EPISODE Hsinchu, JdV by Hyatt Hotel

EPISODE Hsinchu, a JdV by Hyatt Hotel, stands out as a Michelin Key Selected property in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, generally offering a modern and comfortable experience for both leisure and business travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for EPISODE Hsinchu is largely positive, with impressive average ratings of 8.8 to 9.0 ("Superb" or "Wonderful") across various booking platforms. Guests often commend the hotel for its high standards of service and comfort. However, a few significant complaints suggest an inconsistency in service, leading to some "deeply disappointing" experiences for certain guests.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise the hotel's modern and stylish interior design, creating a relaxed and chic ambiance. Key highlights include spacious and clean rooms, a well-equipped fitness center available 24 hours, and convenient amenities like free parking and Tesla charging stations. Many appreciate the friendly and attentive staff, along with thoughtful touches such as free snacks and coffee in the lobby and a daily two-hour happy hour. The hotel's selection as a Michelin Key property further underscores its quality.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at EPISODE Hsinchu are described as large, clean, spacious, and tastefully designed. They feature premium amenities, including Sealy luxury mattresses, soft 400-thread-count bedding, and down comforters and pillows, ensuring a comfortable stay. Each room is equipped with a 55-inch LED Smart TV with streaming capabilities, a Nespresso coffee machine, and marble bathrooms with rain showers, soaking tubs, and bidets. Malin+Goetz bath amenities, plush robes, and slippers are also provided. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer excellent natural lighting. However, some guests noted that the glass windows between the bedroom and bathroom, while equipped with roller blinds, might lead to an awkward setup for those traveling with colleagues or family. Poor noise insulation between rooms has also been mentioned as a recurring issue.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features Westwood Restaurant, which offers a modern California fusion bistro concept curated by a Michelin-starred chef, Richie Lin. Additionally, Cing Yan, located on the first floor, provides a unique dining experience with a Royal Thai cuisine semi-buffet alongside signature Western dishes like grilled steak and baked lobster. Breakfast is generally considered delicious, offering a combination of a main course from a menu and a buffet with a wide variety of options. However, some guests have found the breakfast selection to be limited, with one reviewer calling it "pathetic." Breakfast typically incurs an additional charge of TWD 605 for adults if not included in the room rate.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at EPISODE Hsinchu generally receives high praise for their friendliness, attentiveness, and willingness to help, with performance ratings around 9.0 to 9.3. Guests have highlighted excellent service from before check-in, including assistance with airport pick-up arrangements and flawless check-in and check-out processes. However, there are instances of significant service shortfalls, such as a severe complaint where housekeeping was unavailable to assist with a guest emergency (a baby vomiting on the bed) late at night, and the manager reportedly instructed the guest to clean it themselves. Some guests also expressed dissatisfaction with self-check-in, preferring direct staff assistance. Hyatt Globalist members have reported inconsistent experiences regarding upgrades and welcome gifts.

6. Location & Accessibility

EPISODE Hsinchu is conveniently located near the Hsinchu Science Park and Hsinchu City Center, making it an ideal choice for business travelers. It boasts easy access to the main freeway exit and offers complimentary private parking and Tesla charging stations. The hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from Hsinchu Train Station and Hsinchu High Speed Rail Station. While the location is strategic for drivers and those working in the tech sector, it is generally considered less convenient for public transportation, with limited eateries nearby (the nearest being around 1km away). Nearby attractions include various night markets (Shulintou, Chenghuang Temple, Zhongzhengtai, Qingcaohu), shopping centers like Big City and Far Eastern Sogo, Hsinchu Zoo, and Green World Ecological Farm.

7. Value & Pricing

The average price for a room at EPISODE Hsinchu is around $144 USD, which is higher than the average Hsinchu hotel room price of $115 USD. Despite this, many guests consider it to offer excellent value for money, given the high-quality facilities and services, reflected in a value rating of 8.6. However, some guests who paid a premium (e.g., around €300) felt that the service received did not justify the cost, particularly when faced with issues like unavailable housekeeping.

8. Common Complaints

Recurring issues and criticisms include:

• Poor sound insulation: Guests have reported being able to hear noise from adjacent rooms and the hallway.
• Inconsistent service quality: While staff are generally friendly, specific incidents, such as the unavailability of housekeeping for emergencies, have led to significant dissatisfaction.
• Limited dining options nearby: Guests noted a lack of readily accessible eateries within a short walking distance.
• Breakfast quality: Some guests found the breakfast selection to be lacking or unsatisfactory.
• Inconsistent elite benefits: Hyatt Globalist members have experienced varied application of their status benefits, including room upgrades.
• Room design choices: The glass partitions between the bedroom and bathroom, even with blinds, can be a point of discomfort for some travelers.
• Self-check-in preference: Some guests dislike the self-check-in process.
• Minor room issues: Dark lighting in some rooms and absence of a bathroom trash can were also mentioned.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. agoda.com
3. booking.com
4. hyatt.com
5. venuereport.com
6. hotels.com
7. hyatt.com
8. flyertalk.com
9. flyertalk.com
10. hyatt.com
11. travelocity.com
12. hyatt.com
13. trip.com