Georgia Hopkins

The Lalu

  • Where:
  • Why:Taiwan for the first time.
  • When:February 2016
  • Who:Me + my music-writing pal, Kate Hennessy
>
The Lalu The very pretty, very majestic Sun Moon Lake.

The very pretty, very majestic Sun Moon Lake.

The Lalu No words.

No words.

The Lalu Your own private suite.

Your own private suite.

The Lalu And your own private hot tub.

And your own private hot tub.

The Lalu Lunching (or what was left of it).

Lunching (or what was left of it).

The Lalu The President's favorite fish (just watch the bones)!

The President's favorite fish (just watch the bones)!

The Lalu The view from one of the standard rooms.

The view from one of the standard rooms.

The Lalu Checking in.

Checking in.

Highs & Lows

  • The views. Nothing will beat these views.

  • The lap pool. 60m means you can actually have a decent swim (alongside the beauty of the lake, no less).

  • The design. Made from stone, wood, iron and glass, the design (by Australian architect Kerry Hill) blends in seamlessly with the surrounding nature.

  • The food. Try President Chiang Kai-Shek’s favourite fish (just watch the 5million tiny bones).

The Barometer

  • Design

  • Website

  • Environmental Consciousness

  • Night's Sleep

  • Service

  • Amenities

  • Takeable Treats

  • Refer a Friend

  • Overall Value

  • Life Changing

Total: 48/50

Important Bits

  • Type

    Luxury, zen-style, design hotel with commanding views over Taiwan's majestic Sun Moon Lake.

  • Vibe

    Refined but casual luxury.

  • Location

    Overlooking the majestic Sun Moon Lake and surrounded by mountains in Nantou, Taiwan (3 hours from Taipei City).

  • Rooms

    98 rooms, suites and villas.

  • Music

    Don’t recall.

  • Year Opened

    2002

  • Designed By

    Australian architect Australian architect Kerry Hill.

  • Health & Wellness

    Yes - a modern “leisure center” with hot and cold whirlpools, herbal steam rooms, Swedish saunas, and the longest lap pool we have ever seen at a hotel (60m). The Lalu spa offers an extensive range of treatments as well, with views over the lake and mountains.

  • Restaurant

    Yes - three choices (Chinese, Japanese, Western).

  • Bar

    Yes. Try the plum (non-alcoholic) tea.

  • Minibar

    Yes

  • Children

    Would be ok, better without (do i always say that?!).

  • Price

    Pricey, but worth every Taiwanese penny.

  • Tel.

    http://www.thelalu.com.tw/en

Take bikes and ride around the bike path that hugs the lake

Take bikes and ride around the bike path that hugs the lake

No. 102, Chung-Cheng Rd, Yuchih Township, Nantou County, Taiwan

The Lalu

The Lalu

No 142, Zhongxing Rd, Yuchi Township, Taiwan

Share this Hotel

More AHL

PunakhaBhutan

Dhensa

by Amulya Hiremath

“A zen hideaway in the world's happiest kingdom”

TokyoJapan

The Aoyama Grand Hotel

by Estelle Bailey-Babenzien

“A modern, cozy gem in the middle of Tokyo's shopping district”

KyotoJapan

Maana Homes

by Moral Turgeman and Braulio Sotomayor

“A design lover's home away from home”

JaipurIndia

The Johri

by Smita Lasrado

“If God is in the details, then The Johri is God”

BaliIndonesia

Capella Ubud

by Polina Sova

“Made me feel like it was all a magical dream”

KyotoJapan

The Shinmonzen

by Moral Turgeman and Braulio Sotomayor

“This nine-room Ando-designed hotel is as close as it gets to perfection”