Have you taken an Instagram photo yet? C asked as we were comfortably lounging at one of Hotel Le Duc’s plush rooms, watching a local TV channel reporting news in Pangasinense. Not yet, I answered. I’m saving it up for the sunset later, I’m gonna take it at the hotel’s roof deck. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be awesome.

Hotel Le Duc is the newest, and arguably the most modern, hotel to hit Dagupan City. You definitely can’t miss the striking yellow and blue cladding on its five-storey façade. We know we didn’t.

Coming from Alaminos City via public van, we have no idea where the hotel was located until we caught a glimpse of its striking appearance. We simultaneously screeched Para po! And, viola, we’re at our new home in Dagupan City.

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The hotel is part of the Lyceum-Northwestern University (LNU) Complex, one of the first medical schools north of the country. Apart from being a temporary abode for tourists and visitors of the city, it is also used as a training ground for Hotel and Restaurant Management students of the said school.

►CITY ICON: DAGUPAN CATHEDRAL

If the lobby is gonna be the measure for the rest of Hotel Le Duc, one should definitely be excited.

The hotel’s receiving area is simply gorgeous. The combination of modern minimalism, excellent lighting, effective ceiling design, and eclectic ornamentation work so well, it almost felt like checking in at a really expensive hotel.

►DAGUPAN EATS: PIGAR PIGAR

I also love how they incorporate paintings of colorful Philippine festivals along the hotel corridors and walls. It localizes an otherwise impersonal space, making one instantly connect with his new environment.

I was told that these paintings are from the personal collection of the Duque family, the hotel’s proprietor.

►CLASSIC LOCAL RESTO: DAGUPEÑA RESTAURANT

For the night, Hotel Le Duc gave us a Two-Bed De Luxe Room (₱1,700.00). The room looks modern and chic, with clean lines and wood paneling. It’s so spacious it can comfortably bed four persons. There’s a small flat-screen cable TV, complimentary coffee and tea, a closet space, and a veranda that looks out over Dagupan City.

The en suite toilet and bath is pretty nice too. Hot water is available and there’s a bidet for the john. Toiletries are also provided for. The only improvement I can see is the addition of a ventilation to suck the toilet scent from the room after being used, if you know what I mean, haha. (Update, as of 2015 they have started to put in ventilation shafts for their toilets, good job!).

After dropping our backpacks and what-nots, the staff graciously toured us around the hotel.

We all heaved a silent wow when they opened the door to the Presidential Suite. Priced at only ₱4,500.00 it’s good enough to bed up to six individuals. This room is definitely a steal! How we wished our stay was booked here.

Hotel Le Duc has a total of thirty rooms, but besides that, it also has a huge hall for functions and events. We passed through the area as we ascended towards the roof deck.

It was almost time for my sunset.

Arriving just in time, the sky turned from grays and blues to yellows and oranges. From afar, we can see the iconic fishponds of Dagupan City glowing with the afternoon feast of colors. I quickly swiped my phone, opened the camera, and snapped a single shot.

Hotel Le Duc, you just made my Instagram for the day.

Hotel Le Duc
Address: Dagupan-Binmaley Road, Brgy. Tapuac, Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Contact Number: (075) 515-8684
Email: hotelleduc@lyceum.edu.ph | Facebook
GPS Coordinates Map: 16.034213, 120.331076

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