Shining Motel

The location was good and the daily housekeeping was good too. Even with the other issues, the price might have been worth it if you found a deal. But the mold made it a deal breaker. Noise was a problem: you could hear nearby rooms showering or flushing, and conversations from neighboring rooms came through the central air conditioning. Light sleepers should avoid staying here. The room wasn't cold enough for us, so staff told us to keep all the curtains closed. We didn't open the windows until the last day, when it was raining, and then found water seeping in through windows in both the living room and bathroom, along with mold.

I first gave this hotel four stars, but changed my rating over several serious concerns. The hotel tried to withhold our refund unless we left a positive review of four stars or above, as the manager had promised when we left. That felt unacceptable and unprofessional. Front desk agent Anna was dismissive with us. We stayed for over two weeks, and the location, a few minutes' walk from the MRT station, was convenient. The overnight price was reasonable, but weekend rates could be double or triple the weekday price for the same room, which didn't feel worthwhile. The room wasn't well soundproofed. We could hear other guests opening and closing doors, and around midnight there were kids running and talking in the hallway. Bonnie deserves special thanks for going above and beyond, trying to resolve our issues and responding quickly. Sherry was patient and helped us sort out a confusing reservation. Housekeeping varied by staff member. Some days the floor wasn't swept, so we did it ourselves. Dust on the walls and in less-used spots like the bathroom phone was missed, and there were signs of mold on the bathroom tiles. During our second stay, I requested housekeeping every other day. After four days without a bedding change, I asked Anna on Monday to tell housekeeping to change it. She first said no housekeeper was on duty. When I questioned that, she said she was the only person available and bedding was changed only every three days. Then she offered to change the sheets herself, but sounded reluctant and said she wasn't a professional housekeeper, so it might not be as thorough as regular housekeeping. I wasn't sure what she meant by that. It seemed like she didn't want to do it, so I asked if she could at least take out the trash and replace our towels. She agreed. We left around 9 a.m. and returned around 2 p.m. My son got back earlier and waited in the lobby because the room wasn't ready. When Anna saw me, she said she hadn't had a chance yet but would take care of it right away. I told her it was alright since she'd said she was the only one on duty. She then said she'd leave fresh towels outside our room so she wouldn't disturb us, and that I could put the trash and used towels outside the door for her to collect. She never came. Later I saw the housekeeper in the hallway, asked her directly for clean towels, and put the trash and used towels outside myself. It was confusing to be told only the front desk staff was working when a housekeeper was clearly there. In all my years of hotel stays, this was a first. It felt like Anna kept giving me roundabout answers whenever I raised a question or issue. Self-service laundry is a nice addition, but the washer and dryer were dirty, and I had to wipe them down before using them. The laundry area's general cleanliness and upkeep need improvement. None of the bathrooms in the rooms we stayed in had proper towel racks, or some had none at all. We hung towels on the shower door or bathroom counter. It would be much nicer to have racks, especially at a hotel that emphasizes eco-friendliness, so guests can hang towels to reuse them instead of needing frequent replacements. That's particularly useful for families and longer stays.

This location was out of the way and put a damper on our trip. We later learned they have another property closer to the city center, which would be better for tourism. Check-in wasn't allowed before 4 p.m., which sucked. They gave us a cute Hello Kitty room, but the light fixtures didn't work, and a faulty bath plug meant we couldn't enjoy a long bath. At least the water was nice and hot, and the toiletries smelled good. The hair dryer was very weak. There was a fridge, water, and kettle in the room.

Allison, the hotel manager, went out of her way to help us after I tested positive for Covid on the first day. She quickly arranged a separate room for me so I could stay apart from my family. The older cleaning lady on my floor was also very caring while I was sick, checking on me and making sure I had enough water. I wasn't expecting much, but the rooms were actually spacious and clean. There are lots of good eateries and shops within walking distance, along with a massage place. We'll come back whenever we're in Taichung again.