Sleep Taipei Hotel - Nan Ya Market

From Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1, go down 1 level to the bus stop- buy ticket from the counter to Bus 1962 Banquiao (Banciao). Here's the tricky part, there are 2 Sleep Taipei- Nanya, there is the Hostel and the Hotel- where we stayed. Brace yourself for a lot of walking. The building is quite old, but the hotel rooms look newly renovated, it was beside a day market for fruits, vegetables and sundries. On the ground floor, there is a Family Mart, a 7-11, food shops galore! Noodle shops, Burger/Pasta shop, Juice and tea shops! The actual hotel is located on the 5th floor. A small room with a small counter, coffee dispenser, microwave and PC. There is free internet in all areas. Our room was big for 3 and with lots more room for luggage and stuff. There is a small counter with a sink, overhead and lower cabinets, a short metal bar with a few hangers , a safe box and a small fridge. A 40's inch Flat TV with English channels. AC is good, beds ok, clean sheets and towels. Shampoo and body wash inside the big very clean toilet with hot shower and plenty of water. Complimentary tissues, paper- like slippers, shave, comb and shower cap. The room is cleaned every other day- towels are changed, room is tidied. You need to manage your thrash and put it out daily too. Breakfast is a sandwich - choice of egg with cheese, or bacon or ham and cold dark tea. This should get you through to your actual breakfast destination. There is curtained window, but we stayed at the back side and all we see are rooftops of neighbors. Staff ok, though not very good in English and they have some difficulty when you ask for directions, though they really try to help. Come night time, you will be amazed! Nanya Night Market is practically at your doorstep. All sorts of food that locals and a few tourists really eat! All sorts of merchandise, shoes, clothes, gadgets are sold in this market that seems to peak on weekends. If you stay here, buy your food from the corner food store. From the elevator , get out then turn right- walk straight to the corner and find some 25 viands- all meats, fish, veggies, rice, noodles that you can eat. Choose to eat there- sit in plastic stools in shared tables. Buy food to go, combine all viands in cardboard food boxes, include half or full serving of rice. For 200-300 TWD , you and 2 or more companions will be beyond satisfaction. Try the other food stall too- everything the blogs and reviews insist you must eat in Taiwan is HERE. There is also a local grocery where you can buy all the stuff you'd like to take home. The nearest MRT station is Fuzhong, 3 BLOCKS away and for me that is sweating far. From Fuzhong, you can go ANYWHERE, this is true for all stations, although the Taipei Main Station is central to all including the local trains and buses. Buy the Easycard. Taxi, when shared by 3-4 people is actually cheap AND A RESPITE FROM ALL THE WALKING. The hotel was a gem to us, although it is not located in a glitzy area, but this is where we also sampled a bit of the local life. We passed through temples where people are fed hot noodles in the morning by volunteers, bridal shops, bakeshops, coffee/teas shops, there is a Japanese Daiso nearby, a McDonalds, Eslite Bookstore- all walking distance, I mean you need to really walk. Overall, we had a good time in this hotel.