Refreshing summer at Summit Ridge

By: Theresa S. Samaniego
Philippine Daily Inquirer

GUESTS at Summit Ridge will find the infinity pool a great relief to the scorching summer heat.

There arent’t any sand to leave one’s footprints, no mystique caves to explore and discover, no waves to ride and lull you to sleep.

Yet, Tagaytay continues to enthrall and charm the tired and weary urbanite, and for a good reason: the cool weather in the south remains the easiest and most convenient escape from Manila’s sweltering summer days.

So it’s not a surprise to see how Tagaytay over the past decade has been transformed from a sleepy, laid-back town to a bustling commercial city, offering tourists the charm of provincial life infused with modern conveniences. More establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and malls, have also began mushrooming in this summer getaway to cater to the steady influx of local and foreign tourists.

One of those developers who found a home in Tagaytay would be Robinsons Land Corp., which opened in 2009 Summit Ridge Hotel and Promenade.

EVEN without the three staples of summer (sun, sand and sea) Summit Ridge is a perfect destination.

A 108-room first-class hotel and convention center, Summit Ridge Hotel and Promenade offers and provides all the vacation essentials and premier amenities that could make one’s stay in Tagaytay more memorable and enjoyable.

“The property sits at the coldest and highest point of Tagaytay and can give vacationers the best panoramic view of Taal,” noted Cora Ang Ley, general manager of Summit Ridge Hotel and Promenade.

Just an hour and a half drive from Manila via Sta. Rosa, Summit Ridge Hotel is strategically located on Tagaytay’s main road and is connected to a promenade that hosts a number of establishments including a supermarket, where one can take a stroll, have a drink or grab a bite, Ang Ley explained.

What makes it stand out

But what makes Summit Ridge stand out from other hotels in the area, according to Ang Ley, are the rooms that offer an excellent, panoramic view of the serene Taal Lake and Volcano.

THE TWO-BEDROOM suite comes with living, dining and kitchen areas.

“All our rooms provide the luxury of space and come with a balcony that gives each guest the rare pleasure of gazing at the best view of Taal Volcano. Rooms at Summit Ridge are also lined up on single-loaded, breezeway corridors that allow passive cooling and cross ventilation, which brings in pleasantly airy ambience into the rooms,” she explained.

Guests can choose between an Asian tropical style standard room and two-bedroom suite which are all equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning units, LCD cable TVs, personal refrigerator, in-room safes, coffee- and tea-making facilities and free Wi-Fi.

“Our suites come with a living and dining area, it also has a kitchen complete with kitchen implements and   dinnerware so guests if they want can actually cook their own meals,” Ang Ley added.

Ang Ley further pointed out that aside from having scenic rooms, the 2-year-old Summit Ridge Hotel also provides a range of facilities and amenities that can be had during one’s stay.

Facilities, amenities

“We have health and recreational facilities to help keep our guests fit and relaxed during their stay. Also, Summit Ridge is equipped with first-rate amenities and function rooms, thus making it an ideal venue for meetings, conventions and events,” Ang Ley added.

These health and recreational facilities include the SeriAsia spa, which offers an array of treatments; the infinity pool where one can take a refreshing dip while enjoying the serene beauty of Tagaytay Ridge; a fully equipped gym built with a view deck for fitness enthusiasts; indoor-playing courts with taraflex sports flooring for the basketball and badminton enthusiasts; and the Summit Learning Center, a first-rate “Harvard” auditorium-style learning center.

Likewise, guests can use function rooms and ballrooms for occasions, receptions, exhibits and conferences.

SUMMIT Ridge is your home away from home for the summer.

“We have the grand, well-designed Raintree Ballroom that can be divided into three separate ballrooms, as well as small function rooms that are designed for intimate cocktail parties and break-out meetings,” Ang Ley mentioned.

For wedding receptions, birthday celebrations and other memorable social events, Ang Ley recommends the use of the event lawn, which is an outdoor-garden venue designed to allow guests to indulge in the cool Tagaytay weather.

Tours

If guests want to explore the rest of Tagaytay City, Summit Ridge also conducts and arranges these tours:

The “Tour Tagaytay,” which would allow vacationers to marvel at the refreshing sites of Tagaytay;

“Island Adventure,” which is actually a boat trip to Taal Volcano where one can explore Taal’s crater after a hike; and,

The “Take a Swing tour,” which would allow guests to play and practice their swing at the picturesque Splendido Taal Golf Club.

What further makes this getaway even more convenient for the busy urbanite is that Summit Ridge now offers a convenient booking engine for reservation.

“We have put the power and convenience of online booking at our guests’ fingertips. They can now reserve directly through the hotel’s official website (www.summitridgehotel.com) and with this simple and secure online reservation system guests can book in advance to enjoy even better rates,” Ang Ley explained.

Indeed, Summit Ridge, even without the three staples of summer (sun, sand and sea), can be the perfect venue for couples looking forward to that easy romantic escape and for families and “barkadas” longing for that refreshing summer getaway.