Travel
Seizing Taiwan’s Summer Travel Market: Costa Cruises Launches Japan–Korea Limited-Time Summer Voyages
The world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation, through its brand Costa Cruises, has set its sights on the Taiwanese market and announced the launch of limited-time summer voyages to Japan and Korea. These cruises will be operated by the Costa Victoria, with itineraries divided into two main segments: departures from Busan, South Korea, and Keelung Port in Taiwan. The Busan departures will call at ports including Fukuoka, Maizuru, Kanazawa, and Sakaiminato (Matsue), while the Keelung departures mainly feature two routes: one to Ishigaki Island and Okinawa, and another to Busan and Nagasaki—offering travelers a unique alternative for summer overseas trips.
Spring flowers in dishes — The Floral Banquet at Cantonese Gourmet Restaurant feels like fine dining
To celebrate the arrival of spring, Cantonese Gourmet Restaurant at Taipei Marriott Hotel has launched a Floral Banquet set menu, featuring freshly picked spring flowers as ingredients. The petals are lightly cooked to preserve their natural beauty, with chrysanthemums, roses, and zucchini blossoms artfully incorporated into the dishes. Both the presentation and plating are vibrant and colorful, giving the experience the feel of fine Western cuisine. The Floral Banquet officially debuted on April 1 and consists of six courses plus one dessert, priced at NT$1,880 per person plus 10% service charge.
What to do if your name is typed backwards? 8 things you must know after snagging a budget airline ticket
Recently, budget airlines including Vanilla Air, Scoot, and TransAsia Airways have launched a series of promotional offers. Among them, Vanilla Air’s promo tickets for Taipei–Osaka at just NT$288 caused the airline’s official website to crash for two consecutive days due to overwhelming traffic. However, many people who successfully booked their tickets later faced various issues such as incorrect English names, wrong gender entries, or wrong travel dates.
What to see after cherry blossoms? Mount Kasuga in Nara – millions of azaleas paint the mountain red in May
What are the season-limited attractions after the cherry blossom season and before summer? In Nara Prefecture, Mount Kasuga, located in the central-western part of the prefecture, offers beautiful scenery in all seasons. Especially from mid- to late May, visitors can enjoy vast fields of blooming azaleas that turn the mountainsides into a spectacular sea of bright red, truly breathtaking.
Spring Exclusive: Setagaya to Launch Salt-Chicken White Broth Ramen, Only Available in Taiwan
Following the launch of the Energizing Vegetable Ramen, designed for students and exclusive to the Taipei Main Station branch, the president of Setagaya Ramen in Japan, Tsukasa Maeshima, is set to unveil another exclusive creation—this time limited to Taiwan. In recent days, President Maeshima has been
Rushing to renew passports at the airport Non-urgent cases will no longer be accepted starting April 2
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on the 18th that starting April 2, the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Office of the Bureau of Consular Affairs will no longer accept applications for replacing expired passports unless the case involves an urgent or distress-related situation. With the Qingming holiday approaching, the ministry also reminded those planning to travel abroad to ensure their passports are valid for at least six months. If your passport has already expired, you can apply for a renewal at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or its central, southern, and Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan branch offices.
She used to tremble when serving dishes at first — the homestay owner has created 60 breakfast sets and is hailed as an underground female chef.
The Hualien-based Aishang Bulao Ocean Homestay boasts stunning sea views and a talented female host — how could such a peaceful vacation spot not tug at your heartstrings? Yang Xintong (affectionately called “Auntie”) originally worked in real estate, where every day was a cutthroat battle. After switching careers to run a homestay, she was initially so shy she’d tremble when serving guests. Now, she not only knows how to balance work and life but has also created up to 60 unique breakfast sets, describing herself as an “unlicensed underground chef.”
Must-read for DIY travelers: 4 common questions about Japanese hotel stays answered by hotel staff
I work at a hotel across from the main train station in a Japanese city popular with Taiwanese visitors. At work, I meet many guests from Taiwan, and when they have questions, the front desk often pulls me in to translate. The following answers are given from the perspective of medium to large hotels. Those traveling with family or on a parent-visiting trip may find this helpful. Here are some common issues foreigners often encounter:
A Dreamlike Scene of Moonlight and Lake Water – A Hidden Camping Gem in Taitung’s Cloud Mountain Water Style
There are truly so many stories about camping. Are the stories about chasing the blue waves of the sea? Or reaching out to touch dazzling shooting stars? This time, Master He from LOVE Camping will take you into the mysterious backcountry – a hidden camping spot where you can fully immerse yourself in nature’s beauty and create memories that will stay with you long after time has passed. Let this be the first chapter of your story, one you can look back on and cherish.
Taiwan’s first low-cost carrier launches flights to Malaysia Tigerair Taiwan commences services to Kota Kinabalu today
Tigerair Taiwan officially launched its first Malaysian route “Taoyuan–Kota Kinabalu” today (18th), with an initial load factor exceeding 95%. The new route marks the 14th international service for the airline and makes it the first local low-cost carrier to enter the Malaysian market.
Passenger Called "Chinese Pig" on Flight; China's "Di Ba" Forums Mobilize Against Virgin Atlantic for Justice
A mainland Chinese female tourist complained to the media that while flying from London to Shanghai on a British Virgin Atlantic flight, a man yelled at her, calling her a "Chinese pig." When she reported the incident to the flight attendant, she was told not to argue with others or she would be kicked off the plane. Netizens from the mainland’s "Di Ba" forum (also known as Li Yi Bar) called for an online "attack" on Virgin Atlantic’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. on the 18th to seek justice for their fellow citizen.
How to Travel in Business Class Comfort on an Economy Ticket? 4 Pro Tips for Long-Haul Flyers
Flying long-haul international routes to the Americas or Europe often brings the discomfort of sitting for over ten hours. The cramped economy cabin space makes it hard to stretch your legs or lie flat, not to mention dealing with seatmates shifting around or snoring. ETtoday EBC News has compiled some top tips for “flying economy like business class,” offering valuable advice for long-distance travelers.
Delicious treats you can only order online: 8 mystery home-based handmade desserts
"No-store cake shops" have become increasingly popular in recent years—hidden online stores selling handmade desserts. Though these shops don’t have fixed physical locations, they all maintain a certain level of quality. When shop owners announce open reservations on their social media pages, dessert lovers rush to grab them. Here’s a list of 8 delicious no-store handmade desserts you can add to your online food shopping favorites list.
Eslite Wine Cellar invites Mark Best, the No. 1 chef in the Southern Hemisphere, as a guest chef — featuring up to 15 dishes
From March 31 to April 2, Eslite Wine Cellar at Eslite Hotel invited Laurent Ponsot, owner of Domaine Ponsot — one of the most representative wineries in Burgundy, France — to collaborate with Australian celebrity chef Mark Best, known as the “No. 1 Chef in the Southern Hemisphere.” In addition to presenting the rare 1993 vintage wine with a total production of only 333 bottles, Mark Best will also offer up to 15 dishes.
The Dark Lord Among Japan’s Top 100 Castles — “The Demon’s Castle,” the Prototype of the Momotarō Legend
Legend has it that during the reign of Japan’s 10th Emperor, Emperor Sujin, an evil demon named “Onra” occupied the mountainous area now known as “Onigajo Mountain” and established “The Demon’s Castle” (鬼ノ城) as his stronghold, oppressing the local people at will.
A 40-year-old Hong Kong institution in Causeway Bay — golden, crispy fried chicken thighs that are simply irresistible!
Although I didn’t do much research for this trip to Hong Kong, thanks to a local friend, I was constantly tipped off about great local snacks. That day, after visiting Times Square and checking in on a friend, I got a message from her saying her colleague recommended a Danish pastry shop nearby that served pretty good fried chicken thighs. At that moment, I completely forgot that I had already planned to go to China Cafe for their fried chicken thigh that evening. Eventually, I decided to check out this little shop and have another go at their fried chicken thigh.
Responding to "Earth Hour" – Taipei 101 to Turn Off Lights Tonight
The international environmental event "Earth Hour" kicked off on the evening of the 19th, with Taipei 101 turning off its exterior lights at 8:30 PM. This marks the sixth year Taiwan has participated in the event, with numerous celebrities joining in, and political figures such as Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te also releasing videos urging everyone to save energy, reduce carbon emissions, and care for the planet.
A Private Space for New Yorkers: A Casual Café Run by a French Owner
It’s said that New York apartments are too cramped and dim, so New Yorkers all have a go-to café that serves as their personal living room—a place they visit now and then to unwind, much like the “Central Perk” in the TV series *Friends*. Indeed, I have such a spot in New York, and the owner is a French woman.
A Parent-Child Self-Guided Trip to the Baltic Three Little Countries & Finland: Sharing My Experience Staying at 8 Hotels
This will also be a summary post of my hotel stays, featuring three representative photos from each property to share with you. Later, I’ll write more detailed individual posts about each of the eight hotels. I’m also creating these as a personal record of this trip for myself!! ^^
The new trend in light meals: 15 popular grilled toast spots across Taiwan
The recently popular “grilled toast” involves slowly toasting bread over charcoal until it turns deep brown and slightly charred, then pairing it with various fillings to create a unique dish that has attracted many fans of light meals and toast. ETToday Travel Cloud has specially compiled a list of “15 popular grilled toast spots across Taiwan”—check them out and add them to your must-visit list now!