Hotel Review: Grand Hyatt Taipei (Grand Suite) - Luxurious Hotel next to Taipei 101
The Grand Hyatt Taipei is one of my favourite hotels and in my opinion, it is one of the best luxury hotels in Taipei. When I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Taipei in 2015, I stayed in a Grand Deluxe Room with an impressive view of the iconic Taipei 101. The presence of international hotel chains in Taipei is rather limited - you will not find anything from Hilton, Accor or IHG in the city and because of that (and other reasons), room rates at internationally-branded hotel chains can be rather costly.
When I visited Taipei in 2017, I flew on EVA Air's Royal Laurel Class from Singapore to Taipei (BR226) and checked out the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3 of the Singapore Changi Airport prior to that. I wrote a definitive guide to the Grand Hyatt Taipei back in 2015 which lists out the transportation options (including bus and taxi) which will take you from the Taoyuan International Airport to the hotel, as well as notable restaurants to eat around the area. Since the EVA Air flight arrived in Taipei slightly before 6:00PM, I decided to use a limousine service in a comfortable S-Class Sedan by Mercedes-Benz instead - it costs NT$1,300 (S$60) for an airport transfer (arrival) which I personally feel is pretty reasonable.
As my car pulled up at the main entrance of the Grand Hyatt Taipei, my luggages were quickly unloaded from the limousine and brought into the hotel by one of the helpful hotel staff - I was then asked whether I would like to have them delivered to my room - I generally prefer to bring my own luggage up to the room unless I am in a resort. In a matter of minutes, my check-in was processed and a set of card keys were issued. Upon reaching my suite however, I noticed that there was a set of check-in documents in the room. I presume that the hotel has arranged for an in-room check-in for me but there must have been some kind of miscommunication - I proceed to the Grand Club for evening cocktails and found out that the check-in documents were missing by the time I got back. Since it was fairly late and the suite (as well as lounge) was quite dark the time I settled in, I have decided to leave the photos until the next morning.
Since I stayed in a Grand View Room previously, I have decided to stay in a much more luxurious Grand Suite here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei this time round. The Grand Suite is the lead-in suite here at this beautiful property and while it does not enjoy the same impressive view of the Taipei 101, the Grand Suite comes with approximately 60sqm of living space (around 50% to 100% larger than the regular rooms - depending on which one you get assigned to).
The Grand Suites here at the Grand Hyatt Singapore have a sizeable living room area which also doubles up as a work area if you are here on business (there is also a dedicated work desk but more on this later). You will find a sofa large enough for three adults as well as plenty of seating areas for you and your guests. There are two TVs here in the Grand Suite and the living room consists of a 47" full-HD TV that is stocked with an extensive selection of cable and satellite channels.
As part of my welcome to the Grand Hyatt Taipei, I received a bowl of fresh fruits, a tube of lavender meringue and some chocolate-dipped mangoes (which I thought was quite unusual since these snacks were more common in Cebu). I also received a bottle of red wine from the Bordeaux region (could be the same one that I got back in 2015!). In addition to all that, I also received a handwritten note to welcome me back to the Grand Hyatt Taipei which I thought was a nice touch.
The Grand Suite that I was in looked out to the swimming pool as well as the surrounding areas of the Grand Hyatt Taipei. If you do want a suite that has the iconic Taipei 101 view, you will have to opt for the Grand Executive View Suite which is larger but typically goes for around NT$6,000++ (S$277++) more a night.
The Grand Suite comes with a huge work desk with two seats - there is also a number of power outlets as well as connectivity options here. Complimentary WiFi is provided for in-house guests and the speed was fast enough for work as well as for streaming shows on Netflix. You will find a well-stocked minibar, a Nespresso machine (with six coffee pods that are regularly replaced in the drawer) as well as a water kettle to make yourself a warm beverage.
Despite having only 60sqm of space, the Grand Suite comes with a one and a half bathroom - there is a half bathroom located near the entrance where you come in which makes it perfect for those of you sharing the suite with a friend or those who wish to have business meetings (and still maintain privacy). Towels as well as a soap from June Jacobs were provided in the half bathroom for your convenience.
The bedroom of the Grand Suite is beautiful and as I have mentioned previously, you will find another 47" full-HD TV located directly in front of your bed - there is also a small seating area (which you can see in the photo below), a full bathroom as well as a walk-in wardrobe with plenty of space for hanging clothes by the side. You may opt for either a King-size or twin beds in the Grand Suite (subjected to availability unless you are an elite member of the World of Hyatt program).
As you can see in the images above, the bedroom of the Grand Suite is somewhat in an odd-shaped room. With that being said, I did like how cosy it made the bedroom feel - the day and blackout blinds by the side can also be drawn (the latter is automated) for privacy. I did find the chair's position to be slightly odd but I guess it is great for travellers who wish to read sitting up (in that case you should probably head to your living room?).
I absolutely love the bathroom here in the Grand Suite that is clad in beautiful marble - it features the same and somewhat iconic circular-shaped mirror that I remember from my stay back in 2015 and there is also a deep-soaking tub (albeit not free standing) alongside a separate standalone rainshower. The toilet is also carefully partitioned away with a semi-frosted glass for privacy - remember you have a half bathroom outside for extra privacy.
As much as I love a good tub, the shower area is probably my favourite spot in the bathroom - that massive rainshower is just perfect at the end of the day (especially since the temperature was at its annual peak when I visited).
Unlike the regular rooms here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei that utilises bath amenities from June Jacobs Spa Collection, the Grand Suites here are stocked with bath amenities from Salvatore Ferragamo instead. With that being said, it is definitely worth noting that you only get one complete set each time (the half bathroom outside uses June Jacobs branded amenities). Getting premium amenities like these are not common through my experiences with Grand Suites in other Grand Hyatt hotels around the region so this is definitely a nice touch. Bath salts are also provided (and replenished) by the side of the bathtub for your personal enjoyment.
Similar to the Grand Hyatt Singapore which has recently changed its breakfast policy for club guests, the Grand Hyatt Taipei seem to allow club guests to enjoy breakfast in the Grand Club only - I can't say for certain since I was not explicitly told that I could not have breakfast in the main restaurant but this seems to be the case. Anyhow, the Grand Club of the Grand Hyatt Taipei is a beautiful space which offers a much more pleasant breakfast experience since it is quieter.
The Grand Club is basically a really long corridor and there is ample seating - it was never fully occupied while I was there (even during the evening cocktail hours). With almost all club lounges around the world, expect a smaller selection here for breakfast but definitely a more private breakfast experience - coffee orders are taken once you are seated and there is a small selection of hot food as well as an egg station by the corner.
The only thing I wish the Grand Club offered during breakfast was an a la carte menu to choose from - it would have been a great way to showcase some of the Asian dishes (like beef noodles!) that travellers from all around the world have grown to love. In the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok for instance, the Grand Club offers a delicious Thai Milk Tea (something that travellers love) that regulars look forward to each time they visit or return. I went ahead with an omelette and some really legit congee instead before heading back to my room.
One thing I do like about the Grand Club here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei are the little pockets of semi-partitioned space. The area that you see above is one of the most popular spots since there is a TV directly in front of it - it is also one of the most coveted seating areas during evening cocktail hour (which is generally more busy than during breakfast service).
Since I stayed over at the Grand Hyatt Taipei for four days, I have had plenty of opportunities to try out the food here - remember you do receive reciprocal Club at the Hyatt benefits here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei if you are an in-house guest. When I decided to have my breakfast at Café instead, I was told that my suite did not come inclusive of breakfast (which was unusual) but a call to the Grand Club seemed to have fixed it - I am not sure if the breakfast policy is starting to change. From my understanding, more and more hotels are limiting club guests to a continental breakfast in the club lounge only as a way to deal with the high demand for breakfast.
I was never charged for breakfast upon checking out but if you do have the option to have your breakfast here, I would highly recommend it - the spread is amazing and the Chinese selection is truly impressive. In fact, the soups were also of a decent restaurant quality which is surprising since more buffets serve terrible soups.
During my stay here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei, I took the opportunity to check out a highly-acclaimed Chinese restaurant, Yun Jin which I fell in love with (check out my review of Yun Jin here!). The rooms (and suites!) here at the Grand Hyatt Taipei are definitely on the higher side in terms of price but what you get a truly solid product - the hotel's location is perfect and the service standards here are consistent. Coming back to a Grand Hyatt property (regardless of which one it is) always feels like home - there is a level of service which is guaranteed and properties generally go above and beyond that to make your stay a little bit more special.
Grand Hyatt Taipei
No. 2, SongShou Road Taipei, Taiwan, 11051
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The Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara offers an excellent Club Millésime experience with comfortable rooms and well-maintained facilities, catering to both business and leisure travelers. The newly-opened Pavilion Damansara Heights Mall adds a variety of dining and entertainment options nearby, perfect for those who prefer not to venture too far from the hotel.