My friends and I booked a 2-day, 1-night stay at Diary of Ximen Hotel in Taipei. Initially, we planned to roam around Taipei upon arriving at 3 AM and check in at 2 PM. However, we were extremely tired from the flight. Thankfully, our friend generously sponsored an extra night at Diary of Ximen Hotel so we could rest well and cancel our midnight city exploration plans.
Diary of Ximen Hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of Ximending, a popular shopping hub in Taiwan. This means restaurants are nearby, vendors are just a few steps away, and everything we needed was easily accessible. The hotel’s location is ideal, as it’s close to the Ximen MRT Station, making bus and train travel convenient.
Note: The downsides will be underlined since there aren’t many.
I’m unsure of the exact amount my friend paid for the extra night. However, I do know that we initially booked a 2-day, 1-night stay for approximately PHP 3,100+ / TWD 1,700+ for a room that accommodated four people.
Since it’s a 3-star hotel, we didn’t expect a luxurious lobby, and that was perfectly fine. The lobby is located on the twelfth floor, which was a bit confusing at first. The front desk staff, although not particularly friendly, spoke fluent English, which made communication easy.
Our room is on the ninth floor (if my memory serves me right) and another front office with simpler aesthetic welcomed us. From there, we can have free water, free coffee.
The room is neither cramped nor spacious — just the right size to accommodate our luggage, shoes, and other belongings. However, there was no window. I also noticed that there was no cabinet, only a hook to hang some of our clothes.
On the bright side, the air conditioner, lights, and TV all functioned well. The room also had a safety box for securing valuables and a mini refrigerator for storing drinks and snacks.
Of course, what matters the most is the bed. It’s a two queen size bed and the linens are clean. The towels are also neat plus some toiletries are placed on the desk of the TV.
When we returned from our tour, we appreciated that our bed had been neatly arranged again. Housekeeping did their job well.
During the day, we noticed that we could hear people from the other side of the room, so we turned down our music a bit.
By morning, we had our breakfast at the topmost floor. Most of the food served is vegetarian with no specific cuisine, I may say. There is nothing special on the top floor, just a view of the city.
People who read this also liked: Sanhoyan Restaurant in Taipei
For a frugal traveler like me, a 3-star hotel is good enough to have a good room after exploring the city. I like that it is very near the shopping area and the WiFi works well, too!
Value: 4
Location: 5
Cleanliness: 4.5
Service: 4
Room: 4.5
Diary of Ximen Hotel address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, 90號
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Photo watermark is named after my old site.
