Words by Vic S. Sevilla Images by Gabriel Dela Cruz
Words by Vic S. Sevilla Images by Gabriel Dela Cruz
It rises majestically from the edge of a steep ridge, looking like a patrician Swiss villa and commanding the green valley below. After navigating the winding driveway from the main road, Twin Lakes appears, exuding the quiet elegance of a private European mansion. Everything, from the graceful balustrade on top of the main building, the French windows, the lush garden of flowers and pine trees, and the tall fountain gurgling merrily in the sunshine, indicates opulence and grace.
General Manager Mr. Oliver Esguerra.
Inside, the same sophisticated style is echoed in the muted stone color of the lobby, in the neoclassical couches and seats, in the wall trims, and in the massive steel chandeliers hanging from the wooden beams of the ceiling. At the far corner sits a grand piano, playing some lilting and lighthearted pieces to give the lobby a relaxing ambiance. The hushed color palette is punctuated only by the arrangement of lilac orchids in the center and a few bright abstract paintings.
Standing at the side of the lobby is the Zabana Bar, its shelves lined with gleaming bottles of Emperador and Fundador. I was tempted to sit on the high chair and order a cocktail, or perhaps a snifter of brandy, although it was too early for Happy Hour. Zabana Bar (named after the rum) is, of course, the baby of Megaworld’s founder and president, Mr. Andrew Tan.
“The main attractions of the hotel are, first, the design. Seldom will you see a hotel designed like a Swiss or European villa. The people who come here often remark how different the design of the hotel is. The other selling point is the location. Although we are very near it, we are not a part of the crowded area of Tagaytay; we are outside that,” says Twin Lakes’ mild-mannered general manager, Mr. Oliver Esguerra.
Although the hotel lies on the fringes of Laurel, Batangas, a peek from the window offers a breathtaking view of the famous Taal Lake and Volcano in the distance. From where Twin Lakes stands, guests will see almost the entirety of the island volcano within the lake
Nature seems to be the other pervading theme at Twin Lakes Hotel. All the rooms at the hotel have their own verandahs—some looking out into the lake and volcano; others open into views of mountains lush with viridian forests.
Inside, the rooms are inner sanctums of comfort and luxury outfitted with modern amenities (HD cable TV, coffee and tea makers, a bathtub to pamper your body in, and a safety deposit box). The steady WIFI connection provides your link to the outside world if you wish to stay inside your plush room. But that would be your loss because the outdoors at Twin Lakes is an encounter with nature’s spellbinding beauty.
Because it aims to foster the complete enjoyment of the family, Twin Lakes Hotel is a pet-friendly establishment that allows small to medium-sized fur babies in some of the rooms. Pets are allowed in some public areas provided that they are on a leash and outfitted in diapers.
Lining the side of the hotel is an extensive al fresco section that offers one of the magnificent views on the Tagaytay ridge. Above is the endless expanse of blue sky. To the left are the deep gorges carpeted in a thick overgrowth of trees and plants. And in the distance, the lake and volcano rise from the gullies and fissures.
Below the open-air area, arranged in curving terraces that hug the steep slope, lies Twin Lakes’ famed vineyards. Measuring roughly around a hectare in size, the vineyard is planted to Catawba grapes. “The harvesting months are March and October. In ideal conditions, we can harvest 50 kilos of grapes, which can be made into white or red wines,” says Esguerra.
Although guests can join in the grape picking during the harvest season, Twin Lakes aims to amplify the experience by setting up a wine cellar near the vineyard where connoisseurs and enthusiasts can participate in grape stomping—an essential activity in the process of winemaking. Also in the works is a tapas bar that will serve wines and spirits to accompany the delicious Spanish morsels.
And speaking of sumptuous flavors, Twin Lakes Café (the hotel’s main dining facility) recently enriched the choices from the menu. We had the pleasure of sampling some of the new additions to the food selection. These include new dishes using local Batangas beef, such as Crispy Tadyang (deep fried ribs), the authentic Batangas Bulalo, and the traditional Salpicao.
The Twin Lakes Adobo (or “adobo sa asin” which does away with the customary vinegar and soy sauce as seasonings), and the GM’s Salad is made crispier with the topping of fried julienned fried siomai wrapper. Those with a sweet tooth should save space for the Turon de Leche, a roulade of leche flan and sweet purple yam, drizzled with caramel sauce, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
There’s a lot more to do at Twin Lakes Hotel that the whole family can enjoy. It has, for instance, one of the most spectacular swimming pools I have seen. The geometrical infinity pool hugs the edge of a precipice and offers a panorama of the vineyards, the mountains, and the volcano in the distance. The pool is heated, so swimming should be an enjoyable experience even in the early evening when the nippy Tagaytay air descends.
Those who prefer to have their bodies pampered can book an appointment at L’Uva Spa for an exquisite massage therapy or some time off at the sauna. I ended my deep tissue massage with a cup of warm lemon and ginger tea while thick fog rolled in to cover the valley in a carpet of white mist. The gym, on the other hand, is equipped with treadmills, an assortment of dumbbells, and gym balls.
Kids may want to spend some time in the playroom where they can get their hands on fluffy stuffed toys, watch TV, or challenge each other in an educational board game. For teens and adults, the game room is a cozy space to play chess, show their skill in a round of billiards, or spend time at the mahjong table.
While staycations were on the rise during the pandemic, business functions, as well as personal events, have already been allowed. To accommodate this, Twin Lakes Hotel has a stately ballroom that can seat 500 people in a sit-down formal dinner set-up. Levels 1 and 2 of the hotel have six function rooms altogether, which can be divided into three partitions for smaller meetings. The boardroom can accommodate 10 to 12 people.
Tagaytay City may offer numerous choices in accommodation, but none provides a complete list of amenities geared towards delivering total pleasure and enjoyment. At Twin Lakes Hotel, expect a heightened experience in warmth, hospitality, flavors, and indulgences that would not be easy to forget.
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