La Traviesa Hotel Resort in Cavite
First off, this is not a paid blog. I just love this place so much I'm spending my afternoon to share what a jewel La Traviesa is.
Anyways, forget Microtel Inns & Suites. When in Cavite, choose La Traviesa.
The Courtyard
I first visited La Traviesa to check where our Korean students were staying during their summer camp here. And when I stepped into the courtyard it was like visiting a small Mexican villa.
From the color of the Villa's roofs, walls and the capiz windows, the relaxing gardens and walkways, I couldn't help but think to myself "How could I have missed this place???" Probably because I haven't explored General Trias that much. Moving on...
They have a couple of gardens here, which can be used for al fresco dining, camping (they rent tents), playing or maybe even holding pictorials.
One of the things I love about this place is their walkway, which I call the "Lovers' Lane." It's wide enough for a couple to walk on, whether under the warm morning sun or the cool gaze of the lovers' moon at night. The Lovers' Lane has benches where you and your beloved can lounge while waiting for your breakfast or dinner to be served and talk about your future. I think it's even a great place to make a wedding proposal! ; )
Or, if you're alone, stay here and contemplate. Then we'll call it "Contemplators' Lane." It's a free country.
Bar & Restaurant
You can eat the usual resort food here like sandwiches, pasta, and rice toppings for about PhP150 per serving. They serve drinks, too, of course. Going back to the food, I recommend their beef caldereta and pesto chicken penne. The serving amount is just right and the flavors can satisfy a picky palate.
Function Rooms
La Traviesa has 2 of these which both have ample space for celebrations or seminars. Our company used one of the function rooms here for a despedida party and it was okay. They let us use a huge flat-screen TV and a portable videoke machine, free of charge, I believe. You can bring your own drinks but there's corkage of about PhP50.00 per bottle. Best to ask the staff before you bring anything.
Guest Rooms
The guest rooms are clean, elegantly designed, and have lots of space. I forgot to mention that they smell good, too! (I say "they" because I stayed several times here already). They're secured by a keycard, which you'll get from the staff upon check-in.
I highly suggest staying in the Villa, where you can choose to get a room that's either facing the sunrise or the sunset. For some hotels, this doesn't matter, because you can't open the window, or when you walk out the door, you''ll just see walls around you.
But this place is different. When you walk out the door, you're welcomed by the airy veranda, wide enough that there are tables and chairs set in front of every room so you can have your breakfast or dinner there while watching the sunrise or sunset, depending on which side of the building you're in. You can also easily see most of the courtyard from there.
So going back inside the room, you get a queen-sized bed, a closet (with a small safe in it)a mirror, a fridge, a wide and comfy couch, two pairs of complimentary rubber slippers that you can use to go to the pool, a desk with a couple of complimentary bottled water, a thermos and two glasses, a landline, and 2 bedside tables.
Lighting options, for me, is very important, especially if I need to read documents during my stay at a hotel.
La Traviesa's Villa rooms have enough lighting options that allow you to read even when you're in bed (I've been to other hotels where you have to stand up in one corner just to be able to see what you're reading).
The wall-mounted air conditioner works perfectly well and can keep the room cool even if it's directly exposed to the afternoon summer sun.
AND, I found out just now that their air conditioners are solar powered! How cool is that?
What else? Ah! You've got a 32-inch Toshiba or Sharp wall-mounted flat-screen TV with Cignal cable connection.
(There's no wi-fi, but you can access the internet in the lobby).
The bathroom has enough space to move around in, it's clean and has modern bathroom fixtures.
The shower set has a big shower head, hand shower, and a faucet.
A tinted glass divider separates the shower room from the toilet, but water does escape to the toilet once you open the shower door, so be careful not to slip! Oh, and the toilet has a hand-held bidet, too.
Love it!!!
Let me share more photos with you:
Mirror and fridge. I wish they'd install bigger mirrors so you'd see how you look before you go outside.
Cabinet and mini safe.
TV and cable device
Water heater and two glasses on the desk.
I love the fact that they wrapped the glasses in tissue.
I'm not a fan of the dangling switch, but I'm thankful for their effort in installing more lighting options for their guests!
These slippers might not be fluffy like the ones you get from the Shangri-La, but they're practical.
You can use them when you go out for errands, take a stroll in the courtyard, or even in the bathroom, if you're the type who doesn't like going inside the bathroom barefoot.
I barely sit on it when I stay here and mostly serves as the hamper but it adds to the relaxing mood.
Pardon my poor photography skills, but you should notice a lamp on the right side.
You can sit here and mull over floating thoughts, read the newspaper or a book, or let your kid sleep here. It's as wide as a single bed, if i'm not mistaken.
So I'm saying they're Villa guest rooms are perfect! Well, almost.
I really wish they'd provide more (about 4 pillows per room) and fluffier pillows. But I'd still give the guest rooms a 9.5!
The Pools
There are two pools: a 5-foot deep infinity pool for adults and a 3-foot deep kiddie pool with fountain for the young ones--or the not-so-young beings who are not so fond of water going above their waist.
In the days and nights that I decided to take a dip in the pool, I was always pleased by how clear the water was. I could see my feet and the tiles at the bottom of the pool, and I see their staff cleaning on early mornings.
Some leaves from the nearby plants and trees can't be avoided, but that's not a hassle and is actually a treat for those who can't swim. They can play with the floating leaves instead, which aren't a lot, maybe just two or three of them.
The pools are strategically surrounded by a nice footpath that doesn't hurt the feet, gazebos, the gardens, the bar and the restroom. This means you or the kids can easily rest and refuel or run to the restroom without much hassle.
The walkway around the pool are safe, not slippery, so the guests, most specifically the parents, are relaxed while chatting away. I've observed around the pool quite a few times and I've never seen a kid get into an accident.
The Management and Staff
These guys are the bomb! I've traveled quite a bit and stayed in a few resort hotels, but the La Traviesa staff can spoil you to death. In my opinion, they're on a par with the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort staff when it comes to giving excellent customer service.
They're very patient, accommodating, and they're always smiling even when they're all tired and busy, and despite the fact that I'm not a foreigner or a tourist!
Some of the requests they selflessly bestowed upon me during the several times I've stayed here: early (7am) check-in, late evening (9:30pm) check-in , late check-out (4pm), surprise dinner arrangement, lending a DVD player for free, room clean-up in the evening).
So, to Ms. Anne Dayrit and Ms. Len, who, I believe, both define what sincere customer service really is, please accept my sincerest thanks! To you and the rest of your team who have always tried your best to grant every request since day 1 no matter how silly they were, I wish you better health, more clients and less stress! You've made my stay enjoyable and a memory to treasure.
And to you, my few yet intelligent readers, include La Traviesa in your itinerary, or just when you're feeling an impulse to escape from all the stress. It'll be your home away from home.
Will I come back to La Traviesa? Of course! I've already booked a 2-night stay with them in August.
Things you can do here:
- Read to your heart's content (the other wing faces a farm so you can enjoy the quiet while in the veranda. You can stay by the pool, too, or any of the gardens)
- Spend time with your other half
- Walk around and practice a speech
- Sit by the couch or the courtyard bench to write your wedding vow
- Compose a song
- Brainstorm
- Do yoga
- Dance
- Exercise
- Work out
- Camp out
- Swim, learn to swim or just take a dip in the pool
- Have a barbecue picnic
- Hold an al fresco dinner for your family, friends or co-workers
- Run around with friends or family
- Do somersaults
- Lounge on the wide, comfy couch
- Have a surprise romantic dinner
- Watch cable TV
- Take pictures. Lots of them.
- Celebrate or hold seminars
- Sing
- Stargaze
- Watch DVDs (you can borrow the player for free)
- Sleep
2 Response to "La Traviesa Hotel Resort in Cavite"
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Unknown Says....Great review... my only question is if they allow guests to bring in food?
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Vi Arboleda Says....Hi, Sasa!
My apologies for responding just now. I've abandoned this blog for a long while : (
To answer your question, yes, they do allow guests to bring in food items without charging any corkage fee. : )
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