As autumn deepens, it’s the perfect season to head outdoors. With the cool autumn wind blowing, some hotels are offering outdoor activities such as cycling through fields, trying hands-on crafts, and soaking in hot springs or enjoying spa treatments. Take advantage of the mild weather to get out and about. Head to the fresh-air destinations of Nantou and Eastern Taiwan (Hualien & Taitung) for a laid-back, slow-paced holiday.
Issues with accommodation during a trip are bound to happen—some choose to silently endure the inconvenience, while others overreact and become what staff call “difficult guests.” The UK’s Daily Mail website spoke with etiquette expert William Hanson on how to effectively “complain” to hotels and get the compensation you deserve. Here are some tips:
What’s the reason behind the combination of books & curry?? Or coffee & books? Many Japanese cafés also serve curry—could that be why curry & books come together in "Jimbocho"? Or is it because books are closely tied to the literati, who often have limited budgets and thus gravitate toward affordable yet delicious food?? Haha, I don’t have the answers, but I’d love to hear from anyone who does!!
On the last day of the National Day holiday, all railways and highways saw crowds of travelers heading north. To alleviate passenger flow, the high-speed rail announced it would add an extra 1796 train service on the afternoon of the 11th — a “Zuoying–Taipei” all non-reserved seats train (excluding business class) — expected to depart from Zuoying Station at 16:06 and arrive at Taipei Station at 18:06.
With temperatures dropping recently, doesn’t it bring back memories? That’s right—it’s hot pot season again. ETtoday EVA Air Travel Cloud has specially selected five Taipei hot pot restaurants that serve milk-based hot pot. The rich aroma of milk paired with the comforting warmth of the broth will not only warm your stomach but also your heart.
Recently, themed restaurants have been all the rage. Whether it’s Kitty, Rilakkuma, Kumamon, or Snoopy-themed eateries, their openings have drawn huge crowds. However, the newly opened Mi Food by Hello Kitty restaurant on B3 of Five Rail Akihabara at Taipei Main Station has not obtained authorization from Taiwan’s Sanrio. The company has denounced the eatery as a “knockoff Kitty restaurant” and urged fans not to patronize it via its official Facebook page.
At the end of September this year, the Huajiang Riverbank Park in New Taipei City completed a painting of the New Taipei Riverside Scene on the embankment, attracting many cycling tourists to come and admire it. The artwork incorporates elements from the Northern Song Dynasty’s Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, creating a 52-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high mural on the embankment. In addition to featuring distinctive riverbank attractions in New Taipei such as the Crescent Bridge, Starlight Bridge, and Sunshine Bridge,
China Airlines is sponsoring the “2015 Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship,” and from October 12 to 25, it will serve specially made handmade “71% Magic Manor Chocolate” in business class and premium business class on selected routes, inviting passengers to join in the celebration. Meanwhile, China Airlines’ Taipei Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge will also offer “Lucky Citrus Hole-in-One Cupcakes” and “Chocolate Power Pops” to cheer on the players.
Autumn is the perfect season to enjoy crabs, and many restaurants are rolling out a variety of crab dishes. In addition to local three-spot crabs, flower crabs, and the mainland’s hairy crabs, The Okura Prestige Taipei has started offering Japanese snow crabs from October, while The Miramar Garden Hotel is serving up Thai Blue Diamond crab dishes.
Due to overwhelming demand, the Taipei City Government has decided to produce and sell additional practical “Buzz Bags” and “Little Bee Cake Towels,” which were originally made for the flag-raising ceremony on National Day by the Civil Affairs Bureau. These items will go on sale starting October 14 (Wednesday) at the memorial goods center, currently under renovation and offering trial sales, located on the left side of the west entrance of the Taipei City Hall building. Each “Buzz Bag” will be sold for NT$150, and each “Little Bee Cake Towel” for NT$120.
Dubbed by international media as the most romantic festival and a “must-experience” celebration in a lifetime, Thailand’s Loy Krathong Festival will take place on November 25 this year. If you want to personally experience this romantic night, here is a list of six major locations within Thailand where you can join Loy Krathong festivities—don’t miss them.
Kaohsiung Light Rail is scheduled to begin trial operations on the 16th. During this period, the public can ride for free by swiping their EasyCard—each person must use one card, and sharing is not allowed. Those without an EasyCard will be refused boarding. In the future, riding the light rail will follow an honor-based payment system, where passengers swipe their cards upon boarding and alighting, much like an honesty shop. The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation also stated that there will be ticket-checking mechanisms in place, along with high fines, reminding the public not to test the law.
Is working at a five-star hotel not as glamorous as it seems? A netizen posted on a community forum’s gossip board on the 12th, claiming that employees were overworked without overtime pay, had fake clock-in records created, and were victims of salary fraud.
Packing before a trip is the most frustrating part. I’ve had luggage that weighed 13kg even before leaving—almost bursting at the seams, with no room left for any souvenirs. The more you pack, the less space you have. Follow the steps below, and your suitcase will shed at least 3kg easily.
What kind of hotel can attract you? People with different personalities choose different styles, even if it's just for one night, but that one night might leave a deep impression on travelers. CNN has compiled a list of 6 luxury hotel suites located in the Lion City—Singapore. Through these examples, you can see the care this small country puts into tourism, and next time you visit, you might want to try out one of these recommended hotels.
Since its soft opening, the Rilakkuma-themed restaurant Rilakkuma Café has been in extremely high demand, with seats hard to come by. It officially opened on October 2, after which all seating became available for online reservation only, with phone bookings no longer accepted. On October 13, the official team also announced that starting at 12:00 noon on October 20, online reservations for the entire month of November would be opened. Going forward, reservations for the following month will open on the 20th of each month. Customers can make reservations via the Facebook fan page or Line@, and the official Facebook page also includes a reservation guide.
As early autumn arrives, in addition to maple viewing — a classic seasonal trip in Japan — the golden carpet of ginkgo leaves is another unforgettable autumn charm not to be missed. Here are six famous ginkgo spots in Japan. How about going on a “yellow leaf hunt” in addition to admiring the red maples?
With only 80 days left until the end of 2015, the highly anticipated Taipei 101 fireworks show has announced its duration — a total of 238 seconds, with over 30,000 fireworks expected to be launched. This will be the longest fireworks show in Taipei 101’s history.
Accommodation is one of the most important aspects of travel. Some people prefer high-end hotels, while others opt for unique guesthouses. For me, comfort isn’t the top priority—I care more about whether the place lets me meet lots of international friends. Hanging out with interesting people from abroad is what matters most. Another key factor is price; I’d rather save on lodging to enjoy more local delicacies...
Have you ever tried cycling on a railway track? The “railway bike,” which has become popular in countries like Germany, South Korea, and Norway, is coming to Miaoli too. This year, Miaoli County Government was selected for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Bureau “Cross-Domain Highlight Project” with the theme “Charming Heritage of the Old Mountain Line & International Slow City.” The grant will be used to develop railway bikes on the Old Mountain Line, aiming to help the public discover the beauty of this historic route and keep pace with global trends.