New World Hotel

The staff were great and the room was clean. I already knew about the lack of a ramp and the steep stairs, but I wasn't prepared for how freezing the room would be. It was already cool outside, around 14 to 16, and cold air kept coming out even with the fans off. They even had a printed page explaining how to switch the fans off and that there was no heating or temperature control. The walls were so thin that a noisy group in the next room woke me three times. I can't recommend it.

The room was cleaner and better than I expected, and the bathroom was decent and did its job. Still, there's no bidet, which feels like a must for us Asians. The AC has no heating, so on the coldest nights be ready to curl up like a burrito. Service was nothing special: the front desk went over the rules and breakfast hours, and they changed towels, took out trash, and made the bed daily. Breakfast is hit or miss. Most of the food is good, but some of it often gets cold before a fresh batch arrives. The location is decent, close to the popular side of Ximending, though you'll be walking a lot if you often go to the MRT station.

I was staying with a friend who took his keys to work. When I asked the receptionist to let me into my room, he said he didn't have a key and had a really bad attitude. If each room only has one key, what happens if someone loses it? Are we supposed to sleep on the street? Poor service and a very unpleasant receptionist. Two men were working the evening shift.

The hotel is okay, though it has clearly seen better days. The rooms are a bit old, which I don't mind, and there's enough space for the price. The AC is too cold. Some receptionists are nice and some aren't. It's about 10 minutes from Ximending and a 30-minute brisk walk from the airport MRT station.