Light hostel - Chiayi

The location and value for the price are both great, and the hostel is well equipped with self check-in. Towels cost extra to rent, and at checkout you have to remove your own bedding.

There isn't a dressing table or mirror, and the room is really tiny. I was lucky to get a free upgrade, but it still seems best suited to backpackers who travel light. I guess that's why it's called light hostel.

The rooms are small, the mattress is hard, and there's no free towel. The kitchen and other facilities are on the fifth floor, and there isn't an elevator for people. On the plus side, it's close to the train station, the price is good, and there's an elevator for luggage.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hostel was quiet, perhaps because there weren't many tourists around. It's close to chiayi train station and felt worth the cost for a few nights. My four bed female dorm was clean, and I liked having an ensuite toilet. Space was a little tight, though, and the toilet and shower aren't separated, so the floor gets very wet after showering. If you want a lower bunk or a room on the first level, message the hostel ahead of time and they can try to arrange it.