Beitou Private Hot Spring Review: Grand View Resort Beitou

Something that I was not aware of before my first visit to Taiwan is how prevalent hot springs are in the area. In fact, Taiwan is listed in the top 15 of the world’s hot spring sites, and you can find a wide variety of hot spring types throughout the country.

There is something about experiencing a hot spring that just screams “vacation”, and so I made it a point to check out the hot springs in Taipei while in the city. I’ll provide a Beitou Private Hot Spring review in this post, give my recommendation on which one to visit, and give you tips on how to make the most of the experience.

My Beitou Private Hot Spring Recommendation

My recommendation is that you visit the Private Hot Spring at the Grand View Resort Beitou. I recommend this location for a few reasons:

1. Impeccable Service: The staff at the resort are very kind, helpful, and respectful. Additionally, they are all fluent in English, so you’ll have no problems with communication there.
2. High-Quality Private Baths: I’ll get into more detail below, but the private rooms really could not have been any better.
3. Spectacular Views: I recommend that you stick around for at least a few minutes after your bathe to go out behind the main entrance and experience views from the mountain on which the hotel sits. The photos below give you an idea of what I’m talking about:

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I will note, I may be a bit biased as it is the only place I visited in Taipei, but I would not recommend it if I did not love it! I will also note that this is a luxury option, so if you don’t care about the frills, check out the additional recommendations that I have listed below.

Overview of the Grand View Resort Beitou

As the name suggests, the Grand View Resort features beautiful rooms and great amenities. In addition to housing both private and public hot springs, it also features a conference center and ballroom, as well as restaurants and tea rooms. The resort is situated near the top of Youya Road and overlooks the Danfeng Mountains (remember that view I mentioned?). If a top-tier hotel is in your budget, it is worth checking out!

Book Your Stay at the Grand View Resort Beitou

Booking the Private Hot Spring

I recommend that you call ahead to reserve your private room before you go to the hotel, to ensure there is space available. You can book your time in 30-minute increments, and I recommend you book for at least an hour to get the best experience. One additional thing to note is that if you do run late to your appointment, they are still good about accommodating you for the full time of your appointment, given that things aren’t too busy.

Beitou Private Hot Spring Price

At the time of my visit (March 2019), the price was roughly $1(USD) /minute. So if you visit for an hour you could expect to pay ~$60. Keep in mind that prices are always subject to change, but that should give you an idea of the range you can expect to pay on your visit. If you don’t want to spend this much, there is a public hot spring option, which I’ll cover below.

Getting to the Grand View Resort

To get to the resort, you first need to travel on the metro to the Beitou stop on the Red Line. From here, you can take a shuttle to the resort for FREE! Once you get off of the metro station, exit towards the street on the right. Here you’ll see several stops for the various resorts at the top of the mountain. (This is important! It’s not clear in the instructions provided by the hotel, and we almost missed the shuttle because of it).

The shuttle comes every 30 minutes, on the hour, so keep this in mind when trying to arrive for your hot spring appointment.

Note, you can certainly uber or taxi there as well – we found ubers to be pretty cheap, so it’s certainly a viable option.

The Private Hot Spring Experience

You kinda get the royal treatment when visiting the hot springs at the Grand View hotel, which really adds to the experience overall. From checking in to heading out, I’ll cover the highlights of this experience below.

Checking In

When you arrive at the resort, you’ll be directed to go down the elevator to the hot springs area. Here, you’ll visit the check-in desk to confirm your appointment and pay for the visit. There is a nice waiting area for you to sit ahead of your visit, and you may be provided tea if your wait is a bit long.

Once your room is ready, you’ll be personally guided to your room and provided an overview of how things work. The attendant may fill the bath for you, or you may do it yourself (my friends and I had different experiences with this part). The attendant will go over the rules before leaving and make sure you are well acquainted with the room.

Amenities

They really did think of everything with regard to the room’s amenities – it’s pretty much like a mini-hotel room. The room has a main portion with a low table, cushions, closet, and reading materials for your viewing pleasure.

In the room with the bath, you’ll find a shower room, a toilet room, as well as a sink and vanity. In the vanity area you have the following necessities:

• Body Wash
• Lotion
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Blow Dryer
• Towels

There are also bath robes in the closet, so you really don’t have to worry about bringing anything but yourself to the hot springs!

In addition, the amenities listed above, your visit comes with a light yogurt-style desert, as well as tea and hot water.

Before You Bathe

If the attendant did not run the bath, this is the time to do that. Make sure the temperature is at a level that is comfortable for you. While the bath is running, take a quick shower – one of the rules of the room. After your have showered and the bath is full – hop on in!

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While You Bathe

As you bathe, keep in mind that you should take a break from the water every 10 minutes so that you don’t over heat. When you are taking a break, that’s the perfect time to read some of the literature provided in the room, or bring your own! I don’t recommend watching videos though, that can ruin the vibe.

Know that your attendant will give you a 10-minute warning before the experience ends.

After You Bathe

The water does have a bit of a sulfuric smell to it, so I recommend that you take a quick shower after bathing and do whatever you need to do to moisturize your skin and make your hair presentable.

Grand View Resort Public Hot Spring Spa

If you want to save a bit of money, the resort has a public hot spring area as well. What’s cool about the public hot spring here is that there are many types of pools / amenities available. These include spa pools, cold plunge pools, ice pools, ovens, a steam room, stone baths and relaxation areas.

The cost to visit the public hot spring spa is about ~$60 USD and you can stay for up to 4 hours.

The Beitou Hot Spring Dress Code

The dress code for both the private ant the public hot spring is the same – and that is nothing but your birthday suit. Know that for the public hot springs, the rooms will be separated by sex – male and female.

Alternate Hot Spring Options

The Beitou area has quite a few hot spring options available. Two other good options include:

• Millennium Hot Springs – This is a great option if you’re on a budget – it only costs about $5 to get in. Also, if you are shy about going without clothes, you are actually required to wear a suit here, as it is not separated by gender. This is really a no frills option, so you should be aware of that on your visit.
• Long Nai Tang – If you want to experience a traditional hot spring, this is where you should go. It is smaller than both of the other two options listed here, but well worth the experience if you like history. It has a similar fee as the Millennium Hot Spring, just around ~$5 to get in.

The difference in price in these from the Grand View Hotel is really seen through the amenities and care that is given to visitors there.

More Activities in the Beitou Area

If you decide to stay in the Beitou Area there are several other activities that are worth checking out, beyond the hot springs. These include:

• Thermal Valley – This is a park that is centered around the source of the area’s sulfuric hot-spring water. Experience the lush greenery and beautiful waters during a stroll around the area.
• Beitou Museum – Originally a hotel for Japanese elite, this museum provides information on Japanese, Taiwanese, and Aboriginal culture.
• Hot Springs Museum – This was originally a public bath house that was abandoned after World War II. Visit here to learn more about the history of hot springs in the area and really get a feel for what it was like in the larger hot springs in the past.
• Beitou Public Library – Not just any library, this building showcases what can truly be down in “green” architecture. Visit to check out the cool building style and see what “hopefully” our future holds.

Also – All of these exhibits are free! So you can save your money for the hot springs.

Summary | Beitou Private Hot Spring

In summary, my recommended hot spring experience is the Grand View Resort private hot spring experience. I recommend this one for these reasons:

• Great Customer Service
• High-Quality Luxury Rooms
• Spectacular Views

The experience while you bathe is one that can’t be missed, and definitely the right choice if you prefer the luxury experience. If you would like to really up the experience, you can opt to stay in one of the fabulous rooms at the Grand View Resort Beitou.

For lower priced options check out the Millennium Hot Springs or Long Nai Tang. And don’t forget to check out many of the free amenities available in Beitou area while you are there!

If you have been to these hot springs before, be sure to mention it in the comments below!

Related Posts:

• Taipei Travel Guide
• Worldwide Travel Guides

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