Smile House

The bed was much too hard for me, and at night the sound of water dripping outside the window onto the eaves kept disturbing my sleep. The price was cheap and there was a fair amount of space.

Guests stay upstairs on the second floor, while the host lives on the first, and the wooden room partitions mean you should keep your voice down. The clean, fresh-smelling place has clear no-smoking signs and is maintained by everyone. There’s a cosy little courtyard with a homey feel. It isn’t high in the mountains, but there’s mountain mist in the morning. From here you can see Taichung City’s night view and sunset below, in a quiet suburban setting.

It’s a little out of the way, but the price is very reasonable. There was plenty of hot water, though I’d have liked the volume to be higher. The soundproofing is a bit poor: when I checked in during the afternoon, I could hear the owner’s children playing outside, but it was very quiet after dark.

The air conditioning is a bit noisy, the only small inconvenience. Otherwise, the homeowner has made the room and courtyard feel warm and elegant. Public transportation is convenient, too. In the morning, you can walk in the courtyard, practice Tai Chi, breathe fresh air, and get away from the bustle. In the evening, the second-floor living room has a view of the city lights below, where you can sit quietly and enjoy the cool breeze. A good spot for a peaceful getaway.