My family and I had a lovely time here at the Villa Escudero Plantation and Museum during a recent…read morevisit. My parents used to take me here on trips to the Philippines when I was a kid. Revisiting as an adult felt familiar and although there were significant upgrades to the property since my last visit, it still gives off that warm welcome home vibe. For newbies Villa Escudero is the Disney World equivalent for immersion into the Filipino culture. We started off at the Visitor's center where we purchased our day trip tickets. I believe the tickets are about $2000.00 PHP = $35 USD. The ticket cost includes 90% of what is offered in the plantation which includes the museum, Carabao (Water Buffalo) cart rides, E-jeepneys, swimming in their pools, bamboo raft rides, buffet lunch and cultural show. Alcoholic drinks, some non-alcoholic specialty drinks and on-site accommodations are not included in the cost of the day trip tickets. These are considered separate fees. We were a party of 7 with 2 sets of elderly parents with mobility issues. Thankfully the staff at Villa Escudero were well equipped to handle transporting our parents from one part of the facility to another via E-jeepney (electric jeepney). The E-jeepney was a newly added service allowing one to travel comfortably enough to visit most of the sites without much effort. Our parents were able to visit the pink museum on the 1st floor holding mostly religious statues. The statues are realistic to the point of near creepy. The museum has no elevator access to the 2nd floor where the more interesting artifacts are. Unfortunately, the lack of an elevator limited our parents to the 1st floor. My cousin, husband and I opted to take the stairs to the 2nd floor to explore some more while leaving the parents in the waiting area on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor is an impressive collection curated by the Escudero family with period pieces from all over the globe. I won't go into too much detail for spoiler reasons but we found the 2nd floor fascinating from the first. Please keep in mind photography and video is restricted only in the museum portion. Post museum we were E-jeeped back to the visitor's center to hop on their Carabao carts taking us to their grand Main Pavilion for their lunch and cultural show. The Carabao Cart ride was one of the most enjoyable parts of our visit making it memorable for all. The short 12-minute ride transported us through the palm tree lined, lush plantation grounds. The ride included an onboard serenade with a singer and a guitarist playing folkloric tunes. The scene, with sunny picture-perfect weather to boot, was heartening and provides you with a taste of traditional Filipino culture. It definitely brought a smile to my mom and dad's face. In that fleeting moment, I felt as if they were truly happy at home. As all this is happening, seeing them light up in awe as we were passing through the grounds via Carabao cart was priceless. Once at the covered pavilion, you can pick any available table to sit in and have a set buffet lunch served to you. The buffet was ample and tasty complete with typical Filipino dishes such as Pancit, Chicken, Beef Caldereta, Fried Fish, a number of stir-fried vegetable dishes with a Banana-Q dessert finisher to round out the meal. After lunch, the cultural show starts roughly at 3pm and goes till about 5. The show was amazing and included traditional music and dance from regions all over the Philippines. At the end of the performance, my husband and I were gifted a small palm frond keepsake shaped in the likeness of a bird. It was a simple yet sweet parting gift by the performers of the show. The property also has a separate venue for private events and if you are seeking a unique wedding venue, they have a simple chapel and reception space available. Whether tourist or a local, Villa Escudero is a lovely place to visit. They offer on-site hotel accommodations if you're looking to extend your time with family and friends. The hotels are private villas overlooking the river. The average nightly stay is about 14000.00 PHP which is about $240 USD/night typically accommodating anywhere from 2-6 guests depending on room size. The accommodations are rustic and in line with the plantation theme. We enjoyed our time at Villa Escudero. We've always had fond memories visiting the plantation. If you've never been to the Philippines before, this would be the perfect place to start outside of Metro Manila. If you can reciprocate kindness and respect, the people here are super friendly and will go out of their way to make your stay at Villa Escudero a pleasant one. Foreigner friendly, most staff are English speaking and can help you navigate through the property. Enjoy your time in the Philippines and make Villa Escudero part of your visitor itinerary to immerse yourself in the warm Filipino culture. Safe travels and Mabuhay Pilipinas!

Youtube Video on my experience: https://youtu.be/ntKNPeL4ULY…read more WOW. I am truly blown away at this place. I have been wanting to come here for years and years since I had seen a photo of the waterfalls restaurant. I thought that the restaurant was a separate entity and not part of an entire plantation that was turned into a resort for Filipino culture and heritage. I am so surprised at the tiny sign to enter Villa Escudero as well, is that the original sign? I feel like it has to be. The is a long stretch of dirt road leading into Villa Escudero, but it is cool to see all the coconut trees and other fruit/vegetables growing along the road with the carabao just hanging out. After checking in, the experience just to get to the lobby for room reception (if you are staying overnight) is fun because you can ride a carabao (or electric cart if you prefer). You also get sang to on the carabao. I would have put 4 stars for our room stay because our longhouse room didn't have the mixer of cold and hot water working properly, but after my auntie's upgrade to a riverside cottage with a/c, I was amazed at how beautiful and relaxing it was. We also were surprised with a harana one night and they sang a few songs to us, it was very beautiful. Somebody please tell those guys who harana at Villa Escudero that it was such an amazing experience for me and I'm glad I was able to dance with my son while listening. It was extremely beautiful. The waterfalls restaurant at Labasin was very cool, but because I had my little one we were careful and sat on the dry side right by the waterfall. Maybe next time when he's old we can eat in the water! The food was pretty good as well, I enjoyed the okra! My favorite was the breakfast buffet that they offered and the people working there were SO helpful and kind. The museums are crazy!!! The museum holding all the religious artifacts and museum of animals is so incredibly interesting. The house museum is also very cool to walk around and look at. Each location has a docent to explain the museum if you would like a tour as well. From beginning to end, I had a wonderful time and it was a surreal experience for me. As a Filipino-American, I have felt disconnected from my heritage growing up in the U.S. so I feel like staying here was very important. Thank you Villa Escudero, I hope to come back again!

This is in addition to my previous review:…read more We used the pool area for a recreational swim. The water was cloudy and had an unpleasant smell. I smelled gross afterwards. On the day of checkout, I intended to borrow the luggage cart for easier transport of our family's luggage from the 3rd floor down to the lobby. The security guard informed me that the elevators were not working and I had to use the stairs so, I had to haul all of our luggage down. The resort has 3 in house restaurants. Food was good but portion size is small for what you pay for. There are lots of resort staff but productivity is poor. Please don't make the same mistake we did and book your hotel stay elsewhere.

What a beautiful getaway: a Swiss chalet surrounded by a forest of pine trees with only the sounds…read moreof the birds singing their sweet songs. At night, I looked up into the starry night and was serenaded by the chirping of the crickets. Wait a minute, we're not in Europe! We're in the Philippines!! Crosswinds has houses and condo units for sale and for rent. The condo we rented had a kitchen that was fully stocked with everything we needed to cook and eat a meal. Since we were on vacation, I refused to touch anything in the kitchen: no cooking nor dish washing for me! There was a fully stocked bathroom with hot water and decent water pressure. The bed and pillows were comfy, there was a strong aircon and the room was nicely decorated. There's also a gym, pool and jacuzzi. We arrived on a Thursday to avoid the weekend crowd. When we arrived, we were greeted by the owners of the condo then shown to our rooms. When we settled in and the day got cooler, hubby and I sat outside in the balcony and just watched the clouds roll by. We didn't see any other people there except my cousin's family, us and the staff; we had the run of the place! For our meals we dined out. There are many different restaurants and also the Serin Ayala Mall that's nearby. Lots of tourist spots to visit as well; but we were there to relax and take it easy. Oftentimes during vacations people try to cram in as much activity as possible with the time that they have. This leaves them exhausted and needing a vacation from their vacation. With the cool breezes, clean fresh air, and peace and quiet here: it was the most relaxing time I've had in a long while.

Great location-near 2 beautiful parks with lots to do, great local food and local souvenirs…read more Overall affordable price. The restaurant in the hotel is great with fun evening entertainment. Pools are good. Customer service was exceptional. I just can't give the hotel a full 5 stars because I found mold on the rim of the shower and the shower itself was weak. Other than that one con, I recommend for an affordable, nice accommodation in the area!

If you're looking for a nice but affordable place to stay in Tagaytay, View Park Hotel is the…read moreperfect place. Located near Picnic Grove, View Park Hotel offers budget-friendly room rates for your R & R. For as low as Php 2,000 you can already have an overnight stay at their standard room that comes with free breakfast. They also have bigger rooms for families or barkadas. Aside from their nice rooms, I highly recommend their in-house massage service. It's very relaxing and their masseuse is well-trained. Stay-in guests can have their relaxing signature massage for Php 499 and walk-in guests for Php 500. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it! View Park Hotel is the perfect place if you just want to get away from the city and relax with your love ones.

The Pugad Adarna or Executive House is one of Mt. Makiling's best-kept secrets. The fact that is…read morehidden and exclusive is part of its charm. Located atop the mountain, past the Philippine High School for the Arts and the National Arts Center Theater lies this cluster of cottages surrounding a simple garden and a small (but deep!) pool with scenic bird's eye view of Laguna and nearby areas. Bookable through the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pugad Adarna can house up to 35 pax in its nine air-conditioned rooms, all with their own toilets and bath. The place also has its own living and dining areas, kitchen, and parking. Published rates are at Php 840/pax/day, for a minimum of 70 pax. This is best for overnight group trips. Bring everything you need as this is quite far from the Los Banos proper where you can get your supplies. Enjoy stargazing or jamming (there's a piano here) at night and swimming or just plain hanging out at daytime. The weather here is usually cool and the air is FRESH so it's a great place to just relax.

My girl friends and I had a whole day planned in Tagaytay. We met in Alabang one early morning and…read moredrove off to the nearby province. We kicked off our Tagaytay trip by having brunch at T House. I'd say the food was good but it wasn't unforgettable, though I remember it being pricey. Then like little kids, we went to Picnic Grove and did some sightseeing. We had coffee and after that went to this other spa place (they were going to have a massage, I did not book a session for myself because it was too expensive and I thought there were many other things to do in Tagaytay than stay indoors). But when we got there, their reservations have been moved and the place couldn't accommodate them for the time that they had set, so we ended up in T House again for a spa session. I joined the girls because the massage session was reasonably priced. Now, that part of the trip was unforgettable. The whole spa experience was so nice; the shower and sauna rooms were clean, the beds were cozy and the massage was so good. At first we were all giddy and chatty at the thought of having massages together, but eventually we all settled into our own blissful massages. Some of us even dozed off. The masseuse and staff were so friendly and nice, we felt like long-time guests at T-House. All of us enjoyed our pampering sessions; we were so relaxed that we want to hit the sack and drive back to Manila the next day (due to our schedules, we didn't) A spa session in T House was the perfect way to end a long day in Tagaytay.

It looked just like a house, and not at all like a hostel. This was what I thought as I entered Our…read moreMelting Pot (OMP). It has even a nice garden! Inside, the house was bright and airy. Actually, the structure was a former seminary, as I was to learn later. In fact, part of the profits from OMP will go to the formation of nuns and priests. So staying here also means supporting their work. As with hostels, the bathroom was shared (save for one room with a private bathroom), but we had our own room with a queen-sized bed. There were also dorm beds, of course, which start at a little over P400, with breakfast. Our room was worth P1,000. The bed was comfortable, and the ventilation was cool - this was Tagaytay, after all. The overall vibe was homey. What I also like is its convenient location - it's just a five-minute walk from the main road. It's very easy to commute to.

My first time staying at Taal Vista Hotel. My dad booked us for a 3 day stay as my parents frequent…read moreTaal Vista Hotel and wanted us to experience Tagaytay the way they do. Customer service is excellent. All the staff we came across with was great. Andrei at the front desk was welcoming however there was a snafu with breakfast buffet with the lady at breakfast check in. The lady had us down for 3 adults and 1 child when Andrei charged us additional 2,000 pesos per day for our child and was counted as adult due to our child's age. Anything above 12 is considered an adult. They didn't inform us that during booking. With the additional charge, we were told the price was inclusive of the breakfast buffet for the days we are here. The housekeeping staff was excellent and amazing. They came by several times to bring us towels, slippers and toiletries. There was also a water refill station outside our hotel room. Our room had an excellent view of the Taal Volcano. Our room also had a pretty balcony with table and chairs. Breakfast buffet was delicious and replenished throughout the time we were having breakfast. There are plenty of variety and food options for buffet from fresh fruits to waffles, pancakes and the traditional Filipino breakfast. There's too many to mention. They served classic Filipino traditional breakfast along with American, Chinese, Korean and Mexican style breakfast. They also offered a variety of freshly squeezed juices and breads. Along with freshly brewed coffee, hot chocolate and tea. Oh the icing on the cake were 3 men serenading you with live performance and instruments on hand. Will share our experience at Taal Vista Hotel with all our friends and family when we go back home.

During Easter Sunday, my husband and I wanted to find someplace special to spend the afternoon, so…read morewe decided to drive up to Tagaytay -- one of the Philippines' most beloved resort and tourist destinations. Tagaytay sits high in the mountains overlooking Taal Volcano and Taal Lake, offering some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. The elevation gives the city a much cooler climate than Metro Manila, which honestly is part of the appeal. After the heat and traffic of the lowlands, arriving in Tagaytay almost feels like stepping into another world entirely. The views overlooking the volcano are absolutely spectacular. Taal itself is fascinating because it is one of the world's smallest active volcanoes, sitting within a lake, which itself sits inside a larger volcanic caldera. The entire landscape has this dramatic beauty to it when viewed from the ridge roads and hotels perched high above the lake. For our Easter brunch, we chose the famous Taal Vista Hotel, which has one of the prime viewing locations in the area. The buffet itself was wonderful. There were many distinctive offerings ranging from Filipino dishes to international selections, along with a large assortment of desserts and breads. Everything felt fresh, plentiful, and beautifully presented. The service throughout brunch was also excellent -- attentive, warm, and polished in that distinctly Filipino way that always makes guests feel genuinely welcomed. But honestly, one of the most memorable parts of the experience was the entertainment. Throughout brunch, there were traditional Filipino folk dancers and performers moving through the dining area performing cultural dances in vibrant historical costumes. The music, movement, and dramatic presentation added so much atmosphere to the meal. It transformed brunch from simply eating into something celebratory and immersive. After we finished eating, my husband and I wandered outside to stroll along the viewing areas overlooking the volcano and lake below. The weather was absolutely beautiful -- cool breezes, soft clouds drifting over the mountains, and that peaceful Tagaytay atmosphere that always makes you want to linger a little longer than you planned. It turned into a truly lovely Easter Sunday together.

Came here after walking around the mall and sightseeing Tagaytay. Our first time here. The salon…read morehas a cute black and white decor and at least 7 sofa chairs for foot massages and pedicures. They don't have a pedicure built in chair basin; they have you soak your foot in a bucket. 2 of us did a massage and one did a reflexology which is more on the pressure points. The decor and music is relaxing; I just wish some of the customers would ere silent too. One man was talking on his cellphone during his pedicure. I wish they had signs posted. There was also an employee's baby at the salon. So the employees were both working and tending to the baby. Other then that- the massages were great!