Safe & Stylish Birthday Vacation at Anya Resort Tagaytay
Before this current surge of new covid cases and stricter lockdowns happened, the country’s tourism industry was slowly getting back on its feet. Safe staycations and travel activities were becoming normal again in General Community Quarantine areas, as long as they followed all the strict health protocols. So I was fortunate to be able to celebrate my birthday last December with a safe and luxurious vacation at Anya Resort Tagaytay.
We have heard about Anya Resort Tagaytay ever since it first opened its doors in 2017. Despite our numerous trips to Tagaytay over the past years, this was just our first time to stay here. You can find the property just off the main Tagaytay ridge, just a few blocks away from Starbucks and another of my favorite hotels, Discovery Country Suites. Once you enter its main gate, you will immediately feel its five-star ambiance and outstanding service.
Anya Resort Tagaytay is included as a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. This institution includes 500 of the best luxury hotels in the world which adds excellence to a brand. We traveled from Metro Manila that morning and checked in at the lobby. We did not even have to go to the front desk because the courteous staff took care of our check in procedures while we were seated at the sofa. We knew right there that it was going to be a great vacation.
From the moment you check in up to your last day at the resort, all your needs are dutifully attended to by their Anya Experience Assistant. Their familial Filipino tropical theme, designed by Manny Samson and Associates, is accentuated with functional contemporary flourishes. It decisively translates comfort, light, natural harmony, and restorative energy in the choice blends of indigenous and modern materials. Standard health and security checks were done including temperature scans plus wearing of face masks and face shields inside the resort. Submission of health declaration forms were done online before we arrived.
It was time to head to our villa! The entire property isn’t really that big and you can easily walk from the main lobby to the villas, but Anya Resort has these mini shuttles always available to bring guests to and from their rooms. It also helps when you still have your luggage with you. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we felt totally safe inside the property because everyone was wearing masks and there was ample space inside the resort for social distancing measures.
The shuttle dropped us off at Villa I where our suite was located. The driver and service staff then brought our luggage upstairs to our room and briefly explained the amenities and services available for us during our stay.
We booked the Anya Veranda Suite which is much bigger than their standard Junior Suite. They had a Relax and Extend staycation package that month where guests can stay two nights at the Veranda Suite with breakfast for only P20,000. This was a good deal as the regular rates for this suite were usually above P12,000 a night. The Anya Veranda Suite exudes a grandiose, apartment-style accommodation with a living room area for extra breathing space. Its floor size ranges from 93 to 107 square meters and also features a bigger balcony for a more relaxing view.
Each of the 78 luxurious suites comes with the signature warmth of Filipino hospitality. The suite features a small kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, plus coffee and tea making facilities. Glass water bottles are provided for a more eco-friendly environment. These can be refilled upon request as many times as you want.
We even had a welcome drink waiting for us inside our suite. These are the small additions that really make a big difference in your stay. The living room comes with Ottoman chairs and a lot of space to do whatever you like.
Our main bedroom comes with a King size bed and opens up to a delightful view of the gardens below. It had been quite a while since we had a staycation, something we used to do at least once a month before the pandemic, so I had forgotten how delightful it was to lie on a hotel bed with its soft linens and pillows.
The room has its own LED TV although it was kinda small for the space, but that’s okay because we did not really go to Tagaytay just to watch television.
The opulent bathroom consists of separate bathtubs and rain showers with refillable organic amenities such as soap, shampoo and conditioner as part of the hotel’s green initiatives. The bathtub is a must for me in any staycation so I am surely going to enjoy my evening soaking in the tub.
You can feel the cool Tagaytay breeze right outside on your own spacious balcony. There’s no view of the Taal Volcano though, because Anya Tagaytay isn’t located on the ridge, so that’s probably one of the few things that the resort can’t provide.
Their Anya Experience Assistant program guarantees a unique stay tailored to your taste. Their team will assist you as they prepare a distinctive experience for each guest. You can choose your individual preferences even before you check in, like the room’s scent, pillows, and welcome amenities. You can also ask the staff to make dining and tour arrangements by request. This can also be done online through their Anya Experience Menu which you can access with the QR Code found in your room.
Most of the resort’s amenities and services can be found at the main lobby building. This is just a few steps away from our villa.
Anya Resort Tagaytay features an adult-sized heated pool and a kiddie pool right beside the main building. What’s great about Anya is that there are not too many rooms and guests in the resort, so you will never feel crowded and social distancing is easily maintained. There was always just one or two other groups in the pool. We took our time lounging around the pool area and my husband even did some WFH or Work From Hotel Resort during our stay.
Anya Resort Tagaytay offers a varied selection for culinary treats with restaurants serving international cuisine. Samira Restaurant by Chef Chele Gonzales can be found on the second floor and features Mediterranean dishes cooked with passion and care using premium ingredients.
You can enjoy a semi-fine dining experience in a welcoming ambiance. Some tables are located at the al fresco area facing the pool which is much safer option during these pandemic times.
We went up to the third floor and found this charming Library for those who like relaxing with a book in their hand.
You can see the entire 7.2 hectares of Anya Resort Tagaytay’s lush greenery from here! The property also has some private lots which are owned by other individuals and they can also access the resort’s amenities. Everything else is within walking distance for guests.
We took a leisurely stroll around gardens and found some interesting spots for photos. It’s great to feel the fresh mountain air and the spacious gardens which is a big change from our crowded areas in Metro Manila.
Anya Resort also has a small gym located in one of the villas at the back. There’s also Niyama Spa here but it was still closed during our stay.
We took a dip in the pool just after sunset just before we went to my birthday dinner at Antonio’s. That’s also one of our usual dining spots in Tagaytay so celebrating my birthday there was also one of our scheduled activities.
I was surprised to see this cute birthday setup in our bedroom when we got back to our suite after dinner. Anya Resort's staff really gives guests their personal touch and I was really happy with their personalized greeting card and birthday cake. The flowers were courtesy of my husband ;)
Our room package comes with daily breakfast, but since it’s still a pandemic, Anya Resort let’s you choose to have your breakfast privately inside your suite or at the Anila Poolside Restaurant. This is located at the ground floor of the main building, just beside the pool.
Guests can unwind each morning with a set breakfast at the Anila Poolside Restaurant. It also features brick oven-baked pizzas, salads, and pasta on its ala carte menu.
I chose the Beef Tapa for my breakfast set while my husband ordered the Pork Tocino. The set comes with your choice of two eggs, garlic rice, atsara, a bread basket, a fruit platter, plus coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. It’s not the breakfast buffet they used to serve pre-pandemic but the set is more than enough to satisfy any appetite.
Of course, we also tried having our breakfast inside our suite the next morning. Imagine having breakfast with this gorgeous view while wearing your pajamas. That’s the type of relaxing staycation we really like. Hopefully, we can all get back to how it once was before the pandemic when everyone enjoyed taking leisurely trips and staycations. But even if the pandemic continues longer, we can still have our Safe Sanctuary here at Anya Resort Tagaytay.
Anya Resort Tagaytay
Buenavista Hills Road, Barangay Mag-asawang Ilat, Tagaytay City
(632) 8657-1640 / (63917) 704-6159
www.anyaresorts.com
www.facebook.com/anyaresorttagaytay