Taiwan 2016: Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 Spa Home Sun Moon Lake Luxury Lakeside Hotel

View from the hotel

Most visitors stays at Shueshi Village or Itashao Village as there's plenty of accommodation ranging from high end to budget backpacker inns. It also depends on what you plan on doing or your next destination too. For us, we were headed to Alishan the next day, so we wanted to stay at Shueshi Village as the bus from the High Speed Rail Station stops at the Visitor Center at Shuehi Village and the bus departing for Alishan is also at the Visitor Center at Shueshi Village.

Address: No.95,Jungshan Rd, Sun Moon Lake,Taiwan 

Tel: +886-49-2855166 

Fax: +886-49-2855577 

Line ID: spa-home 

E-mail: spahome@pchome.com.tw

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Click here to see what you can do in Sun Moon Lake or how to get to the airport!

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The Room

Amazing views

 We choose this hotel as the website says that all their rooms have a lake view. I'm not complaining! Look at this view! The room is spacious and modern.

bedroom

 The bathroom also has the lake view, however, the building is not very tall, so when you shower or take a bath in the day, you have to pull down the blinds. The windows can be opened as well, and we did to allow all the cool air to come in!

Amazing view!

 The hotel also provides Hermes amenities and it smells so great! It is a large enough bottle, so perfect for the two of us!

Hermes Amenities

 Next to the tub, bath salts are also provided for your use!

Bath salts

Breakfast

Breakfast is a set menu and at check in, they will ask if you have any dietary restrictions such as being a vegetarian, etc.

yummy breakfast!

 The plate comes with eggs, sausages, potato salad, green salad and a bakery basket.

the view!

 I must say all the pastries in the basket were served warm and fresh! Although it is not a buffet, you'll definitely be full by the time you're done with breakfast!

bakery basket

 The view from the restaurant is also amazing! We were rather distracted by the view and almost forgot to eat our breakfast!

Breakfast!

It was indeed a very enjoyable stay for us! The room was comfortable and luxurious, and the service is impeccable! Entire team are friendly and so helpful!

Linden Suites Hotel Review

Linden Suites

I jumped at the opportunity when G had to travel to Manila, Philippines, for work. I've wanted to visit Manila for quite some time as some of my colleagues are Filipinos and the talk of their home just got me really curious.

Address: 37 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Manila, 1600 Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel: +63 2 638 7878
Website: http://www.lindensuites.com/
Dates of stay: 4-6th Feb 2015
Room Category: One Bedroom Suite

We stayed at Linden Suites during the weekdays when G had to work. Ortigas is a bustling business district (one of the few business districts) and I suppose it was also convenient for him to visit his clients. 

I arrived later in the evening and was picked up by G at the airport. Taking a taxi into the city, I experienced a taste of Manila's infamous traffic. 

The modest hotel entrance has security staff to check your handbags and metal detectors, though I really question the legitimacy of it all. It is not just the security screening at Linden Suites, but all over Manila, you will have a few security staff to check your bags before you enter the shopping mall/building premise. Metal detectors line up the entrances and causes a line of impatient shoppers waiting to enter the building. 

The staff is checking your belongings for stuff-you're-not-suppose-to-carry. They aren't really checking though, just poking their wooden sticks in your handbags and just following the motion of it. They aren't really checking for threats, really, they're just chatting with each other. I guess they're just giving a (false) sense of security to their owners and guests.

Finally checked in. :) #manilahereicome #natabertadventures #lindensuites

A video posted by Natasha Lim (@natatatasha) on Feb 4, 2015 at 6:50am PST

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a One-Bedroom suite with a separate living room, kitchenette and dining area. It was nice because I could eat at the dining area while watching TV and make a mess on the table, it than retire to the bedroom for an afternoon nap without worry that I'd sleep in the aftermath of my breakfast mess. I know I am such a pig!

Dining/Pantry area

It also included a coffee maker which made me really happy! I love a hot pot of freshly brewed coffee every morning. It was the first time using such a machine, but it was pretty straightforward. Pour the coffee powder/beans into the net/filter, pour water into the container above and let it boil and coffee will drain into the pot!! It is fragrant and oh so good! They only had powdered creamer in the room, which I didn't like, so I had to get the in-room dining server bring me a small jug of hot milk for the coffee. 

COFFEE MAKERRRRR!

For both days, I ordered In-room dining breakfast (because I just wanted to be a Tai Tai and eat in my room). The food took quite some time to arrive despite being quoted 30 mins. What was impressive was that the server not only brought the food up, he also set the table really nicely and took everything out from the hotbox. 

The One Bedroom Suite also comes with a 7 cubic foot fridge (the standard size commonly found in households). It is perfect actually if you're staying for a long period of time and wish to cook in your room. There's also a kitchenette after all. 

Friends and colleagues told me not to wander out alone and to wait for G to return after work to go out together. However, as rough as Manila can be, Ortigas seems pretty OK. I only wandered to the nearby 7-11 to get some snacks and also to the Megamall about 8mins walk away. Sadly, whatever that they have in Megamall was what Singapore malls have also (at almost the same price). Those on sale or discounted items were not that nice and the only few items I bought were a pair of earnings and postcards.

After my scrumptious lunch of French Onion Soup and Truffle Linguini, I wrote all 10 of my postcards and wanted it to be sent out on that day itself. Thus, I called Operator, Front Desk and even the Business Center. Operator has no idea what I'm talking about. Front Desk say they do not have any postal service and asked me to try the Business Center. I went down to the business center.. guess what! They asked me to go to the post office myself. I really wonder how can this be a business hotel if they do not even provide simple postal services. I mean, the hotel compendium actually states to call operator for stamps!

Anyhoo, I got that sorted out in my next hotel.

Good morning Manila! #natabertadventures #asiantraveler #manila #sunrise

A photo posted by Natasha Lim (@natatatasha) on Feb 4, 2015 at 3:01pm PST

Linden Suites also have an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi in the fitness center.Sadly, I was always either too lazy or too full from lunch to actually go swimming. View out the window of the swimming pool and you'll see Megamall!

Overall, it is a nice place to stay as the rooms are big and it's very well located in a rather safe neighbourhood (maybe cause it's in the CBD). I feel that the hotel needs to read what they put into their compendium & improve their anticipation of guest's needs. 

10 Ways to have a wallet-friendly vacation

Summer is here! It's time to travel, see the world and learn so much about this Earth and yourself! So many places to go, so little money though! Let's be real, we're not Paris Hilton and do not have an international hotel chain our dear Grandpops owns and stay at anytime we want. Here's how you can travel and still be kind to your wallet.

1. RESEARCH

It is always important to do your research properly. Do not book the first airline you come across or the first hotel you like. Compare prices across all online platforms and even with the airline/hotel directly because sometimes hotels offer a lower rate as compared to an Online Travel Agent (OTA) and are also flexible with your reservation (i.e. You need to cancel or postpone your trip due to unforeseen circumstances).

Read reviews on Tripadvisor and get feedback from friends who have visited the destination/hotel. The website may look lovely and really posh for the price you're paying, but in actual fact it's all Photoshoped.

2. CREATE A SPECIFIC BUDGET PLAN

I created this budget plan for my own personal use about two years ago when I wanted to keep track of my travel expenses. Being a poor student, every single cent counts. Give yourself a cushion of 10% to fall back on in times of emergency.

3. PLAN EARLY

Planning, NOT booking, in advance is always good. Give it room to be flexible and change. If you intend to embark on a big/expensive trip, plan from 4 months to a year in advance. This gives you enough time to find the right deal, the right destination and also to save for the trip.

4. SAVING

Once you've budgeted the rough estimate of your trip, start saving! I never liked the idea of dipping into your savings account (meant for education/rent/retirement), and created a new bank account solely for my travels.

Once I've settled on an amount, I will take a look at the time frame I have to save and divide it equally by the number of months I have to save.

For example, I will be travelling to New Zealand in October for a 10 day trip. My budget is $2,500 and I started planning (or rather, thinking about it) in January. Thus, I need to save $250 each month for my trip.

Next, ask yourself if the monthly amount is comfortable for you? If it's not, are you able to lower the budget (doing lesser activities or having a shorter trip) or are you able to move the trip to the following months to give you more time to save.

5. BOOKING AT THE RIGHT TIME

There is always a right time for everything. According to travel gurus:

• Book between 6 to 8 weeks in advance to get the best deal on international travel
• Book between 9-12 months in advance if you plan to visit a tourist hotspot during a “peak” holiday period (prime example: New York during Christmas/New Year’s Day)
• Book on a Tuesday or Wednesday at 1am due to airlines reloading their booking systems with the latest low-cost fares

Also be flexible with your travel dates. Try not to travel on the weekends because that’s when tickets can really jump in price.The difference a day or two make can equate to hundreds of dollars.

6. PACKING

Packing light allows you to hand carry your luggages and save money on buying check-in luggage. Budget airlines tend to charge check-in baggage separately. Toiletries tend to be the heaviest in the luggage and I will usually just buy it once I've landed at my destination at the nearest convenience store.

Wear your heaviest clothes to the plane like jackets, shoes and hats that would just weigh down your backpack.Checking in your luggages also increases the chance of your luggage getting delayed or missing too!

7. TRAVEL DURING OFF SEASONS

I always like to travel during off seasons if I can. There's lesser tourists and everything is just cheaper! Of course, there's a reason for it being off seasons. Is the weather rainy? Is it cold? All those factors actually play a big part, and if you're ok with that, you're set to go!

We visited Pulau Redang in March this year. Pulau Redang is usually closed (yes, the entire island) from October to February due to the Monsoon Season and will generally open from March onward. Peak Season is between May - July. When Redang opens once again in March, the island's experiencing the tail end of the rainy Monsoon Season and prices for accommodations are generally low. About 20-30% cheaper, and the accommodation prices usually includes full board meals! We were thankful that it didn't rain at all during our weekend there.

8. STAYING WITH FRIENDS/FAMILY (or you can couch surf)

Why not? It's free!

Always ask for permission before hand and it is always better if you are able to find someone that you're once close to, but have drifted apart. Use this opportunity to catch up and you will even have a local guide in that destination.

Of course you may not have a relative in every country you visit. You can try couch surfing or even hostels. You are able to meet plenty of people from all walks of life, gain new friends and experiences and even share an itinerary together!

9. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Need I say more? Trains and buses are always cheaper than renting a car. You get to immerse in the local sights, sounds and culture and get to travel the way they do! Unless you're in Jeju and renting a car is already very cheap and there are hardly any buses around.

10.SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS

I know in Singapore, we have this Personal Data Protection Act in which consumers love, but I don't. I love signing up for newsletters and receiving junk mail. Of course, I have a separate email account set up specifically for this. Numerous times I've saved 10-20% off accommodation because the newsletters comes with discount codes. In May, our air tickets to Hong Kong was half price because it was 1 for 1! I wouldn't have known if I didn't register for the newsletter!

Breakfast with a view!

Auberge Discovery Bay Hotel, Hong Kong Review

Beautiful view from the room

Beautiful seaview, amazing sunsets, mountains as your backdrop. NO HIGH SKYSCRAPERS. You'd never imagine those phrases are of this hidden gem tucked away from the hassle and bustle of city life in Hong Kong.

Address: Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong 88 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Tel: +(852) 2295 8288
Website: http://www.aubergediscoverybay.com/
Email: enquiry@aubergediscoverybay.com  

Dates of stay: 18th - 19th May 2014
Category: Ocean Front Room
Description: All Ocean Front Rooms feature a sunken bath and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the quiet calm and enjoy the all-encompassing sea view.
Size:  355 square feet (33 square meters)
Price: S$257.82
Includes: Two-hour complimentary wireless internet access per stay, walk-in rain shower, pillow menu.

Everyone knows how busy and hectic Hong Kong can be. Never sleeping with late night steamboats, char chan ting, shopping; metropolitan city that is bursting with life and colour at every minute. 

We found this treasure whilst on a search for Disneyland Hotels. Yes, I visited Disneyland and saw all my favourite princesses. But when I was at Auberge Discovery Bay, I became the princess instead. 

We booked with an Online Travel Agent (because I had a voucher I wanted to use and spend on somewhere fancy). They had choices like mountain view, sea view, a suite with panorama sea view. So, we opted for just the regular room with a seaview. 

BEDROOM

The room is 3-4 times the size of the hotel room on mainland Hong Kong. It would have been the size of a really expensive suite back on Hong Kong. Not to mention the view. 

Bed & separate sitting area

The king bed is so large, G and I could sleep like a starfish and we'd both still have space. The interior design of blue and green suited the calm sea and greenery that surrounds Discovery Bay. 

Large King Bed

I also loved the fact that there's a reading light located above and on each side of the bed. I tend to write my travel musings while in bed and I didn't want to disturb G while he sleeps. 

Sitting area

The room also has a seperate sitting area for you to lounge and watch TV. But seriously, who would actually watch TV with that killer view! 

BATHROOM 

If you've read my other posts, you know I'm a fanatic for beautiful hotel bathrooms. It's just my thing. I'd love the bathroom more than the bedroom itself. 

His & Her sinks

Because we've booked a seaview room, the bathroom actually comes with a sunken bath instead of a bathtub. When I found out before the trip, I was desperately trying to find pictures of sunken baths, because I had no idea what that was. Google gave me pictures of round tubs, jacuzzis, ancient Roman baths (hahaha, what the hell?). But nothing popped up like how Auberge's sunken bath is. 

Sunken Bath!!!!!!

It's basically the area where you shower, the square. But sunken. Literally a sunken.. Bath? You have to walk 2-3 steps down into the bath. It's much more spacious than a bathtub, fills up like a tub, but no sloshing of water onto the floor (like how a normal tub does) when you a splash around like a little girl... AND THE VIEW. 

It was quite hilarious to see G amazed with the design (typical engineer) and contraptions of how the bath fills and drains. 

Oh, the tiles in the bath are anti-slip, but still smooth enough so you don't get scratched. I love the attention to detail here. 

IN-ROOM DINING

We ordered breakfast to the room because we were just lazy and didn't want to leave the room. Come on, have you seen the view? 

Best view for breakfast!

We ordered only one set of American breakfast, asked for two sets of cutleries and 2 glasses of water. It came with three sets. Okay.. 

The night before, we ordered fries & some snacks, and when the server came, we asked for mayo which he left to get. I was just telling G that if he was an attentive server, he'd come back with my mayo, and another set of cutleries. Nope, he came back with just mayo. 

View from the bathroom

I must be very spoilt and expect servers to 'read my mind'. But that's what luxury is all about. Anticipation of guest's needs. 

Not to worry though, it didn't ruin the stay, but other than the view, the service didn't blow me away. 

POOL

The pool is located outdoors, and remember about the mountainous backdrop I was telling you about? Yes. Too beautiful. 

Deck chairs by the pool

Although we requested for a late check out when I was emailing the reservation team and they said they could check and see if they could accord me a late check out till 3pm. But when I reconfirmed with the front desk agent, they only gave me until 1pm. I'm not complaining though, I totally understand if the hotel is full (I'm a hotelier too) but it was a Monday, so I have my reservations about that. 

Too bad we went at night

So after we checked out, we headed to the pool to just chill and kill some time as our flight was only at 6pm. You could even borrow those noodle float thingy and just splash around like a kid. I was a very happy kid. 

Swimming with such a beautiful view!

After your swim, there's even a changing and shower room, decked with lockers for you to keep your valuables! Though there's only two shower cubicles, it was still quite early in the afternoon, and not to mention a weekday, so I didn't have anyone fighting to use the shower facilites with me. 

I could even blow dry my hair in peace and not worry my mess is eating into other people's space. 

LOCATION

If you take a look at the map of Hong Kong, you'd see that Discovery Bay is located on Lantau Island away from the mainland. Not too far from where Disneyland is located. This being said, Auberge is located where no private cars or taxis are allowed access. Only discovery bay public buses or hotel's transport are allowed. I guess they're trying to keep the exclusivity. 

Maps of Hong Kong

So, you can imagine how secluded it is. If you're thinking of going back into the city, think twice. Just getting to Sunny Bay MTR will be such a hassle, let alone the long journey back to town. 

Bus stops to take public bus into Discovery Bay

The hotel provides shuttle buses to and from Sunny Bay MTR, Disneyland and several major stops on Hong Kong Island (though timing is very limited), I guess in a way to be more accessible. On the last night after we had our fill of Disneyland, we were rushing to catch the shuttle bus, but we were not sure if it left early and we missed it, or it never showed up. 

Sunny Bay MTR Station

We took the public bus instead. Though it's a public bus, the bus fare was about twice the amount than normal. I guess you don't have a choice because that's the only way to get in and out of Discovery Bay. 

There's a small cluster of shops, restaurants and a supermarket just next to Auberge if you don't feel like having hotel food. We managed to buy drinks, snacks and even bubble bath there. I can't quite remember what the supermarket is called, but the logo, colour scheme and how the supermarket is layed out, is very similar to Cold Storage in Singapore. 

Cluster of shops beside Auberge

After our swim on the last day, we went to this pizzeria next to the hotel. We were famished and decided to order a whole pizza and a plate of pasta. Biggest regret ever. The portion is humongous! After finishing the pasta, the pizza arrived and we just stared at each other. G and I wouldn't been able to have finished the pizza in that sitting, but we tried. After 1 slice each, we packed the pizza to go and brought it to the airport to have it as dinner. 

LARGE PIZZA!!

OVERALL

Despite the location being somewhat inaccessible, it is a good thing being away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You don't feel like you're even in Hong Kong! The air is fresh and crisp, the sea is spotless and endless, the mountains are beautiful and green. 

There's even a beautiful chapel on the property for couples getting married. 

If you're looking at to stay near Disneyland or near the airport and want somewhere  luxurious, you have to stay at Auberge hotel. 

Macau: The City of Dreams

Macau is known as the Sin City of the East, or as Macau's tourism board like to call it, The City of Dreams. Now, unless your dream is to be in the smoky casinos trying to earn lose a few thousand bucks for 15 hours a day, there's nothing that is very dreamy about Macau, except for the food maybe.

We went from 15-16 May 2014 for a short two day, one night visit. As this was not my first time in Macau, I knew what I wanted to eat, do and see. Just to note, the reason why we flew to Hong Kong/Macau was to mainly visit our friends who were working in Hong Kong & Tiger Airways was having 1-for-1 tickets. We didn't really consider much, and just booked immediately when I received the email

Please click the following for my itinerary and costings:

• Dim Sum Heaven Itinerary 
• Dim Sum Heaven Costs

Grand Lapa Hotel

Grand Lapa Macau

Address: 956-1110 Avenida da Amizade, PO Box 3016, Macau SAR
Tel: +853 2856 7888
Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/grandlapa/

We stayed at Grand Lapa Hotel. It is located just 5-10 mins away from the ferry terminal. There is also complimentary shuttle bus to pick guests up from the ferry terminal. Once you've alighted from the ferry and collected your luggages (among the mess of humans and baggage), follow the general human traffic to the exit, down the escalator, across the underpass and to the bus terminal. There will be signages for the major hotels along the bus terminal, but not one for Grand Lapa. Once you've come up from the underpass, turn right and wait along the shelter, where the other hotel buses are waiting at. Just wait patiently for the shuttle bus and it will pull up.

Photos of the room

It is quite an old building and the exterior was not really maintained properly. I mean as compared to other hotels like Wynn or Sands down the street, it does look rather tired. We stayed in the Grand Deluxe Room with Balcony, and it partially overlooks the harbour.

I would like to mention that the Room Attendant who did turndown for our room is really attentive! Before we went out, I wore my contact lens and placed my contact lens casing, spectacles and solution on some tissue paper. When I returned, it was actually tidied up and placed on a piece of cloth. I was really impressed with that small detail.

Just a little tip for travelers visiting Macau: As you know Macau is made up of mainly 2 separate islands, and since there's no trains in Macau, you either walk, take a bus or taxi. Walking to the other island is just crazy, taking a bus is too complicated, and taking a taxi can be quite expensive especially when you cross the bridge to the other island. One way to save money is to actually take the shuttle buses that interconnects all the sister properties across the country. For example, we stayed just next to Sands Macau. We just went there to take the free shuttle to Venetian Macau as it was across the sea, on the other island. Money saving methods!!

Senodo Square/Ruins of St Paul/Museum of Macau

Senodo Square

Now, I will just touch and go on these 3 places, because it is very touristy and everything they sold there was expensive!

Senodo Square is basically an area with a lot of old architecturally beautiful buildings. There's a lot of free art museums along the street and they mainly portray a lot of Catholic statues and paintings. There's also this famous bakery where they sell the best almond biscuits I have ever eaten. Just so you know, I hate all things almond, but this biscuit does not really have a lot of almond taste. The biscuit is so flaky and buttery, I might have a heart attack and I wouldn't know.

Ruins of St Paul

If you walk towards the end of Senodo Square, you will eventually reach the many steps of the St Paul Church. Or what's left of it. I can imagine it being so beautiful and majestic if the hurricane/typhoon didn't destroy it. Likewise, there's nothing much here, just a picturesque background for selfie addicts.

Museum of Macau

I am not sure if it's usually free, but we entered for free as the guard mumbled something about it being a holiday or some sort. There's a mix of Chinese and Western art inside ranging from terracotta warriors to Statues of Mother Mary.

Lord Stow Egg Tarts

Address: Unit 2119a, Level 3, the Grand Canal Shoppes Venetian, Macau  

Tel: +853 2886 6889  

Website: http://www.lordstow.com/ 

There are several outlets scattered around Macau, with the most convenient one being located inside Venetian itself. I prefer the buttery, flaky crusts which Macau offers and not the tart like crusts which Hong Kong usually sells. The custards are super milky and oh-so-soft!

Canton Restaurant

Dining at Canton Restaurant!

Location: The Venetian Macau, Casino Level, 1018.

Opening Hours: Lunch: 11:00am - 3:00pm, Dinner: 6:00pm - 11:00pm

Tel: +853 8118 9930

Website: http://www.venetianmacao.com/macau-dining/chinese-food/canton.html

So it was our first night for our trip, and my cousin asked us if we wanted to have steak or Canto food. Of course we choose Canto food! Duh! Canton Restaurant is located in a quiet corner on the Casino Level. The whole restaurant's decorations and ambiance is very modern with a hint of tradition. There's also a small little teapot holder to keep your tea hot. Gilbert always said that if a Chinese Restaurant in China provides you with 2 pairs of chopsticks (one serving, one personal), it is a really high class restaurant. 

Well, the restaurant does indeed feel luxurious with the level of service and food quality. The whole bill amounted to HK$735 (S$118) for 3 persons. That price included a 20% discount (my cousin has a Bank of China Card) and 10% service charge. I feel its pretty affordable for 3 persons and 4 dishes! The most expensive would be the Scallops with Black Truffle (HK$300) and if you're on a tighter budget, than order something else!

Super yummy food!

From top left: Canton Signature Crispy Chicken (HK$168), Sautéed Scallops with Black Truffle and Green Vegetables (HK$300), Claypot Groupa Belly & Ginger (HK$180), Sweet and Sour Pork (HK$98), Fluffy coconut desserts (FOC).

I think my favorite dishes would be the Crispy Chicken and Claypot Groupa. The chicken is so tender and juicy, and the skin is so crispy! The claypot fish is just so flavorful, the fish although fried, it is so soft and falls apart when you bite it.

The Plaza Restaurant

The Plaza Restaurant

Address: Freguesia da Sé > Porto Exterior 2/F,Edf. Xin Hua , Rua de Nagasaki, Porto Exterior
Opening Hours: 09:00-15:00 Mon - Sun, 18:00-24:00 Mon - Sun
Tel: +853 28706623

We wouldn't have known of this place, if my cousin didn't tell us about it. It is located opposite Grand Lapa, in a Police Station/Building, and you need to enter from the side, up 2 escalators, and you'll see a big ballroom. It is also on the side of Macau where the Ferry Terminal is. So if you're staying where Venetian is, you're too far away.

But the food is worth it. Trust me.

Dim Sum!

We had dim sum for breakfast and we ordered quite a lot for two people! The dim sum ranges from 20-40MOP/HKD, and of course there are items which are more expensive which we didn't order. The Dim Sum is so fresh and so different from what we have in Singapore.