While there are known Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood and Marriott hotels in and around the city of Taipei, Taiwan, it’s always nice to see how boutique hotels compare to U.S. chain hotels from America. I decided to stay at the Amba Taipei Ximending Hotel for its central location in the middle of the city and accessibility to numerous landmarks and attractions.
In This Post
Amba Hotel History
According to their website, Amba Hotels & Resorts was launched by Ambassador Hotel Group in 2012 as its next-generation design hotel concept. Designed for the globally savvy urban travelers who appreciate creativity, connectivity, and conservation, the Amba brand adds an element of fun to travel through its modern, playful design, inviting social areas, and energetic team.
The brand’s first hotel Amba Taipei Ximending, opened in February 2012, has quickly become a top rated Ximending hotel in Taipei. In September 2012, Wallpaper magazine nominated Amba best business hotels 2012 shortlisted and described the hotel as one of the best new openings around the world.
Reception Desk
I stayed during Halloween weekend in Taiwan and one interesting fact most Americans don’t know is that Taiwan celebrates Halloween. I was welcomed to the hotel with Halloween decoration around the front desk. Even on the day of Halloween, the hotel employees dressed up to get into the festivities.
Rooms
The 160 guestrooms, ranging in size from 226 to 646 square feet provide enough space for 1-4 people during your stay. They offer five different room types – Queen, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and Balcony to accommodate any type of traveler. During my stay, I decided to get the Loft Room, which came with two twin beds and two large sofas that could of accommodate two more people, if needed.
Breakfast
The hotel does not provide a complimentary breakfast. Most Taiwanese hotels offer a Western and Taiwanese breakfast menu to accommodate local and foreigner guests. The two options gave me the opportunity to try traditional Taiwanese breakfast while also receiving the comforts of home. If you feel adventurous and want to try new dishes, an array of Taiwanese breakfast dishes are yours for the taking. The breakfast buffet was diverse between Taiwanese and Western dishes, and it was so tasty that I went back for round two.
The Bald Thoughts
The Amba Taipei Ximending Hotel was very different from what I’m used back in the States. Everyone who worked in the hotel spoke English and were very attentive to my needs. They had a concierge desk that was free of charge for hotel guests. To try out the concierge, I had him call local nightclubs for information and a spot on the guest list. Through their helpfulness, I was able to have a great time and enjoy the local attractions.
The hotel location is a 10-minute walk from the MRT train station and is surrounded by a daily night market that has delicious street vendors offering traditional Taiwanese treats. Additionally, the iconic 101 tower is only a 15-minute train ride to the MRT train station from the hotel. Overall, I had a pleasant stay at this hotel and I’m looking forward to their new Amba Kenting resort scheduled to open in 2018 located in southern Taiwan.
How to book
Don’t take my word for how amazing this hotel was, please use our referral link to find date availability and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.
Which card should you use to pay for your reservation?
The Visa Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good choice to use for its ability to earn 3 Ultimate Rewards (UR) points per dollar spent on your hotel stay. If your stay is 4 nights or longer, consider using the Citibank Prestige card to receive your 4th night free.
If you’d like to apply for any of these cards, please use our referral link to apply.
Rewards Credit Cards
- Earn rewards with your everyday spend, and get a little closer to your next vacation.
- Use rewards to book hotels, air travel, gift cards, or to cover travel expenses like Uber.
- Loyalty pays off — earn triple rewards when you use your card to book a trip with your favorite hotel or airline.
- Enjoy additional travel perks like travel insurance, waived foreign transaction fees, and airport lounge access.
- Terms vary by partner offer. Please see each bank’s application for terms and conditions.
