Hotel Review: Paradores del Castillo Taal Batangas

Where to stay in Taal?

Paradores del Castillo

An old family residence converted into a charming boutique hotel after it underwent extensive restorations. It was built 1n the 1900s, whose original owners were Hermenegildo “Didong” del Castillo and his wife, Leonor Sanchez. It has a mix of Spanish, American, and Filipino interior design style of an old mansion for a perfect “travel back in time” experience.

To help the local tourism in the country during this pandemic, my husband and I had an overnight stay here last Christmas even though my parents-in-law’s house is just a few blocks away. We also had our Christmas lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, Cucina de Jardin, located in the beautiful garden area.

The Lobby:

I love that the lobby area is airy, well lit, homey, and inviting despite being an ancestral house. It was enjoyable looking at some of the antiques on display, such as the old TV set, 300 disc collection of LP records, wooden furniture, wall decors, and old photographs. It is full of wonderful family heirlooms, and every corner of the house seems to have a story to tell.

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Superior de Luxe Room (Saging Room): Php 4,400 per night with PWD discount, breakfast included.

The rooms were named after our local fruits like sagging (banana), santol (cotton fruit), manga (mango), to name a few. It is equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The two beds, one with a canopy, are comfortable with fresh smelling bedding. The traditional solid wood furnishings and the sliding capiz windows give it a homey feeling. The bathroom was well presented and clean, also with very impressive traditional fittings. I liked The copper rain shower head and the vintage faucet because they give a unique touch to the area. A complete set of basic toiletries are provided.

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The Second Floor Common Area:

Our room is located on the second floor, where we have to pass along the house Comedor (dining area). The airy space is bright due to the natural light that comes from the open capiz windows.

Besides the capiz windows is a door that leads to the balcony. Overlooking the towns of Lemery and Taal, It is a perfect space to watch the sunset. The stair leads to the hotel’s pool area.

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The Garden:

The surrounding nature of the hotel is one of its attractions. The panoramic view of the adjacent towns of Lemery, Taal, Calaca, Balayan Bay, and Batulao mountains is spectacular.

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Cusina de Jardin

The hotel hosts a garden setting dining area with Filipino and Italian inspired recipes. We tried their Crispy Tawilis, Sinigang na Maliputo, Crispy fried Chicken, Bagnet, and Gising Gising for lunch. All the food we ordered was delicious and satisfying as well.

We occupied 3 large round tables, with a comfortable spacing for each chair. Serving dishes were stylishly local, and the food presentation was appealing.

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All I can say is that we had a great stay. I usually had second thoughts of staying in ancestral houses because It gives me an eerie feeling, but this hotel is different. It is a charming and pleasant place to stay while going around the historic place, Taal.

This hotel is within walking distance from the town’s tourist attractions like the historic Villavicencio Ancestral House, San Lorenzo Ruiz Pilgrim’s Steps, the Virgin of Caysasay Church, the Taal Public Market, the Basilica de San Martin, and the museums on Agoncillo Street.

Address: Calle H. del Castillo, Taal, 4208 Batangas

Contact number: (043) 740 4060

Facebook account: Paradores del Castillo

Paradores del Castillo website: https://Paradoresdetaal.com

PS: The hotel follows minimum standard health protocol set by the IATF and DOH. Asisde from the face shield, mask, and temperature check, rooms are regularly sanitized for guests safety.

Travel safe always,