Job Discussion Forums

janis_ec13 · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Taiwan

Hi!

I live in Kaohsiung, and am going to Taipei next wednesday for a week. I need to find a place to stay that is relatively cheap. I would like to have a quiet place to myself but I realize that i may not find that for cheap. I'm a little hesitant on making reservations with places since I don't know really what they're like...

any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated,
thanks,
Erin.

browny · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 13

Erin,

I stayed at the Taipei Hostel when I first arrived in Taipei. I found the people (both the management and tenants) to be very friendly. It is located near an MRT station which is very helpful in getting around.
Just one person's recommendation!

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

There are numerous hostels around the train station in Taipei. Some are nicer than others.
Stick with the internationally certified ones to ensure safety and hygiene.
The Chinese Youth Hostel Association and the YMCA both have locations within a 10 minute walk from the train station in Taipei.
Good luck,
A.

Welshguy · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 143

The Taipei hostel is probably the best of a bad bunch.
Its kept clean and the showers are pretty good and there is a roof terrace of sorts where you can sit and chew the fat with some of the inmates.
Its 10 minutes walk from Taipei main station but is also opposite a tube stop. The address is 6/f Lane 5 no 11 Lin Shen North Rd Taipei.
There is a website which which gives further details and directions, just google Taipei Hostel.

Cheers
W

Tsimplyme · Joined: 28 Nov 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Canada

The Taipei Hostel? Maybe I was there on a bad day? I stayed in a private room and the walls were COVERED in dead mosquitoes. I added two more carcasses over the course of the night and left the next day.

I would recommend the Taiwanmex Hostel. It is even closer to the MRT line than Taipei Hostel and much cheaper than the YMCA (which goes for upwards of $1500 NT a night.)

I've stayed at the Taiwanmex Hostel for a while and there is no curfew but folk are generally considerate of sleeping hours. It has a tv/dvd/kitchen and the owner is super nice. I'm paying 400 nt a night for a private cell. The rooms are tiny but clean. Not much different from other places but it is terribly convenient.

Sorry if it sounds like an ad, but I wish I had the info when I came here.

Hostel reviewed here:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/2005_02_06_archive.html

Also the directions:
The Hostel is located next to the ZhongShan MRT (In English say JongShan) just one stop north of the Taipei Main Station on the RED line.

Address: 2-F 18-1Lane 18Nanjing W. Rd

HOSTEL TELEPHONE
Inside country of from Taipei: 02-5552-9798
Outside with Country code: 886-2-5552-9798
FAX: 886-2-5552-9788
EMAIL: taiwanmex AT hotmail.com
Mobile Telephone: 0938073528

Even more detailed instructions with photos and basic map:
http://www.hostelscentral.com/str-de-1200.html
more than enough to find yourway around.

Additionally if the Hostel is full there is a clean and reasonably inexpensive hotel only about 150 meters up the street. Called the Purple Garden, on weekdays you can get a single room for 900 NT a night. I stayed there for a week before I decided to down-size to save $. They don't speak a lick of English at the front desk though so be nice, smile and bring your phrasebook!

Enjoy your trip! Drop me an e-m. if you have questions and I'll do my best to help.
T. Destiny.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

Well.... it may be too late for the OP but here is another vote for the Taipei Hostel. Yeah, those mosquitos get everywhere. It is almost as if we were living on a subtropical island. One of the big considerations I had was actually being able to find the place. Something of importance as most people usually arrive with a lot of heavy luggage. As all of the hostels (that I know of) are situated in alleys it is not so much as which is the most convenient to find but which is the least inconvenient. Some of the "directions" given on the websites aren't very useful.

karelsvoboda · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 4

I know this is a bit late but for anyone coming to Taipei, you could try Mandarin Hostel. This is a relatively new foreign operated hostel. It provides clean and comfortable rooms. It's not really a hostel as much as a room in an apartment. They have several locations in the city. Check out their website at www.mandarinhostel.com

sbmoor262004 · Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 15

Hostels in Taiwan are foul and not worth the price. I contracted a foot fungus by not wearing rubber sandals in one shower. I remember one called Happy Family, but I think that was a misnomer for Nasty Family. Mad

sbmoor262004 · Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 15

A good cheapie is the New Mayflower Hotel, where you have clean rooms, shower and waterpot for about 1200. Cool

It's very convenient and near the train station.

CndnEnrgy · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Toronto

Just thought I'd throw in my two cents.

Taipei Hostel is great, reasonable prices and really nice crew of foreigners who make you feel right at home. Has free internet connection so bring ur laptop, or else use someone else's to send that email letting everyone know you aren't dead (people are really open with their laptops there).

Nice and clean, A/C in the bedrooms, kitchen facilities and a job board for looking for work when you arrive.

Definetely recommended.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

I stayed at Taiwanmex while looking for work (mentioned above in that big post). Tiny rooms, but clean with helpful management. Raul, the owner and sole employee, isn't always there, though -- so be sure to make a reservation and tell him when your flight is arriving so he'll be there to let you in!