Journey Hostel

The owners and staff gave us world-class service, with friendly advice that helped make the trip special. For families with children, it was a gem: the rooms were spacious, and the location made everything easy. We were a 5-minute walk from the train station, mall, laundromats, and loads of food options, from fruit vendors and convenience stores to restaurants. Our family spent 12 days at The Journey Hostel and had a wonderful stay. The common areas and our private space were immaculately clean and comfortable. We especially liked the shoes-off policy, which made it feel like a cozy, clean home. The design was thoughtful and carried throughout the place. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the location near NCKU was very convenient. The room was clean, but the decor felt cheap and it seemed the owner had skimped on essentials. Noise insulation was practically nonexistent. During a typhoon, traffic was quieter on the first night, but the AC broke and left me freezing. I had no way to reach the front desk after 10 pm. The second night, traffic and noise from a nearby food hall kept interrupting any chance of sleep. I stayed in a suite for two nights, and with those noise and comfort problems, I wouldn't recommend the hotel. Double-pane windows or proper soundproofing could make it much more comfortable. Even with the good staff, I won't stay again until those improvements are made.

There's no laundry spinner for cyclists, and the area where you can hang clothes doesn't open until 8am, so you can get stuck waiting. Hanging laundry in the rooms isn't allowed. Indoor bicycle parking isn't allowed either. There is a small gated area outside to park a bike, locked at night, but it will get rained on. The room was clean, but it felt stuffy and smelled unpleasant. I found it overpriced for a hostel at 4800 per night, especially since you're sharing with strangers. There are tons of restaurants nearby, and plenty of graffiti to look at as you walk.

I used to recommend this hotel to friends after staying here over the past few years, but this latest visit wasn't great. I picked an upper floor balcony room, yet there was very little sound insulation. Motorcycles and street conversations kept waking me up. The bright emergency sign also made it feel like the lights were on while I slept. The room itself was nice, but after such poor rest I'm unsure about booking again.