Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hub Hotel Kaohsiung Yislin Branch!
My Hotel Hell: A Whirlwind of Woes (and Maybe a Couple of Wins) - Review & Rant
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I've just emerged, blinking and slightly traumatized, from [Hotel Name Here]. Let me tell you, it was a journey. And by journey, I mean a messy, unpredictable, sometimes delightful, and occasionally face-palm-inducing experience that I feel compelled to dissect, analyze, and ultimately, maybe, recommend? (Spoiler alert: maybe. Mostly).
SEO & Metadata Pre-ramble (Because I'm Supposed To):
Okay, let's get this out of the way. This review covers: hotel review, accessibility, wheelchair accessible, free wifi, spa, swimming pool, restaurants, dining, cleanliness, safety, covid-19 protocols, family friendly, pet policy (though technically, no pets allowed, more on that later), and a whole lot of other keywords relevant to a hotel stay. Hopefully, Google gods are happy. Now, the REAL story…
(Deep Breath)
Accessibility: The Quest for the Ramp of Redemption
Right, so, accessibility. They SAY they offer it. They actually claim to have wheelchair accessible facilities. (Let's be clear: I'm not in a wheelchair, but I was looking for it as part of my research). And… well… finding the "accessible entrance" was like a treasure hunt, complete with cryptic clues and the distinct feeling of being outsmarted by the hotel's architect. Eventually, after wandering around more than a lost tourist in the Vatican, I think I found it. A ramp. A single, solitary ramp. It felt less like a welcome and more like a dare. They do have an elevator, which is a plus, but the signage… don’t even get me started. I'm sure it was functional; I just gave up trying to figure out where it actually went after a while. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, but the actual implementation needs a serious overhaul. This is important, and I hope the hotel takes this seriously.
On-site restaurants/lounges: Food, Glorious Food (or Lack Thereof at Times)
Okay, let's talk food. This is where the good, the bad, and the slightly horrifying all come together. They boasted restaurants and a poolside bar. And boy, were there restaurants. A whole fleet of them! One for Asian cuisine, one for International cuisine, a vegetarian restaurant (a godsend!), and a general "buffet in restaurant" situation.
BUT. The buffet… oh, the buffet. It was the culinary equivalent of a box of chocolates: you never quite knew what you were going to get. Some days, it was a glorious spread of deliciousness. Other days? Well, let's just say the freshness of some items was… questionable. I vividly remember a suspiciously brown-looking piece of what might have been a chicken nugget. I bravely avoided. The breakfast buffet was a better bet, especially the Asian breakfast choices. The coffee? Not so much. More like slightly flavored brown water. (Bring your own instant coffee, friends).
The poolside bar was a highlight. The cocktails were strong, the view from the pool with a view was stunning, and the people-watching was superb. Happy hour was genuinely happy. They had a good selection of salads, and the snacks were surprisingly decent. I practically lived on the bottle of water they kept providing (bless you, hydration).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Food Diary on Overdrive
More specific food details:
- A la carte in restaurant: Available, thankfully, but sometimes the service was slow. Order in advance, trust me.
- Breakfast in room/ Breakfast takeaway service: both available and made my life so much easier.
- Room service [24-hour]: Blessings be. After a long day (or night), the comfort was exceptional.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Hit or miss. See above.
- Desserts in restaurant: The sweets were consistently the best part, a perfect pick-me-up.
- Soup in restaurant: A few options, nothing to write home about.
- Poolside bar: Lifesaver. See above.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized Kitchens, and Some Doubt
COVID-19 protocols are where it got… interesting. They talked a big game about anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays. They even had professional-grade sanitizing services and sterilizing equipment. The staff trained in safety protocol.
And…they tried. Absolutely, they tried. They had hand sanitizer everywhere. You could practically bathe in the stuff. But… there were little moments of doubt. Like the slightly sticky elevator buttons (again, elevators!). Or the not-quite-gleaming tableware items. The sanitized kitchen and tableware items claim was there…but the devil is in the details, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I am not saying they didn't try, but I am saying there is room for improvement and constant vigilance. The individually-wrapped food options were nice, though.
Things To Do, Ways to Relax: Spa, Please!
Alright, let's get to the fun stuff. Spa/sauna was a big draw. The sauna was decent, the steamroom was steamy (duh!), and the massage was… well, it was a massage. Not life-changing, but acceptable. The pool with view (mentioned already) was glorious. The relaxation factor was high. I may have spent an embarrassing amount of time there, sipping cocktails and pretending to be a sophisticated jet-setter.
There's also a fitness center (which I never visited, because… vacation), a gym/fitness option, the body scrub and body wrap.
Services and Conveniences: A Mixed Bag
Okay, let's run through the services:
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes! Praise the AC gods!
- Concierge: Helpful, but sometimes flustered.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent. My room was always clean and well-stocked.
- Elevator: See above.
- Laundry service and dry cleaning: Convenient, but a bit pricey.
- Luggage storage: Handy.
- Cash withdrawal/ Currency exchange: Always useful, particularly after a few drinks!
**Available in All Rooms & More (The Nitpicky Bits and Bobs)
- Free Wi-Fi: Yep, and a good signal. The Internet access – wireless also worked.
- Air conditioning: Essential.
- Bathrobes: A nice touch.
- Coffee/tea maker, and complimentary tea: More coffee! I approve.
- Desk: Good for working (if you must).
- Mini bar: Well-stocked (and expensive).
- Non-smoking: Good news for non-smokers.
- Shower, separate shower/bathtub: Excellent options.
- Towels: Plenty of them.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Praise be.
For the Kids: A Playground to Avoid?
The hotel claimed to be family/child friendly. They had kids facilities. They even offered a babysitting service. But I saw the "kids facilities" and thought: yikes. A crumbling playground that looked like it had seen better centuries. I can't personally vouch for them.
Getting Around: The Car Park Capers
They offer a car park [free of charge]. Which is… a miracle. Taxi service is available, as is airport transfer.
The Quirks, The Failures, and the Occasional Wows:
- Pets allowed unavailable*: I saw a very small, very well-behaved dog being sneakily ushered into a room. I’m not saying anything, but maybe the policy isn't *completely* ironclad.
- Room Decorations: There were some framed prints of… things. I'm not sure what exactly, but they were there.
- Wake-up service: Worked perfectly.
- Front Desk [24-hour]: Generally helpful, though sometimes overwhelmed.
- Check-in/out [express/private]: Available, but the private option, was more like a slightly less crowded lobby.
- Soundproof rooms: Not completely.
- Fire extinguisher/smoke alarms/smoke detector: Safety first, it seems!
- Facilities for disabled guests: In theory
The Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Honestly? Maybe.
This hotel has its flaws, that are undeniable. But it also has charm. The staff, despite the occasional chaos, was genuinely trying. The view was undeniably incredible. And the moments of genuine enjoyment, while few and far between, made the whole experience… memorable.
Escape to Paradise: Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley Luxury Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn’t your grandma’s perfectly-organized, color-coded itinerary. This is a messy, glorious, probably-late-night-written-after-too-much-bubble-tea-and-maybe-a-little-cough-syrup (just kidding, Mom!) account of my Kaohsiung adventure, based in the… ahem … the HUB HOTEL KAOHSIUNG YISIN BRANCH. And let's just say, things… happened.
Day 1: Arrival, Jet Lag, and a Quest for the Perfect Stinky Tofu (Spoiler: Still Looking)
14:00 - Arrival & Hotel Check-In: Okay, so I was a little bit of a disaster arriving at the Hub Hotel. International flight, jet lag raging, and my luggage decided to take its sweet time on the carousel. Finally got to the hotel, and let me tell you, after 24 hours of travel, even the most basic hotel room feels like a freaking palace. The lobby was gorgeous though. All sleek and modern, like a spaceship landed right in the middle of Kaohsiung. But hey, after staring at airplane walls for a solid day, a fancy lobby is all the same to me. Checked in. Thankfully, the staff were very helpful, which was a relief, the hotel is like the most common in Asia, so they handled tourists pretty well.
15:00 – Room Reconnaissance & Nap Attempt: The room itself? Clean. Functional. With enough power outlets to charge all my devices (a traveler's best friend, right?). I immediately flopped onto the bed, determined to conquer jet lag. Key word: attempt. My brain was a scrambled egg, bouncing between exhaustion and the overwhelming need to do something. Guess who lost? Jet lag, 1; Me, 0.
17:00 – The Stinky Tofu Debacle: Okay, THIS is where things got interesting. The quest for perfect stinky tofu started. I ventured out, armed with Google Maps and a burning desire to experience this legendary street food. Found a stall bustling with locals, which I took as a sign of authenticity (or maybe just cheapness, who knows?). The tofu arrived… well, it smelled. Like, you could smell it from a mile away. Took a bite. My face contorted. It was… intense. Not the "deliciously intense" kind. More of the "did-I-just-eat-a-sock" kind. But hey, you have to try, right? Didn’t quite get the hype, but the experience? Absolutely priceless. Worth it, in a "I'll never eat that again" kinda way.
19:00 - Dinner & Brief Panic in the Night Market: Drove to a local night market (google didn't want to help much). Found a ramen shop, I was craving some comfort food as my stomach was still a bit confused about the tofu. It hit the spot. Then, as I paid, I realized I’d completely forgotten how to count Taiwanese dollars. Panic ensued. Eventually sorted it out (thank you, kind cashier!), and vowed to learn basic Mandarin on the plane tomorrow.
21:00 - Collapse & Early Bedtime: Back at the hotel, I crashed. Exhausted, slightly traumatized by the tofu, and already plotting my next culinary adventure (maybe something less… aromatic?). Slept like a log.
Day 2: Dragon Boat Festival, a Rollercoaster Ride, and Bubble Tea Bliss
09:00 - Wake-up (Finally!): Okay, a proper wake-up time. Not the bleary-eyed, disoriented stumble of yesterday. Success!
10:00 - Dragon Boat Festival Frenzy!: Apparently, I'd timed my trip perfectly with the Dragon Boat Festival! Headed down to the river, where hundreds of people were there. The races were amazing. The energy was electric. The smell of the food vendors… chef's kiss.
13:00 - Cijin Island Adventure: Took a ferry to Cijin Island, and rented a bike. I was all ready to be this carefree cyclist, the wind in my hair, the sun on my face. What I got was a near-death experience. Okay, maybe not near-death, but those narrow streets and scooters… it was a white-knuckle ride! Also, I forgot to get my passport with me, didn't know if I need it or not, but better safe than sorry I guess.
15:00 – The Rollercoaster (Literally): Visited the E-Da Theme Park! And it turns out, I hate rollercoasters. But, I had to do it right? Got on the most terrifying one. Screamed. Laughed nervously. Almost lost my lunch. Survived. Felt oddly proud of myself. The rest of the park was pretty cool though. The views were amazing; it was a great time even if I am not a fan of rollercoasters.
18:00 - Bubble Tea Rehabilitation & Street Food Recovery: Time for serious damage control. A large, gloriously sweet bubble tea. Then, hit the street food scene hard. Grilled squid, scallion pancakes, and some sort of deep-fried something-or-other that was pure, unadulterated bliss. Slowly, the rollercoaster-induced trauma faded away.
20:00 – Walk In Lotus Pond And Evening Glow: I was walking around the Lotus Pond. The sun was setting, and the pagodas and temples around the pond glowed in the warm light. It was a perfect way to end the day.
Day 3: Culture, Calamari, & Departure (Maybe…?)
09:00 - Late Start… Again: Oops. Slept in. Whatever. Vacation rules. Decided to be a bit more organized today, and actually, eat properly.
11:00 – Pier-2 Art Center: This place was amazing! The art installations were so inventive, so quirky and fun. I was like a little kid wandering around. Even the bathrooms were cool! Walked around and had a great time. This really made me feel like I was seeing Kaohsiung, actually experiencing it, instead of just existing in it.
13:00 - More Street Food, This Time Without the Panic: Found a different night market (I'm a sucker for a good night market). This time, the focus was on (drumroll please…) seafood! The grilled calamari was phenomenal. The sauce was perfect. The texture was perfect. I needed to get one more, two… maybe ten.
15:00 - The Departure Dilemma: Decided to do the packing now. My bus leaves in 3 hours. I want to see more places. My stomach is still full of the calamari, and I have zero regrets. Should I stay? Should I go? What do I do with all the great experiences I’m having now?
17:00 - Hotel Farewell & Departure (Eventually…): Got myself together. Said goodbye to the friendly folks at the Hub Hotel (seriously, they were great!). Took way too many selfies in the lobby (it was that pretty). Headed towards the bus station.
So yeah, that was Kaohsiung. A whirlwind of smells, flavors, roller coasters, and utterly unexpected moments. It wasn't perfect (far from it!), but it was mine. And even though I'm leaving, I'm already dreaming of when I can come back and explore more. Now, where's my bubble tea…?
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