Toyugi Hot Spring Resorts & SPA

The Wi-Fi in our room was switched off hours before checkout, which made it harder to plan what to do next. Each evening the outside felt like a street party, and parking was difficult, though most spaces were empty each morning. It gave the impression that lots of people were just visiting the facility without staying overnight. We’d just traveled across Japan and Taiwan and were looking forward to unwinding before going home. Instead, there were lots of little inconveniences that added up to a poor stay for us as international travelers. Soap wasn’t provided in the room, the first hotel we’d encountered on our trip like that, and had to be bought at the front desk. There were quite a few other extra charges outside the room price too. The place felt under-maintained in spots, with cracked grout in the bathroom and around the facility. There was tissue paper rather than toilet paper, and guests were asked not to flush any paper but to put used tissues in the bin. The bathroom didn’t have a bidet, which made that feel pretty gross. Other minor issues also brought down the experience, though none felt worth calling out on their own.

You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to use the spa, since it’s run separately. It’s a bit old, but that’s part of its charm, and there’s plenty to relax in, including baths, pools, and saunas. It isn’t luxurious, just really relaxing, and I thought the long bus ride was worth it. Lockers need coins, so bring cash, though the desk can change money. Costumes, swim hats, and towels are for sale, with hats at £2 and towels at £5. There are no rentals, and a day pass is £10. It was mostly Taiwanese visitors, but nobody minded that I was the only Western tourist.

Cute place, though they make you wear a pool hat.

If you have to stay in Taitung, ask yourself whether you really should.