Wonderwall Hotel: A Stylish Budget Stay Right in the Heart of Ximending

It was not before I finally landed in Taiwan that I got to know the bustling district of Ximending.

Some people say this is comparable to Shibuya or Harajuku because of the ever-so-vibrant atmosphere. Well, I wouldn’t know firsthand because I haven’t been to Japan, but what I can say is that I love it!

It’s such an interesting place, more so I would guess for people who love shopping, going on a street food crawl, seeing street performers/art, and ESPECIALLY playing every claw machine imaginable.

Side note: Did you know that with the thousands of claw arcades in Taiwan, you’re essentially never actually more than a five-minute walk from one?

Yep, so many things are happening simultaneously in Ximending and it’s like having organized chaos.

Wonderwall places you right in the middle of the action

Wonderwall had so many good reviews, and in the end, it seemed like a safe and comfortable option that could get us close to where we wanna go. To be honest, I never expected to find a quiet and comfy hotel in such a lively spot.

We did face some challenges trying to find it because of the huge crowd and the similar-looking establishments, though. 😀 Then again, maybe it was just our poor navigation skills. We only had about 2 hours of sleep.

Once we knew our way around, coming back after a long day of exploration became muscle memory. Here’s what the entrance and the lobby look like:

The lobby serves as a social or working area too. This is perfect for those catching up on meetings, or those squeezing in last-minute work.

There is a snack bar with FREE biscuits, candies, coffee, and tea.

Just note that the items inside the refrigerator are for sale. Craving something else? You can order different items from their menu! I wish I could be of more help, but my friend and I were always eating out, so we haven’t had the chance to try any. If my memory serves me right, there are special coffee products and milktea offered.

Sacrificing comfort is not an option

Okay, so even if you’re a traveler on a budget, you can’t really sacrifice comfort. After a day of exploration, coming home for hours of snooze (in a cozy room) was a BIG NEED.

We opted for the Double Economy Room with a Shared Bathroom. It’s small, but I actually thought it would be smaller.

After checking in, we got our sleep comfort items and free bottled water. Remember that if you get too tired, you can also ask the staff for wake-up service.

As for the shared bathroom — it’s not necessarily big, but it’s modern, clean, and complete with toiletries and a dryer so I can’t complain.

To sum it all up — comfortable beds, clean bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi. These are the staples, and perfect for our quick stay.

ALSO READ: A Food Crawl Experience in Shilin Night Market: Tips and Must-Eats

Wonderwall Hotel strikes the perfect balance between affordability and comfort

@positibetty
39 hours in Taiwan (part 1): don’t let the dated building fool u. this hotel is actually quite nice! 🤍 thebdt.co #taiwan #taipei #ximending #traveltiktok #fypシ #fypage #taiwan🇹🇼 #phtiktok
♬ Espresso – On Vacation Version – Sabrina Carpenter

This isn’t exactly the cheapest out of all the budget hotels in Ximending. In fact, some may offer low rates. Buuuuut, I have no regrets about our Wonderwall stay because we experienced good customer service on top of their well-maintained rooms and modern amenities.

I’m just putting it out here that this is a good choice if you are a budget-conscious traveler like me and you don’t want to compromise on location or comfort. We booked our 3D2N stay for around TWD 2,928, or PHP 5,191.

Going here

You have to enter a dated building which may make you second guess if it’s sketchy. Don’t worry. It’s not. The ground floor has many small electronics stalls, and you just need to look for the elevator going up. Head to the 9th floor for Wonderwall, and once you alight, you’ll immediately see the lobby.

This hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Ximending, and so it gives guests easy access to the eclectic shopping scene, and everything else the district has to offer. I mean this literally.

As soon as you step out of the building, you can check out the quirky boutiques, grab a bubble tea, experience their local street food, or be on your way to a tour. It only takes a few steps to head to the station or venture out to other parts of the city. 😉

Ready for your trip to Taipei? Here are some other activities you can try (click on the text to be redirected to discounted Klook entrance/tour tickets)