First off, you need to know going in these small local Taiwanese hotels are, uh, not like international business hotels. They can be a bit oddly decorated and configured, and they’re often a but rundown by Western standards. If you’re lucky, you end up with a great location, quirky charm, or both. Seashell Bay manages both.
The arrival experience, at least at night during the night market, is bewildering. The place is impossible to find, tucked in on the upper floors over a Watson’s, with tiny and misleading English on the sign. We called and one of the proprietors came out to lead us to a remote parking spot behind the building. Once checked in, we tumbled out onto the village’s bustling Main Street and into the center of a booming night market. Seashell is NOT on the beach, btw, but rather on the main drag, with dozens of small hotels, shops, and restaurants. The beach, such as we saw it in two rainy days, was a short walk away.
The room was odd and funky, with a very strong beach theme, but comfortable enough and reasonably clean. Importantly, the AC worked very well. There is no elevator, so you will get your steps in. And the staff speak very little English, but manage to convey an air of casual, kind welcome.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in (and having visited Kenting 30 years ago, when it was a sleepy little town)... what we found was a strange but interesting “resort” experience with lots of families making the best of rainy vacation days.
