Hotel Relax III

Friendly, helpful staff and lots of affordable food nearby. There are great breakfast sandwiches and wraps across the street. The hotel is close to three metro lines and the airport express train, with many of Taipei's main sights an easy walk away. One thing to know: room 608 is REALLY tiny, and its window faces a wall. I changed to a slightly pricier room with more space and lovely street views, and it was totally worth it.

The front desk was friendly, and we had a good stay. Taipei Main Station is within walking distance, shopping malls are nearby, and 7-11 and Family Mart seem to be on every corner. There are lots of breakfast options close by, including egg rolls and pan-fried buns. The only downside for us was the old-carpet smell along our floor's corridor.

The room at Hotel Relax III near Taipei Main Station was huge after we got a free upgrade to a quad room. It was spotless, with crisp sheets, a clean floor, a small sofa, and two chairs. The fridge was very cold, there was plenty of bottled water, and the shower had decent pressure and drained well. There were lots of TV channels, from Taiwanese shows to HBO and AXN. The non-disposable rubber bedroom slippers were a nice touch, as were the shower gel and shampoo from a well-known international brand whose name I couldn't pronounce. The service was good, and the welcome drink across the street was a fun perk. The air conditioning worked well, although the remote has to be pointed at a random snowflake icon on the ceiling grille, which is a strange setup. Soundproofing was "not bad": I could hear the next room's hair dryer, but it didn't ruin the stay. The bathroom has separate sink, shower, and toilet sections, which is practical, though the toilet area is tiny. There wasn't a hook for wet towels, another baffling omission. Daily cleaning isn't automatic, so you have to ask. There's also a one-key policy, though the power stayed on when the key wasn't inserted. For room space and value near the main station, it's worth considering.

The room had significant mold on the ceiling and in the AC vent. I reported it as soon as I could, but no other room was available. Staff were polite and tried to clean it, but they couldn't remove it. At first they called it an “inconvenience,” though mold affects air quality and health. The hotel offered a small discount to apologize, but this needs more attention so future guests don't face the same issue. The location is good and the staff are friendly, but the room needs work, especially around ventilation and mold prevention.