Explore Taiwan with Marriott Bonvoy

It takes a seasoned touch to mine Taiwan’s vast quarry of cool in just 72 hours. Stephenie Gee joins Marriott Bonvoy to tap into the country’s secrets 

Day one

23:12
It’s late when I arrive. Still, Taipei is bustling. Cars and mopeds whiz by in every direction. Local eateries spill out onto the sidewalks in a frenzy of plastic stools. And there’s a pungent scent permeating the air. Fermented tofu, I think it is. My home for the night is the W, which, towering 31 stories above the Xinyi commercial district, comes with a well- framed view of the Taipei 101 tower. In my corner room, wood panels and a tatami-style chair set a warm and vibe, and the signature red colour accents and contemporary artwork keep the look lively. At no point is comfort sacrificed at the altar of visual style, however – Bose sound systems and 42-inch televisions are standard, as are free-standing soaking tubs and the W bed, as ever, is justifiably famous. 

Day two

10:00
One of Taiwan’s biggest selling points is its unpackaged traditional culture. So after breakfast, we decide to seek some traditional spiritual edification at Hsing Tian Kong temple, one of Northern Taiwan’s most visited places of worship with some 10,000 visitors daily. Guan Yu is the main deity enshrined here, with dragons standing as guardians on the main ridges of the roofs, signifying prayers for rain, warding off evil and preventing fires. 

14:11
There’s much to explore beyond the capital. To its west, Taoyuan is an overlooked gem. Its greenery is quite spectacular, and there’s no better place to take it all in than at The Westin Tashee Resort, a vast paradise of serenity and peace. But instead, we head south via the high-speed rail to Taichung. Few have much of a reason to linger here, Taiwan’s third-largest city, aside from using it as a way station en route to hiking trails and hot springs in the surrounding mountains. Compared to Taipei, Taichung may be sleepier and harder to navigate (it has just one MRT line), but you’ll find its suburban charms lend themselves to a sense of discovery.

15:50
Preserving Taichung’s heritage remains a priority. A veteran’s housing complex in Nantun District was on the chopping block until its last inhabitant, Huang Yung-Fu, covered the walls with colourful murals – thus earning it the name Rainbow Village. 

16:45 
Moxy Taichung is where you stay to work and play. The guestrooms are on the smaller side – with all the basics alongside dreamy beds, motion-activated LED guidelights and walk-in showers – but The Den, trendy lobby Moxy Bar, all-season Rooftop XOXO lounge, and spacious Social Zone that transitions easily from day to night provide plenty of space for guests to sprawl. This hip brand from Marriott is geared towards millennial travellers, so you’ll find fun-filled perks like a pool and foosball table, and an arcade machine and board games that’ll make you want to hang out and linger. A young, spirited team is pleasant and aims to please, but this brand caters to guests who prefer to serve themselves – still and sparkling water taps are available on every floor for you to refill up your bottles, and the on-site laundrettes are handy for longer stays.