Lakeshore Hotel Hualien

We chose the mountain view over the sea view and were glad we did. The room’s birthday setup was the best I’ve seen, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Since we’re Muslims, they pointed out vegetarian and Muslim-friendly food. They said halal food might be arranged with seven days’ advance notice; we hadn’t known to ask, so we ate the vegetarian and Muslim-friendly options. I’d recommend this hotel without hesitation.

We’ve had such a good time during our three nights in March that, on our last night at Lakeshore Hualien, we don’t feel ready to leave. The staff have been courteous, professional, and kind throughout. When an important document arrived under my Chinese name instead of the English one on the booking, reception held it for me rather than turning it away, which would have caused me serious trouble. That care made us feel at home, and this will be our hotel whenever we return to Hualien. The room is spotless, spacious, beautifully designed, and solidly built, with very comfortable beds and a lovely view across Hualien Bay. Even with the hotel full, we barely heard the neighboring rooms, apart from occasional hallway footsteps. There’s a wet and dry sauna, a huge jacuzzi, a well-equipped gym, and self-service laundry, which I especially appreciate because I prefer doing my own clothes. Breakfast is healthy and tasty, and even locals come to eat here. The location is handy for restaurants, teahouses, the night market, the beach, and a sports track.

12/1: Breakfast runs from 6:30 to 13:30, so it works for early risers and late sleepers alike. I liked the idea that one midday meal can be enough instead of having breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There was a good mix of hot and cold food, plus Gelato, and even cocoa for someone like me who doesn’t drink coffee. I also enjoyed the sauna, though the hot and cold pools didn’t have jets. The room was beautiful and quiet, with a balcony and a bathtub. A soak, a good sleep, and then it was all over. Thanks, Lakeshore. 12/5: Thank you, Eric Chang, for the room allocation. It made this grown woman feel like a girl again. I slept very late after a good soak in that gorgeous bath. My expectations were exceeded.

There’s free parking for guests, and the location is good since it’s outside the city center. The rooms were fine, and breakfast had plenty of food, mostly geared toward local Taiwanese tastes. For a Western breakfast, go to Country Mother. The elevators could use improvement, as we often had to wait a while for one to arrive.