I decide to book this very cheap no-frills business hotel a few MRT stops away from Kaohsiung Main station on booking.com as seems very reasonable. Bad mistake.

The room size is ok and it even has a balcony. But it stinks. Literally stinks of cigarette smoke despite the signs everywhere stating ‘$NT$10000 fine for smoking’. This is totally ignored as it seems everyone on the floor smokes.

And the walls are paper thin – all night my neighbors on either side of me are partying loud to the early hours of the morning.

And the reception staff are cold and disinterested. When I check out for example, the young lady shows no facial expression or smile, doesn’t say thank you or ‘how was your stay’, in fact doesn’t even look at me but gives me her hand to collect my card key.

Don’t be fooled by the picture and price. Read the reviews ☝️.