Meci Hotel — Hotel in Hualien City

Value-for-money hotel. Good location: 7mins walk from Hualien train station; you can also walk to the main shopping and food stretch (Zhongshan). We even walked to the night market (Dongdamen). It was a pleasant stroll on a cool and breezy night.

I enjoyed the lobby and rooftop of the hotel, more than its room 😅 The room is functional albeit a little small. If you have more than two big luggage, there's not going to be enough walking space in the room. The best part of the room is waking up every morning with a view of the mountain 🤩 Note that although the hotel cleans your room every day, they do not change your linens and towels. If you need them to change your towels/linens, it costs $100 per time. They do not provide disposable amenities (toothbrush/toothpaste, shaver, etc.) but you can purchase them from the lobby for $5 - $10. These are all in line with the hotel's eco-friendly stance.

The lobby is cosy. I had my supper here twice while enjoying the free coffee. The rooftop is beautiful too. Once while waiting for my laundry (it's a coin-operated washing machine and a dryer), I had a beer and a crispy chicken cutlet on the rooftop while watching the world goes by.

I've read other reviews that mentioned the below-par service from the hotel. But I've found it to be quite the opposite. The front desk staff (ladies) were helpful...

We had an initial hiccup upon check-in where we entered our room (#309) only to discover a strong damp odour and mold on the ceiling. We decided that this was unacceptable and asked to change rooms. Since there was no equivalent room available that night, we ended up having to switch to a room having two twin beds rather than a single double bed for one night, then to switch again the following day to a different room so that we’d have a double bed. Though it was annoying to have to switch rooms multiple times as a result of our initial room having mold, the hotel staff seemed genuinely concerned and took our concerns seriously - they were all pleasant to deal with.

The hotel is in a great location, we walked there from the train station in about 7-8 minutes. There’s a good quality laundromat next door that we used, though the hotel itself has a laundry machine available for use as well. There’s also a number of convenience stores and restaurants nearby.

The hotel room was quiet and comfortable, though it lacked space to hang clothing for two people. The lobby offers free beverages (coffee, tea, Coke, Sprite, etc.) and candies and has a welcoming atmosphere. We also appreciated the free bicycles, which we used to ride to the night market.

All considered, I would stay at this hotel again...

It's a lot more misses than hits with Meci Hotel. I last visited in 2016 as a solo traveller, and I enjoyed my stay so much that I decided to book 2 rooms for my family's vacation this time around in 2024 without considering any other lodging. Unfortunately, Meci Hotel has not undergone any upgrading since. The condition of the rooms and toilets show visible signs of wear and tear.

What was nice: Having a laundry room (washer + dryer) at the rooftop. Free snacks and drinks. Interesting main lobby for kids to run around and play. Location of hotel. Water dispenser at every level.

What needs to improve: Service staff of a young dude at check-in. State of rooms and toilets!

I stayed in Room 0610 (the corner one) and there was a bad damp smell coming from the walls or something the minute you open the door... Thankfully the young lady at the front desk offered a dehumidifier + air purifier machine to wheel back to my room. That helped the situation a little.

I'm a little conflicted here... so a 3-star rating it shall be. I hope they will consider upgrading the...