Ximen Wow Hostel

I had a decent stay at Ximen WOW Hostel; the rooms are quite clean and near to everything in Ximending. However, the hallways and common areas are quite small. Everything was fine until I experienced the service at the reception, specifically from the lady in glasses. During my checkout, which was just a minute late because I needed to prepare and fix my things, the receptionist immediately asked for a late checkout fee. I felt they should have shown some consideration, knowing it was only a few minutes, and I didn't appreciate how she communicated with me, as if she didn't want to assist. Although I agreed to pay the extra fee, when I asked for a receipt, the receptionist was not accommodating and made me feel like she didn't want to fulfill my request, which I believe is my right since I paid for it.

Stepping into Wow Hostel Taipei, I wasn't expecting the Ritz, but what I found was a far cry from even the humblest of hostels. The moment I opened the door to my room, I was hit by a stench so overpowering it could have knocked out a sumo wrestler. It was the unmistakable, gag-inducing odor of athlete’s foot, emanating from shoes left carelessly in the open. In search of a solution, I approached the front desk, manned by a guy with long hair and glasses. I asked, politely, if he could help by requesting my bunkmate to remove their offensive footwear. His response? “No, you do it by yourself,” delivered with a smirk and followed by a laugh. This wasn’t just bad service; it was a masterclass in how to alienate and humiliate a guest. As someone who’s spent a lifetime in the hospitality industry, both as a guest and an owner, I’ve encountered my share of bad behavior. But this? This was next-level disrespect. It’s one thing to be told no; it’s another to be laughed at for making a reasonable request. So, here’s the bottom line: avoid Wow Hostel Taipei like the plague. Unless, of course, you enjoy being treated like an inconvenience and living in conditions that would make a locker room smell like a rose garden. I hope the owners take a long, hard look at their staff and their standards. Until then, I’ll be staying far, far away.

The hostel is located in one of the older buildings in Ximending. It has only one floor. The other floors have a barbecue restaurant, a karaoke room, a clock room (?) for when you are in love, etc., so the elevators and the underground lobby are not very clean. Suitable for people with mysophobia. And I'm okay with it, and I understand. Other reviews mentioned the noise issue from outside, but I didn't hear it. On the contrary, the snoring in the bed next to me all night was very disturbing (it's a human problem, not the hotel's fault). Disposable earplugs are provided at the reception desk. They are all 3M. However, the snoring is too loud. Even after the curtain is drawn, it is still much louder than whispering, so the earplugs cannot help much. To be honest, apart from the fact that the environment near the hostel is not suitable for people with mysophobia, it may be because the location is too convenient, the flow of people is high, and it is difficult to keep the place very tidy. I slept on the upper floor, and the stairs are actually convenient to go up and down. But after the COVID-19, I used to wipe every space with wet wipes. I wiped the lockers, bedside, bedside, etc. several times to get rid of the black spots, and there were also unknown debris. Restrooms and bathrooms are shared by men and women, so there are queues during peak hours. The bathroom is very narrow, and I feel cramped even though I am relatively thin. There are hooks at the door to hang clothes, but because there is no way to separate wet and dry clothes, everyone has different usage habits, so the small table next to the wash basin is also wet. I had to clean my hair myself when I went to the water level, but unfortunately I met the person who didn't clean it. I didn't find out until my feet were soaked in the water that they even had contact lenses, which was a bit disgusting. The hand wash basins outside may also be wet because of high usage. There are towels provided, but they are all used up before the peak time. It is recommended to put two wipers for people to clean up by themselves without using up a lot of toilet paper. ? I didn't use the common space and kitchen, but it looked similar to other hostels I've stayed in in Taiwan. The staff at the front desk are all young, easy-going, and not too formal. There are no staff at night, but if you need help, they seem to have put down their contact information. In general, of course, it is not the hotel's charges nor the hotel's hygiene and service, and its geographical location is too strong. Next time I go to Taipei, I will check out other accommodations first, but I won’t rule out staying here if I compare the CP value and have a limited number of days.