YoMi Hotel

YoMi Hotel is housed in plain, modern building, with streamlined public spaces that are moderately stylish. The atmosphere feels touristy, but it's a notch above a hostel in quality, and so guests tend to range in age from groups of young travelers to families with kids in tow. The YoMi won an award from a Japanese company, so several Japanese guests frequent the hotel as well. The central gathering point here is the in the cheery breakfast room, with bright yellow chairs and a lively vibe, where guests help themselves to the popular free buffet, and spend time sitting at the multiple desktop computer stations. 

YoMi Hotel is on Mingsheng West Road in the Zhongshan District, just south of Yongsheng Park. There's a movie theater, a 24-hour convenience store, and dining options -- including bustling Ningxia Night Market -- within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. But this part of Zhongshan District isn't ideal for sightseeing or major shopping. Access to public transportation is good: the Hua Tai Hotel bus stop is just east of the hotel, Shuanglian MRT station is a little more five minutes on foot, and Xingtian Temple MRT station is about a 10-minute walk. Taipei Main Station is about a three-minute MRT ride (two stops) from Shuanglian Station. Taipei 101 tower, which offers outstanding views of the city and surrounding area from its observation deck, is about 35 minutes via public transit. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is roughly a 30-minute drive from YoMi Hotel. 

Guest rooms at YoMi Hotel are tidy, with a contemporary aesthetic and quality furniture. Walls are bare, so units feel a little spare, but overall the look is pleasant. Rooms were renovated in 2014, and unlike some other Taiwan hotels, they're spacious. All are well-equipped with 37-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, cellphone charging stations, and desks with cushioned chairs. There are also great freebies: bottled water, substantial snacks like instant ramen, and cold drinks, plus coffee and Japanese and Taiwanese tea, and Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are basic but roomy, and all contain hairdryers and showers/tub combos. Some bathtubs are shallow Western-style tubs, while others are the deeper Japanese-style, and may be difficult for guests with limited mobility to use. There are also bathrooms with steam rooms are available. Some rooms have views of the street and surrounding area, while others look out to walls of neighboring buildings, or don't have windows at all -- a considerable drawback. All rooms are non-smoking. 

YoMi Hotel offers an attractive range of amenities for a budget property. The excellent, free hot breakfast buffet has  a rotating menu of Western fare, like eggs, cereal, and pastries, and Asian dishes, such as congee, noodles, and miso soup. It's served in a bright room that doubles as a business center, with multiple desktop computers -- but there's no elevator access to the space, and there's a fee for printing. The hotel doesn't have a full-service restaurant, but boxed lunches are available to purchase. There's also free coffee, tea, and cold drinks in the lobby throughout the day. Other features include a laundry room, bikes that are free to borrow for tooling around the city, and a scale in the lobby for weighing luggage. The hotel also has a 24-hour front desk, airport drop-off (fee), and parking at an extra charge. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and guest have access to free, limited mobile hotspots to use while walking around Taipei.