Noni's Resort Review: Seeing Taal Lake from a Different Perspective

NONI'S RESORT: TAAL LAKE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

.
Noni's Resort has been in my list of resorts to visit for a couple of years now. I never had the chance to go there as I am really more of a beach person rather than someone enjoying a mountain view so this resort always gets pushed down my list. But our family decided in the summer of 2022 to bring our dad on a road trip to Batangas on his birthday in July. We spent a weekend in Noni's Resort and it was a great decision to choose them to celebrate his birthday. Here's why:

If you're vacationing with your family, they have big villas which can accommodate 6-8 adults.
If you're more than 8, they have 2-3 more villas of the same size.
The villas and cabins have their own swimming pools and jacuzzis.
Pools and jacuzzis are all heated.
They have different types of rooms which your family can choose from depending on preference.
They can decorate the room for the celebrant at an additional cost.
They're just 1.5 to 2 hours away from Manila.
Small pets are allowed.
The property offers a great view of the Taal Lake from a different perspective!

You can read more about our 2-night stay in the resort in this blog and I'll be answering some of the questions I've been getting from my social media accounts.

Taal Lake from the other side of Tagaytay (Photo © iHeartPH 2022)

Where is Noni's Resort located?

The resort is located in Brgy. Ping-as, Alitagtag, Batangas. It's one of the few resorts in Alitagtag that gives you a view of Taal Lake from this side of Batangas. I don't think you'll be able to see the Taal Volcano from here but the Taal Lake itself is just as equally magnificent. We've never seen so much water, more than twice the size of Laguna de Bay. The lake serves as the drainage for most of the rainfall from the surrounding towns and cities. The weather was gloomy when we were there and it drizzled non-stop which made the view extremely serene and calming. The forest just below the property has lush and thick vegetation so it's very green everywhere you look, like it has not been affected at all by the recent eruptions of the Taal Volcano. I don't think there's an access going down since it looks very steep but you can just enjoy the lake from a bird's eye view, sort of.

If you would like to check out other resorts in and around Alitagtag, you can check this list: Resorts in Alitagtag via Agoda

How do we get to Anilao from Manila?

The fastest way to get to Alitagtag from Metro Manila is using private transport. The travel time would be even faster if you pass through Skyway. We come from Quezon City so we always take the Quezon Avenue exit to take the Skyway all the way to SLEX.

One of SLEX's toll gates (Photo © iHeartPH 2022)

From SLEX, take the Lipa exit and drive straight towards the direction going to Lemery/Taal until you reach Alitagtag. You should be able to see Noni's signages to your right.

Just one thing to note, if you are bringing your own transportation and relying on Waze or Google Maps, I suggest that you take the first kanto going to Noni's from SLEX (first photo on the left below) as the road here is more passable. I think this is the main entry since the signage here is bigger than the next one. We made a mistake passing through the next corner (photo on the right) since we came from Lemery. Although it's completely fine to pass through here, the roads are narrower, almost one-way, and quite difficult to maneuver when there's another car coming from the opposite direction.

Main entry from the highway (first kanto if you're coming from SLEX/Manila, highly suggested road to take!)

Secondary entry from the highway (first kanto if you're coming from Lemery/Taal, traverse at your own risk)

If you need to take public transportation, here are the instructions:

1. Ride a bus going to Lipa, Batangas.
2. Get off at the Lipa Terminal.
3. Take a jeepney bound for Lemery.
4. Ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of the road going to Ping-as.
5. There are tricycles here that can bring you to Noni's.

In case you get lost or need more help with directions, you can always call Noni's at 09175955129.

Is there a parking space available at the resort?

YES! Noni's Resort provides a big parking space for their guests and the area is bigger than what other resorts of the same size provide, which can be a great deal to some. I think their parking space can accommodate up to 20-25 vehicles. When we were there on a weekend, only about half of the space was being occupied so you really don't have to worry that you might run out of parking slots.

The parking space right across the gate of Noni's (Photo © iHeartPH 2022)

Wheel guides in the parking, very helpful if it's raining (Photo © iHeartPH 2022)

What are their requirements during this pandemic?

Starting March 15, 2022, guests are no longer required to submit a negative antigen test but you will be required to show proof of full vaccination. As per the rules on their website, guests except those 4 years old and below who have not been vaccinated or not fully vaccinated yet will be required to submit a negative antigen test taken within the last 48 hours prior to their stay. During our stay, they also had an on-site drive-thru laboratory worth P600 per person. Not sure how long they will have this so better check before you visit the resort.

How much does it cost to stay in Noni's Resort?

The cost of the room is highly dependent on many factors, including the type of room, number of occupants, length of stay, and time of year.

Please contact the hotel directly for specific pricing information.

There are several ways to book a room at Vivere Azure and compare prices:

The above rates include full board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Check-in time is 2:00 pm and check-out time is 12:00 pm.

I see they have lots of rooms to choose from but which one is the best?

This highly depends on your preference. They also have a very informational room guide on their Instagram but let me lay them out for you in more detail. In 2022, there are 7 suites and 3 casas available for guests.

If you prefer to be by the beachfront, have direct access to it, and be a stone's throw away from the ocean, you can book their Escape and Elixir Suites. Both rooms are located on the first floor and right beside the water sports center. You have your own small veranda with a hammock and table/chairs but it's not going to be as private as the others since you're right in front of where people are walking past. It's also only a few steps away from the restaurant. These are also the cheapest rooms in the resort.

Elixir Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

Escape Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

If you prefer a more private and secluded room, farther away from the busy dining and beach areas, you can opt to get Rejuvena, Enchant and Anima Suites.

Rejuvena and Enchant are of the same price range as Escape and Elixir and they're so much bigger, so if you don't mind partial view of the ocean and being farther away from the beach and restaurant, then this should be perfect for you. Both are located in the middle of the resort so they're of the same distance going down to the restaurant and going up to the reception, pool and bar area. It will take you about a minute walk to the restaurant and about 1-2 minutes walk to the reception/pool area. The distance is actually about the same but because the reception/pool is a walk up, you'll be much slower, especially for people like me who hasn't gotten enough exercise during this pandemic. I know, it's not an excuse lol! Anyway, they have seats provided in the walkways in case you need to stop and catch your breath.

Anima is a bit more expensive (by about PhP 4,000 I think) but you have a better view of the ocean and you'll be nearer the beach, too.

Enchant Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

Anima Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

If you want an unobstructed ocean view, your best bets are Zephyr, Ultima and Azure Suites. These are the more expensive rooms in the resort and you have significantly bigger room space, too. All have their own private balconies but I would say Azure gives you a bit more privacy because it's located on the topmost floor of the main house. Personally, if you have kids who love to run around and explore, I think Zephyr would be the best choice. It's the room nearest the restaurant and it's still not very far from the beach.

Azure Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

Ultima Suite (Photo © Vivere Azure website)

If you prefer to be near the swimming pool, the bar and the reception area, then the casas would be perfect for you. Casa Isabelle, Casa Antonina and Casa Beatrice are all located near street level so it's actually perfect for families with senior citizens who have difficulty walking too far. If they just want to enjoy the view and have no plans of going down to the beach, then these casas should be perfect. Just make sure that they provide room service in these rooms otherwise, you'd be too far away from the restaurant. Last time we checked, they did not offer room service yet but that might have changed. These casas are some of the more premium rooms in the resort as they provide you with more room space and an obstructed view of the ocean. Being newly built, you have newer room amenities as well. They were building these rooms during the pandemic and launched them some time in November/December of 2021.

Casa Beatrice (Photo © Vivere Azure FB page)

Casa Isabelle (Photo © Vivere Azure FB page)

Casa Antonina (Photo © Vivere Azure FB page)

The 3 casas (Photo © Vivere Azure FB page)

Do they have cheaper options for budget travelers?

Yes, they definitely do. If there will only be 2 or 3 of you traveling and Talisay Cabin is out of your budget.

Which room did you book and how was your experience?

We booked two rooms during our stay. My husband and I wanted to have a bit of privacy and we also wanted to experience the A-frame so we stayed in the Talisay Cabin while the rest of our family stayed in the Sta. Teresita Cabin. Both rooms offer a different experience and a different view as well.

Sta. Teresita Villa
Since Sta. Teresita is meant for a family, it has a bigger space and I believe it's also the biggest among the villas in Noni's Resort. Sta. Teresita

How Rejuvena looks like from the terrace (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Terrace with day bed (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Rejuvena's balcony (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Bedroom with mini ref (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Bed in Rejuvena (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

The room space of Zephyr is even more generous - your balcony overlooking a full view of the ocean is extensive with a comfortable lounge bed where you can have your food served. The room is even bigger, puede kang mag cartwheel sa loob sa laki. It has a huge mirror at the back where the entrance to the bathroom and shower is. The bathroom and shower are also separate.

Generous room space in Zephyr (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Space going to the bathroom (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Daybed by the door (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Zephy's bed (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Well-lit bedroom with workspaces (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

The Balcony and the View

The Rejuvena balcony has a partial view of the ocean. A sufficiently-sized table is available with seats so you can have your breakfast served here while you enjoy the sound of the ocean and the birds singing nearby. It was really relaxing. You will sometimes be visited by some cute cats scavenging left-over food but they wouldn't bother you too much. Don't try and feed them as they are not domesticated and might scratch you.

View from the Rejuvena balcony (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

We had a cute visitor (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

View from the enclosed terrace (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

The Zephyr balcony has a fuller view of the ocean. The wooden slat fence gives you enough privacy without totally blocking your view of the ocean and the restaurant. Just mind yourself if you want to sleep in the daybed because it's not totally private. Similar to Rejuvena, you also have a table in this balcony so you can have your meals served here.

Zephy balcony from the walkway (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Zephy balcony from the restaurant (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

View from the bed (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

A fuller view from the balcony (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Me enjoying the view (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Hubby enjoying the view (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Room Amenities

Room amenities are sufficient - all rooms have a Nespresso coffee machine and an empty refrigerator where you can store your leftover food. They also provide free bottled water but if you ran out, there are water refilling stations around the resort that you can get water from for free. In an effort in minimizing plastic waste, the resort suggests bringing your own water bottles for refilling. All rooms also have a flat-screen TV, an electric fan and a working space if you would like to work from here. Rejuvena room amenities are shown in the photos below.

Nespresso coffee maker (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Television in the room (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Empty refrigerator (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Working space with a view (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

The same amenities can be found in the Zephyr room. The table where the mini bar and coffee maker are is just bigger so you have more space to prepare your drinks and stock your food. The television in Zephyr is nearer the door and the daybed and farther away from the bed, unlike the one in Rejuvena which is right by the foot of the bed. Zephyr room amenities are shown in the photos below.

Nespresso coffee maker (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Empty refrigerator (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Fan and an extra bottled water (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Television in the room (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Working by the day bed (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Working space with a view (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

The Bathroom

What I love about the bathrooms of Vivere Azure are the mirrors and the open cabinets. They have double mirrors in the bathrooms so it's easier for you to see everything. People who need to wear makeup would love this and the bathrooms are also very well-lit. The open cabinets also make it convenient for you to stack up your clothes if you prefer to unpack them and it's easy for your to access your clothes from the shower. They also provide complete toiletries including shampoo, body wash, soap and toothbrush/toothpaste. They even provide shower caps, cotton buds and a cute comb. I don't have a photo of the toilet but if anyone is curious, they do have bidets :) I also don't have enough photos of the Zephyr bathroom but it's basically the same. The photos below were taken from the Rejuvena bathroom.

Double mirrors (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Sink (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Open cabinets (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Toiletries (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Shower (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Room Service

Room service in Vivere Azure was one of the best I've experienced. Since we booked 2 rooms, I was expecting to wait for 2 hours since technically, we had to check out at 12:00 pm in the first room and wait for the check-in time at 2:00 pm in the second room. But around 11:30 am, they called us up and told us that the second room is ready and we can already check-in, which was a very pleasant surprise! They sent a staff to our room to help us with our bags. Sir Niko was the staff member who was there to assist us with the transfer. He was also the one who helped us with our bags when we first got here. The staff of Cenare, their restaurant, were also very friendly and efficient. It only takes them a few minutes to prepare and serve the food in the room. All our requests were followed to the dot, with no mistakes whatsoever.

Rejuvena balcony where you can have your meals served (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Zephyr balcony where you can have your meals served (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

How was the food and the room service?

I love that their room charges include full board meals. Yun pa lang, sulit na! The convenience of having an all-in package is an absolute plus for me. You don't have to worry about spending too much money on food, you just order what you want from the menu, which is really one of the best experiences. I love to eat and it just makes the food tastes better if it's "free". It's not free per se but you know the feeling that you can just have whatever you want from the menu and not worry about how much it costs.

The food was unexpectedly delicious as well. The taste and the presentation very much felt like you're eating in a high-end restaurant, even the ones in bento boxes that were served in our room. We ordered as much variety as we can so we can try everything. The first meal I ate was the salmon during our first dinner - the meat was juicy and tender but the skin was crunchy and tasty. It was a great first impression! I never thought they could top that but the food just kept on getting better. Either that or I'm just too hungry after every activity we did. :) You should try their pasta and burgers, too. French fries were also spot on!

When we checked out, the staff reminded us that we still have one last meal to take. I almost forgot about it so we stayed a few more hours to enjoy our last meal before driving off back to the city and back to real life :(

Dinner on first day (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Breakfast on 2nd day (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lunch on 2nd day (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Dessert that came with lunch (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lunch on last day (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Do they accept dine-in only guests and day tours?

Cenare is Vivere Azure's one and only restaurant which is located a few steps from the beach. When they first mentioned Cenare to us during the resort tour, I honestly thought it was a room. It turned out to be one of my sought for tambayans in the resort that you will see in almost every Instagram and Facebook post and story they have. The place is really picture perfect from every angle especially during sunsets as you can see in the photos below.

Coming from the beach (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Watching the sunset (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Another angle of the sunset (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Sky turning purple (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lounge area (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lounge and dining areas (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Dining area (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lounge and dining areas (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

They are always cooking something up in Cenare every Saturday to make guests' stay extra awesome. The Saturday night during our stay was grill night. You still have the option to choose from their usual menu but you can also try out their freshly-grilled chows! You got lots to choose from - pork, chicken, fish, shrimp and even veggies for our vegetarian friends.

Pancit and grilled meat (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

View from Rejuvena (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Grill night (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Fresh meat ready for grilling (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

What are the activities that you can do during your stay?

Despite being a boutique resort relatively smaller than your usual 5-star resorts, there are still a lot of activities that you can do. Here are some of the things we did during our stay:

Lounge/walk around the beachfront. The beach of Vivere Azure is rocky so don't expect to be walking on sand. It's a long stretch where you can check out other resorts nearby and some private resorts towards the other side. The scenery is beautiful especially during sunset.

Bean bags by the beach front (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Me by the beachfront (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Bean bags by the beach front (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

A private resort nearby (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Lounge in other areas of the resort. If you're tired of the beach and looking for other places to stay, there are several other lounging areas where you can hang around in the resort. You have the beds by the pool, the pool bar, the reception area a few steps away and of course, my favorite tambayan in Cenare restaurant.

Beds by the pool (Photo © iHeartPH 2021)

Swim in the pool. Needless to say, you can also swim in the resort pool. It's open until early evening but check with the resort regarding the hours guests are allowed to swim. It's not heated in case you're wondering but it can get warm when it has been sunny all day long.

Snorkel in front of the resort. If you are fond of seeing marine life in action, you can also snorkel. What's great about Vivere Azure is that you don't have to go island hopping or swim too far from the shore to be able to see these beauties. Even your kids are totally safe snorkeling a few feet away with your supervision, of course. The resort also has an aqua sports center where you can borrow booties and aqua shoes in case you don't have a pair. They also have life vests and actually don't allow guests to swim/snorkel without them. Credits from Vivere Azure for the underwater photos below.

Go island hopping. The resort can also arrange an island hopping tour for you to go to Sombrero and Portales Islands. During our stay, the cost is P4,800 per boat (good for a max of 6 persons) to go to both islands, P3,800 if you want to go to Sombrero Island only and P4,300 if you want to go to Portales Island only. Sombrero Island is supposed to be the highlight so I recommend going to Sombrero or both. There is also an entrance fee to Sombrero which is P200 per head and P100 per head for Portales, which are not included in the boat rate.

Go scuba diving. Scuba diving is also an option for guests but Vivere Azure does not have a diving facility. You will need to get this arranged by their diving concessionaire Crystal Blue Resort. You can check this out with the reception staff and they'll provide you with Crystal Blue's contact details.

Bamboo rafting and kayaking. Last but not the least, a few more activities that you can do in Vivere Azure is bamboo rafting and kayaking. I personally prefer snorkeling and swimming but these two can be fun, too. These are complimentary activities and you will need to arrange this in the aqua sports center and due to the limited equipment, this will be on a first come first serve basis.

What can you say about the view?

The beach of Vivere Azure is filled with rocks and pebbles so don't expect to be walking on white powdery sand. This is Anilao where oceans are abundant in coral reefs and teeming with marine life so the shores are expected to be rocky. One of the reasons why I decided to book in Vivere Azure was the marine sanctuary that you can find right in front of the resort. You don't have to go island hopping to be able to snorkel and see fishes, clams and sea turtles. Vivere Azure is taking care of its own bed of clams, some were killed during a recent typhoon but most survived and were rehabilitated. Sea turtles are also abundant here but you have to snorkel early in the morning when they usually go out into shallow waters.

The beach where Vivere Azure is is a long stretch where you can walk and check out other resorts from the shore. You can have your morning walks here but again, the beach has a lot of rocks and pebbles to don't forget to bring your sturdy slippers or aqua shoes.

Are pets allowed?

It can be difficult to roam around since there are a lot of steps and the walkways can be a bit steep for some people, but the resort has made it as comfortable as possible by putting wooden railways along the path and some benches a couple of steps away from each other so you can rest and catch your breath. This is really helpful, especially for titas like me who haven't gotten sufficient exercise during the pandemic lol!

Where are the best places to enjoy the Taal Lake view?

Several places where you can enjoy the Batangas sunset from Vivere Azure - from Cenare restaurant, from the pool, from the pool bar which is a bit higher than the pool, by the beach, and from your balcony if your room is overlooking the ocean. I think the best and most romantic view of the sunset are from the Casas based on what I've been seeing on Instagram posts. Other rooms with an obstructed view of the sunset are Zephyr, Azure and Ultima.

What were your favorite spots in the resort?

I guess each of us will have different favorite spots in Vivere Azure. My husband has a totally different list from mine but here are my top 6 in no particular order:

Rejuvena terrace/mini-sala where I spend most of my time working and drinking coffee
Rejuvena balcony where I enjoyed hanging out in the mornings and listening to the birds
Cenare lounge area where I had my first glass of wine immediately upon arriving
Pool bar where I had another glass of wine while enjoying the sunset
Zephyr balcony where I spent our last afternoon napping while listening to the waves
And last but not the least, the beach where I enjoyed walking and dipping my feet in the cool waters

Rejuvena terrace/mini sala

Zephyr balcony

Cenare lounge area

Beach

Pool bar

Rejuvena balcony

Of all the resorts we have gone to, Vivere Azure is easily one of my favorites so I would rate them a 10 out of 10. It's not the usual white sand beach resort but everything else makes up for what the resort lacks. They might not have white sand but a coral reef teeming with marine life is just right in front of the resort where you can snorkel without having to spend more money to go island hopping. The gorgeous view of the sunset is also a major come-on. Imagine this view with your glass of wine or cocktail. Also, the convenience of having full board meals is a plus for me because you don't have to worry about how much the food is, you just order anything you want from the menu. The service is also superb right from the booking all the way until you leave the resort. I still remember Kuya Ed giving us the heartwarming salute before we drove off. An irreplaceable experience.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post them here:

noni's resort in alitagtag, batangas