Backpacker 41 hostel - Taichung

The staff were warm, helpful, and very professional. It’s easy to meet people in the main area because it’s a nice size without feeling too big. The rooms were very clean, and the location is great.

I liked having curtains around the beds for privacy, and you can get extra pillows for free. The bathrooms stayed clean and were never occupied when I went in. There’s a well-equipped kitchen, plus a 7-11 right across the street for anything you need without spending much. It’s an affordable hostel, though the bunks wobble a lot and the mattresses are really thin.

The cameras made me uncomfortable. They’re all over the place, including the hallway by the toilets and showers, pointed toward people leaving the shower or brushing their teeth. Creepy. I also had to wait for a shower on both nights I booked, and in the morning the toilet wait was about 15 minutes. There don’t seem to be enough showers and toilets for the number of beds. The shower stalls are tiny, around 1x1 m, and hot water is only available at certain hours.

The first-floor common area is spacious, and the hostel is pleasant and fairly close to Taichung train station. My bed was comfortable, and extra pillows were free. I visited in January, but the blanket didn’t keep me warm. The bathroom was clean enough, just okay.