Day Chen Hotel — Free Breakfast and Steps from Yilan Train Station
If you want a private room in Yilan without breaking the budget — and you want free breakfast already included and a train station within a four-minute walk — Day Chen Hotel (大成飯店) is the most straightforward answer in this neighbourhood. A family-run 2-star hotel open since 2009 on Xinmin Road, it sits on the same street as the station and offers the rare combination of budget price, complimentary breakfast and genuinely convenient location that most competing properties at this price point do not.
Day Chen Hotel (大成飯店) opened in 2009 on Xinmin Road — the same street that leads directly north from TRA Yilan Station. Leave the station exit, walk straight for three to four minutes along Xinmin Road and you will see the green sign reading 大成飯店 TA CHEN HOTEL. The multi-storey brick building holds 40 rooms split across single, double and family configurations, and it has been quietly serving train travellers and local visitors for well over a decade.
"Free breakfast included, rooms are bigger than expected, clean, and the train station is a short walk away — for this price you really do get more than you expect."
The feature that makes Day Chen stand out from similarly priced neighbours is free breakfast included with every room, every night. In a neighbourhood where mid-range hotels often charge extra for the morning meal, Day Chen's inclusion takes a meaningful bite out of the total trip cost — especially for two- or three-night stays. Guests describe breakfast as simple but filling: enough to fuel an early train run to Jiaoxi hot springs or Luodong night market without stopping to buy food first.
Room types range from a compact Standard Single to a 26-sqm Family Quad. All rooms include a bathtub in the private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, complimentary bottled water and free Wi-Fi. Multiple guests single out the mattress quality — soft and comfortable — which matters more than it might sound at a budget property where mattresses are often an afterthought. Room sizes are honest for Taiwanese standards without feeling cramped.
The location is genuinely strong for rail-based travel. Dongmen Night Market — a local-favourite food market that has not yet been overtaken by tour groups — is a five-minute walk from the front door. The hotel also offers a free station shuttle (requires 48 hours' notice, runs 09:00–19:00) and free bicycle loans for exploring Yilan City, which is flat and easy to cycle around. Luggage storage is available at the 24-hour front desk.
The staff receive consistent praise across platforms for friendliness and attentiveness. The family-run atmosphere means guests are treated as individuals rather than room numbers. On the practical side, a coin-operated laundry and parking nearby (charged separately) round out the facilities. There is no pool or gym, but at this price and for this style of stay, those are not the things travellers come for.
An honest word about the property: Day Chen is a retro-style Taiwanese hotel, not a minimalist boutique. The building has been operating for over fifteen years and the décor reflects that — think classic Taiwanese tiles, older bathroom fittings and functional rather than fashionable furnishings. Several reviews mention limited plug sockets beside the bed, occasional street noise on lower floors and a strict checkout at 11:00 with additional charges beyond that time.
For travellers using Yilan as a base to explore the region by train, Day Chen makes particular sense. The journey from Taipei Main Station takes roughly 50–60 minutes on a Taroko or Puyuma Express. From Yilan Station it is then 25 minutes by TRA to Jiaoxi hot-spring village and 20 minutes to Luodong Night Market. With the hotel a four-minute walk from the station and breakfast already covered, the logistical overhead for each day trip shrinks to almost nothing.
In short, Day Chen Hotel is best for budget-conscious travellers who want a private room, included breakfast and a train-station location. It is not the hotel for Instagram-worthy interiors or upscale amenities — but it is clean, the staff are warm, the location is hard to beat at this price, and the free breakfast is a genuine added value that many competitors quietly omit.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Great location — 3-4 min walk to TRA Yilan Station
- ✓ Free breakfast included — rare at this price in this area
- ✓ Rooms are spacious and clean, mattresses comfortable
- ✓ Friendly family-run atmosphere, helpful staff
- ! Decor is retro and dated — not a modern boutique hotel
- ! Street noise can carry on lower floors facing Xinmin Road
- ! Limited power sockets beside the bed
- ✓ Near the train station and Dongmen Night Market on foot
- ✓ Free breakfast cuts trip costs meaningfully
- ✓ Cheapest private-room option in this immediate neighbourhood
- ✓ Free station shuttle and free bicycle loans
- ! Facilities are basic compared to newer hotels
- ! Some rooms can be noisy from the street below
- ! Strict 11:00 checkout with charges for overstaying
- 💡If you want a stylish boutique atmosphere — Day Chen is a classic family hotel with retro Taiwanese décor, not minimalist design → consider Hangkhau Hotel nearby (library-in-lobby vibe, more polished, but roughly twice the price)
- 💡If you are a light sleeper — lower-floor rooms facing Xinmin Road can catch morning traffic noise → ask for a higher floor or an interior-facing room at check-in
- 💡If you are travelling by car and need in-house parking — there is no on-site parking; a paid lot nearby costs extra → if you are arriving by train, the location is perfectly calibrated for station access