Hsinchu

This stay at the Hsinchu Howard Plaza Hotel included a room upgrade, offering a small living room, a refrigerator, and a microwave, making the space much larger. We arrived before 3 PM, but the room wasn't ready, so we had to go out and walk around, waiting to check in after 4 PM. Although the hotel has facilities like a pool and a gym, we couldn't use them before checking in, which was a bit of a shame.

Transportation convenience: It only takes 10 minutes from National Highway No. 3 to reach the hotel, making transportation very convenient. The hotel provides parking space, and it is only a 15-minute drive to the Hsinchu City God Temple business district. Breakfast: This time, the breakfast happened to be in collaboration with a Korean Michelin-starred restaurant. The Korean clear chicken soup with rice was super delicious. Service: The hotel pays great attention to service details, and the overall experience was fantastic. My husband thinks it is a hotel we can revisit. Also, the family experience at the hotel is truly wonderful; the kids had an absolute blast at Planet Play.

Staying here again, I noticed the hotel's new renovations and ongoing improvements, which are commendable! From Hsinchu Train Station, go straight on Zhongzheng Road for about 6 minutes, pass the roundabout, and continue straight. When you see Zhongyang Road, turn right, and you've arrived. The location is superb! If you turn right and go straight on Zhongyang Road, which is right in front of the hotel, you can reach Hsinchu BigCity and Far Eastern SOGO. If you turn left and go straight, you can get to Dongmen Market, Central Market, and the bustling Hsinchu City God Temple commercial district. It's incredibly convenient for transportation, enjoying traditional famous snacks, and shopping. The guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, featuring a washlet toilet, a separate shower and bathtub with safety grab bars, and eye-friendly reading lights on both sides of the bed. The bed and pillows are clean and soft, ensuring a good night's sleep.

The accommodation was very comfortable! The staff were also incredibly friendly! The room cleanliness was excellent, and even during this rainy August, it didn't feel humid or stuffy. It was a fantastic stay! I would definitely want to stay here again when I visit Hsinchu.

The gym is located in a makeshift structure on the rooftop, which makes it a bit stuffy, and there isn't much equipment. Two out of the three treadmills were broken. If you park in the designated area, the hotel offers a parking subsidy of up to $260. We parked for 18 hours and didn't have to pay anything ourselves. The breakfast was excellent, even comparable to the one we had the night before at the Hsinchu Howard Plaza.

This was my first stay, and I was quite satisfied. The room was clean, and the surrounding area has great amenities. You can walk to Chenghuang Temple in just a few minutes. Although the hotel's parking spaces are limited, they do partner with nearby parking lots, allowing you to offset the parking fees. While the room rate isn't low, it's definitely worth recommending.

The service was excellent, and the location was very convenient. However, the underground parking was quite inconvenient, as it required manual guidance for entry and exit, and we also had to go to the counter to get our parking ticket stamped. The parking spaces were also divided by vehicle size, and smaller cars were assigned to difficult-to-park spots. I hope improvements can be made to the parking area, and that a license plate recognition system can be implemented for guests to enter and exit freely.

An interesting day trip for anyone curious about Taiwan's technology industry and local culture. The TSMC Museum is relatively small and focuses mainly on the company's history, semiconductor innovation, and digital exhibits, rather than actual chip manufacturing or factory tours. So don't expect to see a working production line! The visit offers a general introduction rather than an in-depth technical experience. The Hakka tea culture stop adds a nice cultural contrast to the day. Worth considering if you're interested in learning about Taiwan beyond the usual sightseeing spots.

We traveled on the day Super Typhoon Bavi was affecting Taiwan, so we were very grateful that our Taiwan High Speed Rail trip still operated safely and wasn't canceled. It gave us peace of mind and allowed us to continue our travel plans without major disruptions. Booking through Klook was seamless, and redeeming our tickets was quick and easy. The train was clean, comfortable, spacious, and departed on time despite the weather. The stations were well organized with clear signs, making it easy for first-time visitors like us to navigate. Traveling from Taipei to Kaohsiung was smooth, fast, and stress-free. We're truly thankful to the THSR team for their professionalism and commitment to passenger safety. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Taiwan!