188 Station

My check-in was originally set for July 8, but Typhoon Danas disrupted my work schedule. When I asked about holding the booking, they only agreed to keep it for July. I later moved it to a weekday in mid-September and accepted the extra NT$200 charge. I checked in on September 18. The next morning I contacted them with my account details to pay that additional NT$200. By around 4:48 PM, they still hadn’t sent me the password or account information, so I had to call. They did give me a password, but people were still on the first floor, so I didn’t test it then. I came back late that night after having a drink and tried the two different passwords the operators had given me. I stood outside for half an hour, unable to get in, before calling the night-shift assistant. They checked and confirmed the password was wrong. The following day I complained, and they offered NT$500 back as an apology. I was furious about both the operator’s attitude and how the whole thing was handled. I’m sharing what happened so readers can judge for themselves. Best wishes.

The room had a dehumidifier, and I could use the fridge on the first floor. There was bottled water in it and on the table beside it. But the noise made it hard to sleep: people kept moving chairs upstairs, and though I lay down at 11 pm, I didn’t fall asleep until 1 am. A little barrier on the upper bunk would also help keep things from falling off. The Wi-Fi was awful at my bed and unusable even when connected to the hotel network, so I sat in the shower area to use my phone. The lobby TV on the first floor was broken too.

It’s a good fit for solo travelers who want things quiet. You can get free water and laundry service, and use the electronic code locks to come and go without having to socialize. The shop seems quite popular with Japanese customers.

For NT$600 per person on weekends, this is a high-quality hostel tucked down an alley. You leave your shoes on the first floor and need a password to reach the rooms. There’s plenty of personal space, and I couldn’t hear noise from outside. I’d stay again if I’m in Tainan. After 10 PM, the hairdryer is in the first-floor bathroom. I saw some male guests come down shirtless to dry their hair, which was uncomfortable. It’s a mixed-gender hostel, so I hope the men dress properly. Thank you.