As there are 6 of us, we booked 2 rooms. The girls got a room for 4 (they call it Japanese Room) the guys got a room for 2 (Vista/Romantic twin room)
We intend to take the 2:30pm hotel shuttle bus @ Bei Tou station. We reached at 2:20pm and waited… and waited… we confirm with the station staff that we are at the right waiting spot (Turn RIGHT after you get off the station)
At about 2:40pm, i called the hotel and was told that the bus has left (wth @#$%^ !!!) Ok, we can only take a cab up because the next bus will only come at 3:30pm. The taxi ride cost 100NT.
We reached the beautiful hotel at about 3:15pm. It was obviously the grandest hotel in Bei Tou. The check in time was 3pm. We wasted no time and i proceed to check in. We waited and waited… (wth @#$%^ !!!) The guys got their room at about 3:40pm..our “Japanese room” was not ready yet! So all of us just “Nua” (laze around) in that room. We were Tired, restless, hungry…and have every reason to be angry (right?) So the nasty someone in the group decided to go bang some tables. The girls room was finally ready (4:15pm) That did not cool off the nasty someone. Away from home, the nasty someone displayed the true singapore spirit..he complained feedback about how the bus has left before the designated time and how they have wasted our “precious” time. The hotel, out of good will offered to send us to Bei Tou station right away(They had free transfer to Bei Tou station every hour, guest must register with the recept). Ok, better than nothing.. it did please the nasty someone and all of us.
The Room
Vista room for twin sharing.I don’t know the extact difference between Romantic or Vista. But the room TOTALLY blow me away. It was really COZY and the decoration in the room was nicely done, almost like a, Art Museum. There were antique vases and some master art work displayed on the shelves in the room. The toilet…….. i can never forget the toilet . The toilet is huge and the decoration is as meticulous as the bedroom~ Everything is made of black marble. There was a marble tub……it is deep enough for you to swim in it (if you are 130cm tall). Quoted from the website “The hot spring fountain in the bathroom is specially designed to add more bathing fun. You will be captivated by the hot spring flowing into the bathtub” (indeed) The tab run hot spring water ! If you don’t want to burn yourself, you can mix it with cold running tab. I can still remember the feeling of soaking in it.
I forgot all about the previous unhappiness, immediately. This was all worthwhile.
Japanese room.I have really high expection for the Japanese room. This was meant to be the hightlight of my trip. We paid a lot ($400+) so of course we expect a lot lah.
So you can imagine my face when i saw the room. When expectation reaches disappointment. Our room was directly opposit the guys and there was a door (in the corridoor) to pull and block all the other rooms so that we have the whole “area” to oursleves (you probaly don’t know what i’m talking about) Anyway, we have booked Japanese room with GARDEN VIEW (at additional cost). It was Tatami style. We were surprised because there was no bed, only a sitting area. Later, we learnt that we have to call the housekeeping to help us to lay out the mattress. Oh well…. japanese room mah.. Thanks God, the toilet was just as fabulous. The “garden view” was rather pathetic and we choose to pull down the curtains because we were afraid of peeping Tom. It was rather good experience, really.
Bathrobes and toiletries were provided. The toiletries looks really “high class” (read: you might want to take them home 
)
Experience
You know what, thinking about it now…this Hot Spring experience was indeed the highlightof our trip. Everyone left the hotel cheerful, happy, contented, relaxed. Do try to use your time wisely (read: soak until your skin shed). Expensive but money well spend. I mean this is something you can never get in Singapore, so go on and splurge it if you have the budget. At night, you can go to Dan Shui (1 MRT stop) for a walk. It is my favourite place in Taiwan o~
Breakfast was included. This was a 5* Hotel (i believe) so you can expect to have a variety of choices.
訂房中心:(02)2897-2345 服務專線:(02)2897-5555 傳真:(02)2897-7245
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- getting ready for bed~
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- Galerie Room (picture taken from the website)
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- Photo taken by me. Oh, room has nice LCD TV
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- corny, touristy photo that we simply have to take
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- Antiques display in the Vista room
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- Our Japanese room. This was what we saw when we entered.
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- The bathroom. Spring water flowing !
Okie, my post is getting lengthy and I still have 3 accommodations to write on ! I am sorry if it is starting to bore you because i want to make sure that i am detailed in my reviews.
The Galerie Hotel (拓程商旅) @ Taichung
This was a nice boutique hotel with a modern feel. I liked the decoration of the hotel… looking around, this hotel really stands out. From the bus stop where our bus drop us, we took a cab there. It cost about NT85 (the metre did not jump) very near but impossible to walk. Again, we booked a room for 4 (
拓 程 客 房, Galerie room ) and a room for 2 (精 緻 客 房, Deluxe room). The room for 4 consist of a living room with a sofa set, a bar counter and a writing desk. There are 2 bedrooms. 1 room with a big double bed..the other room………………. TATAMI style again !
Breakfast has limited choices. Mostly “chinese food”. Feng Jia Night Market was within walking distance (but we don’t know how to walk back). Staff were extremely friendly~ There were computers downstair available for use.
Bathroom has all the necessaries, but there was no bathtub. Shower head is powerful..like a massage kind.
Galerie Room (picture taken from the website)
I must say that the lighning really makes wonder..
Photo taken by me. Oh, room has nice LCD TV
(The closed door was the first bed room…if you look closely at picture 1, you can actually see Tatami. my bad for not staring hard enough. )
You can book online @ https://www.ezhotel.com.tw/thegaleriehotel/
I choose to book over the phone.
Rates are stated in the above website as well..
Hotel Website: http://www.thegaleriehotel.com
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