If the traditional Lunar New Year ritual of staying at home doesn’t hold appeal but you haven’t made plans, there’s still time to make a getaway.
Hotels at popular vacation destinations like Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), Hualien (花蓮) and Kenting (墾丁) are filling up fast, but there are still spaces for at least a partial vacation away from home. Hotels that haven’t filled to capacity yet are likely to have rooms available on Lunar New Year’s eve (Sunday) and Lunar New Year’s day (Monday). During the entire holiday, be prepared to pay higher than average prices.
In getting around the island, some say that the first day of the Lunar Year will be an easier time to travel as everyone will be at home, but it’s safest to assume the worst for traffic all next week, starting from Sunday. Save yourself a headache by taking the train or the bus. And bring a book for the ride.
TAIPEI: HOT SPRINGS AND HOTEL LUXURY
In Taipei, the Lunar New Year usually means cold temperatures and rain, but hot springs resorts in Beitou (北投) and Wulai (烏來) offer a warm respite. Many of the resorts are already at full occupancy, but still welcome daytime visitors to their public baths. Spring City (春天酒店, www.springresort.com.tw, (02) 2897-2345), in Xin Beitou (新北投), offers private baths for NT$600 per hour, and rooms ranging from NT$6,800 to NT$25,000.
The luxurious Villa 32 (www.villa32.com (02) 6611-8888) is booked full for the week of the Lunar New Year, but its public hot springs are open and cost NT$2,000 for four hours. Villa 32 is also offering a variety of specials during the holidays for day-trippers — see the “promotions” section of its Web site.
In Wulai, the Wulai Spring Resort (www.wulai-spring.com.tw, (02) 2661-6161) still has rooms as of press time, ranging from NT$3,600 to NT$8,800.
If you still have the government-issued consumer vouchers, then consider a night at The Grand Hyatt Taipei (台北君悅大飯店, taipei.grand.hyatt.com, (02) 2720-1234). The hotel is accepting NT$3,600 in vouchers in exchange for one room for one evening, which is valued at NT$15,400. Other offers include an upgrade to the Grand Club Room (valued at NT$19,250) for an additional NT$2,200, or the Grand Suite (valued at NT$20,350) for an additional NT$3,300.
SUN MOON LAKE
The mist-covered mountains that surround Sun Moon Lake
(日月潭) make this Nantou County (南投縣) spot one of Taiwan’s most popular scenic destinations, especially during the Lunar New Year season. Two mid-priced hotels, Sun Moon Lake Hotel (水沙蓮觀光飯店, www.sun-moon-lake.com.tw, (049) 285-5855) and the Fleur de Chine Hotel (雲品飯店, www.fleurdechinehotel.com, (049) 285-5500), are nearly at full occupancy from Sunday to Jan. 30.
One chance of getting a room is the pricier The Lalu Hotel (涵碧樓, www.thelalu.com.tw, (49) 285-6888). During the Lunar New Year holiday, the Lalu offers a “lakeview” suite for two for NT$21,300 per night or a villa for two at NT$31,000 per night, plus 10 percent service charge. The prices include breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. If you can wait until Jan. 30, prices return to normal — nearly half of the Lunar New Year rates.
There is a cheaper option for those who want to stay on Sunday or Monday. The hotel’s Lalu Elegant Package includes a one night stay for two persons and buffet breakfast for NT$13,900 on weekdays and NT$15,900 on weekends.
The Lalu offers shuttle buses to Sun Moon Lake from Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA 台鐵) Taichung station at 11:45am and 3:45pm and the Taiwan High Speed Rail’s Taichung Station (台灣高鐵台中站) at 11:45am, 2:45am, 3:45pm, and 6:45pm. One-way tickets are NT$900. From Taipei, the Kuokuang Motor Transport Company (國光客運) runs five buses a day direct to Sun Moon Lake for NT$480. [See below for contact details.]
EAST COAST: TAROKO GORGE
The east coast’s Taroko Gorge (太魯閣) is another scenic destination that rarely fails to attract holidayers. You’ll have to rule out the old budget standby, the Catholic Hostel ((03) 869 1122), as they’re full until after Jan. 30. The Grand Formosa Taroko Gorge (www.grandformosa-taroko.com.tw, (03) 869-1155) offers a room for two at NT$8,360, which includes 10 percent service charge. A one-night stay also comes with breakfast and dinner. As of press time, rooms were available every night during the Lunar New Year holiday except for Wednesday.
The Grand Formosa Taroko Gorge offers a shuttle service that leaves every hour from the TRA’s Hualien station (花蓮車站). Round trip tickets are NT$500; call the hotel for an exact schedule.
SOUTHERN TAIWAN: KENTING
If there were sunshine to be found anywhere in Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holiday, the place would be the beaches of Kenting (墾丁). More expensive resort options like the Caesar Park Kenting (墾丁凱撒大飯店, www.caesarpark.com.tw, (08) 886-1888) are almost full. The Howard Beach Resort Kenting (墾丁福華渡假飯店, kenting.howard-hotels.com, (08) 886-2323) offers a room for two at NT$7,590, service charge included, which comes with breakfast. As of press time, the resort will be full on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Kenting area also offers plenty of guesthouse options with a more homey, personalized atmosphere. As of press time, the Fengzhi Recreation Guest House (豐緻休閒會館, (08) 885-6168) still had rooms available ranging between NT$1,500 to NT$6,800 for two persons. Putri Bali (www.putribali.com.tw, (08) 885 6885) offers tastefully designed rooms adorned with Balinese furniture; prices for two range between NT$2,800 and NT$5,800. With its Mediterranean themed decor, Tuscany (tuscany.tw/home.html, (08) 886-1283) is an appropriately named villa guesthouse that has rooms ranging from NT$2,750 to NT$6,600 for two persons.
For more options the Web site uukt.idv.tw has an extensive list of Kenting accommodations for all budgets. The Web site is in Chinese only, but worth a look.
Buses run to Kenting from the TRA’s Kaohsiung station (高雄車站) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail’s Zuoying Station (高鐵左營車站).
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND DAY TRIPS
CHANGHUA: FLOWER WATCHING
Changhua County (彰化縣) is the center of Taiwan’s flower industry, evident in the blooming fields that adorn the area’s highways. The county hosts its annual Changhua Flower Festival, which takes place from Lunar New Year’s Day until Feb. 4, from 9am to 4pm. One attraction for flower buffs is the Tianwei Highway Garden (田尾公路花園), which covers an area of 341 hectares. The gardens offer displays of the area’s crop, which includes Chrysanthemums, as well as an herbal garden and flower market.
To get there by TRA trains, get off at Yuanlin Station (員林站), where buses from the Yuanlin Bus Company (員林客運) shuttle passengers directly to the Tianwei Highway Garden. Activities also include a lion dance on Lunar New Year’s Day and outdoor music concerts throughout the festival; for more information, visit their Web site at www.2009changhuaflower.com.tw.
NANTOU COUNTY: CHI CHI LANTERN FESTIVAL
Chichi Township (集集鎮), the epicenter of the devastating 921 earthquake, is considered a “romantic” destination for young couples. Its train station, which shares the township’s namesake and was built by the Japanese colonial government in 1933, was destroyed during the earthquake. The station was restored afterwards and remains a tourist attraction today.
This year Chichi serves as the site of Nantou County’s 2009 Lantern Festival in Chichi (2009南投燈會—集集鄉土燈展), which begins on Monday and continues until Feb. 15, on Minquan Road (民權路) in Chichi. At Monday evening’s inaugural event, a lantern measuring 15m high will be launched to welcome the year of the ox. Outdoor performances and lantern displays will be held every day from Monday to Feb. 1 from 3pm to 8pm.
Chichi is accessible by TRA trains. Transfer to the Chichi Small Rail Line (集集小火車線) in Taichung (台中). For more information, call the Chichi Township office (南投縣集集鎮公所) at (049) 276-1084 or visit its Web site 2009fashionshow.chi-chi.gov.tw.
TRAVEL INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS
Your best bet when traveling during the Lunar New Year holiday is to avoid the inevitable traffic snarls and use the trains whenever possible. Be prepared for standing room only on TRA trains if you don’t make reservations early. As of press time, there are still seats available on most trains, according to a news release on the TRA’s Web site. Both the TRA and the Taiwan High Speed Rail recommend making reservations online. Be aware that the TRA’s online reservations system doesn’t work very well in English.
KUO-KUANG MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY (國光客運)
0800-010-138
www.kingbus.com.tw (reservations can only be made at Kuo-kuang stations)
TAIWAN RAILWAYS ADMINISTRATION
(02) 2381-5226
www.railway.gov.tw/en/index/index.aspx
TAIWAN HIGH SPEED RAIL (出灣高鐵)
(02) 6626-8000
www.thsrc.com.tw
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