I love Taipei in autumn 🍂 Piping hot street food, endless shopping & cool breezy winds – the best getaway from the haze and heat in Singapore.
Even though Taipei is relatively small and transport is cheap, I always need a conveniently located hotel so that I can make regular trips back to dump all my shopping!
So this year on my yearly pilgrimage to Taipei, I had the opportunity to stay with Hotel Relax which is located all around the area between Taipei Main Station and Ximending!! Best of both shopping, food & transportation worlds 🥰 and what’s better than 1 hotel? 4 hotels of course!!! Yasssss Hotel Relax has 4 outlets all around Taipei Main Station, all within a few steps of each other and we got to check out all 4 of them!! Let’s show you guys around ~
Getting from Tao Yuan Airport to Hotel Relax was a breeze thanks to the new airport train that delivers you from the airport straight to Taipei Main Station! The underground station was quite a maze though but we managed to find our way to Exit K12 which is the nearest exit to our first stop for the trip, Hotel Relax I! Just walk straight from the exit across the road towards a huge Mcdonalds’ sign and you will find monochromatic artwork directing you towards Hotel Relax I’s life lobby.
Their first hotel is unique as it occupies only the 10th & 11th floor of a commercial building with restaurants (such as the 24 hours McDonald’s at the ground floor) offices and retail tenants below! I love the energy & bustle at all times during our stay cos’ I never felt bored or unsafe (or hungry) – plus the noise doesn’t reach the hotel level at all so we still had our peace and quiet to relax!
The lobby took us by surprise with its cozy grandeur – it reminded me of a cushy, dark royale style, very Balmain vibes. We were greeted cheerily by Winnie, the front desk manager, even though we arrived at such a late timing! Check in process was quick, smooth and incredibly warm, as Winnie patiently explained all the additional perks the hotel has prepared for all their guests. We got a welcome facial mask each for some relaxing DIY spa time, as well as a whole basket of snacks and goodies (perfect for TV couch holidayers to snack on in their room).
This is the first hotel I’ve been to that gives out facial masks – quite possibly the most thoughtful welcome gifts for ladies (and let’s not forget the men) and the perfect touch to our girls’ trip! We were also reassured to hear that security is of utmost importance for Hotel Relax and no matter the time we reach back to our room, there will be someone on duty at the concierge welcoming us back and security cameras in the vicinity to keep us safe. Additionally, they went the extra mile to invite a local Taiwanese artist to carve out wooden “Make Up Room/ Do Not Disturb” signs, so you won’t get those flimsy disposable plastic signs.
Apart from making your stay in the room 100% relaxing, Hotel Relax also prepares visitors for exploring around Taipei, Taiwan with a pamphlet buffet table of tours, attractions, maps and all the information you can probably need in the lobby! Taiwan is world renowned for their FOOOOOOD and so if you are keen to bring a piece (or more) of Taiwan back home for your family, you can order their famous pineapple cakes, sun cakes and other foodvenirs from the comfort of the hotel! Just fill in the order form available at the counter and your goodies will be delivered to the hotel, so you don’t need to go lugging them around the whole day out shopping.
We were already thoroughly impressed by the lobby and service standards, but when we headed to our room at level 10, we were completely won over. Our room for 3 pax was huuuuuuge! When I travel to Taipei, I am generally used to smaller sized rooms in touristy areas because the rental is understandably more expensive, so we were shook at the amount of space we had around our beds. I could run circles around my bed – very appropriate for 3 girls with a ton of clothes/ shoes/ makeup/ skincare, you name it. The room décor reflected the overall Marquee vibes of the hotel too – very cozy and chic!
Location-wise, Hotel Relax is perfect for our shopping/ eating/ clubbing girls’ trip. We headed over to Shih Lin Night Market via MRT (just a few stops on the same line cos’ Taipei Main Station is like the central interchange for several MRT lines) to stock up on my daily brick shoes & of course all my favourite snacks like grilled beef cubes, milk tea, cheese potato & giant fried chicken cutlet and fried milk! Underground, there is this long strip mall right below Taipei Main Station where I found some 10 NTWD sushi :O
We even had time to head back to wash up before grabbing a taxi to Triangle, a laidback grunge nightclub that was filled with expats and a ton of fun!! The second night we also took the subway to the bustling nightlife Xinyi district near Taipei 101 which is also on the same line 🤪 I can’t imagine a more convenient location!
The next day we woke up not so bright and cheery (a little hungover) but we had a hearty breakfast spread to cheer us up! All Hotel Relax guests from all 4 locations congregate like a big family at level B1 of Hotel Relax II where the hotel chain’s Italian restaurant Tutto Fresco resides at level 1. The selection was small but yummy & sufficient with a good mix of intercontinental choices & local delights – don’t forget to grab a cuppa to R E L A X as their bright LED sign promotes! We also gave them some feedback on food items we would love to enjoy for breakfast and they actually took them into consideration for future menus!
After breakfast, we decided to claim our complimentary cakes & drinks at Hotel Relax V, just across the road from Hotel Relax II. Yes, every guest can redeem a pastry & drink at the lobby cafe where you can rest your feet, take a sip & watch the world go by through their European-style glass windows – Hotel Relax really places a lot of emphasis on relaxation!! We picked out warm floral teas and fluffy hazelnut cakes, perfect for a breezy autumn day in Taipei.
Hotel Relax I also has a sun-filled lounge that doubles up as a cozy coworking space/ meeting area for guests. Each hotel has plush, Victorian-style lobbies that are each slightly unique in their decor to welcome guests home!
Don’t get stressed out over dirty laundry or lack of amenities as well! Every hotel has self-service facilities and all the amenities you can possibly need, such as hair dryers, combs, ironing boards. Several convenience stores like 7 Eleven & Family Mart are also scattered around the Hotel Relax circle of properties, so you’ll never get hungry.
Speaking of hungry… after a long day of shopping, we headed back to Hotel Relax II to check out Tutto Fresco for a lovely Italian dinner! My personal favourite was their Sze Chuan Style Peppered Sirloin Strips Fettuccine with Poached Egg – doesn’t that sound mouthwatering already? We also loved their Mentaiko, Potato & Crab pizza!!!
I always knew Taipei was famous for their night market foodie heaven BUT I was pleasantly surprised with our meal at Tutto Fresco – they sure can whip up a mean Western style dinner, a yummy detour from all of our streetside snacking! I’m super glad I had the opportunity to try one of the top-rated casual restaurants in Taipei, Tutto Fresco and even happier that our tummies were not disappointed!
We also got to stay a few nights at their newest hotel, Hotel Relax V! I am even more in love with their bright modern rooms here with full length window views of the bustling Taipei streets below. Perfect for an impromptu photoshoot!!
Even the toilets are gorgeous! When I travel alone, I don’t like my hotel room to be too big/ spacious either cos’ sleeping alone can be a little scary with so much empty space (for bedtime monsters to roam). The single room for solo travellers is PERFECT with a cozy bed and bath set-up plus ample city views from your geometric windows! Great views are honestly so rare for properties catering to solo travellers cos’ the best views are reserved for bigger rooms usually, but Hotel Relax loves pampering their solo guests as well!
On our last day, we had to pick up some souvenirs from Ximending and so we WALKED to Ximen Station!!! Yes, Hotel Relax is that close!! So you get the best of both worlds during your stay as you can walk to both Taipei Main Station for easy access to the airport and Ximending for endless shopping!
All in all, Hotel Relax is my top pick for the perfect Taipei hotel! I’m going to make it my mission to stay in ALL the Hotel Relax boutiques when we are back in Taipei next time! Thank you lady boss Chris for having us!! #HotelRelax 💤
đź’† Hotel Relax đź’†
Website: http://www.hotelrelaxclub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotelrelaxclub/
Address: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Guanqian Road, 8
Phone: +886 2 2383 2727
