Kiwi Express Hotel - Taichung Station Branch II

Good value for the price, and it’s quiet. They offer breakfast and laundry service too. I’d recommend this place to backpackers.

Room 302 had plenty of sunlight through its big windows, unlike 303, which we’d seen first and kindly asked to switch from. We loved the industrial look, with exposed brick, concrete colours, and a fake column that gave it an artsy feel. It was a clean twin room with comfy beds, enough room for our bags, and thoughtful lighting options for when one of us went to bed earlier. The bathroom was spotless, with towels, shampoo, and shower gel provided. The communal space was fantastic, with a pool table, games, Playstation, Nintendo Wii, and card games. There’s also a DIY laundry. The staff at reception and in the kitchen were lovely, and the included basic breakfast came with ground bean coffee, much appreciated. The hotel’s tourist suggestions and the Taichung Tourism app FUN helped us plan a few days exploring the city and nearby areas. Its location near Central station, restaurants, and convenience stores made a good base for the trip. We had a wonderful stay and would have extended it, but they were fully booked. Checkout at 12.00pm was convenient. Check-in at 3.00pm could be a little earlier, though luggage storage at reception made it manageable. Great value for money.

I liked the breakfast and arcade on the top floor. The dorm was alright for what we paid, and the staff were friendly and spoke good English, which made things easier. The building entrance is in an alley rather than on a main road. Inside, you change into hotel slippers and leave your shoes in the first-floor locker room. Overall, it was an alright stay.

Some guests were really noisy in the corridors close to midnight on a few nights. I’m not sure how often that happens, but it might help to remind people to keep quiet late at night. Aside from that, it was a very satisfying stay. The hotel is clean and nicely decorated, with well-laid-out bathrooms on every floor. Dorm rooms are a good size and the beds are comfortable. There’s a spacious common room with lots of tables and a small open kitchen. You can keep your food in the fridge, and they provide stickers to label the packaging so it’s less likely to be taken. The free breakfast is very basic and runs from 8:30-10:30am. Bring your own toiletries or buy them for an extra cost.