Blog

Lingayen, Pangasinan – Growing up in the province of Pangasinan, I’ve had plenty of access to beaches and resorts throughout my lifetime. While my parents were always busy to take us out during summer, I had my titos and titas to thank for that.

One of the resorts that have been a constant in my life is Star Monica Resort and Restaurant (hotel info). My tita would often take me here with her kids for an overnight fun with the pool every summer. Moreover, the function hall of this resort is the chosen venue of most of my friend’s debut parties.

It’s almost traditional really. All girls I know of who celebrated their debut had their parties in Star Monica Resort. I can’t blame them, though. Even I had a good time at all their debut parties.

Resort Location

Star Monica Resort and Restaurant is located in Baranggay Quibaol, in the town of Lingayen. Quibaol (Ki-ba-ol) is far away enough from the town proper and secluded enough that it’s pretty quiet at night, despite being on a main road. This makes it an ideal location for families looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of town life without going too far away from main commodities.

A 10-minute drive would take you to the town proper. There are three supermarkets that you can buy groceries and essentials from. The public market is also accessible, where fresh produce can be bought to take to the resort for your family.

The resort itself is located in the Basing River, which is the waters that their cottages are suspended on top of.

More about Star Monica Resort and Restaurant

Star Monica Resort and Restaurant is well-known for its night pool and slide collection. It was established in 2014 and slowly raised in popularity to become a household name in terms of events and resorts in the area.

Renovations were started in 2018 and are still ongoing in late 2019. The renovations were mostly expansions and the addition of features to the pool and the overall area.

Aside from being a resort that is chosen by many, a lot of locals choose to have their special events celebrated in this resort. From wedding receptions, debut parties to prom venues, Star Monica Resort and Restaurant has been trusted by many.

Here are some tourist spots that are near Star Monica Resort and Restaurant:

• Lingayen Gulf (15-minute drive)
• Mt. Zion Pilgrim Mountain (30~45-minute drive)!
• Pangasinan Provincial Capitol (15-minute drive)
• Sual Library Museum (~1-hour drive)

Arrival Experience

Every time we check in the resort, we come in the afternoon at around 2-3PM. You can easily enter the resort by confirming with the guards that you are a guest and they will allow you entry. We park our car on the parking spaces and take out our belongings as we head towards reception.

After reaching the reception, my tita would make arrangements to book for a room. The process is quick and easy and we’re escorted to our rooms in a flash.

The staff were hospitable and would try their best to accommodate us if we needed help with anything.

Rooms

We usually stay in two Deluxe Rooms, that are split between 2 adults, 2 teenagers, and 4 younger kids.

The room offered a nice pool view, a view of the mountains, air conditioning, free WiFi, flat-screen cable TV, private bathroom, hairdryer, and other commodities.

There were also toiletries that were given, in case you forgot any. However, I remember on one specific occasion that our room was missing shampoo.

Booking a resort room allows access to the expansive pool, slides, and water attraction.

Here is a complete list of all the other rooms you can book:

• Deluxe Room – good for 2 people, 1 single bed and includes free breakfast and a free pass to the pools
• Deluxe Queen Room – good for 2 people, 1 single bed, and includes free breakfast and a free pass to the pools
• Deluxe Double Room with Balcony – This is in one of their cottage room, good for 2 people and includes access to free breakfast and pool pass
• 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room – fits up to 20 people, perfect for school trips or large groups
• Family Room with Balcony – 6 single beds, access to a wide variety of amenities, and a veranda for relaxation
• Nipa Hut Family Room – good for 6-7 people, 5 single beds, it is one of their rooms in their nipa huts
• Bungalow – nipa hut room that houses up to 2 people

Food

Breakfast is Asian or Filipino style. The breakfast we have is good, not too exemplary, or anything worth mentioning.

However, catering to food that they have during their events is always high-quality and delicious. Their fried food is not dripping in oil but crispened perfectly. All lengua I have tasted in Star Monica-hosted events are always soft and delectable. Their soups also don’t taste like they came out of the box. I would say food for their events is a solid 4 out of 5 stars for me.

Refreshments are also worth mentioning. They serve cucumber lemonade that’s the perfect taste of cucumber and lemons.

Aside from Star Monica Resort and Restaurant, here are other nearby restaurants that you can dine in:

• Papa Dong’s Cine-Resto (15-minute drive away)
• Lazaro’s Grill (15-minute drive away)
• Antonino’s Cafe (15-minute drive away)
• Fast food restaurants like Shakey’s, Jollibee, McDo, Chowking (15-minute drive away)

Resort Facilities

Star Monica Resort and Restaurant has free WiFi access in all rooms and public areas. There are pools with slides and night lights. There is a bar, restaurants, and BBQ facilities that you can have access to. There is also a smoking area and parking spaces for all guests. If you are trying to plan an event in this place, there is also a function hall that can be rented.

Room Rates

In all honesty, the room rates aren’t the best. They’re quite overpriced for what you’re offered with. It’s not the best deal out there. The Deluxe Rooms we always get are priced at 2,700php a night. And that’s already pricey considering the fact that this resort is not luxurious or high-end.

Final Verdict

Star Monica Resort and Restaurant is a good place for a family getaway. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend staying the night as the rooms are quite expensive. You may stop by the pools on your way to your own hotel, or your other tourist destinations.

If you are looking for a resort to accommodate a special event that you are hosting, however, I would say it’s a good idea to consider. Most of my friends who have arranged their debuts in this place as given me good feedback, despite the prices that would require you to break the bank.

Star Monica Hotel Resort and Restaurant
Address: Tarlac – Pangasinan Rd, Lingayen, Pangasinan
Phone: 0906 256 2576

Click here for more photos, rates, and availability

Want more updates about interesting hotels and resorts in Pangasinan? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, and Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

Also read: