Taiwan has established a regional reputation for high-quality products, gracious service and cultural prowess, leading to a boom in its tourism industry in recent years. While international hotel brands have a strong presence on the island, independently-owned properties are prevalent, offering a more intimate local experience.

Les Suites Orient, which has two Taipei hotels and one property on the Bund in Shanghai, is an ideal place to experience Taiwan's charms on both sides of the Straits. While it as billed as "boutique," Les Suites defies easy categorization, with nearly 170 rooms and five-star amenities like a fitness center. It serves terrific Taiwan food in its restaurants, including sterling variations on Taipei's famed beef noodles.

Discretion underlines the Les Suites experience from the onset. In both Taipei and Shanghai, the hotel entrances lie on a main thoroughfare removed from the street. "It is imperative to respect the privacy of guests," says general manager John Liu, who founded Les Suites in Taipei in 1999.