Taiwan- Accommodation

As mentioned in my Taiwan adventure, I visited Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Hualien over my 9 days.

As it was my first trip, I wanted to have a basic experience of what Taiwan offers.

Over my 8 nights, I stayed in mostly hostels and below were my homes during my adventure.

Taipei

I stayed 2 nights in Taipei at 4Plus Hostel located at No.72, Linsen North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei, 104, Taiwan. The hostel was about 1.1 km and 17 minutes walk from Taipei Main Station.

The hostel provided a 'boarding pass'- an access card to tap in to the property and room, and wifi password.

As with hostels, there is always a risk where you can get loud snoring neighbours. I had one below me for both nights. 😵‍💫

There was a water dispenser in the communal area where you could fill your water bottle before you leave for your daily adventure.

Taichung

Taichung was another location where I stayed 2 nights at 133 Hotel located at No.143, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Rd., Taichung, Taichung City, 414 Taiwan. It was about 1.7 km from HSR Taichung Station.

This hotel won my classic accommodation award. 🏆

The photos tell it all.

One would have thought that since the hotel's name is 133, the address would be 133 but it is at 143. From the main road, look out for the signboard that says 旅社133. Walk through the walkway and you would see the hotel in a few seconds.

There were a few weird observations I had on this hotel.

1. They do not issue main door or room keys. The staff would check you in to your room and when you leave for your adventure, lock the door before you go. When you return, the staff would open the room door for you.
2. When you are coming back late at night after 2230 hours, the shutters at the entrance from the main road would be shut. Get the mobile phone number of the staff when you check in so that you can call them when you return. The staff would then come out from the hotel and open the shutters with a remote control from a distance.
3. If you are leaving early in the morning, inform the staff the day/night before so that they could inform whoever on duty the next morning to expect a morning call. As with the same protocol when you return late at night, make a mobile phone call before you leave so that the staff could open the shutters for you to exit.

Overall, it was a unique experience staying at 133 Hotel.

Chiayi

At Chiayi, I stayed a night at An Lan Jie Hotel located on the 14th floor at No. 465, Lanjing St., Chiayi, Taiwan, 60047. It was conveniently located at just about 350 metres from TRA Chiayi Station.

This was another cosy hostel and the uniqueness was that it was located in a commercial building.

The reception was on the 14th floor and the room which I stayed was on the 6th floor.

During check-in, the staff would ask you to take a photo of an information card with details such as the floor which your room is located, the name of your room, the access codes to the main door downstairs, the main door on the floor where your room is located and your room, and wifi access information.

There was a big locker provided. I managed to stuff my backpack and haversack in it.

The staff did not inform that there was a laundrette on the 11th floor. It probably did not belong to them. I only saw it when I left the hotel for good the next morning. 😅

I enjoyed my stay at An Lan Jie Hotel as it was just a stone's throw from TRA Chiayi Station.

Tainan

When I was in Tainan, I stayed a night at Old Man Captain Hostel II located at No.2, Sec. 2, Beimen Rd.

Actually, I do not even need to share the address as it was located right outside TRA Tainan Station! That's why it won my best location award. 🏆

Instructions found online directed that '15 meters from the entrance of Tainan Railway Station, walk into the alley next to the taxi queue, just press the door bell beside the orange door). Actually, you do not have to go that way. Just look out for the FamilyMart on the left when you exit the station, walk into it, go straight, turn left when you see the food warmers and you will see an orange door that says OldManCaptain at the top and you are there! How much more convenient can you ask for?

The direction given was probably to divert hostel guests from FamilyMart's main door to enter by the back door but since you know about it now, you can just enter by the main entrance! ✌️

The hostel would issue a tag to tap in at the main door, password for your room digital lock and a key for your locker in the room.

For the location, Old Man Captain Hostel II was a good choice. The only thing I did not like was that I needed to lay my own bedsheet! 😏

Kaohsiung

Kaoshiung was a day trip thus I did not stay in any accommodation. ☀️

Hualien

As I did a day trip at Kaohsiung, I arrived at Hualien only at night and as I had a full day adventure the next day which included the Taroko National Park and foodhunting at Hualien through the night, I stayed 2 nights at Bayhouse Comfortel Hualien Hostel located at 19, Alley 1, Lane 601, Zhongshan Road, Hualien, Taiwan, 97054.

It was a cosy hostel located on a quiet street yet it was close to the TRA Hualien Station, Hualien Bus Station, a 24 hours laundrette and importantly, food!

The room I stayed had an ensuite bathroom and there was a policy that it should not be used if fellow hostelites were sleeping and the one on the ground floor should be used instead.

I liked the hole in the wall at the bed for me to put my camera batteries and phone while they were charging. 🪫

I enjoyed my stay at Bayhouse Comfortel Hualien Hostel as it was also conveniently-located hostel, just about 700 metres or 9 minutes walk from TRA Hualien Station. If you are walking from TRA Hualien Station, walk by the main road. Google Maps led me via some small streets when I was there which took a longer and deserted route. 🤨

There you have it, my accommodation while I was on my Taiwan adventure.