View Park Hotel Tagaytay, Tagaytay

Very bad: - Unfriendly hotel management and reception - Infrastructure (no wlan, room rather dark, old bathroom) - LOUD road, other guests (without any intervention from staff) and STAFF DURING NIGHT SHIFT (!!) Good: Friendly staff in restaurant

ViewPark Hotel simply cocooned us with that warm feeling of coming home to a (nicer) house the minute we stepped in their lobby. With a freshwater aquarium filled with beautiful live corals of every shape and color, and friendly staff to welcome guests (without that obsequious or over-the-top servility), we knew we came to the right place. One of the rooms we saw was the Deluxe Room with a double bed, and the standard room features: cable TV, personal ref., closet, a good-sized bathroom and remote-controlled A/C. What was unusual in this room (which was standard in all the hotel's eight rooms) is the rainshower head. There are quite a number of hotels that do not feature this more modern bath amenity, for the same room rates. But what adds charm to this room is a wide bay window with cushioned window seats and plump throw pillows. Perfect for surfing the worldwide web -- which was a joy, thanks to their fast internet connection. The room we eventually got met my picky daughter's approval, having two double beds, bigger space and of course, a bigger TV. The Superior Twin Room even has a balcony with its own table and chairs - nice for winding down with your evening coffee or enjoying the early morning (cold) breeze. ViewPark Hotel also has rooms for those on a budget, and for below 2,000 pesos, you'd get the same personalized and warm service. It has its own cozy restaurant, Red Lemon Grill which serves local and continental dishes, as well as Adam's Café, a coffee and snack bar with outdoor tables. Good masseuse service can also be arranged right in the privacy of your hotel room. But really, the charm of this hotel lies in the strength of its people. Leading her team of dedicated, multi-taskers is the efficient and bubbly GM Joy Tung. She very humbly pointing out that as far as hotels go, theirs is just "normal". By that, she means they offer standard rates for good, clean rooms. But when we pointed out that ViewPark Hotel stands out from the rest because, compared to hotels with the same rates, their people go the extra mile. Beyond the friendly faces and genuine smiles, their staff appears magically to offer assistance even before guests think they do need help. And they can be counted on to follow through with requests previously made by the guests. This is the elusive quality that ensures guests (us included) come back. ViewPark Hotel has been steadily gaining a loyal clientele of couples and families who have made it their Tagaytay getaway. That's why the movie selection they offer includes classics, new titles and a very wide selection of kid-friendly movies. It's also why rooms are floored in wood, not the usual tile, so older family members can have warmer floors and kids (and their toys) are less likely to get hurt when the playing gets extra rough. Couples, especially the women, approve of the modern Morocco-European design elements employed in the room -- from the headboards to the linens and good quality drapes, even to the Moorish elements of our lampshades (incidentally, my favorite feature in our room). ViewPark Hotel can be counted on to make a special occasion all the more memorable (rose petals everywhere you want during Valentine's Day, for example). Better yet, they can be your creative partners to collaborate with you and make your honeymoon or anniversary a unique experience. No wonder ViewPark Hotel guests keep coming back - it's like a second home in cool Tagaytay, where you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to chill out and enjoy the warm service from Ms. Joy and her Team.

Last November 2008, my fiance from Anchorage, AK and I stayed at View Park Hotel in one of their econo rooms. We stayed over for 3 nights and we are very much pleased with the accomodations and the ambience of the hotel. Last week, during his second visit, we stayed at the executive suite for 2 nights and I must say that it was among the best places we have ever visited. We are very pleased with the service and cleanliness of the place and I would like to thank Ms. Joyce (GM) and the rest of the staff. We will DEFINITELY be seeing you again soon.