CHLOECHEN-Home

The house looked stylish and spacious and was in a good location, but the maintenance and cleanliness were poor. For a national holiday, a house for eight people cost TWD$15,300/night, and there are definitely better choices. We arrived June 24-25. Only the afternoon before, through a booking message we might have missed, did we learn the Wi-Fi was out. Without internet, the TV was useless apart from the MOD (modified furniture). They could have checked this before the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. It was an oversight, and they kept blaming Chunghwa Telecom instead of explaining the situation to us. The spare bedding was just left in the closet, and two or three friends woke up with itchy skin or allergies. Some had bites, while others had large red, itchy patches. We hadn’t left the house after arriving, so I don’t know if it was bed bugs or fleas, but it definitely wasn’t just because Taitung has lots of mosquitoes. The living room carpet and rug were dirty, and we saw large cockroaches and ants before even using the kitchen. The stay was very unpleasant. We told the housekeeper we’d arrive before 7 PM, and they said they’d wait for us, but then told us by phone to check in ourselves. The check-in was disorganized, and we never saw the housekeeper. We had to call the next day to ask about checkout. What was the point of having a housekeeper?

We were five people in a spacious villa meant for 12, so it could easily fit an even bigger group. The three-floor layout has the kitchen, dining table, living room, and laundry room downstairs, with most bedrooms and bathrooms on the two upper floors. Its distinctive, refined decor reflects the work of contemporary fashion designer Chloe Chen and her team, who manage the place. The guesthouse is only a 10-15 minute walk from Taitung Railway Station, which is a real plus in Taitung 🤣. Service was excellent: after we booked on Booking.com, the owner got in touch with payment information and check-in instructions. It works with a concierge, so you need to tell them ahead of time when to meet you at the guesthouse. 👍

The management lady was reasonably pleasant, though she seemed inattentive or perhaps unable to make decisions. The exterior and interior look impressive, but a lot of the details inside have been neglected. I often stay in B&Bs, especially whole properties, because they give family or friends a place to gather. Those details need regular upkeep too. The showerhead didn’t work, there were no mirrors in the rooms, and one shared bathroom on the third floor wasn’t enough. The water dispenser and washing machine had problems, and there was noticeable hair on the living room carpet. There’s no parking either. A little more attention to detail would make a difference. This was my first B&B stay, and it left me thinking of a place that looks impressive from the outside but feels weak within. I’ll write more later.

The bathroom has been renovated, and it looks simple but stylish?