Archess Hotel

The hotel is a convenient, affordable choice just off Tamsui (Redline) MRT station, and it’s only one stop from the famous Shiling Night Market. It was comfortable and quiet, and staff spoke enough English that conversation was easy alongside my broken Mandarin. The bathroom could use work. The three showerhead holders didn’t function properly, and moisture has left visible mold near the ceiling around the bathtub.

The people at the hotel were nice, and the room was cleaned every day. There was free coffee at reception all day, plus a small drinks vending machine. No kitchen means you can’t buy breakfast here. Some nearby buildings had small construction jobs underway, so mornings could be a bit cloudy, but that’s temporary. I’d definitely stay again. Zhishan MRT station is about 150 m away, making Taipei easy to reach. There’s a 7-eleven nearby for quick shopping, and plenty of restaurants in the area.

The location and service were good. I only had two coat hangers and one place to hang clothes, which was a problem. The bathtub design was poor too: water leaked from both sides of the ledge onto the floor and made it slippery.

The room has no wardrobe, and the windows looked like they hadn’t been cleaned for quite a while. The bathroom tiles also seemed a little worn. On the plus side, there’s a beautiful relaxation room upstairs with a nice terrace, and the women at reception were quick to answer questions and very helpful. It’s very handy for getting around, just a three-minute walk from Zhishan metro station.