TBJ TRAVELS: Escala Tagaytay | Hotel Safety Protocols during the pandemic

Man, I missed writing about my travels. My feet have been itching to hop on a plane and fly to the other side of the world or somewhere on this side of my world, but alas, the pandemic has derailed us in many ways. The safest, most feasible option at the moment is to travel local; and I highly recommend this too because we must encourage local spending to start boosting our economy.

I felt I needed a break last December because the pandemic and its toll has been pretty taxing emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, plus I kinda' overworked myself as well as I took on so many projects that came in when the quarantine was lifted and businesses were starting to rise from a deep slumber; I had to do it because the well was about to dry up due to the lockdown!

While browsing for potential destinations, the husband and I have noticed that the algorithms were pushing to us luxury hotels; and we have learned that these hotels had amazing re-opening promos and discounts, like Escala Tagaytay. We decided to go for Escala because of proximity reasons and Tagaytay is one of our go- to chill out places and it's been quite a while.

Let me take you on a tour at Escala Tagaytay, find out what they're doing to ensure guest safety, and tips before you go.

Escala Tagaytay is located beside Skyranch; there's a tiny street right beside Skyranch that's pretty easy to miss and once you enter that, just make a left and go straight, and you're in Escala in 3 minutes.

Escala is a modern, luxury, 5- star hotel tucked away from the busy highway and offers a stunning view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.

Escala itself is a pretty small hotel with about 50 rooms in total, if I'm not mistaken, but the surrounding spaces near it namely the two- storey parking space and wedding venue are owned by the hotel group as well so technically, it's a huge property.

Before you enter, you must do contact tracing and go through their contactless sanitizing and checking machine. In the machine, first, your temperature shall be taken through a scanner, next, you have to sanitize your hands with alcohol, and finally, mist yourself with their disinfecting fogging machine. I love that they have decided to invest in this machine because it's very efficient and makes you feel that you are properly cleaned before entering the premises.

There are only two types of rooms at Escala: the premium rooms and the deluxe rooms. This is the Deluxe Room. It has a twin bed and a queen- sized bed, which allows three guests to stay in the room. However, because of the situation, Escala strictly only allows two people per room at the moment.

Here's the study/vanity table and mini bar. I wasn't able to take a photo of the bathroom, but it's a decent, spacious one with rain shower. The cabinet is very spacious as well-you can fit two large luggages in the cabinet for a cleaner, more spacious floor area.

Each guest will be welcomed with an anti-Covid 19 hygiene kit. We didn't try, but we believe you can have these replenished after use.

I also forgot to take a photo; before entering your room, you will see a sticker seal by the door saying that the room has been cleaned and sanitized, and no one has entered it at any point after cleaning. Props to Escala for taking the extra mile to make us feel safe in this precarious time.

One of the reasons why we decided to stay her is the pool; Escala's well- known for their pool and when we saw it in person, it did not disappoint.

The pool is overlooking the majestic taal lake and volcano. However, the water was very cold. I was told that there was a plan to install a heater in the pool, but for some reason, the plan did not push through. I hope they will soon!

The pool also has a special feature and it lights up at night, which gave it a magical feel; the lights, from a certain angle, look as if they extend into the city lights below and into infinity; applauding the designer who has taught of this.

The official restaurant of Escala is called Bellisima. They serve Continental dishes, but mostly Filipino. I love their food and even if it's a bit pricey, the servings are huge. This is the view from the balcony of the restaurant.

You may be asking if they hold buffets. Yes, they do, but on certain days only, most especially on days when the hotel is packed or there's a wedding. The tourism industry is still recovering and holding buffets everyday like when times were normal at a time when hotel visits are abnormally low would be a waste of time and money.

Luckily for me and the husband, we had buffet in our entire 4D/3N stay because 1. It was Christmas time and a lot of couples were on a vacation. 2. An intimate wedding was about to take place on the weekend of our stay so the rooms were packed.

P.S. Through a friend, Carlo Guison, I discovered that Bellisima makes AMAZING, MOUTHWATERING cheese bread! Don't miss it when you visit!

Was the buffet set-up "safe"? Yes because acrylic dividers stand between the food and the guests, and there are waiters standing on the other side to give out food; the guests are not allowed to touch the food on the buffet tables.

We loved our stay at Escala and I'm looking forward to the next one and this time, with family. Service was excellent as well as the food, the amenities are still fairly new, and the place is super relaxing and beautiful that we only ended up staying in despite the many attractions to visit in Tagaytay. Money well- spent!

Before you go, here are some things you have to know before packing your bags:

1. Escala Tagaytay does not require medical certificates and tests prior to booking, but the hotel has the right to refuse entry for reasons that may endanger the staff or the rest of their guests. I also think that they do not allow kids and senior citizens into their premises at the moment.

2. Tagaytay does not require medical certificates and tests to enter the city.

3. Most establishments close at 8PM. Plan your trips and eat- outs ahead of time.

4. Establishments require face mask and face shield usage.

5. Some establishments require a medical certificate prior your stay or visit so call in advance to ask to ensure that you will have a pleasant travel experience.

6. Kids and senior citizens are still not allowed to roam around lifestyle establishments or to do staycations.

That's all and I hope you found this useful. Let me know your experience with Escala Tagaytay!