Second Hostel

A beachfront hostel with a garden, terrace and balcony views, Second Hostel suits divers who prefer a straightforward base to a polished resort. You can come back from the water, find a seat outside and let the day wind down without having to perform relaxation for anyone.

The accommodation works for several types of trip: a solo stay in a mixed or female dormitory, a private room for two, or a larger room for family or friends. The property’s website is available in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, which helps when you are planning the stay, even though no hotel staff languages are recorded here.

There is a shared kitchen rather than a formal hotel set-up, so the rhythm is simple: sleep, swim, eat when you choose and spend time outdoors. No dress code. Sensible.

You are in Xiaoliuqiu, Taiwan, directly on the beachfront. The property combines sea access with a garden, and rooms or outdoor areas may look towards the sea, mountains, garden or inner courtyard. That gives you more than one way to spend the first coffee of the day.

Habanwan Beach is about 0.8 miles away on foot, a walk of roughly 17 minutes. Secret Beach is about 0.9 miles away by car, while Meiren Beach is around 2.3 miles away and Zhongao Beach about 3 miles away; Zhongao is also listed as roughly a 55-minute walk.

Kaohsiung International Airport is around 16 miles away. Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area is listed at about 11 miles from the property, while the nearest listed railway station, Linbian, is around 12 miles away.

The choice is less about decorative labels and more about how much privacy and elbow room you want. Solo travellers can take a bed in the six-bed mixed dormitory or the six-bed female dormitory. For two, the Standard Queen Room keeps things private and compact; couples who would rather not negotiate bunk-bed etiquette will understand the appeal.

The larger private rooms are the practical answer for families or friends travelling together. The triple arrangement combines a king-size bed with a single bed, while the two quadruple options use either two king-size beds or a double bed with two singles. Family rooms and ground-floor units are available, including an entire ground-floor unit described as wheelchair accessible.

Air conditioning matters when you return warm, salty and ready to stop moving. Rooms also have a TV, hairdryer, clothes rack and drying rack for clothing, with a socket near the bed for keeping your phone alive. Private bathrooms are part of the accommodation, and views vary between sea, mountain, garden and inner courtyard. The shared areas and outdoor seating give you somewhere to sit; the air conditioning gives you a chance of sleeping properly.

There is no restaurant-led routine to follow here. Instead, you have access to a shared kitchen, which is useful when you want breakfast on your own timetable or something uncomplicated after a day in the water.

Outdoor furniture, a patio, terrace and picnic area extend the eating space beyond the kitchen. A cold drink and something assembled rather than ceremoniously served may be exactly what your post-dive schedule requires.

The surrounding options include Ching Shin, about 1.2 miles away by car, and Chain and Presotea, each around 2.2 miles away. They are listed as cafés, coffee and tea houses rather than hotel dining venues, so plan your meals around the island rather than expecting a bar or room service downstairs.

The useful luxury here is outdoor space. A garden, terrace, patio and picnic area give you several places to sit without retreating straight to the room, while the beachfront setting keeps the sea close enough for an unambitious wander. The property also has outdoor furniture, so you can read, talk or simply watch the light change over the water.

Hiking trails surround the property, adding an option for the day when you want to move but not put on fins. Habanwan Beach is within walking distance, and other beaches can be reached by car. Sea and mountain views provide the scenery; you supply the energy, preferably after a proper rest.

For a couple, the arrangement is uncomplicated: a walk, some time in the garden, perhaps a picnic, then an air-conditioned room. There is no need to turn every afternoon into an organised activity. Sometimes the correct plan is to sit down before the second cup of coffee.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 17:00, and you need to tell the property your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 09:00 to 11:00. That narrow arrival window is worth building into your travel plans, particularly when reaching an island involves more than one leg of the journey.

Free public parking is available nearby, with no reservation required. The property accepts Visa, Mastercard and Japan Credit Bureau cards; cash is not accepted. Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available. There is no age requirement for check-in, and pets are not allowed.

The accommodation is non-smoking throughout. Ground-floor units and wheelchair-accessible accommodation are available. Cancellation and prepayment conditions vary by accommodation type, and payment before arrival by bank transfer may be required, with the property providing the instructions after booking.