Chocolate Box Backpackers

Hot Chocolate is definitely a very good choice to stay in Taipei.
This was the first Hostel I visited in Taiwan, during early May 2008, and was fairly impressed. It was better than any one of more than a dozen I have been to in U.S. and Canada, in terms of cleanliness and condition of all the accommodations -- beds, furnitures, bathroom, kitchen, living room. Not surprisingly since this hostel was just opened after a major remodeling effort and most things are new. The owners/staffs were very knowledgeable and helpful in providing me not just where the nice places to visit based on my preference, but also advice on the planning such as schedule and transportation. You can pretty much assume you get the professional tourist guide entering a city you are little familiar with. They are also quite informed with the tourist attractions in rest of Taiwan. They helped me with planning part of my round the Taiwan trip. One of the owners actually was a columnist for the tourism/food section of a Taiwan newspaper. But the best part of Hot Chocolate is its location. It is close to busy district yet quiet at night for you to have sound sleep. Only two minutes of walk to famous night market of Shida (National Taipei Normal Univ.), where you can find many small food stands and restaurants to give you a good sample of Taiwanese simple but exquisite foods, plus all kinds of drinks and fruit combo -- all quite cheap too to accommodate the budget-limited university students in the area. Other convenient stores abound, especially a nearby bakery, which make different kinds of tasty breads, that any Taiwanese in U.S. will attest to you that there is no equal of Taiwanese bread to be found in U.S. shops. Transportation to other parts of Taipei city is not a problem -- the hostel is only ten minutes of walk to a subway station, which can conveniently and comfortably leads you to any other major locations and transportation hubs of the city. Hot Chocolate is definitely a very good choice to stay in Taipei. Highly recommended.