Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Stayed in Jul 2019 >

Launched in May 2018, Petrichor Hotel 朗舍行馆 derived its name from 'the pleasant smell produced after rainfall on dry ground'. Sandwiched along a quiet stretch of low-rise shops and offices, it is a convenient 5-minutes ride or 15-minutes stroll from the bustling Taichung Railway Station zone (passing Miyahara 宫原眼科 in the middle). From the handful of room types suitable for solo travellers, couples and families, I decided to experience two of them over my six-night stay.  

< Stayed in Jul 2019 & Nov 2018 >

In my other blog on iTaipei Service Apartment 京站酒店式公寓, I shared the pros of staying at this location. This post shares another service apartment in the same building - Taipei Beautiful Apartment 京站美丽住宿. I had come across this option when iTaipei was fully booked on my desired dates, and was glad I did - I could enjoy the same good location, in addition to another variety of rooms. Taipei Beautiful Apartment 京站美丽住宿's room rates may be lower, depending on travel season, so no harm making a comparison. 

***OPERATIONS CEASED IN SEP 2021***

< Last stayed in Jul 2019 >

This is a long-due post, having stayed at Ulysses Hotel 尤利西斯酒店 for five trips. Despite an understated facade tucked away at the "back" of Taipei Main Station 台北车站, I consider it a gem, after combing online research for accommodation options in this zone, reasons which I'll share below...   

< Visited in Nov 2018 & Nov 2014 | Stayed in Sep 2015 >

 

Beitou in the north of Taipei city is one of the country's hot spring zones. Since its very first hot spring hotel opened before 1900 by a Japanese businessman, the district claims a rich history and culture, and remains a charming destination for locals and travellers alike. This post shares my one-night stay at Radium Kagaya Beitou 日胜生加贺屋, and two prior visits for their private hot spring room and spa facility.

< Stayed in Nov 2014 & Nov 2018 >

Eversince I learnt about a beautiful story of how two Taiwanese ladies (one of whom has passed away due to cancer) left their day jobs to fulfill a common dream of opening a lavender farm, I have diligently pursued Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林 and its sister brands. After Apr 2013's visit to Hsinchu's Lavender Cottage Jianshi 薰衣草森林 尖石店 and Jul 2014's stay at Adagio Jinguashi 缓慢 金瓜石, next on my checklist was Lavender Cottage Xinshe 薰衣草森林 新社's B&B Adagio Reindeer : Vanilla House 缓慢 寻路 : 香草House.

<Stayed in Nov 2018>

Hotel Mapp 希堤微旅 was a search result for a two-night stay for 3 persons, with less consideration of proximity to rail or bus, as our primary mode of transport was by cab. Suffice to say that I eventually went with it for its affordable price point and perceived quality of room. Also noting that I had taken ill on the second day, rendering me unfit to explore more of the premises. Hopefully, there will be chance for a revisit to appreciate finer details of this lovely hotel.

< Stayed in Aug 2018 & Jul 2017 >

dùa is 'stay 住' in Minnanese. In Taiwan's fiercely competitive hospitality industry (and hotels sprouting way too fast for me to catch up), the since-2013 Hotel dùa 住饭店 is hardly a new name, but one that is top of (my) mind recall for Kaohsiung travels.  

< Stayed in Aug 2016 & Aug 2018 >

My earliest experience with the Adagio 缓慢 chain of accommodation went as far back as July 2014, over a two-night stay at Adagio Jinguashi 缓慢 金瓜石, followed by two nights in November 2015 at Lavender Cottage 香草 House. I enjoyed both stays very much, and to my delight, discovered another accommodation under the same brandname - Tainan Roots 台南古根. (Note: The hotel underwent management change and rebranding in 2019.)

< Stayed in Aug 2018 >

Every visit to Tainan warrants checking out an accommodation new to me, even though there could be no way I'll conquer them all given how rapid new accommodations sprout in Taiwan. My Way House 民宿x展演 was one such destination, after diligently combing homestays and B&Bs in the vicinity of Zheng Xing Street 正兴街. Arriving one hot afternoon, I checked in for a three-night stay.  

*The Icon Hotel ceased operations in Apr 2020 and now operates as Hotel Papa Whale-Formosa Boulevard*

< Stayed in May 2017 >

Being one of the two cities in Taiwan with an MRT system, staying near a station and at a central location are natural criteria when visiting Kaohsiung. The Icon Hotel 艾卡设计旅店 is located within walking distance to not one, but two rather centralised and popular MRT stations - Central Park 中央公园 (R09 on the red line) and Formosa Boulevard 美丽岛 (R10 on the red line and O05 on the orange line).  

***The establishment has ceased operations in May 2019***

< Visited in Dec 2016 & stayed in May 2017 >

A very hot afternoon in December 2016 (the southern part of Taiwan knows no real winter) brought me to Zheng Xing Cafe 正兴咖啡馆 for the first time, in search of air-conditioning, good coffee and cake. Having read much about them from Taiwan blogs, it is impossible to miss this place located at the heart of a bustling Zheng Xing Street 正兴街. I found out later by chance that the cafe has an attached B&B, and wasted no time to book a room for two nights in May 2017. 

***The establishment has ceased operations in Jul 2018***

< Stayed in May 2017 & Dec 2016 >

With three recent trips to Tainan, the variety of accommodation proves to be the first mission to overcome. From regular hotels, boutique ones, to old houses converted to cosy B&Bs, visitors are spoilt for choice. I am a fan of boutique hotels, and in line with the laidback charm of Tainan, old buildings put to new use are also my preference. 

Over two visits in Dec 2016 and May 2017, I made JJ-W 佳佳西市场旅店 my choice of accomm, the former with elders, and the latter, a solo trip. The seven-storey tall hotel is so named because of its location beside Jia Jia West Market (to its right in the photo above). Marrying accommodation, art and culture, the building was a former hotel built in the 1970s, by Taiwan's first female architect. Under a new management team, JJ-W Hotel breathes new life into the building. (Read about JJ-W here.)

< Stayed in Mar 2017 >

One of the things to love about Taiwan, is how easy it is to find respite from the hustle and bustle of city life, by travelling mere minutes to the outskirts (or hours if you want to head farther up to the mountains). In the spring of 2017, my gal pal and I headed to Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort 大板根温泉酒店, a haven located in the outskirts of Taipei City, at Sanxia 三峡 district (known for Sanxia Old Street 三峡老街). 

< Stayed in Mar 2017 | Sep 2015 | Jul 2015 >

Ximending and Taipei Main Station are possibly the two most common and popular accomm locations for tourists. After initial years favouring Ximending (when I used to shop here), I have grown to appreciate the latter as a base for travel to other parts of Taiwan. One accommodation I have experienced here, for generous space for self, one or two travelmates, or family members in tow, is iTaipei Service Apartment 京站酒店式公寓.

Sunnydale House 日光青境 in the beautiful mountains of Nantou, Qingjing 南投, 清境 is one accommodation that I had visited sufficient times to become friends with the owners. While I only have photos dating from Apr 2011 (to the last trip in Dec 2016), my first visit was actually a couple of years before that. Just that it would be challenging to locate my 4R photo printouts from those days. (Also, to excuse the poor quality of early photos.) 

< Stayed in Aug 2016 | Jul 2014 | May 2013 > 

In my initial years of visiting Taipei, and when I still frequented Ximending 西门町 for shopping and dining, the district was a preferred location of stay. Via Ximending 丰居西門町 was 1 of my 2 favourites - the other being amba Ximending 西门町意舍.

< Stayed in Jun 2016 | Nov 2014 | Jan 2014 | Apr 2013 > 

In my initial years of visiting Taipei, Ximending 西门町 being the shopping and dining hive was a preferred location of stay. amba Ximending 西门町意舍 was 1 of my 2 favourites, the young-ish, stylish sub-brand of the Ambassador hotel chain. 

< Stayed in Jul 2014 > 

The Adagio 缓慢 family of lodging is sister brand to Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林, with three accommodations located in Hokkaido 北海道, Hualian 花莲 and Jinguashi 金瓜石. Prior to Tainan's Roots Inn 台南古根 (formerly operated as Adagio Travel Tainan Roots Inn 缓慢文旅 台南古根) and Taichung Xinshe's Vanilla House 台中新社 香草 House, my very first experience with the Adagio 缓慢 hospitality was at Adagio Jinguashi 缓慢 金瓜石.