Tag: Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi

Are the heat and the humidity of the metro getting to you? Do you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Or do you feel bored to bits while stuck in your room as you work from home?

It may be high time for you and the fam to take a break from the daily grind and hie off to a quick getaway for a much needed change of scenery.

That’s what Hubby and I did this last weekend. Together with the kiddos -#ExhibitA and #ExhibitB – we went off to a mountain adventure to Timberlands Highlands Resort for some family bonding time and well-deserved R ‘n R.

Here are 8 reasons why you should, too!

1. You won’t have to travel far to get there.

Timberland Highlands Resort is a sprawling property located within Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal.

Thanks to the ever-reliable Waze app, we were able to reach the resort in less than an hour from our home in Pasig (not counting our lunch stopover in Marikina).

If traveling by car, it’s also around 40 minutes away from the Batasan area in Quezon City, and a little over an hour away from the cities of Manila and Makati.

Imagine being that close to your staycation destination!

2. It’s your escape back to nature.

Surrounding the Timberland Highlands Resort property are lush greenery with the Sierra Madre mountains as a backdrop.

With this high altitude and its situation away from the busy cities, the area boasts of fresh air and a cooler climate. As is typical with other green spaces, the area is conducive to outdoor activities and socializing while promoting both physical and mental well-being.

3. You can engage in revitalizing physical activity.

One of the physical activities that the fam can do together is taking a leisurely stroll through the path surrounding the property. Doing so brings you to various vantage points to appreciate the surrounding mountainside.

After your invigorating walk, you can all take a dip in the swimming pools to cool down. One is an infinity pool that lets you enjoy the view while taking a swim. The kiddie pool, on the other hand, features a slide and cascading water, guaranteeing lots of fun time in the sun for the little ones.

If the weather does not permit outdoor activities, you can always engage in physical exertions indoors, thanks to the resort’s well-equipped gym (which got a thumb’s-up from fitness buffs Hubby and #ExhibitA).

Did you know that the resort used to be known as Timberland Sports and Nature Club? The indoor sports facilities it was famous for – such as the basketball court, badminton court, table tennis and indoor rock climbing areas are still here for guests to enjoy.

4. The kids are sure to have a great time.

While all the grown ups are exercising and getting into sports, the kids can play and entertain themselves near the pool area, thanks a wide space they can run around in, and kiddie-sized chairs and plush seats. Here, they can learn a game of chess, challenge themselves with Jenga or even spot a mascot or cartoon character handing out treats.

5. You can settle down to a relaxing retreat.

After your very active day, you can wind down and relax in your well-appointed accommodations. The hotel has 70 fully air-conditioned rooms which can all accommodate two adults and two children sharing the bed with their parents, making the hotel perfect for a family retreat.

The Deluxe Twin is a 35-sqm room situated in the main building, furnished with comfy twin beds.

The Deluxe King, a similar-sized room furnished with a king bed and features a fitted bath tub, is also an option.

At the newly renovated building annexed to the main hotel, you can find the 32-sqm Premiere Deluxe accommodations.

All hotel rooms are equipped with a safety deposit box, flat-screen TV with cable channels, Wi-Fi connection and a work desk. (The latter two, in particular, were very helpful during our first day there as I was doing remote work. I was able to log in to three consecutive Zoom meetings, and was presenting in two of them with nary a dropped call or frozen screen.)

Note: Mobile phone signal may be spotty in the room and at some other locations within the hotel so I would suggest logging your devices into the hotel WiFi. That way, you can be reachable via online messaging to your work colleagues and family members (if you want to be reachable, that is, hehehe!)

Other room features include toilet and bath (with hot and cold shower), dental kits, bath items such as soap, bath gel and shampoo from Aum Spa, a minibar, a coffee/tea set and bottled water.

The fam loved the crisp linens and the blackout curtains that helped us get a restful slumber after our activity-filled day.

6. Dine with a majestic view at Ridge Cafe.

Of course, any weekend getaway wouldn’t be complete without a gastronomic adventure, wouldn’t it?

Fortunately, the hotel two in-house restaurants, one of which is Ridge Cafe. It has an elegantly appointed interior dining room, as well as an al fresco area which boasts of grand view of the surrounding mountains and overlooking Metro Manila.

Every weekend, foodies can look forward to a sumptous breakfast buffet which includes:

• The makings of classic Pinoy silogs such as Corned Beef with Potatoes, Tocino, Longganisa and Tocino (just add the Garlic Fried Rice and a sunny-side up egg from the Omelet Station)
• Locally-grown fresh produce for salads or fruit desserts
• A variety of freshly baked breads, including four types of pan de sal (regular, ube, cacao and malunggay).
• Continental breakfast choices such as cereals, chicken nuggets and breakfast sausages
• Kiddie treats such as mini pancakes and cookies

On weekdays and for other parts of the day, guests can order ala carte from a menu that includes Appetizers, Sandwiches and Burgers, Pastas and Noodles, Salads, Sushi, along with main courses and desserts.

Curious about the foodie possibilities here? I’ll tell you more about our dining experiences at Ridge Cafe here, here and here.

And should you fancy a drink while hanging out at the pool or viewing deck, you can always get refreshing beverage from The Pool Bar.

7. It supports local industries.

Timberland Highlands Resort recently partnered with local merchants in showcasing sustainable and home-grown products. These include brands such as Zarah Juan, TÙ by Modern Filipiniana, Gourmet Farms, Engkanto Brewery, Alab.Mnl, Lakan Lubi, Circa 1740 by Timplado, Better Snacks PH, Tu’ka Spiced Vinegar and more. Their wares are all prominently displayed and available for purchase in the Live Love Local corner in Ridge Cafe.

These are also great for souvenirs or pasalubong to your city-bound friends and relatives.

8. The management and staff are all geared up to provide you with a memorable stay.

All of these are just the tip of the iceberg, as they say, because more exciting developments are in store for guests and visitors, as envisioned by resort’s management.

These include additional restaurants and other exciting renovations (which will be revealed in due time!)

The resort also helps local communities by sourcing its manpower from nearby areas, upskilling and retooling them to provide world-class service to guests.

They’re always ready to give you a hand, so when you see them around, be sure to say hi!

Thanks to the above reasons, my family and I had a fun, restful and memorable stay at the Timberland Highlands Resort, so why don’t you treat your family to one, too?

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

For more details, visit Timberland Highlands Resort’s website, call +632 8891 8288 or +63 918 9799863 (calls are entertained between 9am and 6pm) or email reservations@timberlandresort.com.

Check-in is at 3pm while check-out is at 11am.

Timberland Highlands Resort is located inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

In accordance to COVID-19 safety guidelines set by the Department of Tourism and the local government, the following safety practices are in place:

• Observance of minimum public health standards such as wearing of face masks, maintain physical distance and frequent handwashing
• Requirement for guests 18 years old and older to present proof of full vaccination or a negative result of a swab or saliva-based RT PCR test, taken within 48 hours prior to check in
• Guests below 18 years old should always be accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian

To know more about Timberland Highland Resorts’ latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my other posts about Timberland Highlands Resort: