Hotel and Inn Review: PSU Golden Lion Hotel (Lingayen, Pangasinan)

 

Date of Stay: February 14 to 17, 2025

 

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: ********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: *******

PSU Golden Lion Hotel

The last time my family and I visited Lingayen was way back in 2018 and now I am back to this historic town with my wife Grace and son Jandy, this time staying at the five-storey PSU Golden Lion Hotel, the only state-of-the art training hotel in the heart of the provincial capital.  

Hotel Lobby furnished with  La-Z-Boy lounge chairs

Front Desk

The grand piano was a nice touch at the lobby

This fairly new hotel, inaugurated last December 2, 2022, not only offers quality hospitality service to local and foreign guests but also serves as a practical laboratory for hospitality students of Pangasinan State University (PSU), allowing them to be more equipped in the fields of both hospitality and tourism management.

 

Twin Deluxe Queen

The very spacious ensuite bathroom

We stayed in a very spacious. airconditioned Twin Deluxe Queen Room (Php3,500), one of 42 well-appointed, non-smoking rooms with electronic key lock, telephone, a 42” Smart flat-screen LED TV, mini ref, work desk, coffee and tea making facility, iron and ironing board, and plenty of closet and drawer space.  It even had a counter where we could conveniently unpack our luggage.  Our equally spacious bathroom had a bidet, hair dryer and complimentary toiletries. 

Executive Suite

Presidential Suite

Living area of Presidential Suite

Their other comfortable and spacious accommodations include the Queen Deluxe Double (Php2,000), Junior Executive (Php3,000), Executive (Php4,000), Suite (Php5,500) and Presidential Suite (Php10,000).  Free high-speed wifi is available throughout the hotel.

 

The brightly-lit and cozy Golden Lion Restaurant by Jowtoo

Beef Salpicao

The hotel has two food and beverage outlets.  The Golden Lion Restaurant by Jowtoo, its fine dining restaurant (open from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM), can seat 120 patrons.  It offers Filipino and international (pizzas, maki rolls, etc.) cuisine plus expertly brewed coffee and a selection of shakes.  

9 Star Bar and Cafe

9 Star Bar and Cafe

The 9 Star Bar and Café, with a panoramic view of the university campus and Lingayen Gulf, can seat 64 patrons. You can also take your drinks, up a stairs, to the roof deck where you can watch the setting sun.

 

View from bar

The hotel also has four different venues uniquely designed to cater to a wide range of events such as weddings, conferences and corporate events. The 30-pax Ylang-Ylang Hall, a boardroom, can be rented for Php5,000 (3 hours). The 100 to 120-pax Kalachuchi Hall, an event room perfect for intimate gatherings, can be rented for Php10,000 (5 hours).

 

Aseana Hall

The Sunflower Hall, which can comfortably seat 100 to 120 guests, can be rented for Php12,000 (5 hours).  The Aseana Hall, a spacious 250 to 300-pax function hall that can be rented for Php30,000 (5 hours), can be customized, from the layout to the décor and everything in between.  All are equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

 

Third floor lobby

It also has a 24-hour Front Desk, an elevator, luggage storage facility and basement parking.  The hotel, walking distance to the Provincial Capitol Building, Sison Cultural and Heritage Center and Lingayen Beach, is located 1.9 kms. (a 5-min. drive ) from the Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum, 2.2 kms. (a 5-min. drive) from the Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord, 5.3 kms. (a 10-min. drive) from the Church of Our Lady of Purification (Binmaley) and 17 kms. (a 30-min. drive) from Robinson’s Place Dagupan. 

Check out "Provincial Capitol Building," "Church of Our Lady of Purification," "Sison Cultural and Heritage Center," "Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord" and "Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum"

 

Hallway

We had a very pleasant stay at the hotel made more so by hotel General Manager Dr. Jerry L. Ceballos, Jr. (hailing from Batangas, he is also a former dean and a professor of International Hospitality and Tourism Management at PSU) who still gave us a complimentary extra bed for Jandy. The staff, from the Front Desk down to the security guard, were also very friendly and respectful.  The food at the restaurant was also delicious and very affordable.  At the moment they only accept payment by cash or Gcash.

 

L-R: the author, Grace and Jandy

Golden Lion Hotel: Alvear St., Capitol Compound, Poblacion, 2401 Lingayen, Pangasinan.  Tel: (075) 510-3673 and (075) 540-0925.  E-mail: goldenlionhotel@psu.edu.ph. Website: www.goldenlionhotel.psu.edu.ph. 

Hotel and Inn Review: Star Plaza Hotel (Dagupan City, Pangasinan)

Date of Stay: January 1 - 2, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ********

Rooms: *******

Condition and Cleanliness: ********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: *******

Star Plaza Hotel

Pantal River

The 6-storey, 3-star Star Plaza Hotel, overlooking the Pantal River, features 86 spacious and well-appointed, non-smoking airconditioned rooms with flat-screen cable TV, private ensuite bath, telephone, work desk and free newspaper.  Certain units have a seating area and a terrace or balcony. 

During our visit to Dagupan City, we stayed in a 20 sq. m. Junior Twin Room (Php1,500 net) with 2 semi-double beds  (Room 510) and the 32 sq. m. Family Suite (PhP2,500 net) which has 1 king-size bed and a mini-bar (Room 509). Both had no window view and natural lighting and, thus, were quite dark.  There was also no free bottled water and tea/coffee making facility for guests.

Hotel entrance

There are other room types. The 20 sq. m. Junior Double (Php1,500 net, has 1 double bed but no window view.  

The 22 sq. m. Royal Suite (PhP2,100 net), has semi-double beds, balcony/terrace, mini-bar and a river view.  The 22 sq. m. De Luxe Twin has 2 single beds, mini-bar and balcony/terrace.  

Family Suite (Room 509)

Family Suite (Room 509)

The  32 sq. m. Plaza Suite (PhP3,000 net) has 1 super king bed, mini-bar and balcony/terrace.  

The 51 sq. m. Presidential Suite (PhP5,000 net) has 1 super king bed, balcony/terrace, river view, mini-bar, seating area and a bathroom with jacuzzi whirlpool bath. 

Extra mattress is PhP300 while Joiner’s fee is Php200.  Normal check-in time is 2 PM while check out time is 12 noon.  To check in, you have to shell out a PhP1,000 bond which will be reimbursed upon checking out.

Hotel Lobby

Front Desk

Elevators

The hotel also has three food and beverage outlets.  

The 150-pax, ground floor Star Ocean Restaurant offers seafood and Asian and Chinese cuisine for fine dining.  Open 3 PM to 12 midnight (dinner only). 

The second floor Patisserie offers a basic but tasty ala carte breakfast (not free with the room) and light meals (freshly squeezed juices, sandwiches, ice cream and brewed coffee).  Open 7AM to 12 midnight. The second floor videoke bar, open from 8 AM to 12 midnight, has 12 private rooms with audio visual music entertainment.  

Junior Twin Room (Room 510)

Junior Twin Room (Room 510)

Business center

Stairs to second floor

Star Plaza Hotel also has a 24-hour front desk, two elevators, 500-800-pax grand ballroom, 150-pax function rooms and a business center (fax services, photocopying, document printing, and equipment rentals).

There's also a flower/gift shop (open 8AM to 7 PM), unisex salon (open 10 AM to 8PM, Mondays to Saturdays, and 11AM to 8PM, Sundays) and secured but limited and open onsite parking along the river. 

It offers room service, currency exchange, daily housekeeping, safety deposit box, laundry and pressing service.

The fine dining Star Ocean Restaurant

The hotel staff was courteous and helpful.  Check in was fast and efficient.  The hotel does need a major facelift as it is quite old.  Located at the center of the city, Star Plaza was very accessible to establishments around the Dagupan-Downtown area.  

Most are just a stone’s throw away (Chowking, Jollibee, Am-Ams Restaurant, True Brew, etc.).  It is also a 10 min. walk to Dagupan City Plaza and Nepo Mall.  

Patisserie

The author and Jandy having breakfast at Patisserie

Flower/Gift Shop

Videoke Bar

The hotel is also located 4.4 kms. (2.7 mi.) from the Annunciation of the Lord Parish Church, 4.6 kms. (2.9 mi.) from St. Peter and St. Paul Church (Calasiao), 9 kms. (5.6 mi.) from Bonuan Beach,  9.2 kms. (5.7 mi.) from the Japanese Garden,  27.6 kms. (17.1 mi.) from Urdaneta Museum and 28.1 kms. (17.4 mi.) from Immaculate Conception Cathedral, both in Urdaneta City. Good value for money

Kyle, Bryan and Cheska at the Reception Area

Star Plaza Hotel: Angel B Fernandez Ave., Downtown District, Mayombo, Dagupan City, 2400 Pangasinan.  Tel: (075) 523 4888 (Trunk) and (075) 523-4680 to 85.  Fax: (075) 523-4777 or 522-0030. Mobile numbers: (0999) 857-4355 (Smart) and (0915) 906-5004 (Globe).  E-mail: info@starplazadagupan.com. Website: www.starplazadagupan.com.

Hotel and Inn Review: Villa Angelica Resort and Events Place (Alaminos City, Pangasinan)

Date of Stay: March 30-April 1, 2018

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: **********

Condition and Cleanliness: *********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: *********

Villa Angelica Resort and Events Place

Villa Angelica Resort and Events Place, a highly recommended place to stay in Alaminos City (the gateway to the Hundred Islands National Park), is the residence of former U.S-based (Houston, Texas) balikbayan couple Eduardo Medrano and Angelica "Angie" Roxas-Medrano (after whom the resort was named) turned into a bread and breakfast and events place just last November 2017 upon the recommendation of a friend.

Check out my articles on "Hundred Islands (Alaminos City, Pangasinan)"

L-R: James Cruz, Jandy Layug, Grace Layug, Bryan Cruz, Kyle Layug and Cheska Layug

 Angie lets out six of the house’s rooms for guests – four facing the dining/living area (which has now been converted into a function hall for parties, seminars, reunions, team building, wedding receptions, etc.), another in the attic (accessible via a spiral staircase) and another (formerly the gym) facing the lanai (which has been converted into an outdoor dining area). 

The Double Room we stayed in

Dresser and the huge flat screen cable TV

The last two are barkada/family rooms suitable for huge groups of 8 – 20 pax.  Two ground floor standard rooms share a common toilet and bath. The attic room has a balcony overlooking the swimming pool. All 6 rooms are fully airconditioned and have huge flat-screen cable TVs. Room rates range from Php2,000-10,000.

The ground floor barkada/family room

Common bathroom

Barkada room toilet

The double room that we stayed in (Php5,500/night) had a queen-size bed and a double bed plus a dresser table and a huge 65-inch flat screen TV. 

The spacious ensuite bathroom had a jacuzzi tub, separate shower area (with rainshower head), separate water closet cubicle and twin lavatories on a granite counter top.

Barkada/Family Room at attic

Standard Room 1

Standard Room 2

 The resort doesn’t have a full service restaurant but guests can partake of full meals, ordered in advance, and prepared in the kitchen by the resort’s cooks.  

They also cater food to the abovementioned functions, whether held indoor at the function hall or outdoor at the pavilions and gazebo at the swimming pool area.

Function Hall

The resort, sitting on a 3,500 sq. m. lot, is very private and the surrounding neighborhood is very peaceful. The free form swimming pool (3 to 6 ft. in depth), surrounded by shaded pavilions and gazebos with garden furniture and sun loungers, is very clean and has shower rooms.  The resort also has a children’s playground, videoke (open until 10 PM) and an outdoor gym. Parking for up to 10 cars is available for guests.  The service at the resort was excellent and the staff was very accommodating.  Angie was so hand's on, accommodating and very hospitable.

Villa Angelica Resort and Events Place: 026 Sitio Kampilan, Brgy. Magsaysay, Alaminos City, Pangasinan 2404.  Mobile number: (0908) 465-9813 (Smart) and (0995) 749-0258 (Globe). 

Day swimming entrance fee (9 AM – 4 PM): Php150 (adults), Php130 (7 to 13 years old) and PhP100 (6 years old and below).  An addition Php50/head will be charged after 4 PM.  Night swimming entrance fee (4 – 9 PM): Php180 (adults), Php150 (7 to 13 years old) and PhP120 (6 years old and below). All day swimming entrance fee (9 AM – 9 PM): Php250 (adults), Php200 (7 to 13 years old) and PhP150 (6 years old and below). Cottage fees: Php300 (2 – 4-pax), Php600 (5 – 8-pax), Php1,000 (8 – 10-pax gazebo), Php1,500 (10 – 15-pax center pavilion) and Php2,000 (10 – 20-pax pavilion, additional Php1,500 if greater than 20 pax).

How to Get There: From Alaminos City proper, head towards Lucap Wharf/Hundred Islands, turn left on Magsaysay  (road after Western Hospital, Alaminos National High School and  before Lions Club and Alaminos Coop), turn left on Sitio Kampilan (road after Magsaysay Elementary School), follow signs and the winding and asphalted road all the way to the end. Villa Angelica is on the left hand side of the road.