W Taipei — Hotel in Taipei

I would like to personally thank each and every staff member at the W Hotel in Taipei Taiwan. While I have not met every single individual, I can only imagine that if Freya, Debbie, Lis, Amy, and Tracy are an indication of the wonderful hospitality guests will receive when entering this paragon of urban paradise, then I can bet my experience would be equally spectacular. You are all such wonderful hosts and you have brought my travel experiences to another level!

The first time I came to this hotel 6 years ago was such a delightful experience that I knew I would come here again. Beautiful pool with spectacular views, Relaxing bar scene, Clean cool rooms, tasty meals both through dine-in room service and the buffet on the 10th floor, and to top it off friendly staff who are knowledgeable about sights to see in the surrounding areas and equally skilled in getting me there. What more could I ask for in my travels?

Now as a regular, I'm happy to see the same W staff faces when I return. I first met Freya down in the business center when I needed to ship some items to China. She skillfully handled my needs and I was left free to enjoy the rest of my trip. Since then she has been elevated in position to sales and I no longer see her in the front, but when I asked if she could come out to say hi she gladly came out with a smiling face. She took it a step further and introduced me to some new friends and local activities at a nearby park. I spent my entire day there having fun with my new acquaintances, and when I was finally consumed with exhaustion I was happy to return to the hotel with the best beds and most comfortable pillows. Needless to say I hit the Spa the next day, tried every temperature pool, and worked the knots out of my muscles. Words don't put The W to justice, you need to experience it for yourself!

On this most recent trip I had the pleasure of meeting Tracy who pulled out all the stops. I flew my parents into town for an anniversary gift and as they rarely traveled internationally, I wanted to show them the velvet ropes. Tracy did not disappoint. Suites were unavailable at check in, but Tracy put me on a wait list and advised me to check again in the evening. I took my parents shopping and out for an evening snack. Before long, I got a What'sApp text indicating another guest had cancelled their reservation and the room would be available for my parents. We were all ecstatic! When we returned and my parents entered their domicile, the cameras came out and they immediately began posting to Facebook. The W made their experience so memorable they are still telling their friends about it!

And of course, no hotel shines alone and the surrounding areas are just as important to travelers as where they put up their feet. Shopping for friends and family back home? The Breeze Shopping Center is only half a block away and I could walk there in 3 minutes. Raining? Borrow an umbrella from The W's front desk. The food is exquisite in the shopping center. Nearly 6-8 floors of fine restaurants, snacks, desserts, and drinks. I finished my Xmas shopping in 8 hours with the added bonuses of telling my recipients it's from the other side of the world! Taipei 101 is a hop, skip, and a jump from the hotel, so feel free to see the entire city from a glorious perch! If you want to travel a bit further, jump on the MRT (subway transit system). It's super efficient, on time, and very easy to navigate. Taipei should be on everyone's travel bucket list.

6 years after my first visit, I still return to The W in Taipei. I am now an SPG veteran and as a platinum member the experience has only blossomed. Upgraded to suites I once nearly lost my friend for 10 seconds trying to find them. This last trip I consumed my welcome snacks in the tub, watching TV, and looking out at the evening city skyline. Yes, I just had to indulge! Each time I visit the W Hotel in Taipei I find myself thinking, I need to succeed so I can return. If I could choose a home away from home, it would certainly be here among my friends at the W!

Thank you all for consistently making my stays so enjoyable! The W and the Staff are the epitome of what it is to turn traveler's dreams...

W Taipei pleasantly surprised us – it wasn’t nearly as bad as some friends had warned, and in fact exceeded expectations.

Despite having stayed at W Hotels across Australia and Japan, we had always deliberately avoided W Taipei during our many trips to the city. This was largely due to repeated warnings from friends who described the hotel as tired and the service as subpar. But on our return to Taipei this April, we finally decided to see for ourselves.

From the moment we stepped out of our Uber, the service was warm and attentive. Staff promptly assisted with our luggage and gave us clear directions to the check-in area on the 10th floor. The front desk team were professional, courteous and friendly, and made the check-in process smooth and welcoming. A staff member personally accompanied us to our room, giving us a brief but helpful introduction to the room’s features, and our luggage arrived quickly after. At every point, the service met the standards expected of a W Hotel — not only professional, but genuinely friendly and personable. Even with a high volume of guests, staff never once appeared impatient or insincere.

We were assigned a room with a stunning direct view of Taipei 101. Upon entering, we were greeted by a thoughtful welcome gift and handwritten note from the room service team — a lovely surprise. The room had been refurbished two years prior and retained W’s distinctive design aesthetic. The bed was exceptionally comfortable, the sound system impressive, and soundproofing seemed effective. The bathroom featured a generously sized bathtub, a separate toilet, and a premium Japanese-style bidet with an automatic lid. If there was one shortfall, it was the quality of the towels — they felt worn and lacked the softness expected at a five-star property.

That evening, we had drinks at Yen Bar. Thanks to a prior reservation, we were given a semi-private booth. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the cocktails were well crafted. The turn-down service, while acceptable, could benefit from more attention to detail — such as tidying guests’ belongings and clearing rubbish properly.

The only real shock came at breakfast. Due to the sheer number of guests, the main restaurant was completely full, and overflow seating had to be arranged at the Woo Bar. During the short 30 minutes we stayed (we left early because the atmosphere was just too chaotic), there was a continuous queue of guests waiting to be seated. Lines formed at every station, and unfortunately, the behaviour of some guests — snatching food and pushing in — left much to be desired. Utensils weren’t properly cleaned, table linens were stained, and even after several requests for replacements, we still received dirty ones. That said, the staff remained composed and efficient throughout, handling guest requests promptly and often going out of their way to be helpful and kind.

The overcrowding also extended to the pool area. At no point were there any available lounge chairs, even though many were being ‘reserved’ with towels or personal items despite no one actually using them. Some families even brought young children down during breakfast hours, turning the area into a noisy play zone, completely undermining any sense of relaxation.

Just before checking out, we took a look at the gym. It was large and well equipped. I had a brief chat with the lovely staff member at the desk and really wished we’d had the time to make use of it during our stay.

All in all, our experience at W Taipei was quite positive — certainly much better than anticipated. However, considering the chaotic breakfast situation and lack of poolside availability, we’d think twice before choosing to stay again, depending on the timing of...

W Taipei Hotel Experience- W Hotel should call W Taipei Factory

My husband booked two nights at the W Hotel. The first night was USD 750, and the second night was over USD 1050. We spent USD 2700, including drinks, over the two nights.

During our visit, my husband went to the WooBar, where a staff member informed him that elite members receive their first drink for free. He invited me down to enjoy the complimentary drink, prompting me to delay my shower to join him. I ordered a house red wine and waited 25 minutes for it to arrive. When I inquired with another staff member, she informed me that we should not have received a free drink. This was unclear since my husband had not been charged for his drink. After discussing the situation for another 30 minutes with a young lady who revealed she was an intern and unsure of the procedures, I grew increasingly frustrated. It wasn’t about the free drink; it was about enjoying my time without unnecessary complications. This situation could have been avoided with better staff training or proper guidance for the intern.

Furthermore, I requested a late checkout of just 30 minutes, as our next hotel in Taichung had a check-in time of 5 PM (and that hotel is much cheaper, so I didn’t want to complain). I approached three different ladies at the front desk, all of whom informed me that W Hotel could not accommodate my request because they were too busy. I was shocked by this reasoning, especially given that W is considered one of the best hotels in Taipei. Every tourist or customer who chooses to stay at W contributes to its business. However, the attitude I encountered was unacceptable, particularly since W Taipei claims to be a luxury hotel. I am confident that places like the Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental would handle such requests differently, especially considering the amount we spent.

It was disheartening to hear the front desk staff imply that our spending did not matter to them. I question whether a 30-minute late checkout truly impacts W Taipei’s business or affects the parent company’s stock price. The lack of courtesy and flexibility was disappointing, creating the impression that W Taipei prioritizes profits over customer experience.

I suggest that if you want to spend one or two days here, booking the cheapest room is fine; the pool and gym are nice. W has a strong brand, so opting for the cheapest room is okay. However, if you have the budget for a good experience, I recommend choosing the Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental instead. Even other local Taiwanese brands, like Lakeshore and Hungs Mansion, offer better service than W Hotel at prices that can be 50% or more lower than those of W Taipei.

I believe the issue lies with management. Customers spending USD 1000 per night still cannot receive a late checkout, even for just 10 minutes. W Taipei claims to be busy, but other hotels remain accommodating even during peak seasons, allowing 30 to 60 minutes for late checkouts. We stayed in a suite and heard that many W clients spend a lot of money there. It appears that management focuses on cutting costs and maximizing business at the expense of quality. The front desk staff seemed surprised when I expressed that W felt like a factory that couldn’t grant even a 10-minute late checkout. Their response was that it is what it is because they are too busy. It seems management hires young, attractive staff without adequate training, leading to a workforce that doesn’t seem engaged in their jobs. The hotel feels more like a factory, prioritizing cost-cutting and turnover over customer satisfaction. Overall, the experience was quite...