Le Meridien Taipei

[KitKat]

Apologies, trying to work out how to upload pictures here - still new to this.
Anyway, will get on with the review. Pictures to follow once I work out how to do this.

Booked 3 nights via the SPG site without any problems.
Relatively new, less than two months old at the moment. Currently using the complimentary wifi in the room. Blisteringly fast, faster than my ADSL at home!

Two days before arrival, suddenly realised I needed to get transport organised from TPE to the hotel. Quick look at the website - one way transfer was 2400NTD. Desperate and never having been here and not able to speak Mandarin, I quickly emailed the hotel requesting confirmation of cost and availability.
Anxious wait the next day if they would be able to respond in time, suddenly, lunch time in MEL the day before arrival, received a call from the Hotel. Excellent. Confirmed the transfer. Good start.

 

[KitKat]

Arrived into TPE on time. Unfortunately luggage did not make it, sigh... another story in another trip report.
So spent some time organising the report, customs forms etc.
Got out late from the sterile area, looked around, another person holding up a different name asked me if I was Mr KitKat
Then I saw a small slip with my name on it. Then this person ran off yelling at another person. Then I heard my name being paged
Another suited man then came up to us, introduced himself and brought us to the kerbside. Short time later we were in a 7 series bimmer hurtling down the highway.

More to follow, anyway some pictures below as I have managed to work out how to pop some pics here only photos from iphone at the moment, have not downloaded camera photos


view of Hotel from Mitsukoshi





nice clipsal switches

OK off to the shops now

 

[KitKat]

Check in was quick, driver had called 5 mins ahead to inform of our arrival. Proximity cards all organised, breakfasts included explained.
Lots of marble in the lobby. Sit down check in desks.
Concierge at opposite end of foyer.

Location: in Xinyi district, next door to Mitsukoshi and Bellavita, 5-10 minutes walk to City Hall train station, 5-10 minutes walk to Taipei 101 - so reasonably central

Room: Modern, Open plan, may not be to everyone's liking - toilet separate from shower (but there is a small sink in the toilet room), main sink in open area (although in a cubicle to the side), large shower, with side massage jets. Toilet is a TOTO with all the whiz-bang functions - heating, wash, dry, auto seat up etc

Bed: comfortable but again down pillows. My preference is to have latex pillows but very few hotels offer them.

Toiletries: well suppled L'occitane. Plus useful things for me due to my delayed luggage - shaver and foam, toothbrush and toothpaste (large tube enough to last at least a week), comb etc.

Other stuff: 42in TV, Nespresso machine, auto blinds

 

[KitKat]

Breakfast buffet: Good spread, lots of options, fresh produce








Gym: Well equipped, there is a pool as well, large enough to do laps in 3 very wide lanes.

 

[ric_melb]

Good TR. Sorry to hear about luggage. Why not ask the hotel if they have alternative pillows. Most hotels of decent quality have.

 

[superchris]

5 Star prices with 3 star service

I had a three day stay here in January 2011.
The Hotel was only 2 months old but it lacks organisation and planning.
Upgraded as a Platinum guest to a suite on the 12th floor after being picked up in the 7 series at the airport and check in was quick as I was taken directly to the lounge.
The Hotel lacks atmosphere and I was a little underwhelmed when I arrived as it felt I was walking into a Government building and not a modern Hotel.
The Hotel promises much but it still needs to iron out its service delivery.
Not the cheapest option...5 star prices but 3 star service delivery.
Other Hotel options are more appealing.

The Shower could have had a party for 15 in it and the High Tech Japanese toilet and Nespresso machine were nice suite additions.Fast in room internet.
Overall a stay that promised much but too many service issues like wrong meals delivered, Hotel uses conference room in the Lounge as a staff training room so I was booted out to the Lounge for my meeting, mix up with power adapters, poor in room cleaning with food scraps still present after 2 days.
Management seems reactive to service failures rather than proactive.

 

[KitKat]

Having stayed 5 nights at the W Taipei, for a lowly SPG nuthin', I will probably stay at the Le Meridien if I am in TPE again. They looked after me well in terms of looking after my delayed luggage overnight, checked with me if I did not want to be disturbed if it arrived past midnight, and rang me up the day before arrival while I was still in Melbourne to confirm my transfer as I had booked it less than 48 hours before arrival.
The concierge was excellent as well - made all the necessary restaurant bookings.
Used room service - meals arrived on time, warm, trolley collected promptly. The complimentary in-room wifi is a bonus as well (I suppose they have just included it in the rate).
The downside for me is the construction going on next door. I guess when that is finished, it may be easier to get to the shops.