We are on a honeymoon trip and this hotel is worth every cent. It is brand new with contemporary furnishings and RIGHT beside the Sun Moon Lake. We watched the sunset and sunrise at our bedroom. We had the luxurious superior suite on the top floor and has french windows across the entire room. It is closer to the shore than other aging hotels, and the view simply took our breath away.

The only downside is that there are no lifts. So old folks with bad knees can consider living in the junior suites on the second floor.

MY TRAVEL STYLE: If possible, I try to stay away from business and strongly prefer resorts that resemble the Four Seasons, Aman, and Oberoi but try to find similar properties at lower cost. I seek out the “wow” experiences and I encourage you to view hotels I have stayed at and their respective reviews (by clicking on my name).

LOCATION: Excellent if you want to be on the lake and in town with many restaurants, shops, and coffee shops (including 7-11 and Starbucks).

BEST WAY TO GET THERE: We took a bus from Taipei for about 450 NT that took about 4.5 hours. Bus passes the hotel 10 seconds before stopping at the bus station in SML. Hotel is next to the Starbucks and 7-11.

TYPE OF ROOM: Mountain View.

BED/SHEETS/PILLOW: Bed is soft with nice, semi-luxurious linens.

LIGHTING: Lighting is good in the bathroom and ok in the bedroom.

BATHROOM/SHOWER: Shower has very strong water pressure and hot water if desired. The bathroom had a bad water smell. There is a separate bathtub with jets which is fine for one person at a time.

TOILETRIES: All products are Hermes. Can’t get much better than that!

CLEANLINESS: The bedroom was very clean but the bathroom had lots of mildew on the ceiling of the shower and some in the grouts on the wall as well. The smell as mentioned b4 was not good. Common areas were very clean.

A/C: Quickly and quietly would get the room very cool if desired.

CLOSET SPACE: Average size

STYLE OF ROOM: Our mountain view room actually had a nice view of the lake just out a side window. Most hotels would sell this room as a lake view room and then call the better view rooms lake front. If booking a mountain view, see if you can get one that still has a view of the lake. Room is nothing special but large and comfortable. The mountain view is nice as well but it’s very close to the room and not as if you are looking out on a vast mountain range. We did spot a few monkeys on the mountain.

QUIET/MORNING LIGHT: The mountain view rooms are on a somewhat busy road and the cars can be heard going by. On a weekend it may be a bit too much noise and worth the extra cost of a lakeview room just for that alone.

FOOD: The restaurant seems to be the best in town. Perhaps some of the other more luxurious hotels out of town have the best food. We ate at the hotel Lalu for dinner for about $30 per person without drinks and appetizers. Food at Lalu was good but not worth the price. We ate at the lower floor restaurant in the Harbor hotel and the food was below average.

TV/INTERNET: Wireless internet is provided in the common areas with some of the lower floor rooms may be able to catch the signal.

SERVICE: The owner, Tina, speaks English very well and is helpful and friendly.

COMMON AREA: The best part of the hotel besides the amazing view is the décor of the lobby. Very charming and comfortable.

ROOM & CITY TIPS: Higher view rooms will have better views of the lake. Be sure if getting a mountain view room to ask for one that still has a view of the lake. Highlight of SML for us was renting a scooter and driving around the lake (be sure to rent from a place that also has insurance). Lalu is by far the best hotel in town, followed by Fenisia (which actually has a road between it and the lake). Saw Richford?? Hotel as well which had a nice lobby area, but the room pictures looked very rustic and cabin-like. For the price (US$100) this is an excellent choice. Although the Lalu would have been my first choice it just wasn’t worth the $400/night. The Del Lago Hotel next door is a typical nothing special hotel with a 3.5 star lobby but the rooms pictures look nice and I would think are better than Spa Home. Spa Home is a good choice since the atmosphere there is less like a big hotel and more like staying in someone’s home of which I think is appropriate for this type of destination.. If you are ok, with just a touch of luxury and a slightly below average bathroom, this hotel is an excellent choice.

SPA Home is a small family run hotel that sits on the edge of the main tourist village of Shueishe in Sun Moon Lake. In off season the rooms are not too expensive (averaging US140 a night for a lake view with spa tub and breakfast). We had a room near the top floor facing the lake. Lots of light from the many large windows. Tastefully decorated, super comfy bed and bathroom. Good sized room for the money. Staff is nice but speak little English so you're pretty much on your own. Breakfast is great
and eggs/bacon style. Also have a herb tea and cookie send off at night included with the room in the little cafe/living room downstairs. We did eat once in the hotel for dinner. Food was pretty good and more Western style. We took the bus up from Taipei (Green Line) and walked over in five minutes to the hotel. Lots and lots of real Chinese food (English menus seem available). We also liked the large hotel next door which had a great dinner set in the basement dining area and lucky for us a Starbucks next to the hotel. On foot not so much to do. A few paths for walking and bike rentals abound. You can take the local bus around the lake. Very beautiful. Or if fearless, rent a scooter (ride two but don't get the electric models as they won't make it around the lake), and wander at will. The ethnic village of Itashao opposite the hotel on the lake is very interesting as are
the various Chinese temples. Boat tours (Chinese only) also are offered all day. Great stay for a night or two. Contact the hotel through email directly.