Entree Kibbles: Grand Sheraton Hotel - Five Star, Near Shandao Temple MRT Station @ Taipei [Taiwan]

Our last accommodation for our Taiwan tour package was in the capital city of Taipei and befitting its status, we were allocated a five-star hotel; Grand Sheraton Hotel, and it's for two nights!

Retro bubble lifts; which kind of reminded me of luxurious hotels in the 90s where such concept was popular, essentially to wow guests as they took to the lifts to their rooms.

This hotel wasn't that old though as it was opened in 2005, and renovated in 2018. Total number of rooms stands at 688, although it didn't feel that the hotel was full on the last two nights of 2024, when we were there.

Room 573 - the assigned room for both my dad and I.

Pretty spacious room although not much deviation from a typical five-star business hotel. Sometimes I can understand why people prefer non-conventional offerings as they would likely be memorable. I am okay with normal, so long bed is comfortable, room is clean and there are things like 3-pin power sockets.

In many aspects, a lower star hotel has more impetus to stand out. For example, some hotels would provide free snacks for guests to snack on, or even free soft drinks! Not typically the case for five star hotels unless you are staying in club rooms.

Five-star hotels have better toilets though! Aside from bathtub, I am so glad to see a Japanese bidet, where my ass would be pampered with a water wash after every big business. This should be the norm for any five-star hotels!

My room faced the National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior. I am guessing security in the area would be very good although some will argue that the safest place might be the most dangerous. Oh well, to each his or her own.

I didn't manage to check out the pool as it was closed due to the winter season. The gym was a godsend with all the eating I had for the past few days. I didn't take any photographs as it had many corners and walls, and also appeared to be quite popular with guests.

View from the bubble lifts - the ground floor would be the resident restaurant for our daily buffet breakfast and it was a hive of activity every morning, with the bustle quietening down after breakfast hours.

Dining area was much bigger but you don't have to find a table yourself as the friendly service staff would help you to secure one for you. If you wish to have quieter space, get one facing the the main road.

Food for your reference. Variety was quite wide and while I wasn't keen to have breakfast given that there were so many breakfast offerings outside the hotel; my dad is the kind who die-die wants to eat hotel breakfast if it is for free, and he will literally stuff himself so that he can save money.

So, I had to accompany him and took the opportunity to try the food. My verdict; the taste didn't impress, unlike the unforgettable breakfast I had at Lakeshore Hotel in Hsinchu. Whatever the case, it's a win for me since I would have more tummy space for other food outside the hotel.

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