Luxury Escape: Laurel Business Hotel, Taoyuan's Hidden Gem!
Luxury Escape: Laurel Business Hotel, Taoyuan – Honestly, You Won't Regret This (or Maybe You Will, Depending on Your Mood!)
Okay, alright, let's cut the crap and dive right into it. This isn't some polished travel brochure nonsense. I just got back from the Laurel Business Hotel in Taoyuan, and I'm here to spill the tea, the coffee, the… well, everything they've got going on. Because, honestly, it's a mixed bag, and that's what makes it… well, interesting.
First Impressions: Accessibility & That Whole "Getting There" Thing
Right off the bat, Accessibility is a strong point. They’ve got an elevator, which is a freakin' godsend, and I saw ramps everywhere. Made me feel like I wasn't going to trip and break my neck on the way to breakfast. They also boast Facilities for disabled guests, which, while I didn't personally need, is a huge score. I'm looking at you, people with mobility aids!
Getting there, though? Well, the Airport transfer is, thankfully, an option. After a red-eye flight, the last thing you want is to wrestle with public transport. The Car park [free of charge] is a major win. And you get Car park [on-site] too if you're coming by car. Fancy, right? They even have a Car power charging station for you electric vehicle aficionados. Seriously, they’ve thought of everything in the getting there department! Though truth be told, the airport transfer was a bit… let’s just say the driver had a very unique playlist. Techno remixes of Taiwanese folk songs? Not my vibe.
Rooms: Cleanliness & (Hopefully) Safety!
Okay, let’s talk room-wise. Before I even get to the actual room, let's talk Cleanliness and safety: I'm a germaphobe, let's be honest. This place gets a thumbs up. They've got Anti-viral cleaning products. Daily disinfection in common areas, the whole shebang. You know, all the COVID-era stuff. Rooms sanitized between stays. That's good because the first thing I do when I get to a hotel room is… uh… wipe everything down. I'm that guy. Hand sanitizer is everywhere. Kudos. They even offer the option to Room sanitization opt-out available. So, your choice, you germ phobes.
Now…to the room itself! It’s…well, it's a room. Functional. Clean. They've got Air conditioning, a Desk (thank god), and a Coffee/tea maker. The essentials, right? But the Blackout curtains are a serious game-changer. Slept like a log. A very well-rested log. They offer Free Wi-Fi, which is always a win in my book.
I'll be real, the Linens weren’t the plushest I’ve ever felt, but they were…clean. And that’s the important thing, right? My room had a Window that opens, which I love for fresh air, and an Alarm clock that I never figured out how to set (thankfully, the Wake-up service was reliable). The Bathroom had a Shower that worked, but the Toiletries were okay. They had a Hair dryer for the important things.
Internet: Yay for Free Wi-Fi!
Okay, let's circle back to the internet, because that's how we survive these days. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Seriously, I need to shout it every time because it makes me teary-eyed with joy.) They've got Internet access – wireless. You can even use the Internet access – LAN if you're feeling all retro. What else is there to say? It works. That's all I need.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Food Glorious Food!
Okay, buckle up, because this is where things get interesting. The Dining, drinking, and snacking experience? It’s where Laurel Business Hotel’s soul really shines… or maybe where it cracks a little.
The Asian breakfast was included, and… alright, it wasn’t Michelin-star level, but it was good. They also offer Western breakfast. They had a Buffet in restaurant. I'm not sure if I was more impressed by the food or the sheer number of people shoving their faces. Both, probably. I did grab a croissant with a surprising amount of jam.
They have Restaurants. They even have a Coffee shop downstairs, which is a lifesaver for caffeine addicts like myself. I only saw the Bar once, and it was… quiet. Like, tumbleweeds-rolling-across-the-floor quiet. Poolside bar. If I ever saw one, I missed it.
I was a bit bummed they didn't have a Snack bar, cause I got hungry in between all the food I was already eating. Room service [24-hour] is a blessing and a curse, depending on your level of self-control. The Bottle of water was a definite plus.
Things To Do (or Not): Relaxation & All That Jazz
Here's where things get…limited. The Swimming pool [outdoor] looked… well, it looked. Didn't swim. Maybe it was too cold, or maybe I'm just a lazy lump. They have a Fitness center. They have a Spa. But… I didn’t go. I was too comfy in my blackout room, reading.
Services and Conveniences: The Practical Stuff
Let’s briefly touch on the other stuff. They’ve got the usual Daily housekeeping. A Concierge at the front desk. They’ve got Laundry service. Dry cleaning, too. Cash withdrawal because, you know, you need to eat. They’ve got Elevator. All the basics are covered.
They also have a Convenience store. Seriously. It was one of the most convenient things ever.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Vital Stuff
Let's talk about how Safe this place feels. They have CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property. They've got a Front desk [24-hour], Security [24-hour], and Smoke alarms. All the things that make you feel like you can breathe a little easier, which is a definite win.
For the Kids: A Consideration
They're Family/child friendly. I didn't see any kids, though. Maybe they were all asleep.
The Verdict (and a Shameless Plug for Booking!)
So, is the Laurel Business Hotel perfect? Nope! Is it amazing? Maybe. It depends on what you need from a hotel. It’s clean, it's convenient, and it’s got some surprisingly good food. It serves its primary function.
Here's the deal: Sometimes, you just want a comfortable, clean, and convenient place to crash. If you're looking for that, this place is worth it.
AND NOW, for a limited time offer designed for your escape!
Escape to Taoyuan with the Laurel Business Hotel!
Book your stay now and receive:
- 15% off your stay!
- Complimentary breakfast!
- Late Check-Out (subject to availability)!
- Free Wi-Fi to stay connected!
- And a special gift upon arrival!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the hidden gem that is the Laurel Business Hotel! Book your escape today!
Click here to book Now! [INSERT BOOKING LINK HERE]
…and seriously, if you see that techno remix driver, tell him I said hello. And maybe convince him to play something else.
Mykonos Dream: Hot Tub, Seaview Villa Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. You're about to get a real travel itinerary for the Laurel Business Hotel in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Forget polished brochures, we're going full-on, slightly-hungover-but-still-excited-about-Taiwan mode. Prepare for a rollercoaster.
Laurel Business Hotel, Taoyuan: The Messy, Honest, and (Hopefully) Hilarious Adventure
(Day 1: Arrival & Jet Lagged Disasters)
Afternoon (ish): Land at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Bleary-eyed. Swear I saw a luggage carousel sing a little ditty. Passport control: surprisingly easy! (Always a win after a 14-hour flight).
- Transport: Airport MRT to Taoyuan Station. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Except… I swear I bought the wrong ticket. Spent a good ten minutes trying to figure it out, sweating profusely, and muttering about the unreliability of the English language. Seriously, why are there so many zones?!
- Quirk: Noticed a woman crocheting a tiny, intricate doily on the MRT. Like, mid-commute. Absolute legend. Immediately decided I need to learn crochet. This is probably the jet lag talking.
Late Afternoon: Check into the Laurel Business Hotel. First impressions: Clean! Surprisingly spacious room! Air conditioning blasting like I'd requested Siberia.
- Immediate Reaction: Thank GOD for the AC. I'm basically a walking oven after that travel.
- Imperfection: Tripped over my suitcase upon entering (classic). Briefly considered just lying on the floor until tomorrow.
- Hotel Room Vibes: Decent bed, decent view (of another building, but hey, it's a view!). Mini-fridge! Thank you, sweet, merciful fridge. The complimentary water bottles were the real MVP.
Evening: Attempt to explore the surrounding area. Fail.
- Anecdote: Walked around the block, feeling like I was wading through molasses. Everything looked foreign, exciting, and terrifying all at once. Found a 7-Eleven (bless you, 7-Eleven), bought a weird-looking yogurt drink (regret) and a bag of chips that tasted suspiciously like… cardboard.
- Emotional Reaction: Homesickness hit hard. Briefly considered going back to the hotel and wallowing in the AC, eating ALL of the chips.
- Dinner: Eventually stumbled upon a night market (which I learned later isn’t the night market, but more like a mini-night market).
- Messy Meal: Ate something that looked like a pancake filled with… things. I'm 80% sure I didn't know what they were, but they were delicious. Spilled some soy sauce on my shirt. (Classic.)
- Opinion: The sheer sensory overload of a Taiwanese night market is… AMAZING. The smells, the sounds, the sheer chaos! It's a feast for the senses, and a slight headache for the…digestive system, maybe?
Night: Sleep. Hopefully.
(Day 2: Doubling Down on Food & Attempt Number 2) Doubling down on food!
Morning: Woke up slightly disoriented (again). Realized the "sun" I saw yesterday was actually the other building.
- Breakfast: Hotel breakfast! Always a gamble. Free coffee (success!), some sort of Taiwanese breakfast item (looked like a… fried bread stick thing? Ate a few).
- Quirky Observation: The chopsticks are tiny! I felt like a giant trying to pick up minuscule morsels of food. Almost dropped it entirely.
- Emotionally: My stomach felt as if it took a beating last night. I had a fear that the fried bread stick thing would add to the pain.
Mid-Morning: Attempt to visit the main night market, I really want it.
- Anecdote: I tried the MRT again, felt like I got scammed out of money again.
- Imperfection: I am not a morning person.
- Lunch: At the night market!
- Messy Meal: So. Much. Food. I'm talking stinky tofu (yes, it's as pungent as they say), various skewers of meat (some identifiable, some… not so much), and bubble tea (duh). My clothes are now 40 percent sauce and 60 percent me.
- Strong Reaction: The stinky tofu… was actually pretty good! It's a textural and olfactory adventure. Would recommend. The bubble tea was everything I ever wanted in a drink.
- Opinion: This night market is paradise, pure and simple. The aromas, the vendors yelling at you, trying to get you to be enticed to buy their goods.
- Anecdote: I saw this old man with a giant cart of what I thing was… fried seafood of some sort. The entire cart looked like it was about to explode, and the man just kept grinning. I didn’t know the words, and I didn’t care.
- Anecdote: I tried the MRT again, felt like I got scammed out of money again.
Afternoon: Shopping! (I'm not usually a shopper, but the energy is infectious!) * Quirky observation: So much cute stuff. I bought a t-shirt with a cat on it. No regrets. * Emotional Reaction: I'm not sure I will leave Taiwan, I am getting so much stuff.
Evening: * Dinner: Back to the night market! * Messy Meal: I found this stall with some kind of noodles, that looked like it would taste amazing. Then I saw what I believe was… a giant eel? * Opinion: Well, It was as delicious as I could imagine. * Night: collapse at the hotel, in a food coma, ready to be back at it tomorrow.
(Day 3: A Bit of Culture & The Great Sleep)
Morning: Did not wake up with jet lag. I am proud.
- Breakfast: Hotel breakfast again.
- Imperfection: Still can't use chopsticks like a pro.
Mid-Morning: Visited a local temple!
- Anecdote: Watching people pray, and burn incense. It was calming, yet chaotic, I'd never seen so many smells, and people in a single place. It was cool.
- Quirky Observation: The intricate carvings are stunning. I felt like I got a new religion.
- Emotional Reaction: A sense of profound peace. Seriously, I almost cried.
Afternoon: Relaxing at the hotel.
- Opinion: The AC is the unsung hero of this trip.
- Imperfection: Forgot to re-apply sunscreen. Bad move.
Evening: More food! (what else?)
- Messy Meal:
- Anecdote: Ate at a small place near the Laurel. I am not sure what I ate, but it was a bowl of soup and some meat.
- Strong Reaction: Best meal, of the whole trip.
- Night: Sleep. Glorious, uninterrupted sleep. No jet lag, my head in the pillow. I might never leave.
- Messy Meal:
(Day 4: Departure (Maybe, Probably))
Morning: Pack. Try to cram everything I bought into my suitcase. Fail.
- Imperfection: Left a sock in the hotel room. Classic.
- Emotional Reaction: Sadness. The trip is ending, but I feel new life inside me.
Late Morning: Check out of the Laurel Business Hotel.
- Opinion: Great hotel, the staff was friendly, the location was perfect.
- Quirk: Said goodbye to the AC. You will be missed.
Afternoon: Airport. MRT.
- Anecdote: Almost missed my flight. (Again, classic.)
- Emotional Reaction: Pure panic!
- opinion: But I got on the plane!
- Anecdote: Almost missed my flight. (Again, classic.)
Night: Fly home. Dream of Taiwan.
There you have it. The honest, messy, and hopefully entertaining account of a trip to the Laurel Business Hotel in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Remember to embrace the chaos, try the weird food, and always, always check your pockets for missing socks. You might just fall in love with another place on earth.
Mykonos Dream: Hot Tub, Seaview Villa Awaits!
Luxury Escape: Laurel Business Hotel - Taoyuan... Is it Really That Luxurious?! (An Unfiltered Q&A)
Okay, Real Talk: Is the "Luxury Escape" part of the Laurel Hotel just marketing fluff, or is there actually some legit fancy-pants stuff going on?
Alright, buckle up, because I'm about to get brutally honest. "Luxury Escape"... Yeah, that's a *bit* of a stretch. Let's call it "Upscale Comfort with a Hint of Glam." The lobby? Actually pretty impressive. Think sparkly chandeliers, comfy seating areas, the sort of place you *could* pretend to be a Bond villain (if you're into that sort of thing – I am). But don't go expecting solid gold taps in the bathroom. My room...well, it was clean, spacious, and the bed was ridiculously comfortable. Seriously, I almost didn't leave. I literally curled up and didn't get up for hours. But, you know, the "luxury" really came down to those little things. The plush robes, the decent toiletries… and the fact that I didn't have to share a bathroom with a screaming toddler (a win in my book!). It’s not the Four Seasons, people. But it's a damn sight better than the "motel" I booked once in rural Ohio... *shudders*.
The location… is it actually convenient, or are you miles away from everything? I’m not trying to spend my whole trip on buses!
Okay, the location. Here’s the deal: It's not *right* in the heart of the touristy stuff, like right next to a night market or the train station. You'll need to get taxis or the occasional bus. But, and this is a big but, it's actually a pretty sweet spot. It's in a quieter area, which is a godsend after being bombarded with neon lights and the smells of fried everything. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to get around. I took a cab to a night market the first night – cost me hardly anything! And getting to the airport was a breeze (important if, like me, you have a deeply unhealthy fear of missing flights). Honestly, the slightly off-the-beaten-path location is a bonus. You get to experience a more "real" Taoyuan, not just the tourist bubble. Unless you're *desperate* to be in the middle of the chaos, it's a win.
I’ve heard the breakfast buffet can be a bit… lacking. True or false? And if true, is it *that* bad?
Oh, the breakfast. *Deep breath.* Okay, so here's where the "Luxury Escape" starts to wobble a bit. Is it terrible? No, not offensively so. But is it a culinary masterpiece? Absolutely not. It's a pretty standard hotel buffet. Think scrambled eggs that *might* be made of actual eggs, a selection of pastries (some better than others, let's be honest), some sad-looking fruit, and… well, the usual suspects. They have some Asian options, which is a plus. Honestly? I mostly stuck to the coffee and the toast. The coffee was drinkable, the toast was toast. It's enough to get you going. But don't expect gourmet delights. My advice: go for the basics, and maybe, just maybe, sneak a pastry (or three) to-go. Just don't tell them I told you that.
What about the rooms? What should I expect? Good views? Noisy neighbors? Is there enough space to, you know, *exist*?
The rooms themselves are generally pretty good! Space? Yep, plenty of room to spread out, especially compared to some of the shoebox hotel rooms I've endured. The views... well, it depends on your room. Mine overlooked... a street. Not the most breathtaking vista, I'll admit. But it was clean, the air-conditioning worked (a MUST in Taiwan, trust me), and the bed was, as I mentioned before, ridiculously comfortable. Noisy neighbours? I got lucky, I think. I didn't hear a peep, which is a miracle in itself. But, and this is a big *but*, I always bring earplugs. Because hotel walls, in general, are like tissue paper when it comes to blocking out snoring and late-night phone calls. PACK EARPLUGS. Seriously.
Are there any amenities that are worth raving about? Like, a gym, a pool, anything that makes it extra special?
Okay, okay, let's talk amenities. This is where the Laurel Hotel is… well, it depends on your expectations. A pool? Nope. (Sad face.) A gym? Yes! A teeny-tiny gym. It had *some* equipment, treadmills, a few weights… enough to work off that buffet breakfast, I guess. But don't expect a state-of-the-art fitness center. I didn't use it, because hotel gyms and I have a complicated relationship (mainly, I'm too lazy to use them). They also have a business center (which I imagine is useful for… business), and free Wi-Fi, which, thank the heavens, actually worked. Overall, the amenities are functional, not fabulous. So, temper your expectations. If you're looking for a hotel with a waterslide and a lazy river, this ain't it. But for a comfortable stay, it’s fine.
My Experience: The "Unexpected" Comfort – My Laundry Drama
Alright, I'm going to throw myself in here, because I *need* you to understand the small joys of Hotel Laurel, because it's more than just the marble lobby. It’s about the little things, right? Like the day I managed to spill a gigantic (and I mean *gigantic*) bottle of soy sauce – yes, *soy sauce* – all over my favorite white shirt. I panicked. I mean, full-on, "I ruined my trip!" panic. I envisioned myself walking around Taiwan looking like a walking advertisement for a soy sauce company. So, I asked the front desk for help. Honestly, I braced myself for a "we'll see what we can do" platitude. But guess what? They had laundry services! And not just a laundry service, but a *decent* laundry service. My shirt came back, clean, smelling faintly of fresh air and, frankly, a miracle. I swear, that moment? That's when I realized the Laurel Hotel was actually… pretty great. It wasn't just a place to sleep; it was a place where they *cared*. They turned what could have been an absolute disaster into a minor inconvenience. That, my friends, is what I call a hidden gem. Don't judge a book by its cover, or a hotel by its slightly bland breakfast buffet.
Okay, so the staff…are they helpful? And do they speak English?
Staff? Surprisingly good! Most spokeHotel Finder Reviews
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