Balinsasayaw (n.) a bird that can be found on the mountains of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines…read more Their nests -- which was glued together with their saliva -- are harvested and used to make soup. While Balinsasayaw Restaurants have been around for years in the area, I've never tried any of them. Thanks to a work engagement, I was able to visit the newly-opened Balinsasayaw Bed & Breakfast in Tagaytay. It was actually a surprise -- a pleasant one. First of all, it didn't look anything like the restaurants, which was all individual native huts. This one was a modern white structure on the ridge side, giving you wildly beautiful views of both the lake and the surrounding areas. Second, this one is a bed and breakfast -- they have 6 rooms that can take 12 people, they have a small events hall, and a pool, too! I didn't have to check in for work this time, but we were able to use the rooms that they had for a research group set-up, and they were pretty spacious and well-equipped. As for the food -- and this one is always critical for me haha -- it was quite flavourful, and the servings were huge for the price. When you're looking for a place to stay in the area (and we all know that tagaytay can get quite full nowadays), look them up.

Casa Alegria was probably the first place we've stayed at in Tagaytay with a nice view of the Taal…read moreVolcano. The room we stayed at was sufficient and the team here were accommodating and awesome! However, I do have some suggestions, comments, and highlights - which I've told the staff. 1. Modernize the showers. The showers near the pool were pretty cool. It was for full body and the shower head was one of those waterfall showers. The ones in our room was difficult to operate and it was either scorching hot or frigid cold - nothing in between. 2. Parking area for the guests were small. I would say that the maximum capacity would be 2-3 vehicles depending on its size. 3. The towels weren't free. This was the first time I was charged for having to ask for extra towels. For an extra towel, it's 50 pesos which converted to a little over a dollar, but it would be nice to have a warning beforehand because my boyfriend put his towel on top of a table which had printer ink. 4. Fix this dangerous plank on the deck; here's a picture (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/casa-alegria-bed-and-breakfast-tagaytay-city?select=mSwMrd4IxbmDIP_AZZt0fw). Any injuries from this is a liability and it endangers the guests. 5. Clean the sink hole and add a drain on top of it so contents do not fall and clog the drain. 6. Modernize the locks into magnetic key cards because we actually were accidentally locked out of our rooms. We appreciated the effort of the staff using a card to unlock our door, but a modern, magnetic key card would be more convenient for them and the guests. 7. No Wi-Fi. I told the staff about this and they said it's because the signal is hard to reach down the area which seems like it's out of their control so be prepared for no Wi-Fi! Overall, we had a great stay and I would definitely come back after they fix some of the things they need to fix. Casa Alegria was under construction when we stayed which explained why it was a bit messy around.

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.

One afternoon, I was invited as a wedding planner to Discovery Country Suites to be taken around…read morethe property and see what they can offer. I have always been skeptical about things like these mostly because I found it a bit fake - always best foot forward, they'll make sure everything is perfect and topnotch, mostly because they know someone is there paying close attention to anything and everything. I'm glad I took the offer because I saw and experienced first hand what they could offer. We were given a tour of the property, being shown the kinds of rooms they had, from the smallest suite that can fit up to four, to the biggest that can fit up to 8 comfortably. Only having less that 10 rooms, the whole hotel can only accommodate up to 40 guests. I'd like to see that as a good thing, because it can be occupied by one big family or group and they would have the entire property to themselves. My favorite would be the small room at the basement floor, which has a totally separate entrance at the side of the hotel. It has a small patio outside, complete with coffee table and perfect for quiet meals or reading a book. It's right by the highway, but just entering the lobby already gives that relaxed feel and vibe, it feels like you entered your home away from home. The general feel of the place is serene, very rustic, and exuding the relaxed and laid-back feel of the country. After all, this is Tagaytay, and there's no better quick getaway venue than the secluded Discovery Country Suites.

Adorable 7-bedroom hotel -- all suites-- with a great restaurant (Verbena) and good-sized rooms. A…read moresmall pool/hot tub at the garden level is a nice surprise.

What a beautiful place to visit. Hopefully next visit have much time to spend and to explore the…read moreplace. Will stay overnight for sure We have so much fun watching the concert Miss Kuh with Music and Magic ( Vicky Sevilla Pangilinan, Jet Montelibano ) also with my FFF Ms. Fe de los Reyes and with surprise appearance of Ms. Donita Rose. Before I forget the food is delicious . Thank you guys for a wonderful show. Till next time

I first heard of Hacienda Isabella from a friend who went there to do an ocular for an event she…read morewas doing. Then, finding out that it was owned by Kuh Ledesma from the several advertising placements on billboards, broadsheets, and magazines. However, it was only a few years after that I was able to see it for myself. We did a wedding at Hacienda Isabella and I must say that I was glad to finally see it. It's a sprawling property reminiscent of Old Asia, with several casitas, a pool, a main house, and a lawn. The vast lawn was where we had the wedding reception and it easily fit 300 guests. I think it could probably fit more. For those who just want a weekend getaway, they have rooms for a reasonable fee. What I liked most was the main house where a long wooden table with equally long wooden benches are, serving as the main dining table in the house where a few rooms are located.

Some of my cousins were visitng Manila and I wanted to show them a quiet and cold place just an…read morehour away. I decided to take them to a spontaneous trip to Tagaytay. When we needed a place to eat and stay, we took my friend's advice and checked in Joaquin's Bed and Breakfast. Joaquin's had the perfect view of the Taal Lake and Volcano. Their dinning are was really designed to overlook the magnificent Volcano. A certain furniture that caught my eye was a a bed that was placed near the dining area. It was a bed where you could lie down, relax, feel the cold climate, and enjoy the view. I admired the concept and I ended up lying down on that bed for half an hour just enjoying the whole experience. Aside from the bed, they also had a wooden swing that could seat three people. Overall, Joaquin's had a cozy feel to it. There were plants in a minigarden and lovebirds too. Joaquin's offers Filipino and American styles breakfast, both with coffee or hot choco. I really enjoyed their Tapsilog with the endemic Tawilis on the side. For me, it was a Filipino breakfast that I preferred. Their American breakfast consisted of bacon, eggs, ham and bread. The hot choco was spot on and it helped us warm ourselves up.

Amazing views is not lacking when you stay at Jaoquins, which ever room you stay in has beautiful…read moreviews of Taal lake and of course the volcano. This is such a cute bed and breakfast, the rooms are clean and comfortable and has their own personality since they are decorated differently (definitely no cookie cutter rooms here). The staff are so helpful and accommodating. Customer service here is A+ no complaints in that department. Really enjoyed our stay here and I would be recommending this place to family, friends or anyone who asks me where to stay in Tagaytay.

I look for a hotel with good running hot water and a comfortable bed, anything else is a nice but…read morenot not needed. I rather spend money on the overpriced tourist stuff than a hotel. In short, this is a great hotel for the money. After checking in we were shown to our room. It was nice to see the aircon on and the room cooled, tv on, lights on so you can see everything. A large bathroom I could play football in, with nice closet space. Breakfast was good, nice selection of dishes. Close to the Ayala mall and easy to get a ride to any of the few attractions and many of the restaurants. Any concerns the staff cared for with no problem.

Ordered a Salsiccia al gelsomino (pepperoni and sausage) pizza with a French Press Coffee and a San…read moreMiguel Light. A nice, crispy crust on the pizza. Decent flavor. With a group of people from our local coffee club. Nice decor with comfortable seating. Small parking lot off the street with parking avaliable also at the side of the building. The overall consensus of the group is that Leonardas is worth a return visit.