Monarch Plaza Hotel

A practical choice if you have an early flight from Taoyuan airport. The room was standard for an upscale hotel, though I wasn't a fan of the carpet since it holds dust and stains.

We came in with two suitcases and struggled at the entrance. The door isn't automatic, and although the receptionists saw us, nobody came to help. There wasn't even a welcome greeting. The hospitality was awful for a place that calls itself a five-star hotel.

The room was lovely and clean, and the location was spot on, near restaurants, the train station, and everything else you need. Breakfast was the one problem: a woman there made a lot of noise while cleaning and gave angry looks, as if she wanted us out the moment breakfast ended. It was pretty annoying.

The breakfast had lots to choose from, including bread, fruit, eggs, and Asian dishes, but the quality wasn't there, so I'd give it three stars at most. I think the gym and sauna may have been closed during my stay, though I got a couple of runs in at the nearby park. The renovated room was nice, but some of the furniture was already quite stained. It had coffee, tea, and bottled water, and the air conditioning worked well. Staff were efficient, polite, and friendly without hovering, which felt very typical for Taiwan. The central Taoyuan location is great, close to the airport, a nice park, and a short walk from the cultural and art center with its many shops and restaurants, plus the public library. I stayed two nights and found it a solid option. The price was reasonable and everything worked well enough, so I'd still rate it four stars and recommend it.