VILLA 32 — Hotel in Taipei

I won't flatter myself and tell you I'm a jet-setter; but my husband and I are avid and frequent travelers, and have stayed at many hotels, from rustic BnBs in Stockholm to the Ritz-Carlton in Paris. We've run the gamut! And I'm wildly tempted to stay that Villa 32 ranks as one of our very plushest, most indulgent stays ever. Nestled in the hot springs region of Taiwan called Beitou, its design is minimalist chic, with a lighting plan that creates alluring shadows, highlights lush plants, and casts an inviting glow throughout the property. The room was huge - oh, those sumptuous linens! - and the bathroom was a stunning highlight: a giant stone soaking tub that accessed the mineral hot springs coursing below the hotel, a terribly chic shower with a host of nozzle options, a state-of-the-art Toto toilet that did everything short of a complete body buff and shine, and a mini-bar packed with complimentary goodies. There were separate thermostats in our living room, bedroom and bathroom... so you could control the exact climate with scrupulous accuracy, done to the degree. The hotel only has six available chambers, so it's charmingly intimate; two are Japanese in fashion, with futons on the floor, and four (I believe) are Western, with American-style king-sized beds. We snuck a peek while other rooms were being cleaned, and each was unique; nothing remotely "cookie cutter" here. The outdoor, onsen-style springs were an added treat, with private bathing areas for men and women. And the spa! We were so impressed we booked TWO MASSAGES each...and our therapists were first-rate, with almost shamanistic therapeutic skills and an aura of quiet beatude that made the experience even more soothing. Have I mentioned the restaurant? We had a giant kaiseki-style meal on our first night, with seven or eight courses; the food was a thrilling fusion of Asian and European cuisine. It was - quite honestly - one of the best meals of my life. Caviar on white asparagus ice cream! Gnocchi with octopus! Perfectly cooked squab, and a trio of ridiculously scrumptious desserts! When we returned for lunch the next day, we were expecting more humble, mid-day fare...but NO. Another endless feast! Delectable mushroom soup! Anchovies with coconut crackers and aubergine! Waygu beef, seared to perfection! Once again, the meal was two hours of one show-stopping dish after another.... we were positively LOUCHE by the time it was over. Oh, oh, oh. And the staff. I MUST TELL YOU ABOUT THE STAFF! The most efficient and gracious that I've ever seen in action, who choreographed its every move in perfect symphony. No sooner would I leave the room than a steward would appear to guide me to my next destination: dinner, or the spa, or the baths. The concierge and his crew all worked with tiny remote microphones, and you could here them whisper "The guest from the Jade room is approaching.... be sure to seat him at his favorite table!" At first, it unnerved me a bit; was my every move being watched and assessed? Indeed, it was true! But it was all to ensure my complete and total satisfaction with the over-all experience; how could I begrudge THAT? Villa 32 is a supremely rendered, perfectly realized escape from the harsher realities of the world. If I could, I would live there. It reaches out and embraces you with...

Staying here was relaxing and a nice break from our busy schedule. We stayed in the Sakura room and it was nice and spacious—some small details were a bit old and probably needs to be updated but overall, no big complaints about the room. The onsen was great for my skin so was happy with that. We didn’t eat dinner here because most people I know recommended that we opt out of this meal option. (Their breakfast was fine.) Can tell there was some thought and effort put into the hotel guidelines in terms of customer service but the execution by their staff was definitely lacking. From being assumed to be onsen guests instead of hotel guests as we were leaving for dinner (in an off-putting and maybe even low key condescending kind of way?) to overhearing staff complain about a customer who phoned in the morning to ask questions, I’d say a lot more work needs to go into employee training. Only one girl who showed me around the public onsen came anything close to resembling a luxury hotel employee who demonstrated good enough hospitality and poise. Quite a shame, because the hotel really is pretty and the spring water is great. Still giving this 4 stars, though, because we have been trained to stop caring so much about service after so many weak performances at various hotels and restaurants around Taiwan. Supposedly finding reliable and good employees is an issue that many employers face so…still 4 stars with that taken...

This was a beautiful resort and a great place for my wife and myself to spend our 15 year anniversary. We stayed in the largest room (I think it was called Azure). It's a well designed room and extremely comfortable. When I went there with my wife, I had a stomach flu and wasn't feeling great so I took a nap on the rooms extremely comfortable bed while she went to the Spa.

Service was spectacular from the moment we walked in the door. When we went to the Spa, someone would escort us to the Spa. Ask for Emma (she was a fantastic Masseuse). She started with washing your feet, then the full body massage (I got the 90 minute massage...next time, I'm going for 2 hours)

We had dinner at "The Restaurant" which was just downstairs. We went during a time when it was not truffle season (we will have to return for Truffle season :) but the food was still very good. I liked the risotto the best (well...again I wasn't feeling 100% so the risotto just hit the spot :)

After our stay there, my wife and I thought that this would be a great place to go every year for our anniversary (we liked it that much)

Great service, ambiance, spa and food. We will definitely...