Kenting Guesthouse Rant: Blast from the Past Nightmare Fuel 🤬
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Were you amazed by the beauty of the first photo? It’s definitely been enhanced with heavy filters! I was tempted to book this accommodation after browsing numerous beautiful posts on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media app similar to Instagram. However, upon closer inspection, the photos reveal that it is basically a small house built on the rooftop.
️ Note: Some online influencer photos may exaggerate or misrepresent the actual conditions, so be cautious and look for more objective reviews and pictures from different sources.Regarding the room, it can only be described as shabby:
- The washbasin was rusted.
- The beds had no headboard.
- The area was infested with ants, cockroaches, and geckos (harmless but could be scary to some people)… my husband managed to catch an ant crawling on his face!
- The curtains and tables were dirty, making the ambiance quite unpleasant.
- The air conditioning leaked, wetting the entire ground. Upon seeking help from the owner, he did not make any attempts to solve the problem for us.
- Unable to bear it any longer, I asked the owner about the presence of these little creatures. The response he gave was truly astonishing: "You are visitors from the city and don’t understand our area. After it rains here, many of these creatures emerge. They want nothing to do with us as there’s no food up there." Such quick-wittedness! He could have been doing standup comedy instead!
- ️ Warning: The house may not meet high standards of hygiene and cleanliness might be questionable. Be prepared to share your space with insects!
- If the cleanliness is a significant concern to you, ensure to carefully read customer reviews, especially sections highlighting cleanliness concerns, or consider booking more reputable accommodations.
The above-mentioned issues aside, if the location had been close to somewhere nice, perhaps it would have been acceptable. However, this accommodation is situated in Jiashuisi (Jialeshui), which is approximately 25 minutes away by car from the bustling Kenting Main Street! The surrounding environment is almost desolate...
- If you want the hosts to drive you around? They will do so, but at a cost.
- My husband and I decided to rent a ‘small motorcycle’ popular in Taiwan. Taking the small motorcycle home around midnight was quite scary.
- On both sides of the road were trees with darkness looming all around. There were few street lights, long stretches were totally dark…
- The lights on the small motorcycle are dim thus it was impossible to see where we were going. For safety reasons, both my husband and I ended up holding onto the vehicle and walking on foot, using the flashlight on our phones to light the path.
- ️ Important Reminder: The area is remote, and extra caution must be taken when traveling late at night in the neighborhood!
- Located in Jialeshui, famous for surfing, but still a considerable distance away from the bustling area of Kenting, with limited public transport.
- It is advisable to have one’s own means of transportation, but when riding late at night, watch out for those poorly lit roads, which could hinder safe travel.
- Make sure the electric motorcycle rented has adequate lighting upon checking its condition.
Talking about pricing…this aspect makes me angry all over again! We spent NT$ 2,057 for two nights’ stay, which is quite expensive sounding (the currency was unclear). This price was reserved for us three months in advance.
- ️ Notice: Don’t expect decent prices with poor quality!
- This price tag is simply unreasonable and does not correlate with the provided service.
Make sure to compare multiple online platforms like Ctrip (an immensely popular Chinese travel platform), Booking.com or Agoda when making a booking decision.
️ Read all the customer reviews! #Kendi
Travel Tips:- Always read customer reviews across platforms before making any reservation, especially focusing on the negative comments to avoid potential troubles.
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A lot of booking sites list it under the Kenting area.
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Yeah, it's really terrible.
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It's not fun, honestly not as good as mainland China.
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It's alright, I guess.
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What's this place called? I need to know so I can steer clear.
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It's called 'A Long, Long Time Ago'.
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I wholeheartedly recommend 'The Antler' on Kenting Street. It's just down the alley next to Cosmed. The young staff there are all super nice!
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Alright, alright, I'll check it out if I get the chance.
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Hahaha, I thought it was going to be great, but you totally tricked me!
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I'm actually crying. Ugh.
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Kenting, Chuanfanshi White Inn – 5-star recommendation from me! Haha.
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Okay, I'll check it out next time.
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So glad we didn't go there! We stayed at 'Lost in the Sound of the Sea' instead, and the view from our top-floor room was absolutely stunning!
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Seriously, whatever you do, don't come. Promise me.