Orange Hotel - Hanzhong Taipei

I’d absolutely recommend Orange Hotel Ximending. It’s clean, cozy, stylish, and budget-friendly, with kind, helpful staff who are easy to talk to. Everything I needed was there, and it’s conveniently close to Ximending MRT Station and the shopping street.

We stayed four nights. It was okay, but not memorable, and I wouldn’t expect anything close to a four-star stay. The staff seemed uninterested and unwelcoming when we arrived around 8am and politely asked about early check-in. They simply said check-in was at 3pm and gave no flexibility. There’s no greeting when you come back either, you just go in and out without interaction. The bed size was acceptable for two and the bed itself was fine, but the pillows were extremely flat and uncomfortable. I asked for four extra pillows so I could stack them and hug one while sleeping, but they would only give me a maximum of two. The room was small for the price, about SGD 560 for four nights. I’d rather pay a little more for somewhere cleaner and more comfortable. It wasn’t very clean: I found dust around the bed frame and had to sanitize the area myself. Housekeeping was average at best, and I could still see my hair on the floor afterward, so I don’t think they vacuumed properly. You can hear outside noise clearly, which could be a problem if you’re a light sleeper. The basement pantry felt stuffy and smelled odd, so we didn’t go down for snacks and bought things at nearby convenience stores instead. A few other things: no toothbrush or toothpaste, the kitchen-style tiles around the basin show dirt easily, and the room feels tight and basic. The shower area was decent with really strong water pressure. I appreciated that the toilet and shower were separate, though there was no bidet. It’s fine if you just need somewhere to sleep and don’t expect much, but there are some nicer average hotels around Ximending that could offer better comfort and value.

The location is hard to beat for exploring Ximending. It’s close to the walking district but far enough away to avoid its noise, and near Ximen MRT Station and Ximen Station Bus Stop. There are loads of 7-Eleven and Family Mart stores nearby, along with cafés and restaurants. I’d give the stay a 4.5. The room worked for me alone, but two people might find it cramped. I liked the bed, though anyone taller than 175 cm may find it too short because it’s boxed in by three walls. On your own, you can sleep diagonally. The bathroom separates wet and dry areas, and the shower has good pressure and hot water. Cleanliness was okay, and I got lucky with mostly quiet neighbours. There was dust on the walls, around the safe, inside the AC, and on the ceiling lights. I’m not allergic to dust, and I didn’t see any bugs or mosquitoes. The light under the bed never turns off. The room was very humid, and although the AC has a sign for a dehumidifying setting, it doesn’t actually do anything. Entry is by a QR code generated on your phone each time you open the door, so if your phone battery dies, you have no room key.

Being close to XMD while tucked away from the busiest streets is the best part. XMD Exit 1 is nearby, though you do have to deal with stairs. The front desk staff were friendly, and there were complimentary cold drinks, coffee, tea, fruit, and snacks. The rooms felt more like a Japanese hotel, very small even for two people. Breakfast was limited to MOS Burgers or Louisa Coffee, with few choices. There was no water in the room, only on an odd-numbered floor, so I had to take the elevator. Trying to carry my glass flask while using my phone to scan the QR code for room access was awkward.