Where to stay in TAIPEI?
Jul 3, 2018, 8:29 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
I prefer Mandarin Oriental, but its not in the best part of town. Regardless, taxis are cheap and everywhere in Taipei so should be no issue.
Jul 3, 2018, 10:24 am
#4
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
Jul 3, 2018, 12:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Given no specific location requirements, my Taipei choice is the Marvelous Suite at the W - but the W doesn't fit into the category of luxury hotels typically discussed on this forum. I like the W primarily for location; I prefer taking the MRT, which is accessible fully indoors from the W so long as the Hankyu department store in the same building is open, and the W is on the busy and central Blue line. It is also now possible to walk to Taipei 101 from the W completely via covered walkways (again, so long as the Hankyu is open, due to the underground connection to the new Cathay Landmark Building next door). I typically go out at night in Xinyi, so also convenient to the W.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
Jul 5, 2018, 7:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: AC SE MM, too many others
Posts: 1,407
Given no specific location requirements, my Taipei choice is the Marvelous Suite at the W - but the W doesn't fit into the category of luxury hotels typically discussed on this forum. I like the W primarily for location; I prefer taking the MRT, which is accessible fully indoors from the W so long as the Hankyu department store in the same building is open, and the W is on the busy and central Blue line. It is also now possible to walk to Taipei 101 from the W completely via covered walkways (again, so long as the Hankyu is open, due to the underground connection to the new Cathay Landmark Building next door). I typically go out at night in Xinyi, so also convenient to the W.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
Jul 6, 2018, 12:03 am
#7
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
Jul 6, 2018, 6:12 am
#8
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Traffic isn't an issue? Seems to be rather spread out, some other friends told me it's essential to be near a metro stop. Not required? Taxi transit easy enough? Do they have uber or something similar?
Jul 6, 2018, 6:13 am
#9
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Given no specific location requirements, my Taipei choice is the Marvelous Suite at the W - but the W doesn't fit into the category of luxury hotels typically discussed on this forum. I like the W primarily for location; I prefer taking the MRT, which is accessible fully indoors from the W so long as the Hankyu department store in the same building is open, and the W is on the busy and central Blue line. It is also now possible to walk to Taipei 101 from the W completely via covered walkways (again, so long as the Hankyu is open, due to the underground connection to the new Cathay Landmark Building next door). I typically go out at night in Xinyi, so also convenient to the W.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
I have not stayed at the MO or even seen the rooms, but I walked the property a few years ago and never considered staying there as a result. I thought the common areas of the hotel were poorly laid out and generally lacked flow, and I hated the decor in many places (esp. the arcade) as it felt tacky faux European. The staff that we interacted with were stuffy and disinterested. I also disliked that even the casual dining venue had a dress code, which IMO is absurd given Taiwan's oppressive summer climate and general cultural casualness. From the pictures, the hard product does look typically MO though, so it is an option if that's the priority.
The Shangri-La is another possibility that has been well-reviewed by both Taiwanese and westerners I know who have stayed there, but also suffers from lack of access to the MRT - although the general area is not as uninteresting as that around the MO.
It'll be interesting to check out the PH and Andaz when they open, but that won't be a for a few years.
Jul 7, 2018, 5:07 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Taiwan
Programs: UA, CX, BR
Posts: 718
Location: Le Meridien/Grand Hyatt > Shangri-la > MO. The first 2 get you in the heart of the Xinyi district & especially Le Meridien is by the subway. I think "W"'s hardware screams cheapness. (I think MO's design screams ugliness.)
Jul 7, 2018, 1:05 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
I have been to Taipei many times for business and travelling within Taipei and finding a Taxi was never an issue. Its literally everywhere. Traffic can be bad during peak hour on a rainy day but otherwise no major issues. Most commutes for me were under 20 mins. But if you want to be at the centre of city in a more exciting / bustling area where everything is walking distance then MO is not ideal.
Jul 8, 2018, 8:59 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 676
It kind of depends on which part of town do you want to be in. For Xinyi district, I prefer Le Meridien over W since it has a calmer atmosphere. For closer to the Taipei train station, I quite like the Okura. There are no real high end option in Taipei but these are the ones that I would use when in town. The Shangri-La is in a good location but it's hardware is quite dated
Jul 9, 2018, 12:27 am
#14
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Would like to know more about this. Recently realized I have IHG Platinum and apparently The Regent is IHG. How does it stack up compared to say the Grand Hyatt? The MO looks OK but seems very out of the way. for my dates the W is priced like 2x comparable options which seems absurd for a W as i've never had anything approaching an excellent (or even particularly good) stay at one, even overpriced W's like Barcelona.
Jul 9, 2018, 8:55 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
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