Purple Garden Hotel

The bed creaked and felt stiff, the room smelled, and there was no Wi-Fi in the room. We’d paid for five nights but checked out after two and booked another three-star hotel. The difference was huge: that place had a comfortable bed and tasty free breakfast, and I was glad we left. Management wouldn’t refund the unused nights, even though we were willing to pay for the nights we stayed. Calling this a three-star hotel feels misleading; it didn’t come close. I found other hotels with much better quality for less money, so I’d avoid this one if possible.

The decor and general feel made me wonder if this used to be a love hotel. If all you need is somewhere cheap to sleep, it might suit you.

We stayed six nights. The room matched the photos, though the furniture was old, and the room and bathroom could have been cleaner. There were no toiletries, but towels, hangers and a hairdryer were provided. The staff were friendly and informative; we spoke Chinese, so I can’t say how well they speak English. Getting around was easy. With two large suitcases, we had no trouble walking to and from Taipei Main Station. The hotel is near elevator exit R1 of Zhongshan Metro Mall, an underground passage linking Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan MRT Station. There are also two Family Marts and plenty of restaurants nearby. The 24-hour reception responded quickly when we let them know our flight was delayed until 4 a.m.

We had to book two rooms for our family of four, at 120 SGD for one room or 200 SGD for two. Even without luggage, the lift couldn’t fit all of us. The rooms were average and not very big, so they didn’t feel worth the price. I don’t understand the 3.7 rating for such a poor hotel, and we won’t be back. They’d do better to make the rooms bigger and the prices lower.