Roaders Hotel Zhonghua

The distinctive Western-style interior was a nice surprise, and snacks were included. The biggest draw for me was how easy it was to get around, with the subway, Ximending's main streets, and lots of shops and attractions close by. I had a very enjoyable stay.

We loved how central the hotel was. Ximending was within walking distance, Family Mart was right beside us, and we kept going back to the famous, really good yong he for breakfast. They stay open until late at night, so we even picked up breakfast for supper. It was my first time in Taiwan and my first winter, and I’d definitely stay here again. The hotel gives guests free drinks and snacks, and the lobby has sofas, free movies, and a game area. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Our housekeeper, Ms Apple, was efficient and thorough, and even made up the bed with a cute setup using my friend’s neckpillow. Thank you, Ms Apple! The only little issue was the thin walls. The family with kids next door were a bit noisy, but it was all good overall.

I booked a deluxe city-view room with a window and bathtub. The room had enough space to open two suitcases and still walk around, and it was clean. Staff were friendly. The location is handy for xinmending, the train station, good food, bus stops, and a convenience store just next door. There's also a 24-hour laundromat a minute or two away. Between outings, the common area was useful, with drinks, snacks, instant noodles, games, and rubbish bins. The public toilets downstairs were small and away from the common area. In my room, the toilet seat felt thin and a bit uncomfortable. The lighting was dim throughout, including in the bathroom, which made getting ready and doing makeup difficult. The windows don't open, and I really missed having fresh air. Also, dust that looked like feathers kept coming out of the blanket and landing on the floor. Maybe it had holes in it? Laundry took planning. You had to book a time, and when I asked how late I could do that, the staff member said around 3 or 4 pm, I think. I wish I could've booked later or gone down at 9, 10, 11 pm, or even midnight. We ended up using a nearby laundromat every few days.

The best part for families was the 9th-floor playroom, which was spacious and had plenty to keep kids busy and burn off energy. They can provide cots and baby baths, plus a few other items to borrow that we didn't try. There are also games downstairs. In the morning, a limited number of sandwiches are put out at 7am and tasted pretty good. After 6pm, they have a limited amount of hot dogs and steamed buns. The small snacks were okay, nothing special. The standard rooms are very small, much like business hotels in Japan, and even opening one suitcase is difficult. The more expensive executive double was quite roomy, with a bathroom so big it felt a little unnecessary. Rooms are clean and have various amenities. Roaders is a good hotel, and quite family friendly, though I'd call it 4.5 stars. The main hassle was the free laundry. It's nice to have, but book at the front desk about 24 hours ahead to get a slot. There's one washer-dryer combo, each load takes 3-5 hours, and you need to collect the laundry when it's done, so queues build quickly. With a baby who gets dirty fast, that was a challenge. Detergent is free.