Sugamo Hostel

The bathroom was so damp and stuffy that I was sweating again right after a shower. The tiny hairdryer took ages, and I was sweaty all over again by the time my hair was dry. The room smelled strongly of mildew, and closing the curtains turned it into a hot, stuffy sauna with no ventilation. The walls and sheets were filthy, covered in odd yellow and black marks. There was almost no soundproofing either. Someone talked on the phone right outside for three hours, and I heard every word. Any small movement from the person in the top bunk shook the bed like a magnitude 7 earthquake. The frame seemed ready to collapse. The owner clearly doesn't care about maintaining this place. At $300 for a weekend night, it still feels like a rip-off. Seeing the “positive reviews” on the wall felt like a cruel joke. The online reviews must be from people with rock-bottom standards and a very high tolerance.

I've stayed here twice, and it's my go-to hostel in Kaohsiung. The beds are comfy and there are lots of showers and toilets. I did get some insect bites, but I guess that's what I get for the price. Would 1000% recommend it to budget backpackers and travelers.

Old and tiny, with no character. It doesn't make you want to stay. The train station is very close, but last night I got bitten by bed bugs around 30 times. I'm really suffering now.

The hostel itself is fine, with comfortable beds, nice curtains, and decent bathrooms. It's in a convenient spot for train travel, with plenty of good, cheap food nearby. As with any hostel, though, it's a roll of the dice. Sometimes you end up with people coughing hard or snoring nonstop, but that's not the hostel's fault.