The hostel on the 13th floor of the Asiaworld Building (the building opposite Taipei Railway Station with KMall computer store on the ground floor) is an affiliate hostel of the IYHF, requiring Hostelling International membership to stay there. You can buy membership when you check in, if you haven’t got it already.
The people who used to run the original IYHF-affiliated hostel on the 12th floor of the same building have relocated to the 15th floor. They got booted out of the Taiwanese YHA and now run an independent hostel called the Key Mall Traveler Hostel. It is clean and friendly place with 30 beds altogether. You can attempt to book on line (click here), or by phone or fax, or just walk in and try your luck.
Taiwan Key Mall Traveler Hostel
Room 2, 15th Floor, No. 50, Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Taibei 100
(Near Taipei Main Station MRT station exit 5. It is the building between the Shin Kong Mistsukoshi Building and the Caesar Park Hotel. Go into the main or rear entrance of the KMall computer store, take the elevator to the 15th floor and follow the signs)
Tel: +886-2-2311 5067 or 2311 2186
Fax: +886-2-2331 7272
E-mail: travelerhostel AT yahoo DOT com DOT tw
Web site (Chinese only and not much use): yhaaa.com.tw
More useful web page on Hostelworld.com: Click here
The manager’s name is Sophia Chen. She speaks sufficient English, is very helpful and keeps her hostel nice and clean. Rate per person for bunk bed NT$550 including light breakfast. Favorable rates for fortnightly or monthly stays.
I recommend a great “unadvertised hostel” near Taipei101 for 1100NT a day ($34US). Located across the street from the Hyatt (bus #31 from the airport), the window has a view of Taipei101! You get two single beds, high speed internet, air cond., cable TV, mini fridge with free water bottles, bath, plenty of tissue, towels, washing machine in building, and it’s very clean inside; basically a 3-star hotel room. 5 minute walk to Sun Yat-Sin MRT, 5 minutes from Taipei101 and all that shopping --I stayed for a couple of weeks and was much impressed.
The owner has multiple rooms. To ask about a room, email Mr. Allen: banban_leg@hotmail.com
The National Youth Commission is working on a network of hostels, with discounts for ‘International Young Travellers’. I’m not sure of the definition of these travellers - actually I don’t think they’ve got one.
Anyway, the hostels are generally cheap (about 500/night), clean and safe. I’ve stayed in two - one in Meinong and one in Kending.
Hi, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the Taipei Hostel. Is this a good place to stay for a budget traveler? Are there any other hostels in Taipei city worth considering before trying to book a room there?
The Taipei Hostel used to have a bad reputation but I’ve been in there a couple of times (to visit people, not to stay there) and it seemed OK. See also comments from other people earlier in this merged thread.
ok thanks for the info. The other descriptions make the place sound sketchy, but those were from awhile ago. I guess I’ll find out. Does anyone know if Fortuna hostel is still around? I tried their website but it seems to no longer exist? Any info on this place? Address, Telephone Number, website?
