My wife will be doing a mileage run to Taipei in early December. After doing a search of FT, I found a thread from last year recommending the following. In parenthesis is the pricing I found for each on ASIATRAVEL.com
Hyatt(4350)
Intercontinental (3150)
Ritz Landing (3380)
LaLai Sheraton (4200)
She will probably have 1 full day there to take a brief tour and walk around a little bit in the "shopping area (is there a specific area that caters to fabric sales?)". My question is: Which of these is best located and which is the best bang for the buck? It appears that it is the Hyatt, but is that still the case now? Second, what is the most efficient/cheapest way to get to the hotel, given that this is her (my) own money? Thank you.
Ed

It's only timing that gives this post primacy: I hope others will contribute better information. I like Lai Lai, which is on Chunghsiao East Rd., which I enjoy, not too far from the train station: there's good shopping north of there on some of the major NS arteries (the name Chang An comes to mind), but I'm not sure about fabrics per se. I think the other hotels you think of are way east of the downtown, although it's a busy enough area.
By far the cheapest way to get to and from the airport is the scheduled shuttle bus service - I am not superclear on the details today but will try to dredge up my old trip report (not originally posted here) that describes my experiences with it.

I've stayed at the Taipei Rebar Crowne Plaza
32 Nanking E. Rd. Sec. 5, TAIPEI TAIWAN 10571 Phone: +886-2-27635656 Fax: +886-2-27646287 E-mail: [email protected]

a few times, most recently 1-3 June 2000. The rate was US $122/night and the transfer from the CKS Int'l was US $34 each way (arranged via email with the hotel although all hotels have transport desks at the airport so it's easy to hook up). It's a nice hotel, and I did a fair amount of walking around. I think it's reasonably centrally located although I stay there as it is one block from our office.

There is also a new Westin in Taipei which I hear is very modern and stylish. However it's in a mostly business area. For me, the Grand Hyatt remains the best choice.

Another option is to choose a good cheap local hotel. Nearby the Hyatt downtown is a nice little place called the Dynasty Hotel. It's low cost yet the rooms are comfortable, the service is very good and they speak English.


[This message has been edited by stimpy (edited 09-02-2000).]

If your wife wants to shop, set her up at Lai Lai. The Hilton did not seem quite as nice but both are in the downtown shopping area. Hilton is a little closer in. Can walk to everything. I found Grand Hyatt to be a sumptuous hotel but very far from the action. Since it is your collective money paying for cabs, location should be a big factor. There are some fantastic bakeries near the department stores also - a real surprise to me.

That's a gentle way of putting it. The Sheraton's an above-average hotel, the Hilton is quite a bit below standard.

I'm posting an old Taipei trip report originally sent to a food group: it's dead long, and if you don't want to read the whole thing, the punch line is that the airport bus (called the AirBus), which has two routes, one that shuttles around the downtown hotels, and one that shuttles around the eastern ones, is reasonably comfy and cost (a couple years ago) US$3.

Thanks, everyone. Please keep the suggetsions coming over the long holiday weekend and we'll make a selection and post it next week.
Ed
Violist: Wow, What a report you posted In the TRIP REPORT section. Thank you

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 09-03-2000).]

The Grand Hyatt Taipei is one of the nicest hotels you can find anywhere. If you can swing a Regency Club room, you'll be treated like royalty!

The Grand Hyatt is good but it's really out of the way unless you're visiting one of the fairs in the TWTC (Taipei World Trade Center). It isn't in the city center. It's in the Hsinyi District and right next to the TWTC and close to the Warner Cinema Complex and the shopping centers nearby. It's a long walk from the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) City Hall station.

The Intercontinental is OK but not within reach of anything major.

The Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza on Tunhua South Rd. is also good but out of the way from anything major.

The Westin is new, right next to China Airlines HQ on Nanking East Road. It's not near anything worth while.

The Howard Plaza is good and the rate reasonable. It's in the Ta-an District on Ren-ai Road, close the the Sogo Department Store right in the shopping, restaurant,cafe area. It's within walking distance from the MRT Chunghsiao-Fushing Station, which is a transfer point for two MRT lines.

My personal choices would be in the old Taipei downtown area in the Chungshan District:
The Formosa Regent, on Chungshan North Road, Sec. 2
Royal Taipei Nikko, on Chungshan North Road, Sec. 2
The Ambassador, on Chungshan North Rd., Sec. 2

The above 3 are in between the MRT Chungshan and Minchuan West Road Stations. They are in the same general area but further north from the Main Train Station and the Lai Lai Sheraton and Hilton.

The best IMO is the Sherwood, but it's in the so-called financial area where most of the foreign banks have their branch offices, no shopping.

There are several airport buses that stop at some of the hotels above on their runs from CKS Airport. They also pick up from the hotels, too.

Is today's "Grand Hyatt" the same as the "Grand Hotel" I visited in 1979? Is this giant, hilltop, pagoda-style property as grand as it used to be?

The Grand Hotel isn't the Grand Hyatt.

The Grand is still there on a hill top with all its Chinese palace trimmings. The roof was redone due to a fire 4 - 5 years ago. I don't know if they have ever renovated and updated the interior, which could be quite worn and old.

It's out of the way from everywhere, but it is close to one of the MRT stations. It is in a beautiful setting and it has a wonderful outdoor pool.

When you go to Taipei visit our Travel club, we may even make a chat at starbucks cafe near you !

What kind or mileage run are you making to Taipei, what airline, I usually use CI because of the upgrades and cheap fares ($550)

our club web site: http://homestead.deja.com/user.johor

email: [email protected]