Twin Lakes Hotel — Hotel in Laurel

Our Cozy Retreat with a View: Cherished Memories at Twin Lakes Hotel Twin Lakes Hotel, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Laurel, Batangas, and offering those iconic views of Taal Lake and Volcano, is more than just a hotel for me; it's a cherished retreat, a place synonymous with cozy escapes and beautiful memories. Coming from Nasugbu, it feels like a familiar, comforting extension of our beautiful province, offering a refreshing change of scenery without venturing too far. My first encounter with Twin Lakes was a few years ago, when it was still relatively new. I had heard whispers about a new development near Tagaytay with stunning vineyard views, and my curiosity was instantly piqued. We drove up the familiar winding roads that lead to Tagaytay, then veered off towards Laurel, and as we approached the property, the landscape transformed into something truly picturesque. The sight of the European-inspired architecture, the gently sloping vineyards, and then, the panoramic reveal of Taal Lake – it was breathtaking. The hotel itself, with its charming facade and inviting entrance, immediately gave off a warm, cozy vibe. The history of Twin Lakes is part of the larger vision of the Twin Lakes development by Megaworld, which aimed to create a luxurious yet accessible integrated resort community, combining residential, commercial, and leisure components, centered around the vineyard concept. The hotel, being one of the key anchors, was designed to complement this vision, offering upscale accommodation with a focus on comfort and scenic beauty. I remember reading about the ambitious scale of the project, and seeing it come to fruition, especially the hotel, has been impressive. It truly brought a unique, almost European flair to the Tagaytay-Batangas ridge. What truly makes Twin Lakes Hotel special for me are the memories forged within its walls and on its picturesque grounds. It has become our go-to spot for short, sweet getaways. I vividly remember one particularly cozy stay during a cool, misty Tagaytay morning. We woke up to the serene view of the Taal Lake, shrouded in a gentle fog, sipping hot coffee on our balcony. The warmth of the room, the soft linens, and the quiet contemplation of the landscape outside created a perfect moment of tranquility. Another memory that stands out is a family celebration we held there. The staff were incredibly accommodating, and the hotel's amenities, from the inviting pool (even if it was a bit chilly!) to the charming cafes at the nearby Twin Lakes Shopping Village, made for a delightful experience for everyone, from the kids to the grandparents. We spent hours just strolling through the vineyard, taking countless photos, and enjoying the fresh air. The hotel's architecture and the surrounding natural beauty provided the perfect backdrop for these joyous occasions. Twin Lakes Hotel isn't just about luxurious amenities; it's about the feeling it evokes – a sense of being comfortably ensconced in a beautiful, peaceful environment. The rooms are designed for comfort, often with those incredible views, making it easy to just unwind and relax. For us, coming from Nasugbu, it's a nearby slice of heaven, a place where we can consistently create new, cozy memories, surrounded by stunning natural beauty and warm hospitality. It truly feels like a home away from home, a perfect escape whenever we need a breath of fresh air and a...

We have been to Twin Lakes before and were so amazed by the place, facilities, the view...wow. So, to break it down:

Location: As I have mentioned, the view was spectacualr and amazing. I was not expecting it to be quite windy and cold given that it was summer. But, it still is one of the best views in Tagaytay. Love it. Also, there are a lot of nearby restaurants and shops so if you want to go there to chill, you can do too.

Facilities: Overall, quite good. Picturesque. You can stare at a furniture or ceiling for the esquisiteness. Our first visit there was way back 2019 so it looks like it just opened and some works are still underway like the game room and gym were not there among other facilities. Facilities and amenities. Wow. The pool was nice too. However, I can tell that the room that we stayed in was not dusted, vacuumed, or cleaned that much prior to our arrival. It's dusty and there was a small (or baby) cockroach in the bathroom on our 2nd night which surprised me. The vent in our room as well...yeah. it smelled of a dead rat on 2nd night as well. We had to turn it off wait for a few hours and try to open it again and see. The smell was gone. The furniture in the room, albeit high quality, was dusty. When I used the hairdryer in the bathroom, again, the dust circulated the room. They have housekeeping everyday which was nice, though.

Food: Alright. Not that memorable for me, but very expensive, obviously. Also, they have separate menu for room service and the restaurant which I find odd (like, why?). Even if to avoid accidental spillage-- I thought of that, but the room service still offers tomato-based pasta (that can still stain when spilled) so why? But overall, breakfast was my favorite. It has gretaly improved and I always look forward to it. P.S. please maintain the powershots, it was a nice touch.

Service: Staff, courteous but lacks training with how to deal with guests' queries, requests, among other things. The first time we visited, housekeeping people in groups talking, talking, and talking (mostly men can be heard in the hallway) opened my room (and I am alone there) WITHOUT KNOCKING. Just used their master key. That's big grounds to get fired. What if the guest is sleeping? What if they are not decently clothed? And you just barged in there without knocking. That is a big no-no, unless the guest requested for something like room service, I didn't. Our second time visit, service has improved, but some things remained the same. It would take me a while to explain hotel courtesy, and service and what other things I have encountered but the ones I mentioned were the red flags. How would I know hotel basic customer service and all that? Because I worked at a hotel for years and that was also my job, to train hotel staff, etc.

All in all, it was still a great experience because we are with my family and it's always a nice time to getaway to bond with, despite other things I noticed. I hope my review helps those who are interested in staying as each review has their own unique experience...

stayed here with my family and we got 2 superior rooms with a lake view for 2 nights. based on our experience, i will not recommend this place.

check-in: nobody assists you going to your rooms to help with your luggage unlike most hotels

room: room has mouldy smell as soon as you enter, even the toilets. you can see some cracks on the ceilings and walls and my husband even got electrocuted plugging in the charger. a/c is noisy the balcony view however is amazing. you get a really nice view of taal which is the only good thing about this hotel. under the blanket you feel like something’s crawling i feel like there’s bugs on the sheets. included in our package is a bottle of wine which we had to ask multiple times before it got delivered on our second day ( that should’ve been in the room as soon as you check-in)

room service: worst. we pressed the button for room clean-up from 9 am but we got back before 4pm, both rooms are still not cleaned. my mom went to the reception to request for it to be cleaned asap as we’re tired from being out for that day and just wanted to rest which they said they will but an hour later the rooms are still not cleaned. my mom had to do multiple follow ups before the cleaners arrive to clean the room. someone said that they are short-staffed but the manager tried to pit the blame to my mom by saying that upon check in my mom ticked that we will advise if we want to get the room cleaned which on our pov we did because we pressed the make up room button to signal we wanted to get the rooms cleaned (which is the norm for hotels anyway). the manager said we should’ve called the reception but nowhere in the form says to advise is to call reception. if that’s their policy then they should’ve made it clear on the form and they need to remove that button as it doesn’t have a purpose. the other room’s tv is not working properly and wasn’t fixed by their ‘engineering team’

in-room dining: we ordered soups and we wanted it charged in our room as we had dining credits. when delivered they asked us to pay in cash instead because the cashier said they put the wrong room number. why would we cover if they made a mistake. it feels sketchy!

breakfast buffet: food selection is limited, the corned beef is nice, tocino is not bad but the champorado had the burnt chocolate taste. there’s flies everywhere and some plates still have food stains. they seem to have an omelette station but no one’s there. coffee tastes like shit. was expecting kapeng barako at least

amenities: our package includes a spa but then when mom requested around 4pm, she was advised earliest slot is 7:30pm but she was called way past 8 instead. so she didn’t avail any more. pool looks alright. infinity pool. there’s a shuttle service to go to the shops and restaurants at the top but only serviced from 3pm to 9pm which is so late why not from 10am at least?

location: a bit far from the town proper so it’s a long drive (including traffic) to just dine to the...