STAYCATION REVIEW: A Sense of Homecoming at Splendido Tagaytay Hotel and Country Club
- Amanda Virrey
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
The misty mountain breeze, the palpable nature, the abundance of fresh produce, the accessibility to home roasted Barako beans, the hospitable community, the string of gourmet restaurants, and Taal Volcano’s sprawling panorama were all the reasons why I chose to live in Tagaytay a couple of years ago.
While the the moments that I walked along the chilly Tagaytay ridge wearing a thick jacket that I had bought from my favorite ukay-ukay store in Olivarez and the foggy nights when I took warmth in a bowl of Bulalo remained a faint memory, deep down I knew that my two-year residence in the city that had been built around the famous volcanic lake would bring me back to that place I had once called home.
Last month, that deep knowing came into fruition when I visited Splendido Tagaytay Hotel and Country Club. The tranquility, peace, lush nature, warm and genuinely caring people, and the wide, unperturbed panorama of the Taal Lake and its surrounding mountains, visible everywhere from this exclusive hotel village, including my bedroom, was the exact kind of home that I had envisioned before moving to Tagaytay before.
Thus, for three days, my daughter and I experienced a memorable reception from all the lovely hospitable staff at Splendido Tagaytay, beginning with the driver of the hotel’s transportation who drove us to Splendido from Makati with utmost care and attention; then with the front office staff who welcomed us upon check-in with their beautiful smiles; with the hotel’s management team who had warmly escorted us to our plush twin bedroom overlooking the Taal Lake, and later, to the Country Club; and with Splendido’s talented chefs, namely Sous Chef Mara Sacop, who had placed some delectable matcha and tiramisu bars in our bedroom as a welcome gift, and Executive Chef Victor Legaspi, who had masterfully prepared delicious Filipino, fusion and international fares for our meals..
I couldn’t help commend Splendido Tagaytay’s hospitable staff first and foremost, as their attentiveness and care for us were the qualities that gave us the feeling of being at home. As a matter of fact, it is due to the hotel’s amazing workforce that has sustained the superb quality of accommodations, amenities, facilities and services, which we were able to experience throughout our staycation.
Needless to say, our Premium Deluxe Double Room with Lake View and a Balcony was amazing. Its sheer elegance and luxe comforts provided us a heavenly nook with a neat counter table where we enjoyed in-room food amid the sweeping view of Taal Lake with no interruptions or hindrances at all; the same went for when we were lying down on our cushy twin beds. And since we’re on the 14th floor, the sound coming from the lower ground came to us faintly, letting us immerse in further serenity and quietude.
Our en suite bathtub was also perfect for us. As the temperature decreased at night, the long warm bath in the tub gave us the warmth and relaxation we needed, especially after the succession of nature walks along Splendido's main road, pickle ball matches, bowling games, dips in the pool and gym workout that we engaged in at the Country Club.
Matching these wonderful amenities are the food and beverages that we were served with in the 4th floor restaurant, Cafe Soto, and at Hermosa Restaurant, its al fresco dining space in the Country Club.
For our first dinner, Chef Victor served us his Filipino bestsellers at Cafe Soto.The Cheesy Baked Bangus, Lengua Estofada, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Pinakbet with Bagnet, Crispy Pata, a dessert of Cheese and Ube Turon a la Mode, and of course, Bulalo, are the congenial executive chef’s succulent offering to the hotel diners, who drive up to Splendido Tagaytay, craving for authentic Filipino food.
Although most Filipino diners know how to cook local traditional food, there is simply something about the dense nature and fresh breeze in Tagaytay that incites their palate to appetizingly discern the rich layers of Filipino cuisine. True to this premise, the harmony of fresh-sourced ingredients and the tender quality of the locally grown meat that resulted from Chef Victor’s meticulous preparation had allowed us to savor each bite and appreciate the flavors of each dish that he laid on our table.
The complimentary breakfast buffet that we indulged in at Cafe Soto in the mornings was also true-form Filipino food. Beef Tapa, Chopsuey, Dried Fish, Scrambled Eggs, Champorado, and most of the popular local breakfast fares were detectably placed on a counter, with a burner for each dish to ensure hotel guests of its quality and taste.
Whilst the menu at Cafe Soto is dedicated to Filipino flavors, the menu at their country club’s Hermosa Restaurant offers a mix of international cuisine and the chef’s original creations. The crux of Hermosa’s menu has been influenced by the food and beverage preferences of the various guests who have held events in its nearby banquet halls and meeting rooms.
To give you an idea, the most favored dishes that we tasted off their menu were Spicy Shrimp Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza with bacon, which I liked a lot. They also served us with Baked Chicken and Potatoes, which complemented the cream Fusilli Pasta that was laid next to it, Pan-Fried Steak in Butter and Garlic, Chinese-style Chicken, plus ample sides of Steamed Corn and Broccoli and Creamy Mashed Potatoes, basically my kind of food; satisfyingly simple, tender, integrally tasty and juicy.
On our last and second evening, there was a live band that was scheduled to perform at Hermosa. The band that was going to serenade us that Friday evening was half of a talented six-piece local band that often plays at a bar nearby. The other half, on the other hand, takes their turn on the Hermosa stage on Saturdays.
So, to let us enjoy the meal with the live music, Chef Victor and Chef Mara prepared a galore of Tex-Mex dishes, such as Full Pork Nachos, Mac and Cheese with Chicken Chops, Baked Potato Skin stuffed with cheese, meat and veggies,, Ribeye Steak and Eggs with Hash Browns, Smoky and Spicy Andouille and Bean Soup, plus Apple Pie for dessert, which came in delicious harmony with the band’s relaxing bossa nova and jazz tunes.
The next morning, I went out to the balcony to witness the sunrise. From my vast periphery, I watched the still dark sky, bedazzled by specks of red hues that were gradually outlining the mountain range around Taal Lake. There was total silence on that dawning hour, save for the sounds of the crickets, which was later joined in by the birds singing. More birds contributed their melodies, as red orange glow gradually spread throughout the light blue sky, eventually becoming overpowered by the risen sun and casting radiance to the top of every mountain and tree encompassing it.
Seeing the sun rising from the mountain hovering the majestic Taal Lake from my own balcony and sensing life awaken from the nature around me was a blessing and a gratifying experience that I would want to experience again and again.
Hence, I made my final tour around Splendido Tagaytay’s expansive perimeter prior to partaking in the hearty breakfast buffet that awaited in Cafe Soto. I sauntered about the country club and into the vast residential area of Splendido, breathing in the abundance of fresh mountain breeze amid the inescapable view of the Taal Lake, thinking how wonderful it is that people from the city can just drive three hours to be in this paradise.
In fact, as I walked back to the hotel, I found the driveway already full of cars, and more cars were already lined up to park in the hotel’s indoor parking area. A good thing is that an e-vehicle charging port is installed on the 2nd floor parking, so those that are run by electric battery can recharge before they drive back to the city.
Our imminent check-out time, then came both with a heartfelt farewell and a joyful anticipation of our return from Splendido Tagaytay’s management team and staff. For the entirety of our staycation, we never felt like we were in a hotel; we felt like we were home, and it was just time to leave momentarily.
Having experienced Splendido Tagaytay Hotel and Country Club, I am now certain that I have a home in Tagaytay, which comes with a clear sweeping view of Taal Volcano and an expansive nature, just as I prefer it.
Splendido Tagaytay Hotel and Country Club,, managed by Enderun Hotels
Brgy. Dayap Itaas, Laurel, Calabarzon, Philippines 4221
Phone: 0968-180-8856
Email:
