A-Ma Homestay

The simple breakfast was really good, and the mountain right in front is beautiful. Sleep was the downside: the rooms aren’t very soundproof. In a third-floor boutique room, you may hear someone showering after midnight or loudly opening and closing doors, then someone else brushing their teeth and washing up after six. I got only about six hours of sleep.

I barely slept during my one night here while volunteering with the Hualien recovery and disaster relief effort. The sheets and mattress were dirty and had fleas, and there was a girl's hair on the pillow in the bed next to me. Breakfast was simple but filling. The stay was average, though I’m grateful the B&B owner finally found us a room, and the price was a little better too.

For 1,200 yuan on a weekday, I had a spacious, clean second-floor suite with a private bathroom. There were several fixable problems: mold stains on the toilet seat wouldn’t come off, the bathroom’s glass shelf was broken so toiletries had to sit on the sink, and the water heater was broken. It was later repaired, but I had to take cold showers on hot days. Breakfast was steamed buns with pork floss, an egg, and soy milk, which disappointed me a bit. Overall, the value felt average. These things could all be improved with a small amount of money.

We stayed here for the Pacific Dragon Boat Race. The owner was friendly, and breakfast was basic but filling. The room was clean and even had an area for drying clothes. Given how remote the location is, I found the price reasonable for what you get.