Dream Mansion Hotel

The location near fengjia night market was the one good point, and self check-in suited me as someone who doesn't like talking to people. Otherwise, it wasn't for me. The room felt dusty and smelled moldy, and you could see mold forming in the toilet. I wish there had been a dehumidifier or anything to take moisture out of the air. I called housekeeping, but they only made the bed and refolded the towels. I could tell my towel hadn't been changed because the one I used on day one had a hole, and the folded towel still had that same hole. They also left the food crumbs on the dresser.

The customer service was quick and kind when we complained, and they changed our room right away. The hotel is near feng chia night market, though it's more like a 10-minute walk than four. The heated toilet and large, clean shower were good. But the room had almost no ventilation and smelled moldy. Sewage smell came from the toilet as soon as we entered, even with the door shut, and there were fruit flies in the bathroom. The sheets were damp from the poor ventilation. Many sheets, towels, and pillows had yellow stains, and the sheets made us itchy at night. The towels seemed to come from different hotels. The layout was odd, with the sink in the main room, not the bathroom. The carpet felt dusty and unclean, which triggered allergies, and dirty windows behind the curtains had mold spots everywhere. I'd heard reviews advising against the supplied shampoo and conditioner; my partner used them and had dandruff the next day.

The room had no soundproofing at all. Motorbikes on the road roared from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., and other guests could smoke and make noise outside the room. The layout was bizarre, with the washbasin beside the bed instead of in the toilet. The toilet was old and dirty, and the flush didn't work. There was nowhere to leave our belongings after checkout, so they had to be left in an open area. No one was there to help with check-in or checkout, and check-in isn't until a late 3 p.m. I moved out quickly and didn't bother staying. I'm now asking for my money back. DO NOT BOOK THIS SUBSTAND INN. It isn't a hotel, and I wonder if the positive reviews are there to sabotage the next person. If you want to torture yourself, book this.

The room was spacious and comfortable, with modern features in a classic style. Everything was clean and in great condition, and the shower was amazing. The Japanese-style toilet was a nice feature, and there was a desk handy for a laptop or work. We slept really well in the super-comfy bed, and it was quiet inside. The location was great too. Check-in was self-service and took about a minute from start to finish; for checkout, you just put the room cards in the machine. We'd definitely stay again if we return to Taichung.