Whether a longtime friend or a new acquaintance, one thing's for sure: It doesn't take years of association to know that I go crazy for all things tropical and pastel.
All my Instagram followers can vouch for this adoration, with me constantly updating my feed with sunny, tree-filled, photography tinted blue, pink, and orange. And if you aren't up to date with my social media, then just take a look at my things: if it's pink and has palm leaves on it, I've mostly likely bought it in all shapes and sizes.
I can't explain it, really; there's just something about the positivity that comes with bright hues and summer-esque designs that makes my heart skip a beat.
So after one night in the Altamira Boutique House, you can probably guess that my heart was more than happy to stutter a few pulses.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, so let me first introduce you to this tropical wonderland.
According to their website, the Altamira Boutique House is a "premier leisure and exclusive destination for countryside living". Placed at 1,000 feet above sea level, it sits amidst the mountainous Tagaytay Highlands, just a short drive away from the many amenities of the private resort. Five Balinese-inspired rooms, ranging from P5,000 to P8,000, await both solo travelers and families alike, as well as spacious balconies overlooking sights like the Taal Lake and Mount Makiling. Downstairs, guests will be impressed to find the cozy dining hall, a mini waterfall overflowing into the mango-shaped pool, and the comfortable relaxation room equipped with a flat screen and wooden gaming sets such as sunka and Jenga. And if all these weren't already enough, Altamira provides its residents with a one-of-a-kind stay through the assistance of personal in-house butlers.
So now that you've got a general idea of the place, let's proceed inside, shall we?
Upon entrance, the first thing you see is a floor-to-ceiling shelf embellished with decorative pieces.
On the main table, the staff had prepared iced tea surrounded by Lemon Sugar scented cold towels for us upon arrival. How cute!
Our bedrooms were located in the second floor, and once I got up there, it was just too beautiful not to strike a pose in. The yellow painted walls paired with the open balcony overlooking the countryside gave the hall a fresh and bright glow that I found perfect for the summertime.
For our stay, I occupied Bedroom 2. My sisters and I shared this, and let me tell you: if you thought 3 people couldn't comfortably share a 30 sq m room with one queen sized bed and an extra mattress, then you are very mistaken. The main bed stood against a large gold mural, and underneath a frame of Johannes Vermeer's Girl With A Pearl Earring. Although not pictured, we had access to a spacious bathroom containing a shower, 2 toilets (variation for males or females), a wash area, and a deep-set wall closet.
To take advantage of the Highland's refreshing breeze, the private balcony with a view of the ground floor pool and countryside kept us entertained and our cameras busy.
After some well-deserved lounging, I decided to explore the house even more. Downstairs is where the common spaces were situated, so I decided to check those out.
Upon seeing the pool area for the first time on the Altamira Boutique House Instagram page, I immediately got the feeling that it was going to be my favorite part once I actually saw it in real life.
I couldn't have been more correct.
Once I laid eyes on the mini waterfall, I instantly knew I had stumbled into my tropical fantasy land. Pink and blue walls served as the backdrop to the hanging plants, rocky fixtures, and beach-esque seating arrangements. Unfortunately, I didn't get to take a dip in the pristine blue pool, but I did get beautiful shots showcasing the little summer paradise.
When nighttime fell, my sisters and I left our cold dens and took part in some sibling rivalry via Jenga in the relaxation room. As our mom sat behind and watched a segment of Pilipinas Got Talent on the flat screen, us 3 kids made use of the gaming set ups generously provided complimentary to our stay.
But as all good things must come to an end, the next morning when I woke up, I had to come to terms with the bittersweet reality that it was time to go home.
After a delicious breakfast served by the cooks at 9am, we headed off for Mass in the nearby chapel and indulged in some dessert courtesy of the Tagaytay Highlands Clubhouse. Thankfully, residents of the Altamira are given guest cards to access the services of the resort.
We got back to the Boutique Hotel, took a few more shots, reveled in our final naps, then by 3pm, we hit the road en route to Manila.
Gone too soon, I wish I could have existed in my fantasy world for a few more days. Although in truth, the best part of the Altamira Boutique House isn't just that it feels and looks like a dreamy tropical haven, but that it's a dreamy tropical haven come to life.
And now that I can go through my days knowing such a place exists, well, maybe just maybe, this can be one of the rare instances where my reality is much better than any sort of dream.
Address: 57 Paseo de Alta Mira, Alta Mira Village, Tagaytay Highlands, Tagaytay
Viber: +639177910302
Email: altamiraboutiquehouse@gmail.com