We just got back and unpacked after 3 days at Rainbow Bridge.

First the plus':

1. Absolutely perfectly clean and up to date accommodations.

2. Excellent locale for Taroko National Park.

3. Very nice and helpful Host family

4. WiFi Free and fast!

5. Did I mention how clean it was?

6. Free bicycle rental.

Minus -

1. 20 min from any food, store, or anything.

2. Next to busy highway, though we could barely hear it.

3. zero transportation, you need to arrange prior to visiting Rainbow.

4. zero assistance with arranging activities in Taroko.

5. Stairs inside B and B are noisy. I know we were loud, thanks to our 20 month old.

6. Food within 30 min scooter radius is pretty bad.

Do this, stay here yes... But make sure to pre-book any activities because the host family is not any help in that department. Arrange either scooter rental, or car rental with host family, otherwise you will be riding their very well maintained bicycles 30-40 miles per day to get meals and groceries. The b and B itself is not peaceful bliss, you have to plan on visiting the Taroko daily to get such feelings.

We rented scooters for $400 a day and had the time of our lives riding to dinner and throughout all of Taroko Forest. if you are a westerner be prepared with a international DL and ID that can be left with the rental place otherwise the dude gets very nervous about renting to you.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Crossing the Rainbow Bridge B&B. When I first started searching for a place to stay, I happened to come across the review on Trip Advisor. It was very easy to book. It is one of the few minsus/b&bs that has an English website [--] and all the information that is listed on the website is accurate, and the pictures of the room are exactly what you get. When I emailed to book the room, I explained that I was not from Taiwan, so I had to give my credit card for them to put down a deposit. It was not a big deal at all, and the owners were very trustworthy- no crazy charges or anything.

Teyra, the owner, gave us such a personal and warm welcome. He greeted us, gave us tea, and sat us down to tell us about the rooms, services, the local area, as well as a little bit about the Truku people. He provided us with directions on where to go, things that we shouldn't miss, and also lent us bikes to borrow to ride to the Cingshui Cliffs. In the rooms, he provided water, crackers, and fruit. The beds were incredibly comfortable, the rooms were spacious, the bathroom was fabulous- everything was newly built and such a steal for the price! Teyra showed us the inner workings of the room (we probably could have figured out how to turn on the t.v., a/c, etc. ourselves, but it was very kind of him to take the time to show us).

He offers tour packages, and if we were going to be there for a bit longer and hadn't rented our own vehicle, I would have gone for it. He also takes groups out early in the morning on bikes to catch the sunrise along the coast (no additional cost).

The breakfast was a nice warm congee with toppings like shredded pork. The breakfast also included steam buns, coffee, juice, etc. It is a Taiwanese style breakfast, so don't expect a Western option.

Overall, the BnB is in a nice location (5-10 minute drive from the Cingshui Cliffs, and 5 minute drive to the visitor center of Taroko Gorge), there is a 7-11 and restaurants on the other side of the bridge, and if you are driving, it is SO easy to find...it's literally at the end of the bridge. This is a definite must-stay and I really appreciated the warmth of the owners and the quality of the rooms.

I found this BnB by luck on the forum of Tripadvisor. It is located near to the Taroko National Park in Hualien.

The BnB is owned by a couple. They are very hospitable and it was worth every cent I spent. I called up the lady to book my room and was told that they had a package which included afternoon tea, dinner, breakfast and a tour of the national park. It was about SGD118 per person, inclusive of the room.

I was picked up at the railway station by the lady. She took us for lunch at a nice cafe and the food was good and not pricey. She also provided free bicycles for those who wish to ride to the visitor centre of the national park in the afternoon. It was then followed by dinner, which was prepared by the Truku people (an indigenous tribe in Taiwan). The Truku people used to live in the mountains of Taroko.

I was given the option to ride the bicycle with the owner in the following morning along the coastal route. I woke up at 6 and never regretted it. The scenery was simply fantastic. The tour of Taroko national park was conducted by a personal guide, who happened to be the driver as well.

The BnB is very clean and as good as a four to five star hotel, except there is a personal touch to the service. There is an area outside where coffee and tea is provided for free and where breakfast and tea is also served. The BnB is cosy, compared to a big, established hotel. I highly recommend this BnB to anyone interested in visiting the national park.