Travel
Christmas in Europe: Compare Accommodation & Dining Prices – Budapest is the Most Affordable
As the Christmas holiday approaches and people start planning their trips, surveys on related accommodation and dining costs have been released. According to research by the UK’s Royal Mail, a comparison was made among 12 cities based on “two people, two nights’ stay, round-trip flights, and meals.” Hungary’s Budapest emerged as the most budget-friendly destination, while Vienna ranked as the most expensive, with prices approximately 60% higher.
Affordable and Hearty Thai Food in Taichung – Must-Try Street-Style Fried Rice Noodles
Traditional Taiwanese markets are wonderful, lively places. Mornings buzz with energetic vitality, while evenings are filled with delicious snacks to satisfy your cravings. From morning markets to dusk markets, I love the vibrant calls and warm human touch. They may not be as tidy or clean as Japanese markets, but there's a uniquely Taiwanese charm in their lively disorder—after all, these are people working hard to make a living.
Watch the drifting clouds engulf Tashan — Alishan’s sea of clouds is most stunning in autumn and winter
The sea of clouds in Alishan is at its best from November onward. On clear mornings during sunrise, you can witness thin layers of mist swirling around, with fluffy, marshmallow-like clouds tinged with purplish-red hues, a breathtaking sight that draws many admirers. Every November, numerous visitors flock here specifically for this spectacle.
Cathay Pacific’s Third Week Promotion: Taipei-Singapore Round Trip for Only NT$4,500
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair have joined forces to launch another exclusive “Heartfelt Deal” online flash sale on their official website. The promotion runs from November 3 to November 26, 2015. Each Tuesday at midnight, the featured destinations and surprise fares for that week are announced, followed by a three-day limited-time offer. The third week’s exclusive “Heartfelt Deal” goes on sale on November 17 and runs until November 19.
Targeting the Turkish and Middle Eastern tourism markets, Emirates launches Dubai–Istanbul flights
Recognizing the growth potential in the Turkish and Middle Eastern tourism markets, Emirates will launch a daily flight between Dubai and Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) on December 15, bringing the total number of weekly flights between Dubai and both Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to as many as 18.
The smile-shaped symmetrical coastline — a world-class night view you must see in Hakodate
Overlooking Hakodate city from Mount Hakodate, you can see the Oshima Peninsula surrounded by Tsugaru Strait and Hakodate Bay. The two perfectly symmetrical arcs are not only beautifully radiant but also highly distinctive. For this reason, Hakodate, along with Hong Kong and Naples, was once celebrated as one of the “Three Great Night Views of the World” and remains the most iconic sight in Hakodate.
Feeling overwhelmed by life's pressures? Check out these 7 handpicked bars in Taipei to help you unwind.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, taking time to relax is essential. Visiting a cozy, foreign-style bar for a drink and some bites can be a true delight. ETtoday Travel Cloud has selected 7 unique bars in Taipei where you can enjoy a laid-back atmosphere and leave your worries behind.
Does Italy have dumplings too? Purple potato dumplings stuffed with lamb shank meat are chewy and bursting with flavor.
After inviting a chef awarded “One Star Three Forks” to Taipei Garden Hotel as a guest chef in March this year, the hotel has recently welcomed Chef Errico Recanati from Anderina Restaurant in Italy, who has been awarded Two Forks by the Italian Red Guide and has earned one Michelin star for three consecutive years. To present authentic Italian cuisine, Errico specially brought lentils, olive oil, and purple potatoes from his hometown in the Marche region of Italy. Among them, the purple potatoes are used to make Italian potato dumplings stuffed with lamb shank meat, which are chewy and delicious.
The mountains look as if they've been painted white – The 2015 Grass Mountain Ancient Trail Silvergrass Season Begins
November each year is the season when silvergrass blooms, with masses of flowers creating a vast white landscape that adds color to the mountain scenery. The renowned Grass Mountain Ancient Trail also appears brushed white, signaling to everyone that autumn has truly arrived.
Voted as having “the most beautiful beaches in the world” Seychelles Tourism promotes in Taiwan
The Seychelles Tourism Board has recently come to Taiwan for promotion. Today (17th), a northern Taiwan promotional event was held to introduce the island nation of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Known as “another world,” Seychelles consists of 115 granite and coral islands, boasting many world records. Li Huanhuan, Senior Manager of the China Market Department at the Seychelles National Tourism Board, pointed out that the beauty of Seychelles is quite unique—“the place voted as having the most beautiful beaches in the world is right here in Seychelles.”
The floral sea at the bridgehead debuts this weekend！A burst of blooming flowers for a "flowery golden age"
Come and see—the floral sea is right here！Kaohsiung’s Qiaotou District Office holds the annual "Happy Flowers in the Fields" event. This year’s theme is "Flowery Qiaotou," featuring a vibrant display across 16 hectares of land. With a riot of blossoms and an interplay of various flower species, visitors can immerse themselves in a "flowery golden age" this late autumn.
Latest flower conditions at Xinshe Flower Sea in 2015 ! A must-visit romantic spot for couples in the second half of 2015
The “2015 Xinshe Flower Sea & Taichung Flower Carpet Festival” opened on the 7th, featuring a vast sea of flowers covering 46.5 hectares. Brightly colored blooms in red, orange, yellow, white, and more stretched across the landscape like a floral carpet. DJ Xiao Hai from Good 989 Best Radio posted photos taken during his visit to Xinshe Flower Sea in Taichung on Facebook on the 14th, 15th, and 17th, noting that there were really a lot of people on-site and that the flower sea was absolutely stunning !
The Guishan Veterans’ Village Story House Reopens!“Come Home” to Taste Veterans’ Village Flavors
Relive the veterans’ village life of yesteryear. Located in Taoyuan, the Guishan Veterans’ Village Story House features a first-floor exhibition themed “Come Home,” created in collaboration with local Taoyuan artists, the Architecture Department and Digital Media Design Department of Ming Chuan University. It showcases human-interest stories and dishes from the veterans’ village, allowing visitors to experience life in the village.
Afternoon tea time ! Sweet treat lovers must try the cast-iron skillet “pancake”
Banjia Café has good reviews for its desserts among the many cafés in the art district, so we made a special trip for their Dutch baby cast-iron skillet pancake. Since the pancake isn’t served until 2 PM, we ended up having brunch and then waiting all the way till afternoon tea ! It was so much fun. The café has limited seating, about 20 spots, so it’s recommended to call ahead to check if it’s full.
“In-N-Out Taiwan” fan page: Coming soon? US: No plans for Taiwan
A fan page for the famous American burger chain “In-N-Out Taiwan” recently appeared on Facebook, announcing “Coming Soon” and teasing fans in Taiwan about an upcoming launch in the country. However, the authenticity of this news remains unverified. According to the official In-N-Out Burger U.S. fan page, “there are currently no plans to expand to Taiwan.”
Eating with your hands—so bold and hearty!\n5 must-try hand-shucked seafood restaurants
Want to know how to enjoy seafood to the fullest? Grabbing and devouring it with your hands is sure to satisfy your appetite!\nThis is a popular eating style originating from Southern U.S. ports:\ncooked seafood is placed in a plastic bag,\npoured with sauce, shaken for seasoning,\nand then eaten straight with your hands.\nETtoday Eastday Travel Cloud has specially selected five hand-shucked seafood restaurants.\nCome and give them a try!
Hired to open a store in Kuwait for ‘too-beautiful latte art’ – The White Cottage Café in Arashiyama
A white cottage stands quietly by Arashiyama, a pure white scene where time seems to stand still. This is the new Arashiyama branch of Kyoto’s recently super-popular % Arabica. Besides the Arashiyama shop, it has recently expanded all the way to Kuwait. Its rich coffee flavor and quick yet elegant latte art skills are truly astonishing.
Garrett Popcorn at Omotesando Teams Up with 7-Eleven for Limited-Edition Popcorn — Launching in Kanto on November 17
Taiwanese travelers visiting Tokyo can now buy a new product hot off the shelf. Garrett Popcorn, the famously popular popcorn shop in Tokyo’s Omotesando known for its long lines, has teamed up with 7 & I Holdings to start selling its popcorn at 7-Eleven convenience stores starting November 17. The new offerings include milk caramel and cheese flavors.
It's so popular—5 hard-to-book restaurants in Taipei
Taiwanese people love good food, but some restaurants are so popular and attract many visitors that they have limited seating or require reservations. Each time reservations open, it’s like scrambling for train tickets during Chinese New Year. For example, RAW, opened by André Chiang, sees its reservation slots sell out instantly the moment they open, and a slight hesitation means missing out. Other hard-to-book restaurants include the Park Lane Restaurant at Regent Taipei, the newly opened Han Lai Harbor Restaurant Dunhua Branch, the Rilakkuma-themed restaurant, and Song’s Kitchen serving authentic Peking duck.
Weaving & Hunting – Experience Atayal Life at "YouYou Tribe" in Wulai
Come and experience the authentic indigenous lifestyle firsthand. The Indigenous Peoples Administration of New Taipei City Government has launched the “YouYou Tribe – Enjoy Atayal” tour program, offering general visitors experiences that are usually hard to access in Wulai, such as archery, weaving, banana rice, and more. This lets people explore the natural ecological scenery and immerse themselves in traditional Atayal culture.