Sunset Bay Beach Resort — Hotel in San Fernando

Good staff service ✔ Tasty food ✔ Spacious room ✔ Spectacular view ✔ Value-for-money ✔

This resort deserves all the positive reviews it can get. We came from Vigan and are already on our way to Manila. Along the way, we decided to stop by in La Union to check if their beaches would be a great place to relax. All the resorts were unfortunately fully-booked since it is a long weekend (and payday at that). Not giving up, I came across Sunset Bay Beach Resort's page and immediately called their contact number. Their front desk was very reliable. She said that there is still room for 2 adults. The accommodation prices are very reasonable (quite cheap if you come to think of it). The place is a bit far from the surfing beach resorts in La Union but very near the airport road, so if you are catching a flight, there is no need to rush. The sunset is perfect in this part of La Union, hence, the name Sunset Bay came to life. The room is spacious and the bathroom is clean. They do have the following: TV, Ref, fan and aircon, water heater, shower heater and even a vault for your valuable items. You need to bring your toiletries though since only bar soaps and a hair conditioner are provided as freebies (but there is also a shop inside the resort where you can buy your toothbrush and toothpaste in case you forgot to bring yours). The shop is open from 6am to 10pm, I guess, and it also sells rash guard/swimming gears, in case you will be needing extra. Additional tip: bring an insect-repellent lotion as there are many mosquitoes in the resort. Aside from that, you are good to go. The pool can be used until 9pm only but you can still chill by the beach. Benches and umbrellas are provided in the patio for a more dramatic feel. Smoking and vaping are only allowed in the patio. Outside foods are not allowed in the resort but I guarantee that their food are not only tasty, but gives you value for money. Foods are a bit pricey but come in big servings. Their staff are all polite and accommodating paying attention to all your requests. There is also a soothing and calming live musical performance during the night. I like everything about this resort, and so, I am making this review to boost their popularity among tourists. I will definitely go back to this place whenever I want to de-stress and be away from all the city hassles Manila has. 👍👍 for an...

The Pros : What a quaint place. Love the vibe. The beach in front of this place was inviting. The swimming pool was ok enough for young children to enjoy thems. The rooms were setup one after the other like dorm style but it seems like progress has come to this resort often that this appears to be a nice 2 or 3 star resort on its way to becoming 4 stars.

Decided to come dine on a Friday evening. Parking in its front lot for maybe 15 cars with security guard. This area occupies the Space between the beach and the San Fernando, LU airport which is currently used not for domestic, commercial flights but as training ground by a flying school. Interesting trivia.

Anyway....

Learned that buffet only dining at P650 per person excluding their cheesecake for dessert but they had several including fresh water melon which was quite nice.

We went for it because like what subsequent guests found out, they dont allow ordering from the Menu ala carte on Friday evenings.

They had small crabs from the sea ( confirmed by an elderly manang direct from the kitchen no less ) and shrimps, too cooked with some sort of curry sauce, as it was labeled but was not.

They also had good fish grilled. And large squid also grilled and sliced squid with the classic Pinoy-style tomatoes and onions in between. They had sliced breaded squid.

There was steamed rice and sticky rice ala fried rice.

NOW, for the cons: The crabs and shrimps were not fresh. As one pealed through them, sadly, most of them were probably kept in the freezer for sometime now. considering that this resort was beach front and their buffet dinner is only once a week, they could have served freshly caught seafood that were not over cooked. There are so many young culinary school graduates in the country who should take over their kitchen.

I should have read the comments of other patrons earlier. The young servers in their 20s did not intimidating attitude as compared the 50 something manangs who barely moved nor responded to simple questions like if the crabs were from the sea or from the river....as though i was a nuisance for asking. Hahaha.

And to think over 25 guests dined here last night.

Nice place but food and servers were really bad and leaves much to...

Dec 30 to Jan 1, 2024 UPDATED REVIEW. We've been celebrating New Year's eve here for almost 10 years (since 2016 to 2024) but by far this year is the worst year we've experienced.||1. WALK-INS. As far as I know, SB has no DAY rates. This year, there are so many FREE LOADERS using the pool, occupying the tables and chairs in the garden and pool, filling it with their backpacks, so guests who are actually checked in can't use the facilities. They also camp in the chairs with tents on the beach reserved for hotel guests - smoking or vaping even if SB is a non-smoking establishment. Some unruly WALK-INS even eating chips poolside and diving in the pool obviously unaware of the pool rules. It's unfair for hotel guests to share facilities with people who are not checked-in.|In Aureo, there is a guard at the pool and on the beach making sure that only guests who paid can use the facilities.||2. RESTAURANT. The food quality degraded and is even more overpriced. The sinigang was very, very salty to the point it was inedible. The waiter misheard my order and it's his mistake, but I still paid for it. They didn't even apologize. I ordered burgers worth P355 each but he gave use the P600 ones without clarifying. Poor wait staff service. Sales tax of food was shouldered by customer. Very bad restaurant food and service.||3. RECEPTION DESK. What happened to the staff who used to smile and greet the guests? The girl at the front desk with curly hair does not even smile or greet when you check-in or out. Does not say thank you after you pay and check-out. Did not even say 'Happy New Year!' And the guy at bar stares rudely without greeting guests. I think they forgot basic manners on handling guests. They need to re-train their staff about basic hotel and restaurant management!||I used to reserve the Upper Deck Suite for the next year whenever I check out but this time, I don't think I will be coming back with my family. So disappointed that they don't value their returning customers. I just feel betrayed. And Sunset Bay had it's good run. I guess it's downhill from here on. Oh well, will look for another resort that we can keep coming back to. It was worth the money when it was exclusive to guests, but the walk-ins/non-guests are a...