The Saint Joseph Residential Suites

These suites - more like roomy condos, apartments or flats - were built in 2012 but look a bit older. That's the tropics. I caught a P200 tricycle - he wanted P240 - from Lucena City's extensive port to the suites. That took about 15 minutes. Ariel warmly welcomed me although his English was poor. On the ground floor, there is a large grotto featuring St Joseph. I was given room 6 on what Filipinos call the third floor, two floors up stairs from the ground. Yet there was only one other room occupied, so I couldn't work out why I didn't receive a room on a lower floor to minimise stair climbing. The apartment had one bedroom with a strangely sized bed - King single? - plus a dressing table and effective airconditioner, plus a second bedroom that I did not use with two single beds, also with its own aircon. There was also a large entrance area with couch and a TV with a good range of cable channels, as well as a kitchenette with a large fridge, table seating at least two, cutlery and crockery but stranegly no microwave. Everything was clean, if a bit dated. There was shampoo and soap in the roomy bathroom. Hot water came pretty much instantly while the sole towel I was given, green not white for a change, was large and properly described as a bath towel. WiFi worked well without any interruptions. While I didn't undertake a speed check, it was more than adequate for my Internet surfing and email. Lighting was good in the bathroom and OK elsewhere. The bedding was fine while the drapes blocked almost all light, I being one who vastly prefers a dark room in which to sleep. There was some motorbike noise in the street, especially from 0530 in the morning but my sleep was fine. In the morning I met young Rex, whose English was excellent and who has worked at St Joseph Suites for three years. He found me a tricycle in no time, the fare to Lucena City's huge bus terminal being P120. The Filipina room lady, in her late 40s or older, was also very friendly (which is typical in Philippines). This was an unexpectedly good value find at P1500 a night. It was five minutes - P60 - by trike to Metro Poinjt Mall and I gather 10 minutes to competitor mall SM City. St Joseph would I daresay have found this a good place to lay his head.