Traditional Arts Country Inn

We only got 100 yuan offered by bank transfer after protesting strongly. My husband is still blaming me for trying to help, and I don’t know how I’d dare help anyone again. The whole guesthouse experience was unsuitable, and people planning to book should think twice and read other guests’ complaints too. We arrived for Father's Day, expecting a happy outing. That evening, the landlady first directed my husband to park beside a roadside drainage hole where someone could easily slip in. When we declined, she quickly borrowed a neighbor’s space. If there was only one space at the entrance, the app should have made that clear. She said, “We live in the countryside, there won't be any cars, it's very safe.” Then she said her phone was dead. Once charged, its screen went dark, and she couldn’t locate her own travel information app. She said she could no longer apply for the domestic travel information transfer after midnight and asked us to “pay her in cash.” I wasn’t angry and spent nearly an hour helping sort it out. My nine-month-old son was sweating on the airless first floor, but I still got it fixed. My husband was upset because guests shouldn’t have to solve the business’s problems. I felt it was okay to help since we were already there. Breakfast was supposed to be at a nearby restaurant, with a 50 RMB discount per person. We checked out at 11:00 AM, left around 11:10, drove around trying to find the place, and got there at 11:30. The metal gate was already down. It must have taken at least an hour to clean up. When I called the older owner, she said, “Oh dear, you're too late. Of course, the place is closed. There's nothing I can do to help you.” The day before, they’d only told us we could go eat, with no time limit. If they had said breakfast had to be before 11, we wouldn’t have arrived after 11. The owner said, “That's your Taipei time. Here in Yilan, we go out early and have breakfast early. Besides, it's already noon. You should go eat lunch.” I didn’t know what to say. Guests had helped her, then we couldn’t get breakfast by 11:30 and she offered no solution or compensation. She talks about people helping each other, but didn’t help us. Only after we strongly objected did they offer the 100 yuan transfer.

The kitchen was badly kept: water stains on the counters, a moldy sponge, and a can of “natural homemade” dish soap that smelled awful, as if it had been there forever. The operator required everything to be left as found, so even arriving late, I had to wash the cups and dishes. It was more tiring than being at home, and I wouldn’t recommend this for a birthday, a relaxing break, or a family booking. The female neighbor next door was as unfriendly as others mentioned. She kept knocking and ringing the bell, repeatedly warning me to call the police. The operator also had surveillance cameras and monitored when I slept, then told me the next day that I’d stayed up too late. It was scary. Even on a private stay, they said they’d take back any unused bath or hand towels because they might go missing. Why care how many rooms were occupied on a private booking? They demanded a NT$1,000 deposit, refundable only after checkout and checking that all towels and other items were still there. So strange. Worst accommodation experience ever!

The room was comfortable, clean, and new, with the firmer mattress I like and soft pillows. From the high table and chairs by the window, we could look out toward Turtle Island. The bathroom had a separate shower and toilet. The owner was very friendly, and after we gave her half an hour’s notice, she came over and personally showed us upstairs to the room. Given her age, I did worry a bit about her doing that. Parking could be better. We left the car at the intersection of a private lot, and although we were in the countryside and unlikely to get a ticket, there was a lot of traffic. I worried about scratches or a collision. I’d definitely stay again.

Parking was a real challenge because the neighbor’s plants left almost no room to maneuver. Anyone who isn’t confident parking could easily scratch their car. I reserved through Booking.com, but the landlady called the night before asking me to transfer a deposit and cancel the booking. It seemed like she wanted to avoid Booking.com’s processing fee. The deposit plus the “Peace of Mind Travel” package cost 100 yuan more than the original price, and she acted unaware of the extra charge. I was traveling with my two-year-old, and Booking.com hadn’t mentioned any relevant policy. We hadn’t asked for an extra bed, but were suddenly charged another 200 yuan for cleaning.