Wandering Fel

Showing posts with label Taiwan Hotel Review. Show all posts

"Don't let your dreams be dreams."

Hello everyone! It's finally one day to Friday. Currently, I have no idea why this youtube stop playing in the background of my Ipad but until I figure it out I suppose I just have to be satisfied with Spotify for now. Continuing our journey in Taiwan, we are now ready to continue our journey to the next city on our list, Taichung. The fastest way to reach Taichung from Taipei is by taking the High Speed Rail (HSR). Do you know that you can actually book the HSR ticket online (with allocated seats) and then collect the tickets later one upon arriving in Taiwan? It was so convenient to buy the tickets at this website: https://irs.thsrc.com.tw/IMINT?locale=en and the best thing is, everything's in English. Yeay!

10D9N Taiwan Trip: From Taipei to Taichung

You would have to collect your HSR tickets from either convenience stores (e.g. 7-11, Family Mart, etc) or the ticketing machines at Taipei Main Station though. We prefer to collect the ticket at 7-11 (with handling fee charges of 20NTD per ticket) because the 7-11 staff is always ready to help us whenever we got lost in reading the traditional Chinese characters. After paying the NTD 20 fees, the 7-11 staff will give you the pink ticket like above where you can scan your way in to the train platform. Since there are many trains leaving Taipei (once in every 15 minutes), you have to pay attention to the train number and the destination before boarding the train.

High Speed Rail at Taipei Main Station in Taiwan

Within less than an hour, we have reached Taichung HSR Station. I was kinda having a mixed feeling because I love taking train and yet, I also like the fact that I don't have to waste time on commuting. Such a conflicting feeling. We stayed at Le Parker Hotel in Taichung and as expected, our bedroom was not ready when we arrived around 12-ish. 3 hours later, we finally got our twin bedroom key. The twin bedroom at Le Parker Hotel is definitely more spacious and comfortable than our twin bedroom at Diary of Taipei in Ximending. The room rate for Le Parker Hotel is usually lower than 100 SGD per night so I think this is quite a great deal to find for accommodation in Taichung.

Shower room is pretty standard and there is no fancy bidet on sight but we are quite satisfied with the clean bedroom and bathroom. Amenities such as tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, sanitary bag and hairdryer are available too.

Shower room at Le Parker Hotel Taichung Taiwan

While waiting for the room key, I managed to drink this popular convenience store item in Taiwan, Uni-President's papaya milk. It tastes so good and always makes me want to go back to Taiwan whenever I think about it.

Papaya Milk Tea from Family Mart at Taiwan

After we are done checking in, it's time for us to walk around the vicinity of Le Parker Hotel. The main reason for us to choose to stay at Le Parker Hotel is actually because it is located within walking distance to Fengjia University and Fengjia Night Market, which is supposedly the biggest night market in Taiwan.

But the night market is still empty in the afternoon obviously so we just spent our time walking around Fengjia University (weird post coming up) and convenience stores. Oh look, Gudetama biscuits. It seems that Gudetama is well loved here in Taiwan.

Gudetama Biscuits at Family Mart Taichung Taiwan

Le Parker Hotel is located at:

No. 16 Lane 234, Chih Shan Road, Situn District

Taichung, Taiwan

"And you can say what is, or fight for it.

Close your mind or take a risk."

Welcome to Ximending! The moment I've landed in Taipei, this is the first place on my to-visit list. Main reason is of course because our hotel is located in this vibrant and young area of Taipei. It has been three years since the last time I visit Ximending and oh wow, since when there is a very big H&M outlet here. Okay, before I got too excited and forget that I still have my luggage with me, let's make our way to Diary of Taipei Hotel.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Diary of Taipei Ximending

Like a lot of hotels in Ximending, Diary of Taipei shares lift with other tenants in the same building and hence the first thing that you have to find in order to reach the hotel lobby is the right elevator. My travelling companion was stunned for a moment because this is her first time experience of staying in Ximending's hotels and despite the dodgy entrance, the lobby at 5th floor is pretty decent and our twin bedroom at level 10 is pretty neat. While the bed size is not big but the room, the sheet, the toilet and everything else is clean and that what matters the most to me when I travel.

Twin bedroom at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Small coffee table which we use to put all our stuff and shopping bag. Amenities are pretty basic but at least Diary of Taipei still gives us free toothbrush. Nowadays many hotels don't give toothbrushes anymore. There's kettle jug to boil your water too if you need some hot water to make coffee/ tea.

Hotel amenities at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Hairdryer is available too so we girls can wash our hair everyday during our stay at Diary of Taipei.

Sink and mirror at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Basic shower room. As long as it's clean and there's hot water available, I'm a happy guest.

Shower room at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Map of Ximending is available at the lobby and I suggest you take one because it helps greatly when you want to explore this area. Free Wifi is also available in every level however, it was kinda patchy when we just went into our room. It works normally once we have made our complaint to the front desk though. One of the common complaints received when people staying in a hotel at Ximending is the tendency of the hotel surrounding to be noisy because after all there are many clubs/ karaoke places in Ximending. But as Diary of Taipei does not share premise with those noisy kind of tenants (they share with internet cafe and hair salon), we did not encounter any noise problem during our stay at all. Phew.

And the best thing about Diary of Taipei is their location. The elevator leading to the hotel is located just a few steps away from Exit 6 of Ximending MRT Station. Basically you can just make a dash to the hotel without getting soaked under the rain if the weather is bad and you just need to trace H&M when you want to trace your way back to the hotel.

Diary of Taipei Ximending's room rate:

Double Bedroom SGD 115 - SGD 121
Twin Bedroom SGD 118 - SGD 124

Diary of Taipei Ximending's address:

5F No.90, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Ximending, Taipei