Buddy 35

The blankets were light and warm, the room had many TV channels, and the Wi-Fi was convenient once we worked out how to connect. There was no connection information in our room or at the front desk, though, and when we hurried downstairs to ask, the owner wasn't around. We only managed to ask when a phone call came in and he answered at the desk. The male host did help carry our two small suitcases up to the room on the third floor. Our double room cost around 1200 RMB per night, which was affordable. Street parking was easy to find even though there was no dedicated lot. But we only had two small bottles of mineral water and a kettle, with no water dispenser. Once we boiled the bottled water, we had no cold water to drink. We don't usually boil tap water at home. Cleanliness needs work. The sheets were wrinkled and had several hairs on them, so it seemed they hadn't been changed after the last guest. There was hair in the bathroom too, and cigarette butts left on the balcony. We couldn't find the host on the day we extended our stay, so we left a note asking for fresh towels, water, and trash pickup. When we got back that evening, the towels had been changed, the trash taken out, and bottled water left. The floor hair, heavy water marks on the sink, and balcony cigarette butts were still there. The owner seemed rather indifferent. At check-in he only explained what the three keys were for and showed us where our room was, then disappeared. We could hear a group celebrating on the first floor of the next building. I guessed it might have been family or friends gathering. The sound carried through the poor soundproofing until nearly 1 AM, and I could hear it upstairs while trying to sleep. There were signs on the walls for designated shops, but final payment was cash only. Fortunately, we had enough cash. The shampoo was poor quality and left my hair feeling like straw. Neither it nor the shower gel had been replenished after the previous guest; both bottles were about half full when we arrived, and after a day there was only about a quarter left. There was no hand soap or small bar soap, so we had to use the shower gel, which wasn't nearly enough. All in all, we didn't feel the warmth or hospitality you'd expect from a guesthouse.

I heard about this place from a friend who stayed over New Year's. The four-person room was bright and roomy, with a pleasant river view right from the window. The living room had lots of car-themed decorations, and the cushions were really cute.

My child loved the host's car collection on the first floor. The room itself was clean and comfortable, and the host was so friendly that I felt at home. There's no parking lot, but street parking was convenient. If we visit Hualien again, I'd love to bring my kids to stay here! 😁

The landlady gave us a warm welcome, and both the room and bathroom were clean. Still, I always check the sheets, blankets, and pillowcases for cleanliness and smoothness when I arrive at a hotel or guesthouse. This time I spotted five hairs of different lengths, and ended up taking another shower the next day...