Tagaytay City, being a major tourist hotspot, is dotted with so many hotels, inns, beds and breakfasts and transient rooms. To set themselves apart, I guess the owners of this hotel resorted to a heavily-inspired Greek-themed accommodations, represented by that giant dome structure at the hotel's facade, a sight lifted off the architecture of Santorini. This themed hotel sticks out amongst other similar establishments like a sore thumb.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I find Greece fascinating, and Santorini remains to be a dream destination. Though, I do find that Estancia has gone a tad bit overboard with all the 'Greek-iness' in a tacky way. They also incorporated Filipino elements and motifs in some parts of the hotel, something I had mixed feelings with. Suites that are structured similar to architecture in Santorini, poised on a cliffside on top of one another...which in its entirety makes me sad because I do think that those places are too beautiful and too precious that any attempt to recreate it, no matter how "authentic" such attempt might seem, does not do these destinations any justice.
Though, aesthetics aside, I think their services are just 'okay', rooms are clean, spacious, and offer picturesque views of Taal Volcano. If you wake up early enough you get rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise. And, plus points to their kitchen staff who is accommodating enough to grant me my requests for my meals to be vegan-ized.
However, if you do have older company with you (especially if you have elderly who require wheelchair access), do consider that this place comes with a lot of climbing up and down staircases, and getting around to and from the suites to the main hotel building often requires a golf cart service. read more