CHECK inn SELECT Taipei Yangmingshan

The food was uneventful, though supper was especially good. On Monday morning we waited for the outdoor pool, then learned from reception that it stays closed all Monday morning. I hadn't seen that on the website when booking, though I admit I didn't check or ask about it. If you plan to swim on a Monday morning, be aware of the closure. You can check out and still use the pool in the afternoon, but I don't think that's always a good option. The service is what made our overnight family stay unpleasant. We arrived 3 hours before the 4PM check-in. A receptionist processed our check-in and said the room would be ready around 3-4PM, which was fine. The waiting area was tiny and the seats were taken up by other people's luggage, so we sat at a coffee table and ordered a cup of coffee. The barista said each person had to order to use the table. We decided not to order more and asked reception where else we could sit. She said we could go out and come back at 3PM or use the coffee tables. The barista apparently hadn't realized we were hotel guests, even though she and the receptionist were in the same small area and could see each other. In the end, we managed to order one coffee. After 3PM we asked if a room was ready. A different receptionist asked for our ID and started check-in again, even though I'd explained the other staff member already handled it. She kept telling us to wait in Mandarin, which felt rude to me, and also spoke Mandarin while asking us to fill in a form. The hotel's website, where I booked directly, says transactions can be in Chinese or English. I didn't hear her say a word in English. The room looked outdated, with rusty metal, stained curtains, and obvious uncleaned smudges on the glass panels. The air conditioner couldn't cool the room, despite the hotel having 4-5 hours to prepare it. When we left, the service was still what stood out most. I hope they improve it.