Review: What is it like staying at the Hyatt Regency Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

I thought I was smart booking a cheaper early morning flight out of Taiwan. But since I didn’t want to stay in the Cho Stay capsule hotel again (you can read about that experience here), I ended up at the Hyatt Regency Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.

I never planned to write this review, so I did not take many pictures of the place, but I will use the pics that I took, show you my booking confirmation and the email I got in response to the customer satisfaction survey at the end.

If you’re now wondering why I’m not going back, stay there again, and take new pics. Well… I learned and these days I prefer paying a bit more for a later flight instead of staying at a 5-star hotel with 3-star service at best.

Yes I said it… if this is as far as you get when it comes to reading this review. Just know that the Hyatt Regency Taipei Taoyuan Airport is a fine hotel, the rooms are clean, there is a swimming pool, they offer a free shuttle to the airport and you stay in a private room instead of a bunk bed.

But that’s all there is, I still don’t understand how this place got a 5-star rating, because of everything that makes a 5-star hotel stand out… the Hyatt Regency TPE has none of them.

Update: From what I learned they changed the star rating down to 4-stars now in 2026. However I still don’t think that applies, the Ibis Saigon Airport is a 4-star hotel too with way better service.

Arrival and check in

Since I was leaving Taiwan, which meant bringing all my luggage, I arrived at the hotel by Uber since I’m too lazy to transport my luggage on the Taoyuan Airport metro. At arrival I was greeted by sliding doors, no staff, and a massive lobby without any staff welcoming you in or anyone offering to take over my bags.

Don’t get me wrong, I am capable of carrying my own luggage, but I wasn’t the one advertising this place as a 5-star hotel… 

Since I arrived just after check-in time it was all efficient, I was asked for my departure time in order to get me a place on the airport shuttle the next morning. As I have experienced more often in Taiwan, the staff is efficient and not unfriendly, but also not welcoming or even looking happy to be there.

Again, nothing that gives even a hint of a 5-star hotel experience.

After getting my room card I went upstairs, taking my own bags (yes still no 5-star service to be seen anywhere). 

My room in the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan Airport

I paid extra to have a room with airport view, which in hindsight was a very good choice since other rooms just give you a view of the office building across the street. Upon arrival the room was clean, I absolutely enjoyed the view from over the airport (and later the sunset). Oh and the sound proofing of the room was good, both in regards to the outside noise from the airport and neighboring rooms, which is quite a unique feature in Taiwanese hotels.

But again, yes sorry it’s a returning topic in this review, nothing about the room or the experience so far had any sign of a 5-star hotel. You can easily take this room, put it in a random 2-star or 3-star business hotel anywhere in the world and it would fit with no problems.

Yes it was clean, yes the view was amazing, and yes the price I paid, 6117 NTD (173,91 euro at that time, or $191) for 1 night, was absolutely 5-stars… but nothing about the room or service made it worth the price. Hence why I have not yet returned to this hotel and choose to book a slightly more expensive flight so I can avoid paying for a hotel at Taipei Taoyuan airport.

The hotel so far and the room, it’s all not bad. But there is also nothing that makes it good or exceptional in any way. The only reason this whole stay wasn’t forgettable was because of the discrepancy between the 5-star rating, the promise and the room price compared to the actual product delivered.

I did provide this feedback in the survey after my stay, and the response I got was stunning… but more on that later.

The swimming pool, gym and amenities

Okay fine a 3-star hotel might not have a pool overlooking the airport or a big gym for the guests. Looking for the pool entrance at first I followed the signs, only to find closed doors and a closed wellness desk.

It seemed I had missed the sign saying to enter the pool through the gym where on a makeshift desk there is staff to hand you a towel and register your entry to the pool.

The staff here were the first people smiling and actually looking as if they enjoyed being there.

I did not use the gym myself, but it looked spacious and complete so all good there.

For the pool, it is said to be heated but the water was very cold, however it was suitable enough for some laps. The jacuzzi was heated properly and comfortable, the view over the airport was nice and overall the pool was a good experience.

I can’t say much about the other amenities, I did not visit the restaurants on site and I had to leave too early to have breakfast at the hotel. However given the overall vibe and experience of the hotel, it’s probably fine and only just fine.

The surroundings of the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan Airport

The Hyatt Regency, previously a Novotel, is located on the airport premises and if that sounds exciting. It’s actually not, it is part of the China Airlines office park which means there is absolutely nothing outside of the hotel.

I did not even dare to walk around outside the hotel, afraid I might trigger some security alert.

It is the only hotel in Taiwan with a private MRT station, is what I was told by some locals. Sounds fun right? Who wouldn’t want to walk right from the MRT into the hotel lobby?

Yeah also not as good as it sounds, there is a MRT stop next to the hotel, which is probably more for the people working there than for the hotel guests. And you very much still have to step outside into the hot and humid Taiwanese weather to get to/from the hotel, so much for a private MRT station.

It works though, since there is nothing around the hotel the best choice, depending on energy and time, is to take the MRT to Taoyuan to get some food, or back to the airport for the big food court.

Just be aware that the trains that stop at the Airport Hotel station, A14a, are rather infrequent so take that into account when you take the metro. 

Conclusion, my overall experience staying at the Hyatt Regency Taipei Taoyuan Airport

In the end I would say my stay at this hotel was fine. Nothing more, nothing less, just fine.

The staff is efficient, if there is any, and the room is clean, but any of this would fit perfectly in an average 3-star hotel.

I would stay here again, especially since I prefer staying in a private room compared to the capsule beds in the only other Taipei airport hotel. But I would much prefer to fly at a more reasonable time so I won’t have to stay near the airport at all.

There is nothing exceptional, or worth remembering of the hotel experience. Aside from the high price tag and beautiful sunset.

Can I recommend a stay at the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan Airport?

I had to think long about this one, and my final answer based on my experience is a yes, but…

Yes I can recommend a stay at the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan Airport when you want a private place to sleep, very close to the airport with a free airport shuttle. Privacy really is the biggest advantage of this Taipei airport hotel, compared to the Cho Stay capsule hotel.

Saying this with a big but, the Hyatt Regency is far from cheap and even further from a 5-star hotel experience. Honestly, I am still wondering how they got those 5-stars… the experience is worth 3 at most.

Which means that if you’re looking, or hoping, for a 5-star hotel experience then I cannot recommend staying here.

If you can get a different flight for less than a night stay at this hotel, then I cannot recommend staying here. 

However, there is one big exception: If you are flying long-haul to Europe or North America, changing to a later flight can easily cost you $200 to $400 more. In that scenario, paying $191 for a private, clean, sound-proof room right next to the airport with a free shuttle is absolutely the smarter, cheaper choice. It is a solid hotel, at a very practical location, just don’t walk in expecting 5-star luxury.

Response from the hotel

I normally don’t fill in the customer surveys, but since this stay had such a big gap between the 5-star rating, the promised experience and the actual product delivered, this time I did.

To my surprise I even got a response and it was stunning…

You can read the response yourself below, but in my humble opinion, if you are not interested in improving your service level to match the promise of a 5-star hotel rating… why even send out a survey in the first place?

There is nothing inherently wrong with the response itself, but it reads as very corporate speak and is devoid of any sincerity. Similarly to the “we will continue to improve” reaction they give to every online review pointing out the lack of 5-star service.