Weekend at Anya Resort

For our department's summer outing, my family and I chose to go to Anya Resort in Tagaytay. It was raining the entire weekend due to typhoon Domeng but this didn't hinder the kids from enjoying our stay.

Ready and rearing to go!

We left the house really early to avoid the long-weekend traffic. I think most people were discouraged to go out of town due to the inclement weather, which was good for us. We passed by Good Shepherd to eat light lunch before proceeding to Anya. We arrived at the resort around 11am I think. We waited for a few minutes for our villa to be ready.

The hotel staff bang that gong when new guests arrive

The view from our room

Nina's first order of business when we settled in our room was attack the complimentary fruit plate. As in! I didn't even notice that there was a fruit plate at our room. She just pointed to it, and asked for the banana. She immediately ate two. And then attacked the apple next. She kept on returning the apple every time we get back to our room ahahaha!

First order of business for Nina: attack the complimentary fruit plate ahehehe

Ate relaxing at our veranda...look at the two monkeys in the background. Nina later ate both bananas hahaha! 

Since it was raining the whole afternoon, I told the kids they can't go swimming in the pool. Good thing our villa had a bath tub. They were more than happy to go into the bubble bath.

We took a nap after the kids washed up and then went to the poolside for the resort's pizza making session.

The pizza in front of Javi is not his, the one on his right side is his pizza hehe

While Ate and Kuya are making pizza, bunso was kept busy watching the pool beside us. It was raining anyway, so she couldn't really roam around. We went back to our room after they finished their pizzas. Rambulan lang sila dun.

My inlaws came with us and stayed at a separate villa. Unfortunately, my father-in-law got sick while we were there so they weren't able to come with us for dinner. We left Nina behind with my mother-in-law to entertain her hehehe.

We had pizza again for dinner! 

For dinner, we were supposed to eat at Amoroma but when we got there the place was closed (I don't know if we got there early or it was closed for good). So we went to Buon Giorno instead and then took home food for my inlaws and Nina.

It was so foggy when the rain stopped

When we got to the resort the kids and I waited for the film showing, while Joma took the food to my inlaws. While waiting for the movie, we stayed at the lobby and library.

At the faux fire place of the lobby

They have a nice looking library but they don't have children's books

Ate showing Javi how to use the chess board

The movie already started when we got to the film showing. Unfortunately, Miya didn't like the movie so we left early. Javi said, "Okay Ate, finish lang natin popcorn ha" Nyahahaha!

We passed by my inlaws villa to pickup Nina and Daddy and then we went home to our own villa.

It's so nice to stay outside our villa the next morning. Unfortunately, it still rained.

After breakfast, Ate and Javi had another bubble bath and then it was time to go home.

Unfortunately, because of the heavy rains the night before our village got flooded. Our car couldn't pass through the streets going through our house. We had to leave the car by the village gate and wade through flood to get home. Ah the realities of life, not everything is peachy hehe. But all in all, it was still a great weekend!

Where to Stay in Tagaytay: Crosswinds Resorts Tagaytay

We got the 1-bedroom suite at Crosswinds Resorts for my father's birthday. I got a voucher from Deal Grocer which included breakfast for two but allowed us to have 5 adults and 1 kid in the suite. I paid for extra bed for the 5th adult, my brother. The layout of the suite is your typical 1-bedroom condo.

Here's the dining and living room. The extra bed was placed in between the sofa (which turns to a bed) and the dining table. The door you see after the living room is the door to the bedroom. To the left of the dining table is the kitchen, to the right is the veranda. 

Here's the kitchen which is to the left of the dining table (if you're facing the living room). Crosswinds had 0% corkage fee so we were able to fully utilize this kitchen without cost. We brought in food for cooking as well as cooked food for our merienda, dinner and breakfast. 

Here's the bedroom

View of the living room and dining area from the room

Here's the bathroom. The bathroom adjoins the living room to the bedroom. This photo was taken from the door from the living room. To the right of the sink leads to the door of the bedroom. 

The shower stall

Toiletries

View from our veranda

Another view from the veranda

Pool area

Kiddie pool

Playground beside the pool area

You need to have your own vehicle when you book here as the property is quite big. The drive from the hotel to the pool area is around 5mins which I'm not sure if you're willing to walk to instead of drive because the roads are quite steep. The resort is also far from the dining options in Tagaytay so it was a plus that they allow guests to cook in the suite as you don't have to go outside for dinner and just stay in your suite.

Overall, I would like to book at this resort again. Once you're inside, you can just spend the whole time there by going to the pool and the playground - very kid and family friendly.

Where to Stay in Tagaytay: Discovery Country Suites

As I've mentioned in my previous post, we went to Tagaytay for Joema's birthday. We stayed overnight at Discovery Country Suites. Bought a voucher from DealGrocer for P6,650 for our overnight stay here. This includes:

• overnight stay at Andalucia suite (we had the option between Andalucia, Saint Tropez or Ceylon)
• country breakfast specials for 2 at Restaurant Verbena
• wine and cheese buffet
• milk and cookies before bedtime

This was not included in the voucher, but they gave us 20% discount on our dinner at Restaurant Verbena.

I didn't have a hard time booking our rooms. They immediately sent an email for the confirmation form. And then on the day of our arrival at almost 2pm (check-in time), they even called us to ask what time we will be arriving.

Here's a tour of our room (I think my camera was in low-light set-up):

The foyer of our room



The door on the left from the foyer will lead you to the bathroom. The basket on top of that steel shelf holds the toiletries.



Here's the lavatory. When I first saw the lavatory, I thought no toiletries were provided. I didn't realize the toiletries were kept in the basket atop the toilet.

Toiletries

 

Acca Kappa toiletries. I only get to use luxurious toiletries when we check-in at hotels hehe.

 

Andalucia has two beds. This view is from the side of the foyer.

From the other side of the room. There are cabinets at the side of the wall connecting the room and the bathroom.

 

 

 

 

TV and seating area

Seating area with a bay window

Complimentary water and fruits

View from our window

 

Welcome drinks - pineapple with mint. If I had to go back to Discovery Country Suites just for this, I would! So delicious! I drank mine and Miya's share haha!

Discovery Country Suites
300 Calamba Road
Brgy. San Jose
Tagaytay City, Philippines

For inquiries and reservations

(0915) 517 2150
(02) 529 8172 (Manila)
(0927) 523 2139

(046) 413 2540 (Tagaytay)

(046) 413 4567

Breakfast at Antonio's

The redeeming factor of our recent Tagaytay trip is our lunch at Breakfast at Antonio’s. I’ve read so many rave reviews online about this place and I’m happy that I wasn’t disappointed. I love the place! It’s a big compound but feels very homey! The gardens surrounding the two main halls, I think, made the place cozy. Here are some a lot of photos of the garden.

Miya had so much fun walking around the garden

This is the main restaurant - Antonio's

I love this garden set - feeling ko bahay ko!

We just had to take a family photo - at our sala LOL!

Another family photo

Everyone was happy with what they ordered. I would have been happy if the rice had bigger portion hahaha! Suffice it to say, I was the only one not so happy with my order. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve tasted some of what my friends ordered, and they are delicious. My pork barbqcue is delicious as well, I just blame my simple taste for not appreciating it that much. The barbecue has some herbs and spices kasi just like how Jamie Oliver does his <> and I was only expecting a Reyes bbq for my order hahaha! It’s just that for this breastfeeding mom, I want my portions BIG! But don’t worry, I was still full when I left the restaurant because I ate an extra slice of pizza and pancake aside from the pork barbeque I ordered hahah.

Now, we're happy!

This is also where Miya learned how to drink from a straw. I ordered their mango slushy and as usual, Miya wanted to cry it. I was surprised that the straw got cold, meaning the mango slushy is going up the straw towards her mouth. Hurrah! Galing mo, anak!

Miya: Told you I can do it!

Btw, we also saw Anne Curtis and her beau dining there hehe. Icing on the cake? =P

Day 21 of 30 (x2)