First, Trip Advisor has a few things wrong on there site in regards to this hotel. It's located at 343 Zhangchun Rd in the Zhongshan District. Also, it's not called the Garden Suites. It's simply "Howard The Suites Taipei". If you want to book this hotel, I strongly recommend that you email them directly by going to the contact us tab on their website http://the-suites.howard-hotels.com/
The reason you may want to contact direct is that we ran into the Howard's main reservation email contact as telling us we had to book a long-term stay. That is not correct and you can book a few days or week by contacting them directly. I also got the best price by emailing them directly.
This was my 3rd trip to Taiwan, 2nd trip to Taipei. The first time we stayed at the Caesar Park, which I give this a higher rating all day long, given the huge rooms!!! We stayed 3 nights in the "VIP Twin" room and them moved to a Deluxe Suite for 4 nights. The VIP twin does not have a ktichen, but has a living room/dining room combo and then a separate bedroom area with bathroom. The beds are 2 queen sized beds, not American twin size. Plenty of room for 4-5 people as the sofa in the living room can be used a twin bed. The vanity area is open to the bedroom, with a big dresser and 2 full sized closets. Around the corner is a walk-in huge tile shower and the bathtub is in the same tile shower area, but on the end. The shower with tub is like a 6' x 10' room. The toilet is is in a separate small like closet room with just the toilet, making it a perfect set up for people that need to use things all at the same time, because there isn't really a "bathroom" with everything in the same room. The living room has a small refrigerator and an appliance to make hot water for instant tea or coffee. Also comes with plates and silverware, which housekeepers will pick up dirty dishes and replace with clean, since there isn't at kitchen do to dishes. This is perfect for a family of 4-5 people. If you can get them to give you a roll-away, you could get 6 in this room and you'd have plenty of space!
The Deluxe Suite was like an apartment! Living room, kitchen area with snack bar, slider to outside balcony to enjoy. Two bedrooms with king sized bed in each. Big closets in both. 1 full bath and 1 1/2 bath. Sofa could again be used for twin bed in this room.
Hotel has washers/dryers off the workout room. I think there are 3 of each and coin operated. They do have dry detergent for your use, but no fabric softner or liquid detergent.
Breakfast is included in the room price for up to 4 people. If you have extra people, tell them when you book and they will give you a price for the breakfasts for the extras. Breakfast isn't quite as good as the Caesars breakfast, but this was very good compared to other hotels in Taipei. Good selection every day of Western and Chinese breakfast options. My only complaint is the ladies maintaining the food refuse to keep the hot food hot. We had cold bacon, ham and pancakes/french toast every day. I would go up and turn the burners up, and we would laugh every day as one of the ladies would discover that I turned it up and they'd turn it back down again. I could tell they didn't understand that these Western food items were supposed to be served HOT!
Other important things for a family traveling - grocery store is literally practically next door. You walk about 300' and it's on the same side of the road. MRT Nanjing East Rd. Station (brown line) is about a 5-7 min. walk. There are small stores, pharmacies etc. on that walk, making picking up quick things really easy. A day market is directly west on the same road for fresh fruit. Bakery also near by and a few quick spots for food. TGI Fridays a 10 min. walk to the East, Hooters 5 min walk. 7 Eleven 3 mins. Starbucks by the McDonalds near the Nanjing MRT entrance.
If you get sick of cold Western breakfast, or miss the 10 am close of breakfast, I highly recommend the little G'day Cafe on the street behind the hotel 180 Xing An Street. They had great Western Breakfast with awesome coffee not from one of the machines most of the hotels have gone to for coffee in Taiwan.
Another side note - If you're bored and just don't know what to do, take the brown line MRT south all the way to the Taipei Zoo station and go to the front of the train. It's a cheap way to see Taipei from the outside elevated portion of the MRT. Our kids (12 & 14) loved just taking this ride. The Zoo is fabulous and so is the gondola ride to the tea houses! So much to do in Taipei, I could go on and on.
We were here adopting our second child from Taiwan, so if there are any adopting families wanting more info., please feel free to email me through Trip Advisor!
