Four hotels. Ten days. Nine nights. And everything from a tiny homestay down an alley to a giant, slightly dingy apartment building in Taipei.
When we traveled to Taiwan, we knew we wanted to keep things affordable, stay in places that could accommodate all five of us, and avoid moving around more than necessary. We ended up staying in four completely different places, and that’s part of what made the trip fun.
Some had amazing hospitality. Some had fantastic locations. One had paper-thin walls. Another had elevators that seemed to move at the speed of a sleepy turtle, but every one of them worked for our family in its own way.
Here’s where we stayed, what we paid, what we loved (and didn’t love), and whether we’d stay there again.
1. Xiaoliuqiu Happy House B&B
Where: Xiaoliuqiu Island
Nights: 2
Room: 6-person family room
Breakfast: Included
Cost: $378.44
Let’s start with the most expensive hotel of our Taiwan trip… Happy House B&B was a little more rustic than some of the other places we stayed, but the room had something that matters a lot when you’re traveling as a family of five: a bed for everyone. And, thankfully, it was nice and cool inside because it was anything but outside.
But the real standout here wasn’t the room; It was the hospitality. The staff took our breakfast order the night before, ask what time we’d like to eat, and then have our breakfast ready for us at exactly the right time.
And the food was wonderful.
But even better than breakfast was how willing the staff was to help us with pretty much anything we needed. They offered to arrange excursions, and they did arrange transportation for us. On our departure day, they even gave us a ride back to the pier. And that ride was a lifesaver.
When we arrived on Xiaoliuqiu, we planned to take the public bus from the pier to the hotel, but found out it was not running. It apparently runs on select days and times only, and that was none of our days. Anyway, we couldn’t find transportation from the pier to our hotel, so we walked.
It was a little over a mile. In the blistering heat. With hills. And three children.
Oh, the hills.
Let’s just say this was not one of my family’s favorite decisions of the trip. In fact, I’m pretty sure my kids didn’t forgive me for that walk for the entire time we were on the Island.
Fortunately, the hotel itself was in a great location for exploring once we recovered. We could walk to the beach and to several restaurants, and we did both.
Was it a little pricier than some of our other Taiwan hotels? Yes.
But the included breakfast and the fact that the staff helped us with transportation made the price feel much more reasonable.
Would we stay here again?
Absolutely.
If we ever find ourselves back on Xiaoliuqiu, we’d happily stay here again. There’s something to be said for genuine hospitality, and Happy House B&B absolutely delivered in that department.
Want to check out Happy House B&B? Check current rates and availability here.
2. Greet Inn — Kaohsiung
Where: Kaohsiung
Nights: 2
Room: Luxury Quad Room
Breakfast: Included
Cost: $270.46
The Greet Inn was probably the most traditional hotel we stayed at in Taiwan. Our room was clean, comfortable, and large enough for all five of us, and breakfast was included in the price.
There was also a nice gym upstairs. Did we use it? Absolutely not.
But we did use the free laundry, and that was much more important to us.
The only major complaint I have about this hotel is one that I remember very clearly:
THE ELEVATORS.
There were only two elevators serving the entire hotel, and they were so. incredibly. slow.
At times, there were lines of people waiting to use them, and after a long day of sightseeing, the last thing you want to do is stand around waiting for an elevator that seems to be taking a leisurely vacation of its own.
Still, the hotel had some major positives.
It was easy to walk around the area, and Liouhe Night Market was just down the road. We loved being able to step outside and explore without having to figure out transportation every time we wanted to go somewhere.
And for a family of five, having a clean room that comfortably fit all of us was a win.
Would we stay here again?
Actually, yes.
I’d just hope someone had figured out the elevator situation by the time we returned.
Want to check out Greet Inn? Check current rates and availability here.
3. Chief Homestay — Tainan
Where: Tainan
Nights: 1
Room: Standard Family Room
Breakfast: No
Cost: $66
This was probably the most unique—and definitely one of the most memorable—places we stayed in Taiwan.
Chief Homestay was much more like a hostel than a traditional hotel, with a shared kitchen and a shoe-storage area downstairs.
And there was one thing you should know before booking: It’s cash only.
When we arrived, I actually forked over my cash to the woman who was cleaning the rooms.
It was definitely a different experience than checking into a hotel!
The property was very clean and located in what felt like a quiet, safe, very local neighborhood. It was tucked down a little alleyway, but we never felt uncomfortable, even after dark.
Because the walls were paper thin, we could hear all sorts of sounds throughout the night. It didn’t bother our sleep too much, but we were concerned about whether we were bothering everyone else. And if you’ve traveled with three kids, you know exactly what I mean.
I found myself saying some variation of “be quiet” 47 times during our one-night stay.
But honestly? For $66, I wasn’t expecting luxury.
This is a place where you get what you pay for, and what we got was a very clean, affordable place to sleep in a good location.
Would we stay here again?
For $66? Absolutely.
I’d just go into it with realistic expectations.
If you’re looking for a unique, affordable place to stay and don’t mind a little noise, Chief Homestay is worth considering.
Want to check out Chief Homestay? Check current rates and availability here.
4. Urban Abode Apartment 1 — Taipei
Where: Taipei
Nights: 4
Room: Apartment-style room
Breakfast: No
Cost: $448.42
And then there was Urban Abode Apartment 1.
I’m still not entirely sure what category this place belongs in.
I booked it through Hotels.com, but it felt more like an Airbnb. Except it also felt like a hotel room.
There was a kitchenette. There was housekeeping.
But it was on floor 16 of a 27-story high rise that also housed cram schools, a family mart, a gym and other hotels, plus permanent residences. I think our room was actually sandwiched between two businesses.
Basically, it was a little bit of everything.
And while there weren’t any special perks—no included breakfast, no friendly hosts offering rides—the location more than made up for it.
This place was steps from Taipei Main Station.
And when you’re traveling around Taipei with three kids, that kind of convenience is worth a lot.
Even better? We had a washer/dryer combo right in our room! And you better believe we took advantage of that thing.
After traveling for a week with five people, having a washing machine in our room felt downright heavenly.
I’ll admit that when we first arrived, we were a little nervous. The building was huge, a little dingy looking, and definitely not what I had pictured when I booked our room.
But once we got inside, the room itself was a great fit for our family. It was bright and clean and slept all five of us very comfortably.
And that location?
10/10.
Would we stay here again?
Yes.
Would we choose it because it’s beautiful or charming?
No.
Would we choose it because we wanted a convenient place for five people to sleep, do laundry, and easily access Taipei Main Station?
Absolutely.
Sometimes that’s all you really need.
Want to check out Urban Abode? Check current rates and availability here.
So, Which Hotel Was Our Favorite?
Honestly, that’s a hard question because each one served a different purpose.
Happy House B&B had the best hospitality.
Greet Inn had a comfortable room, free breakfast, and a convenient location in Kaohsiung.
Chief Homestay gave us an affordable, clean place to stay in Tainan for just $66.
And Urban Abode Apartment 1 gave us four nights in Taipei with an unbeatable location and a washer/dryer in our room.
For our family, those things matter more than fancy lobbies or rooftop pools.
We aren’t looking for luxury when we travel. We want a clean place where all five of us can sleep, a good location, and a price that doesn’t eat up our entire travel budget.
And that’s exactly what these four hotels gave us.
Four hotels. Nine nights. $1,163.32 total.
Not every stay was perfect, but every one of them worked.
And that’s really all we ask for when we’re traveling as a family of five.
If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan and are looking for hotels, you can use the map above to explore accommodations in the places we visited.
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