The holidays are a time to connect with the family. But since it’s peak season for travel, holiday trips often mean crowded airports, bad traffic for long road trips, and the stress of planning complex itineraries when everyone else is on vacation. If you just want to enjoy the simple joys of togetherness, hotel staycations in or near the city can provide memorable moments without having to venture too far from home.
In case you’re looking for a hotel near Manila to stay in this festive season, the resort-like Seda Nuvali in Laguna offers a good getaway for the whole family, as we experienced during a recent weekend staycation there.
Here are five reasons that make Seda Nuvali ideal for family staycations during the holiday season and beyond.
Family-friendly rooms
Since it first opened in March 2014, Seda Nuvali located in the eco-city in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, roughly an hour’s drive away from Manila has become a favorite in Laguna among business and leisure travelers. The hotel under Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts is surrounded by refreshing spaces, gardens, and scenic views, offering an ideal base for quick breaks from the city. The hotel expanded last November 2022, launching a brand-new tower with 206 new hotel rooms and enhanced amenities for families for a total of 356 guest rooms.
The Family Suite (60 sqm) comes with a Master’s bedroom with a writing desk, a big bathroom with shower and tub, a separate children’s room with a double-deck bed, and a living area. The room is ideal for 2 adults and 2 children, but families with more kids or companions can opt to add an extra bed in the Master’s bedroom or share the King-sized bed with smaller kids.
My nephews loved having their own space in the cozy children’s room decorated with playful touches like a bean bag and its own TV. The spacious Master’s bedroom offered privacy for my senior parents, while the living area gave everyone room to move around comfortably.
Resort-like swimming pool
One of the main attractions for families traveling with kids is the swimming pool. Seda Nuvali has a huge new swimming pool that adds to the hotel’s recreational atmosphere. The bigger pool was 4 feet deep, while the shallower kiddie pools allowed children to play safely in the waters. For those who just want to lounge without swimming, there are pool chairs and tables available all around the pools in different corners.
Children’s Playroom and Game Room
The hotel also offers thoughtful family-friendly features that both kids and parents will appreciate. The Children’s Playroom, which comes with developmental toys, arts and crafts, and other learning activities, can keep smaller kids occupied so that the rest of the family can enjoy some quiet time in the rooms.
For teens and older kids, there’s a Game Room with PS5 and Xbox units and video games, PCs, tabletop games like air hockey and foosball tables, and traditional board games. The room offers a fun space to hang out for game night. The hotel’s fast WiFi also ensures teens are connected at all times.
Variety of dining options
Misto, Seda’s all-day dining restaurant serves a mix of international and local dishes that can be enjoyed indoors or al fresco at the poolside. For complimentary breakfast, there are a lot of food choices from rice meals, salads, cheese and cold cuts, bread, pastries, fruits, waffle station, eggs, and even fresh taho. Kids are notoriously picky eaters, but there’s sure to be something they can eat given the wide selection.
The restaurant also offers mains for family-style sharing. Larger groups can avail of the Filipino Bundle Feast of classic Pinoy favorites like Lechon Kawali, Kare-Kare, and Pancit, which are always safe dishes for hungry teens. For seniors and those on special diets, the restaurant also offers a few healthier, vegetarian, and lighter dishes.
The Barbecue at the Poolside is a fun dining option for families, as you can order different meats fresh off the grill, without the hassle of having to prepare it yourself, and enjoy live music, for a relaxed dining experience.
Plus, you also get easy access to trendy cafes and restaurants located in nearby malls and dining hubs in Solenad.
Proximity to fun activities
While known as a popular stopover on the way to Tagaytay, Nuvali offers a worthy destination in itself. If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to take them to feed the koi fish at Solenad, where many lakeside restaurants are located. Tourists can also enjoy leisurely boat rides around the Nuvali lakeside to enjoy the scenery and breeze.
Nuvali offers a relatively safe place to bike, so those traveling with cars may want to bring their bikes to enjoy cycling around the quieter roads and residential areas. You can also just walk, jog, or have picnics on the grassy areas by the lakeside.
Need to do last-minute shopping? You can get your holiday shopping done more conveniently at the brand-name outlet stores and shops in the area. The famed Fountain of Lights water show is also back this Christmas season, with the theme Seaside Serenade: Muses and Creatures. Visitors can watch free shows by the lakeside every Friday to Sunday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm until January 14, 2024.
The simple nature activities to do by the lakeside, along with dining and shopping options, make staycations in Seda Nuvali a fun alternative to the usual holiday celebrations.
* * *
Seda Nuvali is located at Ecozone Avenue, Nuvali Boulevard, Santa Rosa, Laguna. For more information and to book rooms, visit https://www.sedahotels.com/.
