Hi All,

I have a tentative trip planned for the first week of December to Taiwan. I'll only be there over a weekend and am just looking to get a feel for Taipei as well as, hopefully, to meet up with my brother while he is in town.

There's not a lot of info here on luxe accomodations in TPE and I'm hoping that I can benefit from someone's recent experience. At this point it looks like the 3 generally accepted "best hotels" are:

1) The Landis
2) The Sherwood
3) The Shangri-La (Far East Plaza)

All three appear to be very nice and I'm sure that I'll be comfortable no matter which one I choose.

Can anyone comment on these properties? I'm especially interested in commentaries on location. What's a good home base for someone looking to explore the city. I'm assuming that proximity to an MRT stop is the determining factor here.

Also, I'm seeing mention of a couple of new properties (owned by the same company) and they look pretty good. Neither has an on-site restaraunt, but I'm guessing that there would be plenty of options within walking distance. Has anyone here stayed at:

Les Suites Ching Cheng
Les Auites Da An

If I've missed anything please let me know.

Thanks!!!

I haven't stayed in any of the hotels in Taipei since TPE is home for me. However, I spotted this website while posting Discover Taiwan Free Trip.

It also lists some of the nice hotels in TPE:
http://www.go2taiwan.net/product.php?pid_for_show=44

What I do know is the closer you stay aroound the World Trade Center area, the more perks you'll get to know about the city of Taipei.

Be prepared, though, a new construction for the Metro or Rapid Transit System-Shingyi Route just started last week. That means traffice is getting very, very bad around the World Trade Centre, Taipei 101 Finance Tower and anywhere along the Shingyi RD.

I was at Taipei around three months ago.
I stayed at Hyatt, which is very next to Taipei 101, which is the world's tallest builing. It was only one night stay but overall decent.

My personal favorite is the Westin Taipei, especially if you can get the club floor. Large, well appointed rooms, fast HSIA (pay), excellent f&b on site, excellent staff. Usually a good value for money as well.

I have stayed at both the Sherwood and the Grand Hyatt. IMHO the Sherwood is one of the best hotels I have stayed in while travelling in Asia. Great rooms and great service. Also if you get tired of Taiwanese food, there is a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse a block away!

There's also McDonald's and KFC on standby.

A Pizza Hut and TJI Fridays by the Grand Hyatt too

I love Shangri-la Far Eastern Plaza.
Though it depends on how they keep upgrading, their executive deluxe room is fabulous! Some of them has window in the bath room. So you can enjoy the view while taking a bath.

My recommendation is Regent Grand Formosa. A newly opened executive floor (Taipan) as well as new Spa last year are stunning.

No experience staying at the locations you mentioned, but I've been to the Sherwood and it has an "Asian hotel" feel to it. Not sure how else to describe it.

I'd highly recommend the Westin, it has a very modern architectural feel to the hotel. It's a nice location and rooms on the top floor are fantastic. ^

From the look of the rooms on the Sahangri-La and Landis websites, I'd say the Westin's top-floor rooms are superior.

Plus, the Westin is close a block from the metro, which makes it easy to get around the city.

While you are there, be sure to check out "the People's Restaurant� (a pretty cool place), the Living Mall, and Taipei 101. All are excellent places to go, which make you say "wow!" beyond the traditional tourist sites.

I have been to TPE twice this year, and stayed once at Sherwood and once at Grand Hyatt. I have to say that Sherwood is really nice, but you might also want to add the Grand Hyatt to your shortlist. The hotel was really quite excellent - great restaurants and bar - and good location, above/beyond just being next to Taipei 101. But I think you can't go wrong with the Sherwood.

Location wise the Hyatt has got to be the best in Taipei. Where is your business taking you in Taipei?

The Hyatt is good along with the Westin. As someone else mentioned though the Far Eastern/Shangri-La is VERY good if you are getting an upgrade to an exec room with your rate plan (e.g. our negotiated corporate rate gets that - on top of that Shangri-La's frequent stay program normally bumps it up another notch).

Westin seems a little "quaint", Hyatt and Island Shangri-La seem like more established larger properties.

The Grand Hyatt location is near to the Taipei 101, and nothing else. It's a nice hotel, with good japanese buffet, and easy access to 101 (3 mins walk).

Try the Les Suite Da'an, a nice boutique hotel

I'm slightly partial to Sheraton and the Westin. Both happen to be in very good areas of Taipei.

The best non Starwood property I stayed at was the Far Eastern. Very pleasantly surprised.

In my mind I feel that the Regent is very overrated. Looks nice, everything is else is just mediocre.