Taal Vista Hotel: A Slice of Heaven in Tagaytay
One of the must-do things in Tagaytay is to marvel at the raw splendid of Taal Volcano. And so one of the most common questions that people ask is: what is the best hotel that offers a view of Taal Volcano? I might have found the answer for you: Taal Vista Hotel.
Taal Vista Hotel is a four-star hotel facing Taal Volcano. Built in the 1930s, it is one of the heritage hotels in the city and has survived even the recent volcanic eruption last 2020.
I stayed here for 3D/2N along with fellow media and content creators. Here’s a review of my staycation at Taal Vista Hotel.
Contents
Our Room
Taal Vista Hotel has two main wings — the Lake Wing and Mountain Wing. The Lake Wing features rooms with a lake and volcano view; if you want the best overlooking views, book a room at the third or fourth floor.
I and fellow blogger Nicole of ChicMix.Net were booked at a Premier Queen Room. We were greeted with notes and a basket of fresh fruit.
The room room has two comfortable queen-sized beds, a television (which also shows the hotel menu), a mini-refrigerator, a closet with hangers and dryer, a safety lock, and coffee and tea making facilities. The bathroom is spacious with separate stalls for the shower and toilet.
And of course, the highlight of the room is the balcony which has an amazing view of Taal Volcano. I could also see the surrounding lakeside community, including the town of Laurel which we recently visited for a staycation too.
Staying here is one of the best staycation experiences I’ve had as of late. Everything is clean and comfy. It’s nice waking up and looking at the view outside, watching the fog come and go, and seeing the volcano in its current restful state.
During the 3 days we spent here, all we did is eat, take a nap, look at the view, and repeat. It did amazing wonders for the mental health and I highly recommend it for those looking for a nice getaway in Tagaytay.
The Food
Taal Vista Hotel has various dining options. Veranda is the hotel’s main dining restaurant, offering traditional Filipino dishes and breakfast buffet in the mornings. Taza Fresh Table, meanwhile, offers garden-fresh cooked dishes, with ingredients sourced from the hotel’s very own garden and the local markets.
We had meals at Veranda and tasted chef specials including bulalo — one of the dishes that Tagaytay is famous for. They also have interesting desserts — in particular, I recommend the Tropical Halo-Halo and Buko Paradise (both served in coconut shells) and Volcanic Eruption (a dark chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream).
The breakfast buffet at Veranda is also adequate, with food stations for salads, breads, mains, arroz caldo and champorado, egg station, and cereals. There are fresh juices, hot chocolate, and brewed coffee as well.
But the best dishes I’ve tried are definitely from the Taza Fresh Specials. The mushroom and spinach maltagliati is the best truffle sauce pasta I’ve eaten yet, and the tomahawk pork chop and grilled turmeric chicken with aromatic coconut rice were delicious as well.
I particularly enjoyed the live harana during meal times at the Veranda. In one of our breakfasts, the music group came to us and sang one of my favorite songs (“Uhaw”) and I was so kilig.
We also had the in-room dining specials, which is a set menu typically good for four people and comes with a teddy bear! How cute is that. It’s a great option for small groups who want good value for money and enjoy eating inside their room.
Other dining options: Aside from the indoor restaurants, there are also domes outside where you can ask for an afternoon tea or romantic dinner setup. The Alta Ridge Bar hosts specials from Friday to Sunday and is a popular event for those who want to dine in with a view of Taal Volcano.
(It was intermittently rainy/foggy during our stay so we didn’t have a chance to try those.)
Other things to do at Taal Vista Hotel
Taal Vista Hotel is the perfect hotel in Tagaytay for a staycation and even work-cation, but of course having other activities is an added bonus.
Spa
While you’re here, try their massage and spa services. We had the 1-hour Awaken the Senses massage and it was very relaxing. I often get massages so I can compare services and I liked that the massage therapists were obviously experienced.
History Walk
We also joined a 1-hour History Walk. I’m not a fan of history so I was initially skeptical about the tour, but it was actually interesting. Ms. Sheena showed us the history walls inside the hotel, which shows the concept of the hotel starting as “Taal Vista Lodge” in 1939 up to its current state. Fun fact: Taal Vista Hotel is the second oldest hotel in Manila, following Manila Hotel in the metro.
There was also a wall dedicated to Taal Lake and Volcano. I learned that pre-historic Taal Volcano was twice as big as the current Mayon Volcano in Albay.
The lake was initially filled with salt water, and there were records of coral reefs and even sightings of sharks in the lake. As the time passed, the river connecting it to the ocean became smaller and smaller and the reservoir turned from salt water to fresh water. This in turn led to the evolution of fishes inside the lake. The fish species of talakitok became malaputo and sardines became tawilis. As such, malaputo and tawilis can only be found at Taal Lake and there is a chance that they can get extinct in the future.
Others
Taal Vista Hotel also has leisure facilities, including a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, and a Kultura Batik souvenir shop. We visited the pool but didn’t get in the water since the weather was cool and it wasn’t heated.
Aside from these, Taal Vista Hotel is also close to the best tourist spots in Tagaytay. In particular, it’s walking distance from Skyranch Tagaytay — a theme park with a ferris wheel where you can see the Taal Lake and Volcano and surrounding communities.
Final Thoughts
As I said above, staying at Taal Vista Hotel has been one of the best staycations I’ve had recently. Even though I frequently visit Tagaytay, I’ve never appreciated seeing it up close until now. The history tour at the hotel opened up the realization that we’re seeing history in the making.
Taal Vista Hotel offers one of — if not the best — views of Taal Lake and Volcano among similar hotels in Tagaytay. It has luxurious rooms with views, various dining options, and spacious indoor and outdoor spaces. The only issue I encountered was the WIFI disconnecting a lot, but the signal at the hotel was good so I was able to use my mobile data.
In terms of rates, it’s on the high-end, so prepare your budget accordingly. Our room is priced at P11,500 including breakfast buffet for 2 people. Restaurant prices are also expensive, but I think the specials at Taza Fresh Table are worth trying. Alternatively, there are restaurants within walking distance from the hotel and some, including our favorite Klara’s Bulalo Kafe, which are just a short drive away.
Overall, Taal Vista Hotel is truly one of the best hotels in Tagaytay, especially suited for those who are looking for good view points or options for a staycation or workcation.
Here’s a short clip about our stay:
Book your stay at Taal Vista Hotel
Book your room at Taal Vista Hotel via Agoda for discounted rates.
Here are the hotel facilities:
- Various dining options
- Swimming pool
- Kid’s corner and game room
- Spa
- Fitness center
- Kultura Butik (shopping store)
As of our visit, Taal Vista room rates start at P5,500. You can also check their Facebook for on-going promos and packages.
Disclaimer: Our stay was provided for free. As always, thoughts and opinions are my own.
That concludes our Taal Vista Hotel review! Have you been here and if so what was your experience? Let us know in the comments section below!
What to read next:
Visiting Tagaytay? Check out these travel guides:
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- 15 Top Tagaytay Hotels, Resorts, and Airbnbs
- Private Resorts in Tagaytay for Amazing Weekends
- 9 Best Tagaytay Camping Sites
- Taal Vista and Hotel
- Hidden View Mansion
- Narra Hill
- Farm Hills Garden Tagaytay
- Yoki’s Farm
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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
