La Maja Rica Hotel — Hotel in Tarlac City

Where do I even begin with this so called “hotel” more like a motel if anything I’ve stayed in hostels comparable in my home country which is pretty disappointing considering it’s regarded as one p the best hotel in the area of Tarlac.

From the get go we were in for it, obviously given the area we’re not expecting quality of a hotel such as the W but the basic things at the very least we expect such as the bathroom being very clean (HUGE cockroach seen roaming around as soon as we opened the door on the first night), shower area was very sub-standard in cleanliness. There was soap scum everywhere, the grout was literally black in some spots and left over hair from the previous visitors who hired the room. I’m not much of a “clean freak” but even I had the ick’s happening when showering, I literally went to the supermarket the next morning bought a bucket, scrubbing brush, high grade detergent and cleaned the bathroom myself just to feel more comfortable during our 10 night stay. Basic things that other sub-par hotels have such as a working kettle, fridge running constant even when key card isn’t in place and a microwave were non-existent. Had to continually ask for toilet paper (my wife is not of Filipino descent) so it was a challenge for her just with something so basic such as this being provided without having to ask every second night.

Moving on to the included buffet breakfast. Upon seeing it the first morning I got put off straight away. The staff although lovely in nature for the most part, (speaking of the ones in the hospitality area) would often forget to cover the ingredients in the omelette station, I saw countless flies on the pre-fried eggs that were left on the table for us to feast on (at least put a cover on top to prevent this) but once I saw the lack of care over something once again as basic as that, I couldn’t bare to eat there given the thought of imagining what happens behind the scenes in regard to food preparation. Also noticed that omelette-maker wore no gloves. From there I made the judgement not to have my family eat the buffet breakfast regardless of paying for it the whole stay already. Last but not least, in the event that if we wanted to bring food from outside to eat in that common area, the owner her self who pointed out that they don’t actually allow outside food to be eaten in that common area, made up a new rule on the spot it seems to have to fork out a “corkage” fee of $250php PER ITEM OR PER DRINK! Last I checked, the definition of corkage states: “a charge made by a restaurant or hotel for serving wine that has been brought in by a customer.” At times my other family who I forget to mention also stayed (some over 10 nights) paying over $35k php each family were having to fork out 1000-1500php for a fee that seemed to have been made up on the spot. We tried time and time again for consideration given that we had already spend large amounts of money as a family during our stay.

WILL POST...

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I felt the need to share our experience to help others make a better-informed decision. We recently stayed at this hotel during our visit to Tarlac, and unfortunately, it was a huge letdown from the moment we arrived.

First impressions matter, and sadly, the front desk staff were far from welcoming. The receptionist and several other staff members had an unprofessional attitude and made us feel like we were an inconvenience rather than valued guests. There was no warmth, no courtesy—you immediately feel the lack of hospitality.

We tried the buffet and honestly, it was one of the worst parts of the stay. The food quality was poor, the taste was bland, and it was clear the selection didn’t consider the preferences or dietary needs of a wide range of guests. For the price we paid, we expected something better than what felt like a rushed, uninspired meal.

The air conditioning in our room was barely functioning. In Tarlac’s heat, that’s unacceptable. The comfort level of the room was below average, and certainly not what you’d expect at this price point.

Here’s where it gets even worse. They charged us an extra ₱1,000 for an additional mattress—even though we booked a room that was supposedly good for four people. This wasn’t clearly communicated in advance. And while we were fine with paying for late check-out, we were disappointed to learn that it was only allowed up to 3 PM. At the rate they’re charging, you’d expect a little more flexibility and value for your money.

The hotel is overpriced for what it offers. From the poor customer service to the subpar facilities and unreasonable extra fees, it just doesn’t deliver. There are definitely better options in Tarlac—places that actually try to make your stay pleasant and worth what you pay for. If you’re planning a trip to Tarlac, I strongly suggest you look elsewhere. This hotel clearly isn’t making any effort to improve or even meet basic hospitality standards. It’s a big disappointment and definitely not...

I stayed here for 2 nights, I was attending my brother-in-law's wedding.

Room - the room was dark and the air condition unit was a bit loud. It was spacious but I was expecting a bit more, it looked a bit old. I'm not sure if it's true but I was told that there was an older building and a new building. The one I got was in the older building, even the bed looks old. I wouldn't mind it but at PhP 2,100+, I expected a bit more. My in-law's room was in the new building and it looked way better but more expensive, of course.

Restaurant - not a fan as well. So there were two restaurants; outside, near the pool which looked good but the inside restaurant was also gloomy, similar to my room. I had dinner once and breakfast twice, dinner food was mid-tier and price was reasonable. The buffet breakfast though, I'm not really a fan. I don't know how to explain it but if you have experienced buffet breakfast at different hotels you can tell this one is not the best. If I remember correctly, there were 3 viand options plus egg, rice and porridge. Coffee you have to go to the 2nd restaurant to get it, and there's juice also.

Pool area - this is fine. It's only until 6:30 pm. Also, when my nephew was swimming there were a lot of dry leaves, he didn't mind.

Staff - the staff were great, easy to talk to and helpful. They are also great with a smile.

I think, overall, the reason why I'm disappointed here was because I've been looking forward to this weekend and the breakfast to be specific, and it wasn't at par with my expectations. I was also in Cebu last July and stayed at Hotel Elizabeth and it was amazing at the same price point, so I was thinking it'll be the same.

There are a lot of places to go nearby. If you don't like the food here, you can go outside and walk a little bit. However, don't be too late, I noticed it's already quiet at around 8 pm in...