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Looking for high-value accommodation in Nantou? SmartStay Hostel, located along the provincial highway in Nantou, is a warmly decorated hostel with complete facilities. I stayed in both shared rooms and suites, and overall, it’s an excellent choice with exceptional value, especially suitable for travelers with cars.
Location and Transportation
SmartStay Hostel is situated along the provincial highway in Nantou, making it an ideal location for self-driving travelers:
- Approximately 7 minutes drive to Nantou City center
- Approximately 20 minutes drive to Caotun
- Perfect as a base for exploring Nantou attractions
Surrounding Area
Within walking distance to 7-11 convenience store and PX Mart supermarket, with complete basic amenities. Note that the area is relatively quiet at night, so be mindful of your surroundings.
Parking Information
For drivers, parking is extremely convenient. The hostel has its own parking lot, and even if full, there are roadside white-line parking spaces available. No need to worry about parking at all.
Room Type Comparison: Suite vs Shared Room
I stayed in both room types. Here’s a detailed comparison:
Basic Room (Using First Floor Shared Bathroom)
Pros:
- Surprisingly spacious rooms
- Equipped with a double bed, desk, chair, clothes rack, ample storage space
- Affordable pricing
Cons:
- The elevator doesn’t stop at the second floor shared room area – you need to carry luggage upstairs yourself
- No windows in the room
- Must use shared bathroom (see details below)
I stayed in two different basic rooms. While slightly different in size, both were spacious overall and quite good as per normal hostel standards.
The rooms with double beds, desks, chairs, luggage racks, and small wardrobes – everything you need.
These basic rooms are on the second floor, just one flight of stairs up. There’s also a shoe cabinet and chairs outside for convenience.
Suite
Room Configuration: The suite is surprisingly spacious, with the bathroom occupying about half of the room.
Bathroom Highlights:
- Double sink design
- Double toilet configuration
- Spacious shower area (much larger than communal bathroom)
- Well-maintained and clean
- Bottled body wash and shampoo provided (appears to be from the owner’s related business)
Common Amenities
Whether shared room or suite, each room is equipped with:
- Electric fan
- Clothes rack
- Air conditioning (excellent cooling effect)
- High-powered hair dryer
Suite photos show consistent amenities with shared rooms – desk, chair, electric fan, and small wardrobe, but with more space. The bathroom features two toilets, so no more fighting for the toilet.
Each door has a small water dispenser outside, so you don’t need to walk far to get water – very convenient.
The suite bathroom is much brighter, with kind of double sinks. The external window is in the bathroom. After closing the partition door at night, it becomes completely dark, allowing for undisturbed sleep in total darkness.
Shared Bathroom
This is the only thing I have some concerns about with this hostel.
Current Situation:
- Women’s restroom has two toilets (one bidet toilet, but not plugged in, one regular toilet)
- The shower area is relatively small with mold spots
- Maintenance is clearly not as attentive as the suite area
Few rooms use the shared bathroom, but the maintenance standards are indeed more relaxed than in the suite area. If you have higher requirements for bathroom quality, I recommend choosing a suite instead.
The shower area has basic shampoo and body wash, and hair conditioner.
Public Facilities and Services
Water Dispenser Configuration
This is the most thoughtful design! Almost every room doorway has a small water dispenser, and even the basic room has wash basins and water dispensers. Guests staying in second-floor basic rooms don’t need to go downstairs to get water.
Laundry Facilities
- Multiple household wash-and-dry combo machines
- Completely free to use (so generous)
- Drying efficiency is somewhat low, recommend extending drying time
So many dehumidifiers, water dispensers, and washing machines. Truly the most generous accommodation I’ve seen!
Entertainment Facilities
There’s a children’s play area, and you can rent board games and electric mahjong tables – never worry about having nothing to do.
Refrigerator and Kitchen
There’s a communal refrigerator on the first floor, but hardly anyone uses it. The kitchen area contains many of the owner’s personal items and isn’t really open for use.
Accommodation Environment and Atmosphere
The overall decor style is quite diverse, from Marvel large figurines and pillows to various decorative plants, creating a sweet and warm atmosphere with many anime collectibles. Although there are many decorative items, they’re all well-maintained and don’t feel cluttered. It has a very homey atmosphere, like staying in someone’s personal collection – I feel like staying at the owner’s home.
Services and Management
Self Check-in System
SmartStay uses a self-check-in system, and the reception isn’t always staffed. Important reminder: remember to bring your access card!
Luggage Storage
There are password-protected lockers outside the first-floor main entrance where you can store luggage. You can retrieve it after finishing your itinerary. Good for those who go cycling, race people. Nantou has a lot of outdoor activities.
Cleanliness
Public spaces are cleaned frequently, and rooms are kept clean. The only exception is the shared shower area mentioned earlier.
Security
The first-floor main entrance uses access card control, with good security. However, the lockers are outside the doors, so it’s still recommended to keep valuables with you.
Social Atmosphere
It seems some activities are held at specific times, but not often. Guest types seem to be mainly passing travelers, with most staying just one night before leaving. I rarely saw other guests during my stay, though I heard door sounds in the early morning, indicating that many people leave early.
Summary of Advantages
- Exceptional value: Starting from NT$699, facilities and space exceed expectations
- Has an elevator: Friendly for travelers with large luggage (suite area)
- Spacious rooms: Both suites and basic rooms are roomy
- Free laundry: Multiple washing machines, completely free
- Thoughtful water dispenser placement: Almost every area has one
- Convenient parking: Suitable for drivers
- Great location: 7 minutes to Nantou City, 20 minutes to Caotun
Things to Note
- Communal bathroom maintenance is not ideal
- The elevator doesn’t stop at shared rooms: Need to carry large luggage to the second floor
- Soundproofing is slightly lacking: Door closing can be noisy
- Mattress too soft: Personally found it uncomfortable
- Quiet surroundings at night: Be cautious when walking
- Basic rooms have no windows: Consider a suite if you care about lighting and ventilation
Suitable For
- Self-driving travelers (convenient parking, moderate distance to attractions)
- Budget backpackers (economical basic room option)
- Business travelers (spacious suite, complete facilities)
- Group travel (bigger rooms are available)
- Short-term stopover guests (everything you need, perfect for one night)
Room Type Selection Recommendations
Choose Suite if you:
- Have requirements for bathroom quality
- Have large luggage (can use elevator)
- Want a more comfortable accommodation experience
Choose Shared Room if you:
- Just need a simple place to sleep
- Seeking maximum value
- Have minimal luggage or don’t mind climbing stairs
- Don’t mind using shared bathroom
Practical Tips
- Suite recommended: While shared rooms are decent, the bathroom quality difference is significant
- Remember your access card: Self-managed, forgetting the card will be troublesome
- Use washing machines early: Although there are multiple machines, drying takes longer
Digital Nomad Suitability Rating
Overall Rating: 7/10
Internet Situation: Didn’t test the hostel Wi-Fi (used personal hotspot), but judging from the complete facilities, should be good.
Workspace:
- Suites are spacious with desks and chairs
- Shared rooms also have desks and chairs
- No public spaces are good for extended work sessions
- Overall quiet environment
Long-term Living Comfort:
- Free washing machines are a major advantage; water dispensers on every floor, very convenient
- Complete surrounding amenities (7-11, PX Mart)
- Close to city center, convenient for eating out
Reasons Suitable for Digital Nomads:
- Spacious rooms can serve as workspace
- High value for long-term stays
- Convenient living amenities
- Quiet environment with few disturbances
Reasons Not Suitable:
- Room lighting varies; most of the rooms are dark, and desk may be an awkward place in some rooms.
- Relatively remote surroundings, might be boring at night
Conclusion
SmartStay Hostel is an accommodation choice with exceptional value, particularly suitable for drivers. The suite’s space and facilities completely exceeded expectations. While shared rooms have the shared bathroom issue, they’re still quite worthwhile considering the price.
If you’re planning a trip to Nantou and need convenient transportation, complete facilities, and affordable accommodation as a base, SmartStay Hostel is definitely worth considering.
SmartStay Hostel
- Address: No. 387, Zhangnan Road, Nantou City, Nantou County 540, Taiwan
- Price: Starting from NT$699
- Room Types: Suite, Basic Room
- Recommendation Rating: Suite 10/10, Shared Room 7/10
- Website: https://www.gmap.com.tw/
This article is a genuine accommodation experience shared from November 2025
