A Weekend at the Taal Vista Hotel

I love spending weekends out of town. It gives me a chance to forget about life's daily stresses and just get away from it all. It's also definitely a nice break from the usual routine--seeing the same places and doing the same things over and over can get pretty boring. Any trip out-of-town is always most welcome for me.

Just over the weekend, I celebrated my 20th birthday at Tagaytay, where we spent a night at the Taal Vista Hotel, one of the most popular and oldest hotels in the city. We got a room on the East Wing (Deluxe Room) that had a balcony with an amazing view of the Taal Lake and Volcano. We've tried staying at other hotels in the past but I do think this is the best, especially now that major improvements have been made (such as the addition of new rooms and the overall renovation of the hotel) since the management was turned over to the SM Group, one of the most-trusted companies in the Philippines.

Despite it being full on weekends (and there always seems to be a wedding or a company seminar every time we're there), I have nothing to complain about--the service is great. They make sure that the guests are as comfortable as possible during their stay. I've already been here thrice in the past year and I wouldn't hesitate to come back soon!

The hotel back in 1969 (photo grabbed from their official Facebook page)

The hotel facade decades later (2012)

Our Deluxe Room on the East Wing

The incredible view from our balcony

Complimentary welcome drink from the Lobby Lounge

The Lobby Lounge. My apologies for the blurred shot

The pool area

The lawn, as seen from our room's balcony. Kids just can't resist rolling around the grass!

As you can see, this hotel is a popular venue for events

Where the ballrooms and conference halls are located. Simple, yet classy.

The front desk staff ready to assist the guests

Taal Vista Hotel is located at Km. 60, Agunaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Philippines. For more information, visit their website at www.taalvistahotel.com, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/taalvistahotel or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/taalvistahotel.