Photos by Star Sabroso
The choking heat engulfing the entire metro is one of the best reasons to head on for colder mountainside enclaves. Fifty-five kilometers south of Metro Manila is the heart of Tagaytay, one of the nearest places to escape to for a relaxing weekend.
One of the best places to stay in Tagaytay is a hotel that offers the best view of Taal Lake and volcano, highlighted by Santorini-inspired villas – the Estancia Resort Hotel. Located in Barangay San Jose in Tagaytay City, Estancia is approximately one-and-a-half hours away from Manila and less than a kilometer drive from the Tagaytay City rotunda. The cluster of villas on the terrain gives a perfect view of the majestic volcano, a break from the usual sight of traffic in the metro.
Here, visitors can relax and enjoy the soothing mountain breeze in any of the 15 deluxe rooms, two deluxe family rooms, 18 Santorini rooms, 11 casitas, eight executive suites, and the newly added, charming two Santorini family villas which are part of the hotel’s phase three renovation. The area occupied by the hotel and its premises is so vast that you’d need a kart to bring you around. But if you want to have a good afternoon walk while enjoying the view, it wouldn’t hurt to use your feet.
Operated by Tagaytay City Resort Hotel, Inc., the resort is equipped with amenities for business gatherings or family outings. There are outdoor and indoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis, saunas, game rooms and entertainment areas that the guests can enjoy. For couples taking their vows, the resort is also a perfect background for pre-nuptial photo shoots and wedding receptions.
With the resort set to finish its facelift until the end of the year, it is also introducing new dishes from its menu developed by chef-consultant Brando Santos. “We are on the third phase of our major upgrades, all based on consumer insights and keeping up with the demands of the times,” says Girlie Pe, the hotel’s general manager. “The restaurant can seat 60 and we hope to be able to entice non-checked-in guests to just walk in and enjoy great food with a good view,” she adds.
The additional food menu is something worth visiting the hotel for even for just a day or afternoon getaway. New on the menu are Traditional Caesar Salad, Beef Tenderloin and Mushroom Salpicao, Pok Satay, Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Gamberetti Aglio Olio, Negrense Chicken Inasal served with ensaladang talong, sinamak and homemade atchara on the side, Kare-kare, and the quirky dish with a twist – Sinigang Pork Rib with Calamansi gravy. The pork is fried to a crisp and served on a sizzling plate with calamansi gravy and adorned with the classic sinigang vegetables, something that diners would love to keep going back for. The resort also took its own version of a Tagaytay favorite dish – the new signature Estancia Nilagang Bulalo.
Whether you’re staying for the night or just stopping by to dine with a view, Estancia Resort Hotel is worth the drive away from the city. Here’s a tip: If you’re set on visiting the hotel, make sure you book from Thursdays to Sundays as there is a special 30 percent discount for hotel bookings.
For more information, visit www.estanciatagaytay.com.ph or call (046) 4131 133 to 35 or 0915 134 9426.