Arrival/Check-In: I arrived in Taipei on a Sunday afternoon from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and hopped in a cab. The Grand Hyatt Taipei is located in the Xinyi district (the city’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan district), directly next to Taipei 101, Taipei World Trade Center and Taipei International Convention Center. Many shops and entertainment venues also reside nearby — talk about a convenient location for a luxury business and leisure traveler. Upon my arrival, hotel staff warmly greeted me and escorted me to the front desk in the grand, open lobby. After a fast and smooth check-in, up to the room I went. Francis X. Gallagher, CEO and publisher, Global Traveler, had arrived from Dubai earlier that day, and we met in the Grand Club Lounge to catch up over a drink. Guest Quarters: My Grand Club Premier King room made a great first impression. The newly renovated room offered a chic East-meets-West contemporary design and sweeping panoramic views of the mountains and Taipei 101. Measuring about 540 square feet, the room included a living space and a separate bedroom. An oversized work desk and complimentary wireless high-speed internet made it easy to get work done. I found the modern marble bathroom with separate tub and walk-in shower both beautiful and convenient and the extensive closet space impressive. The bathroom offered June Jacobs amenities. Cozy, high-quality bedding and pillows made the king-sized bed comfortable. Services/Amenities: Grand Club access provided quite a nice perk during my stay at the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Fran and I not only met for a drink at the Grand Club Lounge, we also ate breakfast here each morning before our long days of meetings. The lounge boasts great service and satisfying culinary options. The Grand Hyatt Taipei features 11 restaurant options; we chose to indulge in a beautiful dim sum lunch at Yun Jin restaurant. It did not disappoint! I especially enjoyed sampling the hairy crab, only available during that season from a certain part of China. Before our days began, I utilized the 24-hour gymnasium at Club Oasis and enjoyed great workout sessions. Multiple rooms offer a wide range of exercise equipment in addition to amazing views of Taipei. The Experience: The Grand Hyatt Taipei provided a wonderful stay, and I would absolutely return. Conveniently located for business and leisure travelers, the hotel provides anything guests might need during their stay.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist] [item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item] [item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item] [item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item] [item check=yes]Large vanity[/item] [item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item] [item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item] [item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item] [item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item] [item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item] [item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item] [item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item] [item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item] [item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item] [item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item] [item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item] [item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item] [item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item] [item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item] [/checklist]

Grand Hyatt Taipei

2 SongShou Road Taipei, Taiwan 11051 tel 886 2 2720 1234 grand.hyatt.com