Affordable Minsu at Taipei - Chen Tai Minsu

We were looking for an affordable minsu for our trip to Taipei in May 2015. We came across few hotels within our budget but reading the mixed reviews in TripAdvisor making us skeptical to proceed with those hotels. I was trying to limit our budget to RM1500 for 6 days/5 nights, mainly because

1. I don't want to spend too much (guilty of overspending)
2. kinda poor postgraduate student 
3. I just overspent in an unexpected trip to South Korea last February

Our criteria in searching for minsu/hostel/hotel:

1. Safe (Got CCTV)
2. Clean
3. Near MRT
4. Have walls (not comfortable with dormitory)
5. Non-attached bathroom - OK
6. No amenities - OK
7. No room service - OK

Basically we are just like those backpackers travelers, just that we are not yet ready to settle for dormitory. We just need a room for shower and sleep at night. We wont spend the whole day enjoying the room tho (except sleep in), unless if I were on a honeymoon then that's another story.

Our search come to a conclusion (based on one review): Click here for Taipei Chen Tai Minsu, Jilin Road 35.

We were searching for some review on this minsu, saw some people post in TripAdvisor asking bout this minsu but to no avail, no body reply. So after our stay, I decided to write a post dedicated to this minsu, based on our experience. However, I can't guarantee you guys will have the same experience, because our experience can be biased-first our room was on ground floor. Read on for more info.

What you need to know about this minsu?

1. All communication need to be done in Mandarin (Chinese).
2. Safe
3. Clean
4. 2-5 minutes on foot to Sonjiang Nanjing MRT
5. You can choose double room (with queen bed or bunk bed) / family room
6. With attached bathroom
7. No amenities
8. No room service, but you can put the dustbin outside every morning and they will clear it.
9. Got washing machine on 4th floor
10. Got water dispenser for hot and cold water
11. Got refrigerator
12. WiFi was super fast
13. No lift
14. Owners very friendly 

This minsu was totally what we were looking for. We paid NT$3750 for 5 nights. If you just need a place to rest and shower, this place is for you. I just asked a friend to write the Chinese email for me. The response was fast, NO DEPOSIT needed. You just have to attached your flight itinerary to confirm your stay. Sometimes I just used google translate to double check stuff with them.

We asked for a bunk bed and got a room located on the ground floor. It was very easy for us after a long day outside and can just walk straight to our room, enjoying night market snacks. I can't imagine if I have to drag my feet go up and down to 4th floor everyday and night. Maybe you would like to check which floor is your room if yo have an elderly with you.

The condition of the room was good, kinda like Tune Hotel. Actually this minsu was more spacious than our stay at Dragon Hostel in Mongkok, Hong Kong. 

On the arrival day, we followed the directions given by the owner. However, with my limited Mandarin and google translate, our journey wasn't that smooth. 

Summary of the directions, as attached in the email:

1. At Taoyuan Airport, take Evergreen bus (5201 bus route). 
2. Get off at 6th station, Changan East road ‘長安東路二段’(5th station is Taipei University of Technology). Bus fare NT$150. 
3. Get off from bus, walk toward white-square-building. 
4. Walk toward 3rd exit of MRT Songjiang Nanjing station. 
5. Nxt to 3rd exit, there is an alley Songjiang Road 100 lane fu hua (松江路100巷”馥華商旅”). 
6. Walk toward the end, there is a sign 機車維修'. Got a sign nearby 大家恭喜 
7. Total 2-3 minutes on foot.

We showed the address (Changan East Road) to the bus driver so that he knows where we want to get off the bus. I don't think step 2 is reliable because the number of stations where the bus stop can be varied. I counted the number of stop was exceeded sixth time even before we reached Jilin Road. Anyway the bus will stop at Changan East Road, where the bus stand was just in front of Chunghwa Telco shop. I remembered walking in thinking to get a prepaid number but they seem like only selling phones. 

In step 3, after get off from the bus look,  walk toward 'white-square-building'. It was kinda hard to find, coz most building also look white. But look for the definite 'SQUARE'. Square, and not rectangle, and you will find it. You will know you are on the right path when you see Sonjiang Nanjing MRT exit 3.

Step 6 was the hardest step for us because we can't read Chinese. We don't know which is the end of Songjiang Road 100 lane fu hua (松江路100巷”馥華商旅”). But after getting help from few helpful Taiwanese we found our way. 

Right next to Sonjiang Nanjing exit 3, walk down that alley, cross the road, and walk till the end. The end of this second alley is a gas station. The minsu is just before the gas station. 

Walk down the alley next to this exit 3. Lot of scooters on the left, and bicycles on the right.

I started RunKeeper when I was on the escalator inside Sonjiang Nanjing MRT. Coming out from exit 3, turn right, and walk about 3 minutes to Chen Tai minsu.

GPS tracked using RunKeeper.
We stopped by 7 eleven to get sandwiches for tomorrow.

Using IOS map to check current location, a little bit off.
The current location is No.35, Jilin road

My bed

Chen Tai minsu front door.
You can detect buffalo WiFi here.

Some note in the room

Small but clean and cozy

Panorama view taken from gas station. Gas station is in bewtween Mos burger and a Siam restaurant

Overall we are very satisfied with this minsu. The owners are friendly and no fuss in checking in and out. They even provide supports before you arrive in Taipei, such as what to fill in the immigration arrival form, or in case if you run out of money in Taipei you can inform your parents how to transfer money to you, via their account (just in case of emergency). I will come back to this minsu if I visit Taipei again.