for Dinagyang Festival or to Tagbak Bus Terminal (latter opened December 2015) were surprisingly easy to obtain. Be prepared to state 'P200 - P250 as the fare you will pay up to for either but demand that the meter be switched on. Of four trips, only one driver refused but he backed down from his original quote of P350 from the Medical City Hospital, Iloilo River to the inn at Sta. Barbara. The ladies owning this inn have excellent English and are friendly. Recommended, although be aware that it is 20 minutes from Iloilo City in light traffic; probably 35 in heavy or even medium traffic. Roads are being widened but not all are complete.