After entering the hospitality industry two years ago, I began to become obsessed with hotels. Everywhere I went, I would look for the most stylish, Instagrammable hotel to stay in and write about my experience to share with other people. I would no longer be content with living in a very traditional hotel or a hostel that provided basic amenities. I was willing to pay the extra mile for a stylish hotel.
On a recent trip to southern Taiwan, I spent two nights in Tainan and booked two Insta-worthy hotels, U.I.J. Hotel & Hostel, a stylish brick-modern, boutique hotel (read my review here) and Laile Hostel (來了) another bright, plant-friendly minimalist bed and breakfast.
FACILITIES & SPACE
Their 1F common area is normally used as a restaurant, but due to Covid-19, the restaurant closed down and the area is now only available for hotel guests. Natural light flows through the middle part of the restaurant and the hostel is located towards the back of the building from the 2F to 4F. Parts of the common area is open aired whereas the other sections are located inside. The surroundings are filled with plants which go very well with the old-grey interior design of the hostel. A simple breakfast is served in this area with a water fountain (a free bottle of water per person is also provided in the room as well).
Lots of magazines and books are provided in the communal area for you to enjoy on an afternoon. I am a person prone to getting mosquito bites wherever I go in Taiwan so I avoided sitting in the common room too much.
There are no car parking spaces nearby (as it is with a lot of hotels in Taiwan). I came by scooter and there was a scooter car park just 10 seconds down the road which was quite convenient.
ROOMS
Laile Hostel offers X rooms from 1600- 3500 NT depending on the type of room you choose from. Their nicest room (and often booked!) is 花藝老師 1F on the first level. With plenty of natural light, it is one of the Instagrammable rooms in this hotel. I was unable to book that room therefore I had to settle with another room, one of their lower tiered rooms, 旅遊作家 2F located on the second floor.
This room is smaller than most and I feel that it was more suitable for one person rather than two people. There was still space to move in and to open a luggage, but due to the rectangular size of the room, there was no way to walk to the other side of the bed unless you crawled over. The toilet, shower, sink were all separated, with the sink being in close proximity to the desk.
I did appreciate them providing Cha Tzu Tang shower and bath gel which was a nice touch. Cha Tzu Tang is a Taiwanese brand with the aim of combining aspects of Taiwanese cultural and creative industries with local agriculture. Most of their products use camellia seeds produced from local farmers. Their products smell super nice and super natural and I have grown to love their products more and more.
LOCATION & NEIGHBORHOOD
Where to Eat: 李媽媽民族鍋燒老店 Minzu Nabeyaki Noodle Shop, 永樂市場Yongle Market, 冰鄉 Ice Store, 度小月担仔面 Du Xiao Yue Dan Zai Noodle Shop are all within walking distance
Train Station: Tainan Railway Station is a 17min walk to the hostel (1.4km)
Major Attraction Nearby: 赤崁樓 Chihkan Tower, 永樂市場 Yongle Market are within 5 minute walking distance
The bottom line: If you want to book this hostel, book their Insta-worthy room 花藝老師 1F but book well in advance!