Discover Cebu – Best Western Plus Lex’s City Oasis

Are you looking for an oasis in the bustling city of Cebu? Do you want to stay in a great location for business or pleasure? Would you prefer change from £40 for a night of relative luxury including breakfast? How about taking a dip in an amazing infinity pool overlooking Cebu’s cityscape? All this and more is possible at the 4 star Best Western Plus Lex in Cebu City, Philippines.

Situated in uptown Cebu, at the intersection of Escario and Juana Osmeña Streets, Best Western Lex is perfectly located for the business district and shopping malls. While Escario Street is extremely busy, this means you can get whatever you want just outside the door. Within walking distance are ATM’s galore, McDonalds, salons, local restaurants and the ever present 7-eleven store.

Why the Best Western Lex?

Cebu has been our gateway to Siargao Island for twenty years. Across the years, we have stayed in an assortment of hotels in the city and budget considerations always pushed the Kiwi Lodge to the top of our list. Indeed, last night Kiwi Lodge accommodated us once again. However, tonight was a special night because our two year Philippine residency was almost over. A four star hotel seemed the minimum required for such an occasion. Also, we had booked a family photo shoot and felt we needed a nicer hotel for backdrops. Therefore, around midday, we moved our belongings from Kiwi to Best Western Lex Plus for our final night in the Philippines.

 A Business Class Room at Best Western Plus Lex

The check-in could have been a lot smoother. Unfortunately, the hotel’s credit card machine declined my card (and the receptionist said that was typical for international cards). Rather than let us take the room, they told us they needed cash or we couldn’t stay. I walked down the street a few blocks in the rain to the nearest ATM. While it wasn’t that far, the weather made it very inconvenient. A half hour later, we got the keys and took the lift to our tenth floor business class room.

Best Western Plus Lex’s rooms are super impressive. Carpeted floors, nicely appointed rooms, windows from floor to roof. Their bathrooms, which include a second flat screen television, particularly impressed our son Raf. The view connects you with the lively city below, without the hassle of actually being on ground level.

Swimming Pool at Best Western Plus Lex

It didn’t take too long for Raf to get bored of our luxurious room. He wanted to explore and swim. We grabbed our swimming costumes and headed for the upper floor. A quiet atmosphere, perfect infinity pool and solitary lifeguard greeted us upon arrival. Two hours passed by and no one else joined us. It was like being rich for a short while.

If you’re looking for a pristine swimming pool and a view to die for, the Best Western Lex delivers big time. While the pool is a bit small, it’s easily big enough to relax and enjoy the cityscape view. The partial roofing, wooden decking and adequate seating area makes it possible to enjoy the area even on a rainy day. In short, it’s an incredible oasis in the heart of a thriving city.

Blue Elephant

After our swim, we returned to our room for a family photo shoot (click the link to read more). Then, we went out to a rooftop sky lounge called Blue Elephant and enjoyed stunning views over Ayala terraces and sampled a few noodle dishes. Unfortunately, their food did not match the quality of the view. With a morning flight to catch the next day, we slipped back to the hotel and made the most of our comfortable room.

Breakfast at Best Western Lex

It was really strange going down to breakfast; a final meal before leaving the Philippines for a long time, maybe even forever. Thankfully, none of us dwelt upon the uncertainty ahead. Instead, I reveled in the healthy salad options and Mirasol and Raf devoured heaps of meat and eggs. To be honest, we had been spending money we didn’t have since we arrived in Cebu. This was the end of the road: overdraft exceeded, options to remain all over, an undefined future, London loomed ahead.

The free breakfast is well worth taking advantage of at the Best Western Lex. You can find healthy salad options alongside more traditional Filipino fare. They also have an egg station and offer eggs any style cooked right in front of you. While the seating area is relatively small, the bar setting is pleasant and comfortable.

Best Western Lex Wrap-up

In conclusion, we loved the Best Western Lex Plus. Their upmarket rooms have absolutely everything you need and more. The trendy infinity swimming pool area gives the property a true oasis feel. The wonderful views onto the bustling streets provide a constant form of entertainment. And they throw in a free breakfast too. It is remarkable value. A similar hotel in the UK would cost at least 120 GBP. In short, it is an ideal place for a short or long stay in Cebu for singles, couples and families.

Follow in our footsteps

– You can book the Best Western Lex Plus Hotel on Agoda, Booking.com or the hotel’s own website.

– Rooms at Best Western Lex Plus Hotel start from 39 GBP / P2700 per night, including breakfast. Slightly larger, business class rooms start from 50 GBP / P3400 per night, including breakfast.

– Public transportation is just right outside the lobby. You can ride jeepneys or taxis to Ayala Mall in around 15 minutes depending on the traffic.

– The Cebu Pier Area is 3 km away. Expect to pay at least P120 for a metered taxi to Cebu Pier.

– The Airport is 12 km away on Mactan Island. Expect to pay at least P250 for a metered taxi to Mactan Cebu International Airport. Allow sufficient time to reach the airport (30 minutes early morning, 90 minutes during rush hour) to make your trip stress-free.