Escape to Paradise: Annabess B&B, Taiwan Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Annabess B&B - Taiwan Awaits! (Seriously, You Need This)
Okay, let's be real. Planning a trip is a nightmare. Finding the perfect hotel? Forget about it. But hold your horses, because I just stumbled upon something that might actually make you excited to travel again: Escape to Paradise: Annabess B&B in Taiwan. And yeah, I'm calling it paradise, because, well, it almost is.
First Impressions (And Why I Almost Screamed With Joy)
From the moment I landed in Taiwan, I was on a mission: find somewhere that wasn't a soul-sucking, corporate hotel. Annabess B&B, with its promise of "Escape," caught my eye. And let me tell you, it DELIVERED.
Here's the deal, from a real person, not some robot:
- Accessibility: Okay, so I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did see some ramps and elevators. They seem to be trying, which is a HUGE win in Taiwan. (Accessibility is not always top of mind everywhere, bless its heart.)
- Internet? Yeah, They Got It! Free Wi-Fi in ALL ROOMS! Hallelujah! And, get this, they had LAN connections too. Because who doesn't love a good, solid internet connection when you really need it? I'm talking work, catching up on your favorite shows, or just, you know, avoiding awkward conversations with your travel companions.
The Room: My Little Oasis (And the Accidental Coffee Spill)
My room was… a sanctuary. Air conditioning? Yup. Blackout curtains? Essential. Super comfy bed? Absolutely. I even had a little desk to (attempt to) get some work done. Now, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I did spill coffee everywhere the first morning, but the daily housekeeping handled it like pros (and I'm pretty sure they giggled about it later, rightfully so).
- Available in All Rooms: Okay, this is where I got seriously excited.
- Air conditioning: Check. Seriously important in Taiwan humidity.
- Alarm clock: Because, you know, vacations. (But still, gotta be on time for breakfast!)
- Bathrobes: Luxury! I walked around like a pampered queen.
- Bathroom phone: Okay, not sure I need that, but it's there!
- Bathtub: Bliss. Needed after a long day out.
- Blackout curtains: Essential.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Coffee! Tea! Both were essential.
- Daily housekeeping: Clean room every day! No complaints here.
- Desk: Work and play!
- Extra long bed: Perfect for sprawling.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key.
- Hair dryer: My hair finally looked presentable.
- In-room safe box: Good for the important stuff.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: If you are travelling with family, this is great.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free]: They. Don't. Mess. Around.
- Ironing facilities: My clothes actually stayed looking good.
- Laptop workspace: A must.
- Linens: Soft and clean, as you'd expect.
- Mini bar: Snacks!
- Mirror: Because.
- Non-smoking: Thank goodness.
- On-demand movies: Awesome for unwinding.
- Private bathroom: The most important.
- Reading light: For late-night bookworms, like me.
- Refrigerator: Cold drinks!
- Satellite/cable channels: Plenty of options.
- Scale: (I gulped).
- Seating area: Great for relaxing.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Shower: Works perfectly.
- Smoke detector: Always good.
- Socket near the bed: Genius!
- Sofa: More lounging space.
- Soundproofing: Peace and quiet.
- Telephone: In case you need it.
- Toiletries: Appreciated.
- Towels: Clean and fluffy.
- Umbrella: Taiwan weather is wild.
- Wake-up service: For the lazy bums like me.
- Window that opens: Fresh air!
The Food: OH. MY. GOODNESS.
I’m a foodie, and I’m telling you – the restaurant here is a DREAM. The breakfast buffet? Forget about it. Asian AND Western options? Yes, please! And can we talk about the coffee? Strong, delicious, and a perfect way to start the day.
I am not a vegetarian but i saw a vegetarian restaurant! That's how good this place is!
- Breakfast [buffet], Asian breakfast, Western breakfast: Amazing.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Essential.
- Restaurants: Excellent choices.
- Desserts in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant: So good it's unreal.
- Happy hour, Poolside bar, Bar: Drinks! And drinks with a view.
- Room service: 24 hours!
- Alternative meal arrangement: Always a nice touch.
Relaxation Station: Where the Stress Melts Away (Or So I Heard… I Was Too Busy Eating)
Okay, so I spent a lot of time eating. But, I did manage to sneak in a few of the relaxation options. And, let me tell you… WORTH IT.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Stunning views.
- Pool with view: Amazing.
- Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna: I heard amazing things.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Not for me, but they looked good!
- Massage: Must do.
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: I'm genuinely sad I missed these.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe Is the New Luxury
This is HUGE, especially now. And Annabess B&B is nailing it:
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Seriously, they take this seriously. It was seriously comforting.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Reassuring.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms, Smoke alarms, Security [24-hour]: I felt safe.
Services and Conveniences: They Thought of EVERYTHING
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange, Safety deposit boxes: Convenient.
- Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: My clothes were always taken care of.
- Luggage storage, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests: Practical.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Valet parking: Easy parking.
- Food delivery: Bliss.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Because, you know, souvenirs.
- Air conditioning in public area: Important.
For the Kids and For the Rest of the World…
- Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids meal: Good for families!
- Meeting/banquet facilities: For the business travelers.
- Smoking area.
- Pets allowed unavailable: No pets allowed!
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer, Taxi service, Bicycle parking: Easy transport.
The Bottom Line (And Why You Should Book NOW!)
Honestly, I can't recommend Escape to Paradise: Annabess B&B enough. It's not just a hotel; it's an experience. It's about feeling relaxed, taken care of, and honestly, pampered. I'm already dreaming about my return.
So, here's the deal: Forget the soulless chain hotels. Ditch the stress of planning. Do yourself a favor and book Annabess B&B. You deserve it.
SPECIAL OFFER - Because Life is too Short for Crappy Hotels!
Book your stay at Escape to Paradise: Annabess B&B within the next 7 days and get:
- A complimentary welcome drink upon arrival (because you deserve it!).
- A 10% discount on a spa treatment (because you REALLY deserve it!).
- **A guaranteed upgrade
Annabess Bed & Breakfast: A Taiwanese Thunderdome of Tranquility (Maybe?) - My Itinerary of Erratic Delights
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your average, picture-perfect itinerary. This is my Annabess Bed & Breakfast experience in Taiwan, a chaotic symphony of delicious food, questionable decisions, and the unwavering belief that a good nap can solve anything. Prepare for rambles, opinions, and more emotions than a K-drama marathon.
Day 1: Arrival – Jet Lagged and Ready to Rumble (or Nap)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE): Ugh. Finally. After a flight that felt longer than the Odyssey, I stumble off the plane, a crumpled mess of tired optimism. Found my luggage (a miracle!), and hopped aboard the Airport MRT. The first good sign: the train was air conditioned. Taiwanese heat is NO JOKE.
- 15:00 - MRT to Taipei Main Station: The commute was pretty smooth, which was a delightful shock. Taipei's a blur of neon and scooters whizzing past. My brain, still operating on airplane mode, struggles to process the sheer vibrancy of it all.
- 16:00 - Taxi from Taipei Main to Annabess: Okay, taxi time. The driver seemed a bit…enthusiastic. He took off like a rocket! We navigated a maze of narrow streets, dodging scooters and what appeared to be delivery trucks carrying entire families. Terrifying, kind of exhilarating.
- 17:00 – Check In at Annabess: Honestly, the moment I walked into Annabess I forgot all about the travel stress. The place is gorgeous. Wooden floors, minimalist design, and a smell of brewing coffee that's pure heaven. The owner, a super-friendly woman named Amy, greets me with a smile and a genuine "Welcome!" My room, The Tranquility Suite (ironic, given I’m a human tornado), is a haven of calm.
- 17:30 - NAP. Crucial. Mandatory. Life-saving.
- Anecdote: The jetlag hit me like a tidal wave of exhaustion. I swear, I think I briefly hallucinated a dancing pineapple on my ceiling. Woke up drooling, but refreshed.
- 20:00 - Dinner at a Local Night Market – Shilin Market (Rambling Edition): Amy recommended Shilin. Oh, the aromas! The chaos! The food! I started with a stinky tofu (which, let's be honest, smelled like gym socks but tasted surprisingly good once I got past the initial olfactory assault). Then, there was the oyster omelet. Holy Mother of Umami, it was incredible! Also, got completely overwhelmed by the crowds and accidentally almost bought a questionable-looking (but strangely alluring) deep-fried scorpion. Sanity prevailed, thankfully.
- 22:00 - Crawl back to Annabess, food-coma induced: After a few hours, the night market started to feel like a sensory overload. I could barely move my feet.
Day 2: Temple Troubles & Tea Tranquility (with a Side of Meltdown)
- 08:00 - Breakfast at Annabess: Amy's breakfast is an absolute TREAT. Fresh fruit, homemade bread with jams that could convert a cynic. The coffee is STRONG. Fuel for a day of questionable decisions!
- 09:00 - Visit Longshan Temple: This place is stunning. Intricate carvings, incense smoke swirling everywhere. I wandered around, trying to be respectful (a challenge, given my inherent clumsiness). The energy is palpable, a mix of reverence and…well, a lot of people. I witnessed a fortune-telling session that looked utterly fascinating.
- Quirky Observation: The sheer volume of praying. Seeing people so dedicated to their beliefs…it's moving. I even attempted to interpret my own fortune sticks. Outcome: "Seek balance." Helpful.
- 11:00 - Getting Lost & Mild Panic: Decided to stroll around the neighborhood and completely, utterly lost myself. The language barrier hit me HARD. I stumbled around, feeling like an idiot and started to panic, fearing I’d be stranded forever.
- Emotional Reaction: Holy cow, the fear! The sheer, unadulterated dread of being utterly alone and lost in a place where I couldn't even ask for directions. I’m usually a confident solo traveler, but this was…different.
- Imperfection: Spent a solid 20 minutes desperately trying to buy a bottle of water. The cashier, bless her heart, looked utterly bewildered by my pantomime.
- 12:00 - Found a Coffee Shop and Survived (and a little more sanity): Found a cute little coffee shop. A tall, iced Americano managed to calm my inner drama queen, which, thank heavens, returned some brain function to me. I managed to find my way back to Annabess!
- 13:00 - Lunch at a Local Restaurant: Amy suggested a small noodle shop. The noodles were perfection, and the owner was charming despite my clumsy attempts at ordering.
- 15:00 - Tea Ceremony & Meditation Session at Annabess – Doubling Down on Bliss: Ahhhhh, the true salvation. Annabess offers a tea ceremony and meditation session run by a serene, wise woman who had the patience of a saint. The tea was incredible, the meditation, surprisingly calming. For an hour, I actually felt like I could breathe.
- Doubling Down: This was the highlight of the entire trip so far. The ritual of preparing and drinking tea was meditative. The taste was exquisite. The meditation, surprisingly, quieted my mind. I swear, I felt like I was floating. Completely and utterly worth the price.
- 18:00 - Free Time / Journaling: After the Tea Ceremony, I spent a couple of hours writing in my journal.
- 19:00 - Dinner: Had dinner at another local restaurant that Amy recommended. The food was pretty good. The company was even better!
- 21:00 – Bedtime: Tired but happy, I fell into a deep sleep!
Day 3: Day-Trip to Jiufen & Farewell Feels
- 08:00 - Breakfast (Again, Amazing): Fueling up for another day of adventure!
- 09:00 - Train to Ruifang for a Day-Trip to Jiufen: Ah, the Golden Age! I read about this beforehand.
- 10:00 - Bus to Jiufen: Getting to Jiufen was a bit of a hassle. The bus, a little cramped, but the views… absolutely breathtaking. The mountains, the ocean, the winding streets.
- Anecdote: The bus driver was a character – constantly yelling out stops and expertly navigating the narrow roads. I swear, he could've been a Formula 1 driver with that skill.
- 11:00 - Exploring Jiufen: Jiufen is a charming, if bustling, old mining town. Lanterns, teahouses, and endless shops selling everything from souvenirs to street food. The crowds were intense, but the atmosphere was magical.
- Opinionated Language: The food scene in Jiufen is glorious!
- 13:00 - Taro Balls & Views: Ate taro balls. Views from the A-Mei Teahouse were stunning. The views made the whole trip!
- 15:00 - Return Trip / Farewell Dinner: After spending hours walking around Jiufen, I decided to head back to Annabess for my final night in Taiwan.
- 19:00 - Farewell Dinner: Had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant. Amy made a point to talk to me for a long time. Annabess will be missed!
- 21:00 - Pack & Sleep: Saying goodbye to a place.
Day 4: Departure - Bitter Sweet
- 08:00 - Breakfast at Annabess (the last one!): A bittersweet moment. Said goodbye to Amy.
- 09:00 - Depart for the Airport:
- 10:00 - Arrive at Airport :
- 13:00 - Board flight.
- 14:00 - Take off.
(Note: This itinerary is subject to spontaneous detours, snack-related emergencies, and the inevitable existential crisis. You have been warned.)
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Okay, So, What's the *Deal* with Annabess B&B? Sounds... idyllic. Is it REALLY?
Alright, let's be real. "Idyllic" is a loaded word, right? Annabess B&B... well, it *claims* to be paradise. And look, on a good day, with the sun setting over the mountains and a plate of freshly made pineapple cake on the table? Yeah, maybe. But paradise, for me, is also about the *mess*. You know? Like, the time I tried to use Google Translate to order papaya juice and ended up accidentally flirting with the owner's grandma? Yeah, that was at Annabess. So, it's idyllic-ish. Mostly.
Tell me about the rooms. Are they actually nice or just Instagram-bait?
Okay, first off, there are SO many Instagram photos. And yes, they're beautiful. Think: crisp white sheets, bamboo accents, views that actually *do* make you go "Whoa." BUT (and this is a big but), the rooms aren't *perfectly* perfect. One time, my shower decided to go on strike halfway through my morning ritual. Coldest. Shower. Ever. But then the owner, Annabelle (adorable, by the way), hopped in and fixed it while I was shivering, and it became a core memory. So, yes, they are nice. They're also lived-in. Like, *really* lived-in like someone put a lot of love and care into. Just be ready for a tiny quirk here and there. They have their charm.
Food! Is the breakfast as amazing as everyone says? I'm a foodie.
Oh. My. God. The breakfast. *It's* the reason to go. I'm not kidding. I'm talking fresh fruit you can't even dream of in, say, Ohio (no offense to Ohio). And there are probably local eggs. Annabelle makes homemade jams that are honestly life-altering. Seriously, I bought, like, six jars of her mango chili jam to take home. Foodie, you ask? Prepare to be *spoiled*. I dream about that breakfast. The only problem? You'll never want to go back to your sad cereal and toast after. Consider yourself warned.
What's the vibe? Is it all couples staring into each other's eyes?
Okay, confession time: I went solo. I am not a couple-y person. And I was a little nervous about feeling… third-wheely, I guess? But nah! Annabess is a total melting pot. You get couples, sure, but also solo travelers like me, friends, families... the whole shebang. Everyone’s friendly. It's the kind of place where you end up chatting with strangers over breakfast and sharing travel stories. I ended up a friend group with a couple from London, And it got really interesting.
How do I even get there? Taiwan is a big place!
Okay, this is important. Getting *to* Annabess is part of the adventure. You'll likely fly into Taipei (TPE), then it's another flight, a train, a taxi... it depends. Annabelle’s website has pretty solid transport directions, but... don't be afraid to ask. It’s a little out there – that’s the whole point! And honestly, the journey is part of the charm. When I was there, I accidentally got on the wrong train. Ended up miles away from where I meant to go. Luckily, a kind older woman, who spoke no English, got me back on track. A little embarrassing, but hey, it's a story! It builds character.
Is there anything... bad? What should I be prepared for?
Alright, let's rip the band-aid off. Nothing is perfect. (Shocking, I know.) The WiFi can be a little spotty in some rooms. It's Taiwan, so the weather is unpredictable. One time, I got utterly drenched in a torrential downpour while trying to ride a scooter (also, don't do that if you're a clumsy idiot like me). Also, mosquitoes. Bring bug spray. And be prepared to be a little... lost. I mean, you're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. But honestly? The "bad" stuff is just part of the experience. It's what makes the good stuff shine even brighter, you know?
I'm worried about the language barrier. I don't speak Mandarin!
Okay, this is valid! Mandarin is the main language. Annabelle speaks pretty good English, thankfully! But, outside of the B&B, it can be tricky. Google Translate is your best friend. The locals are generally super patient and friendly, even if you're butchering their language. I relied on pointing a lot. And smiles! Smiles go a long way. I made a friend with a fruit cart vendor and he barely spoke english or I barely spoke Mandarin, but he always knew what i was trying to purchase, and he was always willing to teach me how to say things. It's an adventure, embrace it! But learn a few basic phrases – "hello," "thank you," "delicious" – and you'll be golden. Don't overthink it, they're super chill.
What activities are there to do outside the B&B? I don't want to just sit around!
Oh, there's LOADS! Hiking in the mountains, waterfalls, hot springs (heaven!), exploring local markets, visiting tea plantations... Annabelle and her staff are super helpful with recommendations. She even arranged a cooking class for me one time, which was a *disaster* (I set my rice on fire). But like, a fun disaster! Seriously, there's something for everyone. Just ask! That's the key!
Is it worth the money? It looks a bit pricey.
Okay, let's be honest, it's not dirt cheap. Annabess is an investment. But here's the thing: You get what you pay for. You get genuinely delicious food. You get incredibly kind hospitality. You get an experience, not just a place to sleep. You get memories you'll cherish. I thought about it before booking, and I'm saving up to go back. That says it all. It's an experience, not just a hotel room. And the best part? You'll probably leave feeling kinda... different. More relaxed, more open, and with a serious mango chili jam addiction. So, yeah, I think itWorld Of Lodging
