8th Platform Motel

The room was huge, the tub was very deep and fine for adults, and it didn’t smell musty, odd, or smoky when we arrived. It’s pet-friendly, and my daughter fell asleep as soon as we got there. The reception and service were excellent. The noise was the downside. Soundproofing is poor, so bring earplugs. You can hear steady footsteps overhead, and loud thumping started at 11:30 p.m. It eased off for a while, then began again at 6 the next morning. Children should be supervised in the deep tub and kept safe. A note: the front desk closes at midnight, and staff don’t start serving until 8 p.m. It was a good stay, but the noise made it a bit of a shame.

The front desk staff were very friendly, and after checking out the next day I could leave my car in the garage briefly for free. The station is close by. When we had nothing to eat at 11 p.m. and didn’t feel like driving, McDonald’s near the station was an easy walk, and there were claw machines around to pass the time. I’d stayed here before and booked again for Chinese New Year when I came back to my hometown. I think the hotel has been open for more than ten years. It wasn’t spotless, but our room was acceptably clean and seemed maintained. The bathroom was enormous, almost an odd amount of space.

We only ended up staying about two hours. After the food delivery arrived, the kids ate quickly and had a short splash in the tub, then we checked out and drove home that night, tired and disappointed. The hotel didn’t seem to react when we said we were leaving so soon. Maybe, since it was a motel even though it wasn’t clearly labeled that way, guests leaving mid-stay was normal for them. 🤷‍♀️ We’d spent the previous night at a lovely Airbnb without a bathtub, and the kids wanted a bath, so we picked this hotel because the photos looked clean and showed a large tub. Check-in wasn’t until 6 p.m., and though we were exhausted, we kept the kids at a park until then. As soon as we entered at 6 sharp, the smoke smell was extremely strong. We asked to change rooms, but first the front desk said no other room types were available and offered an air purifier. Later they said they only had an ozone generator, and we couldn’t stay in the room while it ran. Since we’d been out all day and had dinner delivered there, we refused. We also work in hotels and knew the ozone generator was practically useless. They then suggested perfume, which would only make it worse for anyone sensitive to smells. The room did have plenty of space and private parking, but the floor felt sandy, the bathroom was moldy, and the enclosed tub was awful. The strong smoke odor and the whole setup didn’t feel family-friendly.

The price is really good value for Changhua, and as someone from the city I know it’s hard to find this kind of price range here. It’s in the city center, though surrounded by construction companies, which can give guests a less-than-ideal impression. Prices that are too high can put people off, while prices that are too low bring complaints about everything, so I couldn’t be too picky. I came recently for construction work, and the process was free of noise and dust. The place was very popular when it first opened. The staff seemed to have changed teams since my recent stay, and they were very polite. I saw them pushing cleaning carts around and got the sense they were focused on making the rooms comfortable. The rooms are really spacious, unlike the tiny rooms at some motels and hotels, and that must make cleaning take longer. Everyone has their own idea of clean, so I found it acceptable.