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Pampered in the Land of Peace
The holidays provide opportunities to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the metropolis, and to devote quality time with friends, loved ones, or family. Workaholics look forward to this time of the year, but planning a holiday could be just as stressful as work. Young entrepreneur David Gomez must have kept all these in mind when conceptualizing 8 Suites, a nearby haven for those who wish to delight in privacy and serenity while enjoying the comforts of modern amenities. Adding to the growing list of hotels nestled in Tagaytay, each of this boutique hotel's 8 luscious chocolate-themed rooms have sunset decks which command a panoramic view of Taal Lake and volcano, open grasslands, and other spectacular scenery. The view could get appetizingly misty on some days. By night, one could see Taal Lake twinkle with boat lights. No matter what time of day however, it is a peaceful and soothing backdrop, conducive to relaxing and unwinding as 8 Suites is quietly located off Tagaytay's main road along the ridge. Even the view when traveling from Manila to 8 Suites is just as restful. From Sta. Rosa, turn left towards Tagaytay Highlands and you will pass by Picnic Grove and Crosswinds, then after about 500 meters, take a right at Baranggay Iruhin, Ridgeview Subdivision. 8 Suite's design integrates details with its natural surroundings. Native stone, wood, circular decorations, glass windows and corners, and other elements are cozily combined to make the perfect abode. This organic design is inspired by the late American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, "Fallingwater", a residence which was constructed over a waterfall in Pennsylvania. Architect Marcos De Guzman Jr.'s vision was to make the very first falling-water-like establishment in the country, as falling water is a symbol good luck At the reception, one of the first decisions one has to make is that between oatmeal, chocolate swirl, and chocolate mint. No, these aren't choices for snacking, but these, along with eucalyptus lavender, are the choices for Anomi's scented soaps. The thought of applying chocolate mint to the body is just beyond intriguing, and I couldn't wait to shower to restart and refresh my day! Complimentary chocolates (and water) are also available at the reception. Obviously David Gomez, who had a direct hand in 8 Suite's interior design, is a chocolate-lover. A swiss chocolate praline will be the first taste of pleasure once you enter one of the 8 brown-hued rooms. Choose from deluxe, premium rooms and the suites. No two rooms are different: each bed has its own uniquely designed headboard, and the color schemes vary for each room – there are dark chocolate rooms, and even white chocolate rooms. There are even "sweetest suite rooms" which have raised beds that overlook a panoramic view (even its washroom shares this view). Despite the differences, all rooms are comfortable and spacious, and spread across the hotel's three floors. As I changed and put on my slippers provided by the hotel, I noticed the words "by Fat Jimmy's" inscribed on the slippers. "Fat Jimmy's" refers to a 16-room hotel in Boracay owned also by the Gomez family as Jimmy is David's father. "Fat Jimmy's taught me how to develop a concept to attract a different type of market segment," says David, as 8 Suites' target market is more upscale than Fat Jimmy's. "I learned the basic operations and how to handle the personnel of the hotel, to develop a feel of maintenance." David visits 8 Suites four times a week as he is still studying a course on Entrepreneurial Management at the University of Asia and the Pacific and is also an artist who plays in band called "Chubibo". I was given body essentials and products to pamper myself with for bath time. First on my agenda was to immerse myself in a bubble bath. Too bad I wasn't checked in a suite with its bathtub unusually placed: one suite has its bathtub almost next to its bed, another suite's bathtub is out in the room's main area adjacent to the glass windows complete with an overhead shower – what a way to enjoy the view of Taal! Past articles have erroneously labeled this boutique hotel as a bed and breakfast hotel. In truth, you can enjoy scrumptious meals anytime of the day courtesy of Merk's Cafe, owned by actor/singer Richard Merk and his wife Roni Tapia. For dinner we stuffed ourselves with the large and tasty servings of sisig na sisig, gising-gising, crispy tadyang served with cherry tomatoes, and passion fruit shake with its fruit freshly picked from a nearby tree. Although I am not "passionate" at all about passion fruit, their fruit shake version kept me coming back for more. At the reception, one of the first decisions one has to make is that between oatmeal, chocolate swirl, chocolate mint – no, these aren't choices for snacking, but these along with eucalyptus lavender are the choices for Anomi's scented soaps. Sunset decks command a panoramic view of Taal lake and volcano, open grasslands, and other spectacular scenery. A free 10-minute cold-stone facial massage by the in-house masseuse is given to all guests booked in rooms, which I decided to avail of in my bedroom after dinner. This ice-cold facial was followed by a Swedish massage which was recommended to me for reducing joint pain and joint stiffness. I was more than ready to sleep. As morning came, the view of Taal greeted me again, and I woke up to the aroma of triple-layered pancakes with crispy bacon, and fresh pineapple fruit, served in my room. A couple of hours later a lip-smacking lunch was served: pinakbet ni julieta, binukadkad na pla-pla, and fresh pineapple shake. David says most of 8 Suites' guests spend their time in their rooms, and this is what 8 Suites hopes to achieve. There are just too many reasons not to leave your room: slip on a robe of 100 % cotton and delve into a collection of inspirational books, DVD's and music CD's available for borrowing. The rooms boast of modern conveniences such as flat screen HD TV's, Wi-Fi/high speed wireless internet access, and iPod-ready speakers/docks among many, many other amenities. To those who insist on waiting for summer to enjoy Tagaytay's cool climate, David says, "During the holidays, 8 Suites will pamper your body and soul so why travel far? Why wait for summer? It's only 1 and 1/2 hours away from Manila. Enjoy, relax, take a dip in our tub and experience bliss in Tagaytay." David cites the ambiance of the place, friendliness of the staff, the hotel's unique modern design and sprawling architecture, spacious rooms and balconies, the lush garden with its secret niches, as 8 Suites' advantage over similar establishments in the area. "You can roam around with your kids or friends not like in other hotels where you feel congested in one area," explains David. "I want them to remember the memories that were created during their vacation, the sleek design of the rooms overlooking the lake, the modern chocolate-themed rooms and of course the privacy they experienced here. This is the perfect weekend getaway." 8 Suites has all the ingredients that make for a great and memorable holiday. |
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