Shankou Hotspring Hotel

This review is just about the cabins. Everything else may have been going for the place, but our cabin was damp, dirty, and musty, with hairs around. There was an old mattress under the bed, so don't touch it. At night, bugs came out on the bed, and we both ended up with lots of zigzag bites all over. Wash all your clothes as soon as you get home. My carelessness in booking this hotel means I’m now not allowed to book places until my ma checks the reviews. No joke, this was worse than hell.

The rooms are tiny, and it's an old hot springs hotel. The bathroom layout felt a bit odd, but the tub was large enough for all four of us. Our two toddlers had a good time soaking with us in the hot spring. Staff were friendly, parking was free about 100 metres away, and restaurants and a supermarket were within walking distance. Some people might find it far, but I thought it was close enough. There’s a breakfast place across the street serving traditional Taiwanese food, nothing special. I’d probably choose somewhere else next time.

The staff were helpful and especially caring, and the service was good. They even told me I could get a raincoat at 7-Eleven, which let me cycle back to Taipei. The hotel is conveniently close to 7-Eleven, a self-service laundry, and a few restaurants, including one Taiwanese place open late. The room was spacious, clean, and nice, with a bathtub for a private hot spring soak. The shower water is hot spring water, and it was clean, without the greyish color and rusty marks on the walls I’ve seen at other hotels. One machine in the room, either the dehumidifier or air purifier, wasn’t working, but that was okay.

We were packing in our room at 8am when the earthquake hit. Everything wobbled, but there was no damage. Now I get why Taiwanese hotels have sturdy furniture: get underneath it to protect your head! The hotel was just right for us, close to the bus stop for waterfalls and walking trails, food options, a supermarket, laundromat, and 7-11. It's an older place, but sturdy, clean, and comfortable. Having hot spring water in the room and in the rooftop tub was a nice bonus after long walks in the forest. We thought it was the best value hotel in Taiwan, and Jiaoxi is a lovely town to visit.