Ali-Shan Dengshan Hotel

There was drilling early in the morning because of renovation work. I put up with it at first, but when it began disturbing my sleep I complained to reception and gave them my room number. Nothing was done. Reception was unstaffed for most of the day, apart from around 4 to 5 p.m. at check-in, so there was no one to sort out problems. The bathroom wasn't properly cleaned, the bathtub had no curtain, and the towels were placed right in front of the shower wall. There was nowhere else to hang clothes or towels. The room wasn't small, but everything felt very old. The shower gel and shampoo smelled awful, either because they were old or because they were very cheap quality. For the huge price, the basics were extremely poor. I wouldn't consider it worth the money, even for an economical stay.

Getting to the visitor centre and the places with everything means climbing steep stairs, about five floors in total. The hotel itself has no elevator, so hauling luggage up four flights is no fun. If you're easygoing, the room might meet your standards. I was surprised they supplied only half a roll of toilet paper. I get not tossing a whole roll after each guest, but could they at least leave another full one? The cleanliness could be better too. The place feels very traditional.

It's close to Alishan train station and the market, and the price is cheaper. Cleanliness isn't great, so don't expect anything like a five-star hotel. If you're staying just one night and want somewhere affordable near the station, this could work.

We booked a small room for two nights. The soundproofing wasn't good, and there was some damp or mold on the walls. The hotel could use an overall refresh. Still, a friend stayed at another hotel nearby, and hearing about her experience made us feel fairly lucky. It wasn't as bad as we'd expected. We'd read plenty of mixed reviews before arriving, and knew this is a popular place where booking early is best, especially among the more affordable hotels. Bring flip-flops, a sleep mask, and earplugs to make things more comfortable.