bocastephen

I stay at the Novotel extensively, and it's the best option for this itinerary if the 12hrs are overnight vs daytime. If the layover is daytime, store the bags at the airport and head into the city for lunch and exploring.

There are other hotels located in Taoyuan which are both convenient to shopping and eating, and a little nicer, but they require a taxi ride back to the terminal in the morning which can be dicey with traffic depending on the departure time especially given the morning flight bank leads to complete crowd chaos in the terminal from 7A to about 830A, and without APEC, it's risky given there are no special lanes for business class or frequent fliers.

I would do the Novotel as the first choice, although it really is becoming a little long in the tooth quality-wise, and the second option is the lower priced but still decent Holiday Inn Express in Taoyuan.