Escala Tagaytay: A Hidden Getaway
June 17, 2018
Before anything else, this post is not in any way sponsored by said hotel. :-)
Over the weekend, I enjoyed a little staycation with my boyfriend at Escala Tagaytay. It was his birthday week and we decided to celebrate it differently this year and a staycation would be the best way.
It wasn't my first time at Escala but it was my first time to stay a night. My family and I first went last year just for coffee and snacks because we were driving around Tagaytay and we wanted to find somewhere that wasn't crowded, as almost everywhere in Tagaytay is swarming with people. I remember searching on Google what were the new spots to check out in the area and Escala was one of them.
Practically invisible from the watchful eye of common tourists, Escala is truly a hidden gem. It's difficult to get there if you have no car, though it is actually quite reachable still by foot from the main highway. Getting there is tricky though; you'll have to go through a small road to get to the hotel's property. It's located just a little after Robinson's Supermarket and before Sky Ranch, if coming from Manila. There's a sign that directs you to the hotel though but if you're driving fast you could miss it.
Our room was priced at a good Php 7,000 nett and I booked it online through Escala's website. This was already a good deal for their basic room; although we can consider the fact that we stayed during the off season. I reckon it would be priced much more during the summer. Every room also had a veranda, but if you get the suite you get an additional view of Taal Volcano. Ours had the view of the pool, which was not so bad because we were on the same floor as the pool so we could hear the water splashing as if we were by the beach.
The room was complete with its own facilities too - perfect essentials for a staycation. Name it - dental kit, vanity kit, shower cap, shower gel, hair dryer (!!!). I know these seem like the basic things in a hotel room, but trust me when I say some hotels don't even have a hair dryer, and I think that's one of the most essential things in a bathroom! Also the shower here was heavenly. Take note that when we stayed it was freaking cold and it was raining non-stop. So naturally one would be too lazy to take a shower. In this case, I enjoyed it so much because the shower was enclosed by a glass door and wall, and the heater temperature was just perfect. (I can't believe I'm describing a shower this way lol)
This was our view from our room in a poorly shot panoramic photo (my bad!):
More than its rooms with a view, Escala's trademark offer is its infinity pool. It's so iconic that when you search "Escala Tagaytay" on Google Images, 99% of its results will return with photos of the infinity pool. Upon entering the lobby, you'll be met by a scenic view of mountains then when you look down, you'll see the beautiful shimmer of the infinity pool (as seen in the first photo which I took the first time I went to Escala). It stretches out over the edge of the hotel, which allows guests to brave the cold Tagaytay weather to have a shot of themselves at the edge of the water and sky in the background.
Now of course it's not a 100% perfect hotel, it still has some points needed for improvement. Their hotel service in general is good, but can still improve. The housekeeping and front desk people, for example, are excellent at what they do - they know exactly how to handle their guests' concerns. I also had room service massage and the spa service was quite good too. I mean, she did her job and left. Nothing more, nothing less, so I guess it was okay.
On the other hand, the restaurant crew needs a little more improvement. I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like it should be automatic at hotels for them to serve you table napkins and water as you sit down. Restaurant staff lacked this point. They're also a little slow on the service itself. However, they were all still very friendly and accommodating, and these points are nothing that can't be fixed.
Speaking of food, their food is reaaally good. When we arrived, we had some afternoon snacks after checking in. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with cheddar and mozzarella, though it lacked in presentation, it excelled in taste. Breakfast was good too. Their bacon was superb, and their egg and omelette station was also very good. And the price isn't bad either; it justifies well the serving per meal.
Overall, Escala isn't the resort type of hotel where you have a lot of activities lined up. They pretty much only have the pool and a newly opened spa, nothing much more recreational to do. This is why it's perfect for a short staycation getaway. Normally people think staycations are only for the city. Well in this case, driving 2 hours more to have the colder temperature and a scenic view outside your window, with more privacy than you can think of - I think it's worth it. I'd give Escala Tagaytay a 4/5 rating and this is definitely not the last time I'll be checking in. Totally worth the money and travel time!
♥, Murgaloo
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