Forbes Hotel

If you don't have many specific requirements, this place is okay for a trip. The price is affordable for a solo traveler, and public transport is convenient. There's also a 24-hour self-service laundry just a few minutes' walk away. As long as you can sleep well, it does the job.

The central location is great if you like walking around, and there are plenty of shops nearby. Still, at 1,700 a night in the wet season, I'd choose somewhere else. The building is old and seems like a fire hazard. The room cupboard had strange things in it, including a knife hidden in one. The air conditioning vent was nasty, and there was a strong smoke smell in the evening. The bed was so firm you might as well sleep on the floor. In the bathroom, the half bath is lovely, but the shower is just a hose attached to a head you can't really adjust. There's no curtain, so the whole bathroom feels like someone could slip and fall.

The view was okay, with the city and mountains in the distance, and the staff were fairly friendly. They helped with a few things, including giving us a proper hair dryer when we asked. But the room had a bad smell, mosquitoes, visible dirt and mold, and broken fixtures. The hotel has been around for over 35 years, so I understand it's old, but I still expect the owner to keep up basic cleanliness. Leaving it like this could potentially cause health issues for guests. We paid 1,900 NTD per room per night during the holidays, and it wasn't worth that price. The service was good, but I wouldn't recommend staying here.

After two nights, I was very disappointed with how poorly maintained the room felt. The walls were visibly damaged, the pillows looked dirty, some outlets were loose or didn't work, and a chair had burn marks. There was a strong smell of smoke and mold. The air conditioning couldn't be adjusted, so the room stayed hot and humid. I hope management improves things.