China Travel Status: 'Translate, Please!'
-
Hello everyone, today I'd like to share some insiders' tips about accommodations in Taiwan with you, especially if you wish to travel around Taiwan on a budget. There are some "insider stories" you need to know!
-
If your budget is tight, and you want to go on a "budget-friendly" trip to Taiwan, I suggest you search on YouTube for a travel blogger named "Gu Amo (谷阿莫)," who has a series called "Negative Reviews of Hotels."
-
He and his partner "Da Jun (大军)" visit those hotels that have not-so-positive reviews and share their experiences with everyone.
-
You will find that some hotels really do have numerous issues:
- The air filter in the air conditioning system may not be replaced in quite a while, resulting in layers of dust collected on the outlet surface;
- Bathrooms and corners like light bulb shades might not be properly cleaned, making them dusty and spider webs or mites (which are tiny bugs that cause skin irritation) might be seen there;
- Many hotels also provide plastic slippers that appear cheap, which could be sold at convenience stores for about NT$10 (~RMB3).
-
A special reminder regarding slippers!
- I once had a job as housekeeping staff (the general term for "room service" in hotels), and staff members might tell guests, "Don't worry, we will sanitize and wash these slippers."
- However, if many rooms are booked during peak season, housekeepers might not have time to sanitize the slippers properly. They may just rinse them with water quickly without proper sanitization.
- Tip: It is recommended that guests bring their own slippers along or at least scald them with boiling water before use, which would be healthier.
-
Another reminder on hairdryers!
-
Many hotels in Taiwan provide fixed hairdryers on the bathroom wall.
-
During peak periods, it may happen that housekeepers don't really clean up the hairdryer properly if they are busy, thus some dust might stay on the body or handle of the hairdryer.
-
Tip: If you really care about hygiene, bringing a travel hairdryer is recommended or ensure cleaning it with a damp wipe before use.
Last but not the least, I wrote this in simplified Chinese characters hoping to reach out to more people who understand it. Enjoy your stay in Taiwan!
-
-
Someone reportedly got lice while staying at a youth hostel in Taiwan.
-
That's terrifying.
-
Really? From my past experiences in Taiwan, I thought the guesthouses were actually quite good.
-
For anything under NT$1200, definitely check the Google reviews. No matter how cheap a one-star place is, don't stay there. You're very likely to encounter problems like dust mites or other 'landmines' (hidden issues).
-
As a Taiwanese person, I'm using simplified Chinese just so everyone can understand. To be honest, I also hope that people who haven't been to Taiwan don't see it through an overly idealized 'filter.' For cheap hotels under NT$1500, it's common to find issues like unvacuumed curtains or peeling wall paint. If you have allergies or are prone to asthma attacks, you should be especially cautious.