Quezon

Star Garden Tower Hotel is situated right in the heart of Lucena City, Quezon Province. Located along Quezon Avenue, this nine-storey mid range hotel just few meters to convenience stores, fast foods, schools and a local shopping mall. Star Garden Tower Hotel is also a few minute jeepney ride away to various Lucena City landmarks such as the Lucena Perez Park, Quezon Convention Center and Quezon Provincial Government office.

It was during the Pahiyas Festival when we arrived in Lucena City. Me and Jen (my Pahiyas Festival travel buddy) who I met for the fist time didn’t reserve any hotel/lodge prior to our Lucban trip. I was too confident that everything will go well, just like my any other DIY trips where I did not bother to reserve accommodations. When we arrived in Lucena, I started calling hotels in Lucban inquiring for room availability. From one call to another, I was not getting not so good response from the attendants as all hotels were fully booked! Well, I did not anticipate that we are attending one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines and hotels in Lucban easily get fully booked during the season. Since we were already in Lucena, a gateway to Lucban, I decided to check Agoda and other hotel booking sites for hotels in Lucena. Unfortunately, all listed Lucena hotels were also also fully booked! Too my desperation, I continuously searched for hotels in the internet and found Mercado motel along Lucena’s Quezon Avenue.

Star Garden Tower Hotel Lucena Quezon — Facade of the Star Garden Hotel, Lucena City, Quezon Province

Since I was concerned of my company and I wouldn’t want her to experience sleeping in a cheap motel (especially that it was our first time to travel together), I was still hoping to see a decent accommodation where we could spend the night in Lucena. Luckily, on our way to Mercado motel, we passed by Star Garden Tower Hotel. We immediately alighted the jeepney and headed to the hotel.

As we entered the modern architecture of the hotel, we were greeted by Gladys, a very welcoming and pleasant attendant of Star Garden Tower Hotel. We immediately inquired and were informed that there will be one available twin bed room by noon time. Me and Jen did not hesitate to pay for the room to make sure that we’ll have a decent place to rest and sleep after visiting Lucban.

Since we were too early for check-in and we wanted to be in Lucban as early as possible, we left our backpacks to Glady’s and we immediately left for Lucban.

Star Garden Tower Hotel Lucena City Room Rates

Starndard (Single Bed) – 1,738 Php
Extra Standard (Queen sized bed) – 2,068 Php
Double (Queen size bed, mini bar) – 2,068 Php
Twin (2 single beds) – 2,508 Php
Junior Suite (Queen size bed, additional, Jacuzzi) – 3,828 Php (additional 1,000 for Jacuzzi use)
Sky Executive Suite (master’s bedroom, one twin room, living room and dining room) – 8,140 Php

After enjoying the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, we headed back to Star Garden Tower Hotel in Lucena.

Twin Room at Star Garden Tower Hotel Lucena City

twin bedroom star garden tower hotel lucena city — Twin bedroom at Start Garden Tower Hotel (2,508 Php)

I was expecting that the room would be decent and it did not disappoint. The room was clean and spacious. The air conditioning unit was working perfectly. There was only a medium-sized pillow and a throw-pillow for each bed, nonetheless the bed was really comfortable. The room has an LCD cable TV and beneath it is a mini refrigerator that comes with a 2 complimentary bottled water. There was a fairly sized closet with a mirror right in the corner of the room. A frosted glass door separates the clean and spacious toilet and bath to the bedroom. The hotel wifi signal was strong and the internet speed was decent.

Since the hotel is in a province, Star Garden Tower hotel did not give me that rustic feel that I felt in some other hotels situated in provinces. A 2,500+ Php room is quite pricey for a budget traveler like me but I then realized that it is a twin bedroom and I have someone with me to share the room expense. A 1,250+ Php comfortable and decent room situated in the city center is not bad at all.

The customer service was excellent! the hotel staff were welcoming, friendly and accommodating. Gladys, the front desk was very pleasant. We asked her instructions and asked for her recommendations on how to get around and where to go around the city. She knows what customer service is!

Star Garden Tower Hotel’s Sky Lounge

Bar at star Garden Tower Hotel — Sky Bar/Star Lounge

The hotel also has a Sky Bar/Sky Lounge that offers fine drinks and sounds at night. In the morning, the lounge serves as the area for guests’ complimentary breakfast. Speaking of which, the complimentary breakfast was okay but may not be enough for those who eat heavy breakfast.

Being in a location where most of the business establishments in Lucena are situated, this is an ideal hotel for businessmen and travelling professionals who has transactions and business to do in Lucena city. If you are a budget traveler and is willing to pay for a minimum of 1,800 Php for a night, I would definitely recommend Star Garden Tower Hotel.

Star Garden Tower Hotel Location: 2948-B Quezon Avenue Lucena City
Star Garden Tower Hotel contact numbers: +63 42 7104437 / +63 932 4060362
Unfortunately, Star Garden Tower Hotel currently do not offer online booking. You may book other Lucena city hotels here.

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The San Isidro Pahiyas festival or popularly known as the Pahiyas Festival is one among the most awaited and celebrated Festival in the Philippines. Held every 15th of May in Lucban, Quezon Province, Pahiyas Festival is Lucban’s form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest in honor of San Isidro de Labrador, patron saint of farmers. The festival is pegged as the fiesta that ends all fiestas because of its unique festival of colors showcased thru the beautifully adorned Lucban houses.

I was lucky to experience the recent Pahiyas Festival. It was my first time to attend a huge Philippine festival and I must say that the Pahiyas did not disappoint!

If you missed the Pahiyas festival 2016, here are my top 5 reasons why you should visit the next year’s festival:

1. The Colorfully Adorned Houses

If you watch Philippine tourism videos, you will definitely not miss seeing the colorfully adorned houses of the Pahiyas Festival. The annual Pahiyas Festival is truly one among the most popular and colorful event in the country.

Every year, Lucban households decorate their houses with Kiping accented with farm products such as rice, vegetables and fruits. Kipings are made of ground rice flour that are shaped using leaves. Interestingly enough, these colorful decorations are edible! Locals usually form a chandelier out of the kipings which is known as Arangya. Huge flowers made up of Kipings are also a common decor in the colorfully adorned Lucban houses.

Tip: Stay until evening where the already beautifully designed houses turn glorious. Sadly, my camera ran out of battery before sunset and I missed taking photos of the houses during that evening.

2. Pahiyas Festival Parade

Upon checking one house after the other, me and Jen (my company during the Pahiyas) reached the public market area. We were surprised that a parade was about to start few meters from us. I was delighted and immediately looked for a good spot before the parade passes us.

The parade started with a street dance in the tune of “It’s more fun in the Philippines” and the “Pahiyas festival song”. It was very festive that I did not bother the scorching heat of the sun. The parade was preceded by “Parikitan” where young ladies and gents paraded on their intricately designed Filipiniana attire. There was also a Gayak Karosa where beautifully designed carts were being pulled by Carabaos. There were also marching bands, majorettes and Gigantes of Lucban.

Tip: The parade starts at 2:00 PM and lasts for about an hour.

3. Lucban’s Pancit Habhab

Apart from the annual Pahiyas, Lucban is also famous for its Pancit Habhab. You can have a taste of this delicious Lucban pancit all year round as Lucban restaurants and eateries offer this delicious pancit. But having Pancit Habhab prepared by a Lucban household is quite an experience. It’s like eating a non-commercialized and an authentic “lutong bahay” prepared by Lucbaueno nanays and lolas.

Tip: During Pahiyas, there is a household selling pancit habhab in almost every street of Lucban. How much per order? Only 10 Php!

4. The Edible Kiping!

Fried Kiping Lucban Quezon

Few minutes after arriving in Lucban, I was wondering if I could just pick a kiping from one of the houses as I badly wanted to taste it. Good thing that I was able to control myself as we found out that there were a few household selling these colorful and edible Pahiyas decors. We tried the fried kiping for only 15Pesos per order. It was like a chicharon but was a bit tasteless since it is made of rice flour. To add flavor, sugar is sprinkled in fried kiping.

Tip: Don’t dare pick kiping to any of the houses lol

5. The Pahiyas Festival Experience

I have not been to any other major and grand Philippine festivals so I could not compare if Pahiyas is the grandest and most celebrated. I could not also say if it is the annual festival that ends all other festivals in the country. But one thing for sure, Pahiyas Festival is truly an event that Filipinos should be proud of. It was an overwhelming experience to be part of a grand thanksgiving celebration.

No wonder why Pahiyas Festival is always included in Philippine tourism promotional videos. With its colorful houses, festive parade, friendly locals and delicious foods, Pahiyas Festival is truly one of the reasons why it is more fun in the Philippines!

Where to Stay in Lucena: Star Garden Tower Hotel