Taipei CityInn Hotel (新驛旅店)
January 8th, 2009 | by jys |I thought booking for hotels in Taiwan is the same as other countries, which means we can simply find a few hotel booking websites, compare the rates and booked from there but clearly I was wrong. I went to search for hotels at a few hotel booking websites and found out that the rate is quite high. Besides that, they only offer a few famous hotels, not much choices. After some research on the Internet (posting in forums and etc) only i know normally ppl will book directly from the hotel itself, rather than go through these hotel booking websites.
After getting all the information needed, the rate, the service, the locations, I’ve shortlisted a few. But when I checked the rooms availability, I was shocked as all hotels were fully booked. Luckily one of the travel experts in the forum introduce me to the City Inn. Without wasting much time, I emailed the hotel (most of the hotel website got no online booking, have to email them or call them) to ask for the rooms availability and got reply the next day.
There are two room types available, Cityinn Suite(one queen size bed), NT$2600 and Twin Room(two single beds), NT$3200. We are entitled for 40% discount for both rooms (grand opening discount, no idea until when). After looking at the rate, I decided to get the cheapest room, which is the Cityinn Suite. However, there are no Cityinn Suite available on the first night, therefore I will need to get the twin room. We got no other choice but to agree to change room, so first night in twin room, and the rest will be in the Cityinn Suite. After we agreed to book these rooms, we faxed them the credit card authorization form to let them charged on our credit card. By right, they will only charged on the first night, but since we booked two different types of rooms, they treated it as two bookings. That is why they charged one night for twin room, and another night for Cityinn Suite.
CityInn Hotel(新驛旅店) is situated at a very good location. It’s 5 minutes walk from the Taipei Main Station (bus station, railway station, MRT), 5 minutes walk to Shinkong Mitsukoshi (新光三越), a lot of shops and restaurants nearby, a superb location. The Guo Guang Bus we took from airport will dropped us at the Taipei Main Station, opposite Shinkong Mitsukoshi(新光三越). After we crossed the street, we took the wrong turn! If we turned right, we can see our hotel within 5 minutes, but instead, we turned left. So we ended up wasted quite some time before we find our hotel. ~sigh
In Taipei, most of their hotels (this type of hotel, consider 3 star..) are in between shop lots. so this is our hotel..
main entrance
Actually I wanted to take the picture of the hotel in the morning but every time I forgot. I only remember when we’re heading back to the hotel at night. :p
We were greeted by the friendly and polite hotel staff. There are always 2 or 3 staff at the counter. After filling in some simple information, we got our room keys. Our room is located at the 2nd floor.
The corridor
Twin Room
Sun – Thurs NTD1920 per night (after 40% discount)
Fri & Sat NTD2080 per night (after 40% discount)
I paid with credit card and I got a better rate (exchange rate 11.75 at the money changer, 11.15 when used credit card), so the twin room is about RM 214 per night.
2 single beds
the room is clean but it’s really small!!
see that small little chair? so cute!!
once you open the door, you can jump straight into the bed!! hehe..
I don’t quite like the shower space design, it’s in octagon. So hard to move around..
the basin and hair dryer
toilet bowl. luckily everything is very clean.
small little wardrobe for you to hang a few clothes.
free snacks and drinks. the jasmine tea is nice, coffee not nice. :p
After we settle down, we headed out to have our supper. We went to one of the shop opposite the hotel, food is nice, 10 dumplings for only nt 45 (RM 5.30), where can you get that in Malaysia??
We did not unpack our luggage as we’re going to move to the Cityinn Suite the next day. On the very next day, before we went out, we placed our luggage at the counter. We will only check in when we were back at night.
Cityinn Suite
Sun – Thurs NTD 1560 (RM 174) per night (after 40% discount)
Fri & Sat NTD1690 (RM 188) per night (after 40% discount)
queen size bed, this rooms looks bigger. don’t understand why that twin room is more expensive!
shower space.. this is in rectangular, toilet also bigger than the twin room!
Overall I feel this hotel is quite good. Location wise, very good, near to the railway station, MRT and bus station. Price wise.. ok too.. It’s very convenient, easy to get food, and there’s a convenient store beside the hotel. The room is quite small but I don’t really mind cos I won’t spend a lot of time in the hotel room. The staff there are all very polite and friendly and most importantly their rooms are very clean. So you can really consider this hotel if you need to find an affordable, convenient and clean hotel when you go to Taipei next time.
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27 Responses to “Taipei CityInn Hotel (新驛旅店)”
By ewin on Jan 8, 2009 | Reply
wah so many pix of hotel .. lol
reviewing hotel wor. haha
Jys:
haha, ya…can show ppl how this hotel is like mar. so when next time they go taipei, they can consider this hotel lo..
By rachel on Jan 9, 2009 | Reply
Can confirm if the toilet door is frosted one? Does that mean people will be able to see your “shadow” when you use the toilet??
Jys:
yep, it’s frosted one..can see shadow…
By rachel on Jan 9, 2009 | Reply
Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. Think need to factor that part in coz will be sharing a room with my fren for our upcoming trip.
Jys:
oo, should be ok gua..cos can see shadow only.. wont be able to see anything one..
By Jason on Jan 9, 2009 | Reply
Our room (for four people) ranges from NT1300 (cheapest) to NT2600 (most expensive). How come yours so much more expensive (before discount)?
By the way, yes, its cheaper to book through their website. However, its even cheaper to walk in as you can ask for discount. I kid you not.
We were in Sun Moon Lake and we walked into this hotel.
“How much is a room for four?”
“NT2400.”
“But our friend got it for only NT1600.” (Actually, our friend got a room for two, not four.)
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“NT1600 like that. Cash.”
“Deal.”
Heh!
Jys:
wow, really? walk in ar? but i saw a lot of walk in customers asked for rooms at my hotel but there’s no rooms available..maybe becos of the location that’s y mine is more expensive?
By Forever28 on Jan 10, 2009 | Reply
Wah… got 40% discount ar?? but the rate is quite expensive ler… Anyway, they have complimentary snack and drink ya~~ ahaha
Jys:
ya.. taiwan hotels are quite expensive too, maybe it’s because of the location also lar..
By Jenny on Apr 18, 2009 | Reply
not bad wor…can consider if i plan to go there…hehe..coz i’m very particular abt cleanliness…btw…great review!
Jys:
ya, this hotel is really not bad. price ok, location very good, friendly staff and the best is it’s new and clean!
By Karl on Apr 30, 2009 | Reply
Fantastic information about CityInn!
That’s great too about the photos of that hotel too! I’ll book that hotel when I come to Taiwan this Fall. 
Jys:
ya, i think this hotel is quite good, it’s clean, location wise very good and very convenient.. but rooms are a bit small lar. hehe..
By Karl on May 6, 2009 | Reply
Haha about the Citysuite room being small.Well, I don’t care much as I travel by myself, and I only need the room for sleeping during my stay in Taipei that’s all. I wouldn’t care about hotel food / room services as I probably keep myself busy at night markets for food! Or a shop opposing to the hotel for that cheap 10 dumplings!
lol
Jys:
ya that’s true. I do admit the room is kind of small but it really convenient staying here! I think I will stay at the same hotel again if I ever go Taipei again!
By ken wong on Jun 5, 2009 | Reply
awwww…i so wanna stay in this hotel for my july trip…but FULL adi!!!!! arrgghh!! so sad..any other hotel recommendation?
Jys:
full ar? hehe.. should book earlier mar. other hotels? i never stay in other hotels before so i dare not intro lar, later not good how? hehe…
By ctktc on Jun 23, 2009 | Reply
To Jason…
You mentioned ‘We were in Sun Moon Lake and we walked into this hotel… room for four only NT1600′.
Mind to share the hotel name with us? I’m planning to visit Sun Moon Lake in the coming Taiwan trip.
Thanks.
Jys:
You can check out his blog, I remembered he did mention it in his blog. You can clicked on the name of the commenter to get to his blog.
By LT Yap on Jul 30, 2009 | Reply
I understand there are 2 City Inns. I think one in front of the Taipei Main station & the other one at the back of the station.
One is located at 81, Chang An W. Rd and the other is at 7 Huaining St, Jhongkeng Dist.
Which one did you stay? Anyway thanks for sharing.
Jys:
the one i stayed is at Huaining St, Jhongkeng Dist.
By Roocie on Aug 1, 2009 | Reply
This is a very helpful post.. Thanks a lot..
Jys:
I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks.
By wendy on Aug 3, 2009 | Reply
should it be the “front” or “back” hotel (as per the website main page, we have to select front or back of train station)
thanks!
Jys:
I’m not sure the one I’m staying is the front or the back of train station. Perhaps you just select by the address? Huaning street?
By san san on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply
hi…your website very useful..:) how many days u spent there?
Jys:
7 days 6 nights. but then the first day arrived late at night and the last day fly back early in the morning. so basically i only got 5 days to travel..
By Ling on Sep 17, 2009 | Reply
Hello!
You booked room online or made call to book it?
I checked the online reservation website, not so applicable!!
Jys:
I emailed them to book the rooms. A few days before my departure date, the staff called me to confirm.
By Jenny on Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the suggestion but when I get to the website…it’s all in mandarin…I don’t know how to read
Nvm..guess I’ll try other places instead
Jys:
no english? hehe.. but i guess most of their websites are in chinese..
Jenny´s last blog ~ Wow….
By Maine on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
Hey, I came across your website while researching on Taipei for my trip next year. Thanks for sharing about your experiences. I have a question, did you stay in Cityinn I or II? Apparently there’s 2, 台北車站前站店 and 台北車站後站店. Is the room comfy enough to stay for 6 nights? Thanks
Jys:
I’m staying at the old one, that time only got one cityinn, the other one is newly open one..
By Maine on Nov 3, 2009 | Reply
opps sorry, found my answer while the other replies. Thanks anyway! Realised the Cityinn you stayed in is really popular. Feb 2010 rooms are almost fully booked. But the other Cityinn is got many rooms left.. Wonder isit becos of location or becos its new..
Jys:
haha, maybe it’s still new, so not many ppl have heard about it…
By marcus on Nov 16, 2009 | Reply
can post the website for this hotel ?
Jys:
the url is provided in the post, under the first photo.
By ieR on Nov 26, 2009 | Reply
woah, sooo nostalgic seeing the family mart, make me miss taiwan so much…
Jys:
ya ya, they sell all kinds of drinks, sweets and junk food.. hehe…. nice lar..
By Ting on Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
may i know the cityinn tat u stayed, is the one located at Huaining St. ?
Jys:
there’s only one cityinn when I was there, yep, it’s located at huaining, the older one…
By Ting on Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
they offer u a different rate for weekdays n weekend? I made my reservation with them via email and they quoted me NT$2080 for both weekdays n weekend
Jys:
Ya, I remembered they gave me different rate as well for weekdays and weekend, but when I booked that time, got 30 or 40% discount.. forgot what occasion d.. hehe… You can read the blog post on the hotel, I think I did write down the hotel rate there…
By Jass on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
ohai, finally i’m back from taiwan. thanks for you post. helped me a lot
i managed to get a cheaper rate at NTD1690 for normal days and peak at NTD1820…
Jys:
you’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoy your trip!! Wow, you get yourself a really good rate. how do you find the hotel? nice?
By Jass on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
its nice and super convenient… although a bit small but clean.. they very hygienic wan, insist to clean the toilet for u even u say no need…
Jys:
Ya ya, hahahaa, clean is good!!
Jass´s last blog ~ Taipei 2009: Daan, Longshan Temple, Xi Men Ding
By ling on May 13, 2010 | Reply
hello JYS,
this is 台北車站前站店 (Huaining St) or 台北車站後站店?
can u pls let me know? thanks!
Jys:
should be 台北車站前站店 (Huaining St). when i was there, there’s only one cityinn there…
By angel81 on Jun 30, 2010 | Reply
hi JYS,
may i know how to the booking for the hotel?
email? fax? ctc no?
pls advise as i’ll be going early Jan 2011.
from what u’ve writen, sound like it’s easily fully book.
so. i think i should book early eventhough is still another 1/2 yr to go.
thks & rgds,
angel
Jys:
I emailed them, they took about 24 hours to reply, but they will definitely reply lar. Then when the date is near, they will call you to double confirm.
By angel81 on Jun 30, 2010 | Reply
JYS, thanks for the prompt reply…
just to double confirm, is it the email add = service2@cityinn.com.tw?
rgds,
Jys:
oo, email add ar? I didn’t keep the mail I sent to them, so can’t double check. But i remember I got the email from their website. So maybe you can try check out their website!