A suite family holiday escapade

Taking the whole family on a holiday getaway that’s close to home  not quite a staycation, but without all the expense and travel time of a full-blown vacation  has become more and more popular among fun-loving and budget-conscious Pinoys.

And so, it’s no surprise to see the number of tourism-related facilities increasing in nearby provinces, particularly in Tagaytay, the go-to place of city dwellers taking a break from the daily grind. Just an hour’s drive from the metro, Tagaytay’s cooler climate and more laid-back pace are like magnets drawing local and foreign tourists in.

Hotel with a summit view

One day may not be enough to enjoy the sights and sounds of Tagaytay and to fit in all the bonding activities lined up for the whole family, which is why an overnight weekend stay is definitely in order.

Set on the highest point in Tagaytay City, Summit Ridge Hotel is one of the best family staycation places to be. The nine-story edifice on Kilometer 58, along Aguinaldo Highway is part of a larger mixed-use complex built and run by Robinsons Land Corporation.

The hotel rooms are quite large as hotel rooms go. Each has its own balcony with stunning views of Taal Volcano and its surrounding lakes — the higher up you are, the better. The in-house amenities are good, with access to badminton/basketball courts, a gym, a large lawn (for movies under the stars and weddings), and an infinity-edge pool, which most kids find irresistible.

For a family of five, it’s best to book one of the hotel suites with two rooms, toilet and bath, a dining area and a kitchen replete with cooking implements — from the electric stove to the pots and pans, down to the cutlery. Here, you can actually whip up a feast using fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Mahogany Market.

“Going to Mahogany Market is actually one of the highlights of our suite staycation. We want our guests not only to make full use of the hotel facilities/amenities but for them to explore and discover for themselves the many things Tagaytay has to offer,” enthuses  Summit Ridge Hotel manager Pops del Rosario at the launch of the hotel’s “Suite Staycation” promo just for the holidays.

To experience for ourselves what Del Rosario was raving about, Robinsons Land Corporation PR director Roseann Villegas, Del Rosario and his team organized a “media cook off” a la Master Chef held at the hotel suites.

Participants were divided into three groups; each group was given the task of preparing either the appetizer, main course or dessert with the help of the amiable C2 Classic Cuisine chefs.

Our group (composed of Choose Philippines’ Nana Tobias and Rod Azucar, my son Karl and C2 Classic Cuisine chef Ernie Baculio) was assigned to whip up the appetizer — chicken balls with blue cheese dip — which we didn’t mind at all since the dish was quite easy to prepare and most of the ingredients were readily available at the C2 Classic Cuisine’s kitchen and at Robinsons Supermarket nearby. Still, we insisted on going to the market — the Mahogany Market, that is — to check out the fresh produce and practice our haggling skills on tawilis, pinipig, fresh fruits and veggies, local beef, even balisong as souvenir or pasalubong. There’s also a section devoted entirely to plants and herbs. We could have spent the rest of the day at the market, but there were mouths to feed — as the food we were about to cook would be served for lunch — so we rushed back to the hotel in no time.

Each team created a culinary masterpiece and everyone agreed it was the best and definitely the most memorable meal of the day.

Fun activities ensued in the afternoon. While the men opted to play ball, the ladies enlisted in the Laughter Yoga session facilitated by STAR columnist Elvie Estavillo. Laughter Yoga is an alternative way to relax and de-stress, though I must admit I found it awkward at first to laugh for no reason at all.

Laughter Yoga uses laughter as a tool, not an emotion. The tension-releasing laughter exercises are combined with stretching, rhythmic clapping, and chanting in unison. In no time, I was LOL-ing with people I hardly knew. It was fun. You should try it, too!

There’s no stopping Christmas at the Summit

At Summit Ridge, guests can enjoy unparalleled packages for Christmas and New Year. Whether for family reunions or company outings, the holiday promos have a number of tailor-made dining options — Western Cuisine, Oriental Flavors, or Local Flair — to choose from, inclusive of an overnight stay in a Classic King Room with buffet breakfast for two.

Families, on the other hand, should take advantage of the Brilliant Bundle room package for Christmas Eve, which  includes complimentary cakes and coffee, a photo booth, pre-dinner cocktails, a Christmas eve buffet,  children’s choir serenade, outdoor film showing, live entertainment, and a specially prepared Christmas Day breakfast buffet spread at C2 Classic Cuisine the morning after.

For New Year’s Eve, the Let it Sparkle room package comes with all the fun-filled perks guests enjoyed on Christmas Eve, plus live house music by a featured DJ, hotdog and marshmallow grill, and a fireworks display at the stroke of midnight to usher in a prosperous 2014.

The holidays are the perfect time to be with your family and loved ones. And nothing could be suite-r than spending it at the Summit (Ridge).

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For reservations, call 240-6888 or SMS 0922-8526800 or visit www.summitridgehotel.com.