MAMAzzzzHostel

I checked in in late October and found a pet camera, its green light clearly visible in the room. After checking out, I reported it to the Tainan Tourism Bureau. One reply I received said the hostel wasn’t an accommodation business approved by the Bureau. Without knowing that beforehand, these were the problems I ran into: The check-in process was a lot of work. I only wanted somewhere to sleep, not a final exam, and wouldn’t have picked this place if I’d known. I repeatedly asked them not to call customer service directly, but they sent a long list of questions on Line. When I was stuck outside and asked where to enter the password, they just said there was a video on the website. The main door had a secure password, but the room door only had a speaker lock? I didn’t know if other roommates might come in late, and I wanted to sleep but wasn’t sure whether to lock it. There was no shower gel left, and the already small amount of toilet paper was nearly gone. Housekeeping didn’t seem thorough. I didn’t bother contacting customer service, since I figured they’d just point me to a page on the website listing where supplies were kept. I also noticed the odor mentioned in other Agoda reviews. It smelled a bit like vomit, though I suspect it could be the old building’s plumbing. Maybe it can’t be fixed. I’m sorry if calling it vomit was too harsh. My locker, AZ01, made a piercing noise whenever I opened or shut it, so I left it open rather than disturb my roommate. There was also a ladder in the middle of the room, like the kind used for home repairs. At first I thought a plumber had forgotten it. Removing the sheets and putting them in the washing machine after checkout seems reasonable, but being required to upload photos as proof was new to me. I’ve heard of unapproved accommodation businesses installing pet cameras in rooms, and this isn’t the first time one has been reported. If they keep operating this way, consumers may have to look out for themselves.

If guests have to check themselves in and there’s no reception staff, say so clearly on the booking page. Telling people only after they’ve booked, by calling them, makes it feel like the customer has done something wrong. Being upfront would help people book with confidence and avoid problems with the stay. And if you don’t point guests to post-booking messages, how are they supposed to know to read them?

They contacted me proactively during the booking and sent lots of information. The shared space and room were very clean, and it felt like good value for the money. The bed frame wobbled and made quite a bit of noise, so light sleepers should be aware. The ladder to the upper bunk might be hard to climb. I noticed the women sleeping up there all jumped down 😂. A mat outside the bathroom would be a good addition.

It was hard to find the place tucked into a little alley, even with Google Maps, but the staff were patient and helpful when I called. The kitchen looked good for cooking, though I didn’t get a chance to use it. The nearest bike rack was about a 3-5 minute walk away.