This is a picture of one of the many, many, many motels in Taiwan. However motels here are 99% used for sex and marketed as that, with many of them having "love" and other words in the name. Some are rented out for 12 hour units, others by the hour.
With so many, they try to be more and more extravagant to attract patrons. Such as this one shaped as a castle. Although I was sad to hear that inside it does not continue the castle motif. However each room inside this one does have it's own theme. I have to say though, as far as outside facades go, this one is one of the tamer ones. I'll have to get some pictures of the zanier ones in the future.
When you think about it though, for a culture that at times can be so traditional and conservative, it stands in stark contrast that there are so many of these places. However it does stem from the fact that everybody lives with their family from the time they are born until they get married and usually even after that. so the only way to get any....privacy, is to go to a motel.
Personally speaking, motels are the greats accommodations available in taiwan. For better of for worse there are no real hotel chains or standards in taiwan. so most hotels are privately operated and in buildings that had floors converted to be a hotel. usually they are not so clean or comfortable. although they are pretty inexpensive. However for a little more you can have a motel room for the night and because of the stiff competition between motels, the quality of the rooms is spectacular.
On the other end are "high class" international hotels own by corporations. I have high class in quotations because they are not really that luxurious in my opinion and the price is much more than what you'd pay for a similar hotel in another country.
