Uncover Taiwan's Hidden Gem: Orient Luxury Hotel - You Won't Believe This!
Uncover Taiwan's Hidden Gem: Orient Luxury Hotel - You Won't Believe This! (And That's Okay!) - A Brutally Honest Review.
Okay, friends, buckle up. Because I've just wrestled with, loved, and maybe slightly loathed the Orient Luxury Hotel in Taiwan. And believe me, it’s a ride. The hype? Oh, the hype is REAL. But is it all roses and rainbows? Let's dive in, shall we? Let's spill the tea on this alleged 'hidden gem'.
First Impressions: Accessibility & Those Little Details (and a Bit of a Rant, Sorry!)
Finding a truly accessible hotel can feel like searching for the Holy Grail. The Orient, bless its heart, tries. Wheelchair access is advertised, which is HUGE. But, and this is a big but, I'm not a wheelchair user, so my observational skills are limited on that front. But I spotted elevators (yay!) and I strongly encourage you to call the hotel directly if accessibility is crucial to you.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges not detailed in the website, maybe double check with the hotel
Now, the little things… they matter. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Thank the tech gods!) A proper, lightning-fast LAN connection as well! (For those who need to do hardcore work, or are just paranoid about security!) Internet services also offered. Breakfast in room? Yes, please! Daily housekeeping? Yes, and they weren't shy about it! Always cleaning!
Here's where the "messy, honest" stuff gets started. They offer air conditioning in the public areas and Air conditioning in all rooms! Well the Air Condition wasn't working properly in my room (there was a minor malfunction!) and the staff fixed it faster than I can say "wow".
But here's where I started to get emotional Because of all those things. The little things that make a stay a great experience…. it also made me feel like I should've paid more for the service. All those little things…
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Safe in a Post-COVID World (and Slightly Obsessive)
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room… or, well, the virus. Anti-viral cleaning products are used. Rooms are sanitized between stays. Daily disinfection in common areas. They’re serious about this. Hand sanitizer is everywhere. Hygiene certification is displayed (which is reassuring, not a guarantee). And the fact that they offered room sanitization opt-out available shows a willingness to cater to different comfort levels. Staff trained in safety protocol. Professional-grade sanitizing services? Sounds like a clean freak's paradise. Safe dining setup and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I wasn't worried about catching anything.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food, Glorious Food (and My Overeating Problem!)
This is where the Orient truly shines. Or, at least, it threatens to shine. Restaurants? Plural! Asian breakfast? Yep. Western breakfast? You betcha. Buffet in restaurant? Oh, yes. A la carte? You bet. Coffee/tea in restaurant and the coffee shop? (My caffeine addiction rejoices.) Poolside bar? Pure bliss. (Or, at least, it threatens to be pure bliss; I'm a bit of a lightweight.) Happy hour? Now you're talkin'! And they have desserts in restaurant - my biggest weakness.
And the Vegetarian restaurant is a nice touch.
Okay, anecdote time. Breakfast. Oh, the breakfast buffet. The croissants. The fruit. The… everything. I ate so much, I swear I could barely waddle back to my room. But the food was fresh. The service was impeccable. And the only thing worse than eating too much at the Orient's breakfast is regretting that you didn't eat more.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa-tacular or Just Okay?
This is where I went from slightly loathing to full-blown love (and back again, because I’m fickle). Spa/sauna, a lot of things to relax like Spa, Massage, Sauna, Steamroom, Foot bath? Check, check, check, and check! Pool with a view and a Swimming pool? Yep. Fitness center, Gym/fitness? Yup, BUT I'm the kind of person who goes to the gym, looks around, and immediately heads back to the pool… so, your mileage may vary.
The highlight for me? The massage. Oh, the massage. I am telling you, I almost fell asleep. The massage was not too strong, not too weak. It was a moment to take a moment to relax and enjoy it all!
Services and Conveniences: The Extras That Make a Difference (and the Ones That Might Not)
They offer EVERYTHING: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Babysitting service, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center.
The Concierge was a lifesaver, especially with directions.
For the Kids AND the Family?
Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, The Orient feels like it caters to families, and from what I saw, they've got the goods.
Available in All Rooms: The Nitty Gritty (and the Stuff I Actually Used!)
Additional toilet, Air conditioning: (which, again, maybe double-check the cooling situation!) Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
The free Wi-Fi was a godsend. The blackout curtains allowed me to sleep like a baby (or, you know, as close as I get). The slippers were a nice touch. The coffee/tea maker was essential for my mornings (again, caffeine addiction).
Getting Around: Practicalities, Practicalities Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking
The Car park [free of charge] was useful.
My Honest Takeaway:
This hotel isn't perfect. There might be some bumps in the road, occasional little glitches. BUT, The Orient Luxury Hotel delivers a high-end, comfortable, and relaxing stay. It's a great base for exploring Taiwan, or, you know, just hiding out in the spa for a week.
Quirky Observation: I loved the fact that I could opt-out of room sanitization. That level of flexibility and personalization is what makes you feel you're a hotel guest, and not a laboratory rat.
Rating:
- Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars (would be 5, if the air conditioning was perfect!)
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The Crazy-Good Offer (Because You Deserve It!)
Book your stay at the Orient Luxury Hotel NOW and receive:
- A FREE upgrade to a room with a view (subject to availability!).
- A complimentary in-room breakfast for one day.
- A 20% discount on all spa treatments.
- A welcome cocktail at the fabulous Poolside Bar
Why NOW? Because life's too short for boring hotels! This deal is only valid for bookings made in the next [insert time frame]. Click here to Book and experience the Orient Luxury Hotel for yourself!
**Don't just take my word for it. Go. Explore. Relax. And maybe, just maybe, fall a
Escape to Paradise: Belgium's Hidden Gem, Roosendaelhof Boutique Hotel
Orient Luxury Hotel, Taiwan: A Chaotic Chronicles (and I mean it)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized brochure. This is ME in Taiwan, specifically the Orient Luxury Hotel. And it’s a journey. More like a drunken stumble, but a journey nonetheless. Here’s the "itinerary"… if you can call it that. More like a rough outline sprinkled with existential dread and the glorious scent of street food.
Day 1: Arrival and Mild Panic (Plus a Tea Ceremony That Almost Broke Me)
- Morning (Taipei Airport - Chaos Ensues): Landed. Jetlag hit me like a rogue pineapple. Found the Orient Luxury Hotel shuttle, and the driver was already judging my luggage - a questionable backpack and a tote bag that's seen better decades. Taxi drivers in general, are terrifying. And I can't read a thing. This is going to be fun.
- Afternoon (Hotel Check-in & That Damn Pool): The hotel is… fancy. Seriously, the lobby is doing the most. Marble, chandeliers, the works. Check-in was smooth (surprisingly) and then the pool. Ah, the pool. Looked amazing! But I, being a genius, went in before I even got my bearings. Let me tell you: I almost drowned. Not really, but the water was colder than my ex's heart. The pool is so beautiful. I feel like I should take a picture of the pool every hour.
- Side Note: Seriously, the pool is something else. I'm obsessed. I think I'll try to go back again later. Maybe by then I'll actually be able to swim!
- Late Afternoon (Tea Ceremony – Disaster is Served): This was on the "must-do" list. Picture this: me, in a room with a stoic tea master, a language barrier that could house the Grand Canyon, and a simmering pot of… something. The tea was delicious. But the whole ritual? Overwhelming. Too precise. Too much staring. I felt like I was somehow going to offend the tea. I kept spilling the tea. I was so nervous, I thought I was going to pass out. At the end I was so relieved to be on my feet again.
- Evening (Ramen and Regret): Wandered out, utterly wiped. Found a ramen place near the hotel. Didn't understand a single word on the menu. Pointed at a picture. Result? A mountainous bowl of… noodles. Delicious, but I'm pretty sure I saw a lifetime supply of carbs in that dish. Ate it all. Regretted it.
- Quote of the day: "I think I need a nap… and a new pair of pants."
Day 2: Temples, Traffic, and Trying (And Failing) to Speak Mandarin
- Morning (Longshan Temple – Holy Cow!): Decided to get culturally enriched. Went to Longshan Temple. The incense smoke was thick enough to cut with a knife! The sheer amount of people praying and bowing left me a bit dizzy. Took photos. Felt a deep and immediate connection with the ancient gods, who I imagine have better things to do than listen to me.
- Late Morning (Traffic Hell): Attempted to navigate the public transport system. Failed miserably. The traffic is intense. The scooters are kamikaze pilots. It's a beautiful, chaotic dance of horns and near-misses. It's also a bit terrifying. I nearly got run over by a flower delivery man.
- Afternoon (The Hotel Spa – Sweet Relief): After the temples and the traffic, I needed a break. The hotel spa saved me! A massage that kneaded all the stress out of me and made me almost forget the world. Even my poor, over-worked shoulders. Now that's what I call a vacation.
- Evening (Night Market – Sensory Overload): Okay, the night market. This is what I came for! Street food heaven. Smells, sounds, everything all at once. I tried everything. From the stinky tofu (which I might actually sort of enjoy - don't tell anyone.) to the bizarre fruit smoothies. Found an amazing oyster omelet that I'm still dreaming about. Ended the night with bubble tea and a sense of utter contentment. And probably a mild case of food poisoning. Worth it.
- Anecdote: Got lost in a maze of food stalls. Ended up accidentally buying a pair of socks with a picture of a cat wearing sunglasses. No regrets.
- Quote of the day: "I'm fairly certain I've eaten more food in one day than I usually do in a week. And I don't regret a thing."
Day 3: Doubling Down on the Pool and Saying Farewell (for now)
- Morning (Pool Time Part Deux): Back to the pool! Determined to actually swim this time. Still, a little chilly, but I'm getting better.
- Lunch (Hotel restaurant – Delicious and quiet): One of the biggest benefits of the Oriental Hotel is the food quality. Eating alone is no problem, which makes me very happy.
- Afternoon (Souvenir Shopping & Melancholy): Hit the shops. Bought way too many trinkets, snacks, and a questionable ceramic cat. Starting to feel the sting of leaving. Taiwan, you have been good to me.
- Late Afternoon (Farewell Tea & Reflections): One final farewell tea back at the hotel. Thinking about my entire trip. The good, the bad, the stinky tofu. It's all part of the journey, right?
- Evening (Departure - With a heavy heart and a suitcase full of cat socks): Back to the airport. Goodbye, Taiwan! Until next time, you beautiful, chaotic, delicious place.
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. I was lost, confused, slightly overwhelmed, and probably gained five pounds. But it was real. It was messy. It was amazing. And the Orient Luxury Hotel? It was a fantastic base camp for my adventures. Also, the pool. The pool was everything. Overall it's worth it.
Taiwan: My 300-Day Love Affair (You Won't Believe What Happened!)
Okay, Seriously, Is This Orient Luxury Hotel *Actually* Luxurious? Or Just Instagram-Pretty?
Alright, let's get real. "Luxury" these days basically means someone with a filter is pushing it on Instagram. But this place... yeah, it’s got the goods. BUT... (and there's always a but, right?) It's not like, perfectly polished, robotic luxury. It's got character. Think less sterile hotel chain, more... incredibly well-maintained ancestral home, with a sprinkle of eccentric aunt who runs the place.
The lobby alone... HUGE. Like, seriously, could probably hold a small wedding. And the scent? Oh, that scent. It’s some sort of divine, mysterious blend of sandalwood, blooming jasmine, and… I swear, a *hint* of freshly baked pineapple. (Don’t judge! I’m a sucker for a good scent.) You actually pause, take a deep breath, and think, "Okay, I could get used to this."
So, yes. Luxurious. With personality. Which, spoiler alert, I *adore*.
Tell me About the Rooms! Do they REALLY have those crazy-beautiful views?
The views... Okay, the views. My jaw actually dropped. I’m not even kidding. We stayed in the Emperor Suite (hey, when in Rome, right? Or, uh, Orient?), and the windows! Floor-to-ceiling, panoramic, overlooking... well, let me paint a picture for you.
Imagine waking up to a sea of emerald-green rice paddies, stretching as far as the eye can see. Beyond that, the misty, undulating mountains. And then, BAM! The sun, exploding over everything in a blaze of orange. I'm a city person, I'm talking concrete and chaos usually, but this? This was breathtaking. I swear, I nearly cried. Pathetic, I know. But that sunrise… it was magic.
Now, the *imperfection*... My partner, bless him, likes to sleep with the curtains drawn. It took me a solid twenty minutes of frantic pleading and a promise of breakfast in bed to convince him to open them. (The things we do for love, eh?) But seriously, open those curtains. Seriously. Don’t be like my partner.
Is the Staff… Actually Friendly? Or Just Fake-Polite?
Okay, this is crucial. Fake-polite is my *pet peeve*. Luckily, the staff at the Orient Luxury Hotel are genuinely, ridiculously, charmingly friendly. They're not just going through the motions. They actually seem… happy. (Maybe they're all secretly plotting world domination through hospitality, but I’ll take it.)
There was this one woman, I think her name was Mei? Or maybe May? Anyway, she spoke *perfect* English (unlike my terrible Mandarin). She remembered my name, my (very specific) coffee order (a double shot, extra hot, with a splash of almond milk – don’t judge!), and even where I preferred to sit at breakfast. The level of detail was... unnerving, yet utterly delightful.
They even helped me with a slight wardrobe malfunction when a button popped off my favorite dress(again, don't judge). Finding someone to sew a button on in a strange country is HARD! Five stars for hospitality, seriously.
The Restaurant... Don't Tell Me It's Just Hotel Food!
Oh honey, no. No, no, no. This is *not* your average hotel restaurant. The food… Oh, the food. I still dream about the dumplings. Seriously. Little pockets of pure, juicy heaven. And the local cuisine? Forget about it. We had a meal one night… a multi-course extravaganza of flavors I can’t even begin to describe. I think there was a little cry once again. (Okay, maybe twice.)
And breakfast? Forget about a sad continental buffet. Fresh fruit, pastries that melted in your mouth, and a menu of cooked-to-order delights. I went through a whole plate of those dumplings, then was shocked I could order more. I'm not even a morning person, and I *loved* breakfast here. No matter what. The ONLY negative, which is a slight one, is that there are sometimes a lot of people... you might want to go early.
Is there Anything... Bad? Like, REALLY Bad?
Okay, okay, time for a dose of reality. Perfection is a myth, right? So, while the Orient Luxury Hotel is mostly spectacular, it’s not *perfect*. Here’s the honest truth… and yeah, it’s still pretty minor, but I'm being honest!
My partner, who is a total tech-head, grumbled about the Wi-Fi. It wasn't the fastest, and it occasionally dropped out in our room. (First world problems, I know.) And the pool area... it could have been cleaned a bit more regularly. There was a slight, and I mean *slight*, issue with a few leaves. Again, not a dealbreaker, but worth a mention.
Also, and this is purely personal, I *struggled* with the temperature of the shower. It was never quite as hot as I wanted. Am I a princess about water temps? Maybe. Probably. I like it hot!
Is it Worth the Price Tag? Tell me honestly!
Okay, this is the big one. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? …Yes! (My bank account is currently weeping in the corner.) Look, it’s not a budget option. But you're paying for an experience. You’re paying for the location, the service, the views, the *feeling*. You're paying for that moment of pure bliss when you take that first deep breath in the lobby. And on that front… YES. Every cent.
Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Even if I have to sell a kidney. Seriously, it was one of the best travel experiences of my life. And I've traveled a bit. It's not just a hotel; it's a destination. If you're looking for a genuine escape, a touch of luxury with a healthy dose of personality, and a view that will make your heart sing… then book it. Just do it. You won't regret it. Just maybe save up first.
What's the Deal with the Spa? Is it as Amazing as Everyone Says?
The spa… Let me tell you about the spa. Oh. My. Goddess. I am not a spa person, truth be told. I'm a "give me a greasy massage and a nap" kinda gal, so the "zen" factor usually escapes me. But the Orient Luxury Hotel spa? Changed. Me. Forever.
It’s tucked away, quiet, and smells faintly of… well, more amazing, mysterious fragrances. I opted for the signature massage, and honestly,Rest Nest Hotels
