The Gleaners Homestay

There were plenty of parking spaces right outside Shisui Boutique B&B, and the housekeeper was excellent. Inside, it was bright and really clean, with a comfy living room sofa and a spotless kitchen. Bottled water was always in the fridge. The rooms were simple but comfortable, and the shampoo and shower gel were good quality, including brands like Shiseido. The shower had strong pressure, too. It felt relaxing and homelike, and the price was great. I’d choose this B&B first when I’m back in Hualien.

We both got a really good night’s sleep here, which helped a lot after being out from 7:30 in the morning until 6:00 pm. The beds were so good. The place was tidy and clean, and the landlady was friendly. My boyfriend wasn’t comfortable using the shampoo and shower gel, though, so I was glad I’d packed my own travel set. We checked in on February 3rd.

The breakfast voucher was only 50 yuan per person, but the partner shop’s menu was inexpensive, so I still felt like I got enough to eat. I found this four-person room on a booking site for under 2,000 yuan. It was cramped once I put my luggage down, though the place was otherwise plain, bright, and clean. There was bottled water in the first-floor fridge for guests. Good value for that price.

The Shisui B&B - Xincheng interior was awful. It was messy right when I walked in, with many unclean spots, an awkward-to-use air conditioner, and an old, worn bed that my husband and I sank into. It was so uncomfortable it gave us back pain. The hot water also ran out in under five minutes, probably because they were using a very small amount of water. The facilities and service there were terrible, even though the outside looked nice. This was after a booking mess that cost us a lot of time. I had booked True Love Orange B&B, but the owner said it was sold out and moved us to Fuxing B&B - Ji'an. Everything was booked, and she even texted to confirm. When we arrived, she said there had been a mistake and sent us to Shisui B&B - Xincheng instead. She didn’t apologize, and when I asked for a refund she wouldn’t answer, only telling me to go to Shisui and wait. Worst B&B I’ve stayed at.