I stayed one night at the swanky W Taipei, a Marriott Bonvoy property in the heart of the Taiwanese capital. With the weather inclement, I ended up spending much of the day in the hotel and quite enjoyed this property.
W Taipei Review
My Starlux flight arrived before dawn. Looking at my options to get to the hotel, I noticed there was a nonstop bus (Citibus number 1960) going directly towards Taipei City Hall Bus Station, located adjacent to the hotel. It was about 1/8 the price of Uber (NTD 145 or about $4.69) and I figured I might be able to work onboard during the journey into the city, so I booked it. While I was not very productive onboard, it is a fairly direct and very inexpensive way to travel between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and the hotel (it takes less time than Taipei Metro, Airport Line to Bannon Line, transferring at Taipei Main Station).
Check-In
Arriving at 10:00 am, I hoped my room would be ready, but figured it would not be because the hotel was sold out. Indeed, my room (just a standard room with two double beds, since no king rooms were available when I booked) was not ready, though I was invited to use the fitness center and wellness area while I waited. That was exactly what I was hoping for…
Spa Day At Gym + Wellness
I spent the next hour working out in the hotel’s very nice gym and then the following hour cycling between the sauna, massage chair, hot tub, and steam room in the wellness area.
The gym includes a wide range of TechnoGym equipment and I had a very good workout.
Pick up a key to the locker room at the reception for the gym (it’s free for hotel guests). The wellness area includes lockers, showers, toilets, plunge pools (both heated and unheated), a sauna, steam room, and massage chair. This is a really nice place to have a spa day.
By noon my room was ready but after settling into my room, I went back and spent another hour in the sauna and steam room, then did it again before bed and the next morning departing.
The gym and the wellness area are open 24/7, which I think is a great value-add. Many nice hotels after fitness centers that never close, but most lock up the changing rooms and wellness areas, sometimes early in the evening.
With the rain, I did not use the hotel’s outdoor pool.
Room
My room, 1707, did not have much of a view, but was very clear and had comfortable beds (at least the one I slept in!), which are the two most important thing I care about in any hotel room.
I liked the couch, though I wasn’t a big fun of the “desk” because it was missing a chair with a back to it…so I sat in bed and worked.
The room included a Nespresso espresso machine, hot water kettle, cocktail mixer, and mini bar with soft drinks, Evian water, beer, wine, and Champagne (Pommery). Snacks were also available.
Bottled water was complimentary and I came back from dinner to find four bottles at my beside and my bed turned down.
The bathroom was on the smaller side, with a single sink (more water), a walk-in area with a shower and tub sharing the same space, and a small toilet room.
Amenities like cotton buds and bath salt were already present in the bathroom and the shower products were from Momo.
Dining
The hotel offers two restaurants and three bars.
Interestingly, my breakfast was moved from Seasons by Olivier E to YEN restaurant due to private event in Seasons.
Seasons by Olivier E
Seasons by Olivier E is a modern French restaurant led by Michelin-starred Chef Olivier Elzer. Normally breakfast is served here from 6:30 am to 10:00am (Monday thru Friday) and until 10:30 am on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lunch from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm (Monday thru Friday) and until 3:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Dinner from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm nightly.
On the day of my arrival, breakfast was being served there and I took these pictures:
YEN Chinese Restaurant on the 31st floor
However, the next day breakfast was held at YEN instead, which I found to be upgrade in the sense that the coffee machine is better in YEN than in Seasons. Overall, though, the breakfast selection was merely identical and I enjoyed a nice omelet and delicious fresh-squeezed juices.
Normally, this restaurant is only open for lunch from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and dinner from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Woobar
The lobby-level bar is perhaps the coolest looking space in the hotel and is open for drinks and food from Sunday -Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 am (open until 1:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Wet Bar
The pool bar is open seasonally and was closed during my visit (perhaps because of the rain).
Yen Bar
The top-floor Yen Bar is open Sunday -Thursday 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm (open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays).
Booking
I used an expiring 85,000 point free night (via the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card) and I must admit that itself was disappointing. That’s another topic for another post, but I was really hoping to redeem it at The St. Regis New York, but with “award inflation” that property is now out of reach. Previously, it was bookable on select dates with a small top-op of points using the 85K free night award. Now I don’t see a rate below 110K points per night, putting it out of reach for these certs.
The W is not usually so expensive, but on my night the cash rate was 750 USD plus tax or 72,000 points. Last year, I used my free night at The West Hollywood EDITION, a fun staycation. Here, I quite liked the hotel, but it seemed so expensive to use that free night award. Normally, the hotel is closer 300 USD per night, which strikes me as a much more reasonable rate.
CONCLUSION
I enjoyed my stay at the W Taipei and would recommend it for the great 24/7 wellness area alone. The room and breakfast were also excellent (though not extraordinary or above average in terms of luxury hotels in East Asia). It is “hipper” than the Grand Hyatt nearby, though I think I will return to that hotel next time (being a Hyatt loyalist and not particularly loyal to Marriott). I love Taipei itself and hope to return many times over the years to the vibrant nation of Taiwan.
Stayed here in 2020, and can’t say enough good things. Other than the W in the Maldives, it’s one of the best.
Upon your return visit to Singapore, I believe that you will like the W Sentosa. The rooms and Woo Bar are similar and the spa facilities are nicer than the W Taipei.
I loved Sentosa! Next time, though, I have to give the Grand Hyatt a try. Has been more than a decade!
Spending all of that time in the gym can only mean one thing – training for your own free solo of Taipei 101! Looking forward to that future trip report.
A lot of non-locals don’t realize that hotel is notorious for sex parties (or room parties in general). Many people have OD’d and died there. Do you really want to stay in a room where 70 people were crammed into a junior suite the night before for someone’s birthday, or a had a big, gay orgy party with tons of drugs?
Glad I wasn’t on that floor!
Any delicious Taiwanese food on during this stay?
LOL. Come on, Aaron. You know me by now. 😉
Lol I know, but I had to be sure. Not even duck?
You know I had steak!
https://liveandletsfly.com/steak-dinner-in-taipei-at-le-blanc/
The wellness facilities look amazing! Is this like Japan where the changing room pools/sauna, everyone is fully naked? Or togs are mandatory here?
I didn’t have any clothes on…