Taipei Info/Tips?

[PeterRS]

36 minutes ago, Lucky said:

The Dandy Daan doesn't do a great breakfast? Hmm. That's the heart of my day foodwise when traveling in Asia as I am a midwestern guy.

I don't know any of the 3 star hotels that have what I would call a good breakfast. These hotels mostly cater for Taiwanese and so best to look at a good western chain hotel. But I know none near Ximending. @a447 recommends the Westgate. Just looking at the photos of the dining area, it seems quite small and I suspect - and I hope @a447 will correct me if I am wrong - that the breakfast will not be similar to a tradional western breakfast, even though it has an egg station.

Wth comfort and a hearty breakfast as essentials, I would certainly give up the idea of staying in Ximending and recommend the Courtyard Downtown Hotel. You will absolutely adore the breakfast!! 

[khaolakguy]

Thanks for all the advice on hotels, much appreciated. Sounds like the Westgate will suit me well!

[a-447]

On 7/25/2023 at 10:56 PM, PeterRS said:

I hope @a447 will correct me if I am wrong - that the breakfast will not be similar to a tradional western breakfast, even though it has an egg station.

I can't comment on the breakfast, Peter, as I don't eat in the morning. Just coffee. 

However, if I'm staying at a 5-star hotel - usually only when I go to Japan -  I always eat breakfast.

 

 

 

[Lucky]

On 7/25/2023 at 7:56 AM, PeterRS said:

I don't know any of the 3 star hotels that have what I would call a good breakfast. These hotels mostly cater for Taiwanese and so best to look at a good western chain hotel. But I know none near Ximending. @a447 recommends the Westgate. Just looking at the photos of the dining area, it seems quite small and I suspect - and I hope @a447 will correct me if I am wrong - that the breakfast will not be similar to a tradional western breakfast, even though it has an egg station.

Wth comfort and a hearty breakfast as essentials, I would certainly give up the idea of staying in Ximending and recommend the Courtyard Downtown Hotel. You will absolutely adore the breakfast!! 

At tripadvisor.com, the Dandy Daan rates higher than the Courtyard, and many comment on the good breakfast. Still contemplating this one.

[khaolakguy]

8 hours ago, Lucky said:

At tripadvisor.com, the Dandy Daan rates higher than the Courtyard, and many comment on the good breakfast. Still contemplating this one.

I would note that a significant number of the recent 5 star reviews are are "One Contribution" posters.......

[Lucky]

I suppose that might diminish the reviews. I'll take another look.

[PeterRS]

On 8/12/2023 at 8:22 PM, Lucky said:

I suppose that might diminish the reviews. I'll take another look.

I just noticed this reply. In my quite long experience, one-line reviews on sites like Tripadvisor are generally not to be trusted.

The Dandy Da-an is a 3-star hotel. The Courtyard Downtown is definitely 4-star. And since you like a good breakfast and have mentioned that at Le Meridien in Bangkok, you will get that and more at the Courtyard. You will get nothing like it at the Dandy Da-an unfortunately. If you decide to stay at the Dandy, I'd find a good nearby 4- or 5-star hotel nearby and just go for breakfast there. I just booked the nearby 4-star Park Hotel for late February. Never stayed there before but got a very good internet rate for a deluxe room.

[Lucky]

I have a reservation at the Dandy Dan. I checked prices yesterday, and my same room would be about $400 US higher if I booked it now. I'll check the rates at the Courtyard and see how they compare.

Although I love a lavish breakfast, I can sometimes settle for good coffee.

UPDATE: I did switch to the Marriott Courtyard downtown. The price was quite similar to the Dandy Da-an.

[PeterRS]

On 11/1/2023 at 1:52 AM, Lucky said:

UPDATE: I did switch to the Marriott Courtyard downtown. The price was quite similar to the Dandy Da-an.

You will love the breakfast. If not, I'l pay for one of them!!

[khaolakguy]

Sharing this link as it was updated last month and seems to provide interesting information, though our learned members may be able to advise on it's accuracy.

 

https://www.klook.com/en-GB/blog/taipei_gay_bar/

[PeterRS]

4 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Sharing this link as it was updated last month and seems to provide interesting information, though our learned members may be able to advise on it's accuracy.

https://www.klook.com/en-GB/blog/taipei_gay_bar/

I have been to five of the venues mentioned. The list seems pretty much up to date.

[hojacat]

22 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Sharing this link as it was updated last month and seems to provide interesting information, though our learned members may be able to advise on it's accuracy.

 

https://www.klook.com/en-GB/blog/taipei_gay_bar/

It's a pretty comprehensive and well-summarized list of venues. Quite good for a generic website focused mostly on selling tours. if it had included the saunas the hot springs would have been pretty much complete.

[PeterRS]

I am presently in Taipei for a week. Normally friends and I will go to the gayish hot spring Huang Tzu on a Friday evening or occasionally a Sunday afternoon which are almost always busy times. Yesterday (Saturday) I had free time in the late afternoon before a late dinner. So I decided to go to the hot spring at 5:00 pm for a couple of hours. It was absolutely jam-packed! All the lockers were taken and the pools were full of mostly cute/handsome young guys in the late teens-40 range I guessed. 

I had assumed 5:00 pm would be a sort of intermediate time with the afternoon ‘shift’ getting ready to leave and those coming for the evening arriving around 7:00 pm. Not at all! Very few left and the sight of so many handsome mostly in-shape guys was as usual great. Even the steam room was packed most of the time, bodies glued almost to bodies!

With the weather becoming cooler, I guess it will be like this over much of the ‘winter’. Can’t wait for my next trip in February after Chinese New Year.

[lelele]

On 11/20/2023 at 5:41 AM, khaolakguy said:

Sharing this link as it was updated last month and seems to provide interesting information, though our learned members may be able to advise on it's accuracy.

 

https://www.klook.com/en-GB/blog/taipei_gay_bar/

this looks really interesting. thanks

[Lucky]

On 11/10/2023 at 5:58 PM, PeterRS said:

You will love the breakfast. If not, I'l pay for one of them!!

@PeterRS is off the hook! The breakfast at the Courtyard was tops. In Bangkok, Le Meridien still has the best breakfast. I stayed at the Sukhothai a few nights and found their buffet breakfast to be good but not Le Meridien good.

[hojacat]

On 1/30/2024 at 10:27 AM, Lucky said:

@PeterRS is off the hook! The breakfast at the Courtyard was tops. In Bangkok, Le Meridien still has the best breakfast. I stayed at the Sukhothai a few nights and found their buffet breakfast to be good but not Le Meridien good.

Did you go to any gay venue in Taipei? How did you like it compared to Bangkok?

[Lucky]

Taipei struck me as having a shortage of gays. I warmed to it slowly, finally realizing that I liked the area around Taipei 101 best. If I had it to do over again, I would stay at the Hyatt Regency across the street.

I got a massage- the only gay thing I did. The Red House didn't strike me as a gay area.

[12is12]

"Shortage of gays"?

Have u been to Soi 13...  ??

[Draden]

On 2/1/2024 at 7:04 AM, Lucky said:

The Red House didn't strike me as a gay area.

same - struck me as just your typical tourist area

[Flying_Angel]

I am in Taipeh in the first week of May. If anyone is interested to explore the city and other stuff together please shout

[Tomtravel]

Beitou “gay spa” area is developed with nice walking paths (thermal geo park). But its much more interesting to explore thermal waters in the pools of Emperor Spa. Access from the city is easy by combining metro and local bus (google maps has schedules). Get off the bus when single or groups of twinks or hunks leave the bus (stop called Xinqyi rd 4, displayed in the bus) and follow them down the hill. Or use maps. Price is unchanged 250, mandatory nudity. In the pools you can always spot few guys who could work for exclusive underwear magazine and quite a few guys who have good potentials. The spa is very cruisy, especially later in the evening when the few families are gone. The steam room has a big sign “no sexual harassment”, I was enjoying the steam (very hot btw) and was soon sexually harrased - excessive inappropriate touching! We then proceeded to my hotel to finalize the paperwork for the crime committed. To be fair, he made sure I see him, before he touched me. The hooligan was 28 years old insurance accountant. Nicely cut short hair, nice pecs, cute face and likes kissing and fucking.  Be aware! I invited him for a second interrogation. The spa is open 24 h, the last bus leaves the spa around 11 pm. By 10 pm the crowds where thin. Still, 10pm new people arrived.

[gd85]

I have to say, I am visiting Taipei this week and have had three massages from spas/masseurs I found via gayspa.tw.  Personally, I tend to like spa experiences with masseurs rather than cruising in sauna-type spas.  I think Taiwan is totally underrated… I have been having a wonderful time.  Here are the reasons I’ve really enjoyed it…

1. Most of the spas have photos and stats of their masseurs, including body pics and face pics.  Diverse types of masseurs available.  In my experience, both in a previous visit this week, the pics have been accurate.  
   1. You will likely have to use a translator on most websites, but this is easy to do via Chrome or Safari.  Pro tip… I find if the spa has a little bit of English on their site (even if it’s just here or there) they tend to be more accommodating to foreigners, including speaking English on Line (see more about that below).
2. Quality massage and extras… in every case I have had both an at least decent massage (including body to body in every case) and fun extras.
3. Spas are very easy to communicate via Line, similar to Thailand.  In most cases the people responding to Line queries are very friendly and willing to discuss your desires and needs and recommend the right person.  Other times they just want you to pick from a photo lineup, but they will still answer questions.
   1. On language barrier… some spas speak English over Line, some you have to use a translator.  Same with masseurs, I had one that spoke solid English and two that did not, but it’s relatively easy to use a translator and they seemed used to it.
4. Option of in call or outcall with similar pricing
   1. On my last visit I did mostly in-call and most spas have unmarked facilities or apartments where the masseur greets you outside and takes you in, similar to the setups often found in Japan.
   2. This visit, I have done outcall every time and had the masseurs come to my hotel.  I think I prefer this, so much easier than me having to travel and they always bring oil. While I miss having a table, I can use pillows and all I need is an extra towel or two from housekeeping.  In every case, the masseur has asked me if they can use my shower before the massage (I showered right before they arrived) and all three have helped me shower afterword.
5. Typically no down payments or anything are required for outcall, and prices for two hour comprehensive service are about $90-$110 USD, with no additional tip expected or asked for.  In some cases I rounded up for the masseur, but never spent more than $125 USD for a 90-120 minute session.

Anyway, I wanted to share that Taipei is pretty fantastic.  I think I have time for two more massages this trip, I will report back.

[Fetcher]

I am going to Taipei 1st week of May.  Can you recommend the spas you went to for massage?   Any of them provide more than HJ?

 

 

[PeterRS]

On 4/11/2024 at 10:31 AM, Tomtravel said:

But its much more interesting to explore thermal waters in the pools of Emperor Spa. Access from the city is easy by combining metro and local bus (google maps has schedules). Get off the bus when single or groups of twinks or hunks leave the bus (stop called Xinqyi rd 4, displayed in the bus) and follow them down the hill. Or use maps. Price is unchanged 250, mandatory nudity.

Although @Tomtravel's post is almost 6 months old, it's perhaps useful to repeat that this hot spring is certainly the most popular with gay guys. I always go on my 3 or 4 annual visits. On my last in February, the steam in the steam room was permanently on, thereby making it very hot and quite difficult to indulge in any touching or more. This is not a sex venue but some of the guys there will happily chat in English and it can be a good way of arranging later hook-ups even if you do not speak Mandarin. Remember too that as this is a public hot spring, you may very occasionally see some guys bringing their little children. Then discretion is important.

Note that it is rarely called Emperor Spa. It's Chinese name is Huang Tzu as on this card -

If you have never been before, i do not recommend being adventurous the first time and trying to find your own way. I always take the subway to Shipai station. Once downstairs exit in the direction the train is taking. As soon as you pass the ticket barrier, on your right will be a taxi rank. Show the taxi this card and the driver will know exactly where to take you. He will stop at a small car park. You then just walk down the little hill past several other hot springs. Huang Tzu is the last on your left before you reach a little bridge across a stream.

The taxi fare is now around NT$180 (US$5.50). The rank can sometimes be empty, but usually one will appear within a few minutes. If you take one of the buses up the hill, depending on the time of day you might not find others getting off at your exit (bus fare is NT$30). So you could find yourself getting off way too early in which case you still have to climb a steep hill, or too late. The bus stop is outside the built-up area and pretty dark. I'd show the driver the card and expect he'll tell you when to get off. (I'm sure @Tomtravel is correct in pointing out the stop is Xingyi Rd. 4, but I have never done it!) There are several buses that go up past the springs, but the only one I have taken is #508 for returning.

Entrance fee was still NT$250 last February. Remember that you will need 2-NT$20 coins for the locker. Also remember to take a half litre or so of water with you as there is none for sale there and keep it out of your locker - and a small towel. Almost no one uses the towel in the hot spring area which is basically only naked bodies. It's for drying yourself off before you leave.

All the hot springs are in quite a deep valley off the main road. My biggest problem is always getting back up to that road in order to get the bus back down to the MRT station. At reception there is a telephone link to a cab company, but they do not speak any English. Finding a cruising cab is usually impossible. A couple of times, guys have kindly given me a lift on their motorcycles. Other times, I just bite the bullet and walk up. OK in the cooler November - April months; a real trial in summer! 

Can't wait for my next trip in 4 weeks.

[PeterRS]

10 hours ago, Fetcher said:

I am going to Taipei 1st week of May.  Can you recommend the spas you went to for massage?   Any of them provide more than HJ?

I have never been for massages in Taipei although I have heard the masseurs are mostly extremely good. Also heard that you are unlikely to get anything more than an HJ at the end. But best to hear from those who have been.