Grand Forward Hotel Taipei

Located in the Banqiao District of New Taipei, the Grand Forward Hotel Taipei stands out as the most prestigious and popular hotel. It is leagues above its competitors and is often the first port-of-call for tourists paying a visit to this part of the world.

Banqiao District

This is a densely populated region, with over half a million people living here and with those numbers inflating every year due to tourism. This is a culturally rich part of the country and one that is also home to many top universities, including the national Taiwan University of Arts, which is the oldest art university in the country.

Tourists don’t flock here for the schools and universities though, and most of them head for the night markets, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden, the Jieyun Temple, the Agricultural Park and other top attractions.

The Basics

The Grand Forward Hotel Taipei is a tall building, striking an impressive figure against the New Taipei skyline, especially during the night. This is a modestly priced hotel but there are a range of room types to choose from and some of these can be a little pricy. You definitely get what you pay for though and all of the more expensive rooms offer an endless list of amenities and extras.

• Airport Shuttle? Yes
• Free WiFi? Yes
• Pool? Yes
• Fitness Center? Yes
• Restaurants? Yes
• Near Public Transport? Yes

The Location

The Grand Forward Hotel Taipei is 45 minute away from Songshan Airport by car, but it is just a short walk from the Fuzhong MRT station, which provides easier and fast transport around the city. The hotel is also just a short walk from the Nanya Tourism Night Market, where many tourists tend to gather.

Its ideal location makes the Grand Forward Hotel Taipei popular with business travelers as well as leisure travelers, and the hotel is geared-up to accommodate both of these groups.

The Rooms

There are 111 rooms at the Grand Forward Hotel Taipei, ranging from the Standard Double rooms to the Deluxe Double rooms, the Corner Double rooms, the Executive rooms and a number of Suites. These range in size, from 334 square feet onwards, but all of them come with some basic amenities, including air conditioning, a flat-screen television, a shower and a bathtub. The latter is quite a rare find in a modern hotel room, especially in a city such as Taipei where space is at a premium, so this is a welcome addition indeed.

Other features included in the rooms include satellite and cable channels for the television, a desk, ironing facilities, a refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities and a safety deposit box. All guests will also find a number of free toiletries in the private bathrooms, and they can also request that extra beds are brought into the rooms to cater for larger groups and for families.

The Dining

All guests at the Grand Forward Hotel Taipei can enjoy breakfast in the onsite restaurant. A lot of care and attention has gone into designing and furnishing this room, ensuring it is open and accessible, but that it is also sufficiently elegant and comfortable at the same time. They have struck a very good balance here and it makes for a very enjoyable breakfast. All of the breakfast foods served here have a Western flavor, with many popular dishes, snacks and drinks to choose from. All of this is served by attentive and professional staff, and guests are also invited to serve themselves if they want something quick and easy before heading out on a day of sightseeing.

For evening meals, where a little less haste is required and no one is half-asleep or hung-over from the night before, there is a lounge bar that offers an equally elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. In the lounge there is live ambient music which, along with some delicate lighting, sets the tone perfectly. Here guests can enjoy an array of homemade snacks and foods, including cakes and sandwiches, and they can also choose from an array of drinks and cocktails.

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in both of these restaurants, so you can check your email whilst you wait for your food.

The Facilities

As well as a fully-equipped fitness center where guests can keep in shape whilst they indulge on holiday, there is also a sauna. If you want a helping hand with some of the basics, the hotel also offers a laundry service, where they will take your dirty clothes, wash them, dry them and iron them, all in super-quick time. The Grand Forward Hotel Taipei also has a currency exchange service and a tour desk, which can help you to find the best restaurants and attractions in the city.

The Grand Forward Hotel Taipei has a business center, meeting rooms and banqueting facilities — perfect for business travelers who need to stay up to date with their work commitments.