10 March, 2015
Travel

Hotel Éclat – a quirky stay in Taipei with The Luxe Nomad!

10 March, 2015

As the Year of the Sheep approached, I was desperate for a quick getaway to clear the cobwebs! I spontaneously booked a four day trip to Taipei for my Mum and I, and before I knew it I was packing my mini suitcase and hopping on a plane. I’d never really thought about Taipei as a holiday destination, and my knowledge of the place was limited to one Taiwanese pop star, bubble tea and some vague history lessons from school, so it was exciting to arrive in a place that I didn’t know a lot about. Thanks to the experts at The Luxe Nomad, we ended staying in the conveniently located Hotel Éclat, our city break escape for the next couple of days…

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We quickly got our baggage at the airport and were met by our hotel driver as soon as we got out of arrivals. He escorted us to a car (all organised by the hotel) and we began our journey into Taipei! The cheerful driver was already an indication of how friendly the people would be, readily greeting us and helping us with our bags. After around 50 minutes, we reached a tree-lined boulevard that had a sort of European-vibe to it, very fitting for the hotel!

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The exterior of Hotel Éclat has a very European, almost French look to it and the interior is equally as charming, with quirky contemporary art pieces scattered around. We were greeted by the lovely staff at check in, who were helpful, clear and even took us up to our little room to show us around…

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The room itself was simple and on the smaller side, but absolutely perfect for what we needed. The twin beds had an abundance of soft cushions and fluffy bedding, and there was a TV, radio, full mini bar and tea and coffee facilities (can’t go without a cuppa in the morning!).

The highlight of the room has got to be the bathroom. Although there was no bath and it was on he smaller side, the rain shower was absolutely glorious after a long day of walking around the streets of Taipei, and the toilet was definitely interesting… I won’t give it away, but let’s just say it was nearly singing and dancing!

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We were lucky enough to have breakfast included in our stay at the Hotel Eclat, and were treated to a buffet of dim sum, congee, fruit, yoghurt, muesli, cold cuts, cheese, salads, pastries and juice – phew! On top of this tasty spread, you also get to order a hot dish from the menu, which includes a variety of eggs and the option of a Taiwanese breakfast. You’re certainly well filled up and ready for the rest of the day after this substantial brekkie.

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As soon as we arrived at the hotel, the staff were absolutely wonderful. Not only were they polite and friendly, but they were so helpful and couldn’t have done more to make our stay perfect. They even recommend and organised a private day trip for us to the Geopark and Jiu Fen village, suggesting that we order a private taxi instead of taking the tour bus, as it would work out cheaper. They always had smiles on their faces and were on hand to help us with directions at any time of the day… I couldn’t rave about them enough. It’s so rare you find such lovely staff and it really does effect your impression of a place.

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If you’re looking for a quirky, boutique hotel that’s conveniently located, then I would definitely recommend staying at Hotel Éclat. It has everything you need for a city break and is perfectly situated five minutes away from the MRT, which easily takes you to all the major sights. Don’t expect a surplus of amenities, but do expect a hotel full of character with the friendliest and most helpful staff I have ever encountered. Taipei has an eclectic mix of activities and sights to see, the kindest people, and is only an hour or so by flight away from Hong Kong, so it’s safe to say it’s won me over as a quick and easy city break destination!

Hotel Eclat, No. 370, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106, +886 2 2784 8888, book through The Luxe Nomad here

 

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