Do not stay at No. 40, Shengli Road, 10F-5, Hsinchu, Taiwan, through Airbnb.

Airbnb listing photo of the room, showing the bed and black leather sofa.

Hsinchu Airbnb — A guest review. Reservation: October 11–15, 2026.

I do not trust this host. Joe did not disclose cameras in the listing. He only mentioned them after I booked. When I asked where they were, he changed his story multiple times.

I told Joe that cameras must be disclosed before booking and that I no longer trusted him or wanted to stay. He refused my request for a full refund.

This listing may or may not have cameras. I do not trust what the host says. I recommend staying somewhere else.

As of October 11, 2026, I still have not received any refund, despite requesting a full refund before check-in.

Read the messages below. Host names and photos. Full screenshot record.

What happened

1. Cameras were not disclosed in the listing. Then the host changed his explanation.

The listing I booked did not disclose any cameras. Only after booking did the host send instructions saying extra guests would be verified by camera.

These are three different statements. I was supposed to trust the last one and continue with the booking.

Combined message excerpts: camera verification instructions, Joe's kitchen-camera explanation, and Joe's later statement that there are no cameras.

Excerpts from screenshots 5, 10, and 14. Click the image to open it.

2. I requested a full refund. Cameras must be disclosed in the listing. Joe refused.

I requested a 100% refund at 1:16 PM. I explained that cameras and their locations must be disclosed BEFORE booking. These are the rules everyone must follow. He had violated my trust. I no longer wanted to stay. His failure to disclose cameras properly was his mistake.

At 1:58 PM, Joe said cancellations made less than five days before check-in or on the day of check-in are not accepted. To me, his response felt like: “Too bad, I already have your money.” Incredibly rude.

But I requested cancellation within 30 minutes of him telling me about the cameras.

This was HIS mistake, not MINE. Yet he wanted to keep all my money.

Respecting your guests' privacy is a basic expectation. Why should I have to beg for my money back after his mistake? Ridiculous.

He also said he would respond publicly if I left a negative review he considered untrue.

Combined excerpts from Joe's initial cancellation refusal and his response about negative reviews.

Excerpts from screenshots 16 and 17. The overlap between captures is preserved.

3. Joe admitted the mistake. I still have no refund.

At 2:01 PM, I sent back a screenshot of his own camera instructions. He had already told me there was a camera in the common kitchen. His later denial did not erase those statements or restore my trust.

At 2:09 PM, Joe admitted he had copied instructions from another property with cameras. He apologized and offered to help request a full refund through Airbnb.

Accurate listing details and messages are his responsibility. I should not have to argue for a refund over his mistake.

As of October 11, 2026, Joe still has not submitted a refund, and I have not received one.

Joe apologizes for a copied-template error, offers to assist with requesting a full refund, and says he will ask Airbnb how to handle it.

Excerpts from screenshots 24 and 25.

The screenshots do not prove whether a camera was physically present.

Conclusion

I do not trust this host. He admitted his mistake, but as of October 11, 2026, he still has not submitted a refund request. In my view, he is not running his business honorably. I recommend staying somewhere else.

I cannot speak to how he acts in other circumstances. This is my own experience with Joe, and I feel a responsibility to share it so others can make their own choices.

The listing and hosts

Listing: Home in East District / Train Station Hotel Style Bedroom.

Address: No. 40, Shengli Road, 10F-5, East District, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan.

The address comes from the reservation and host's check-in instructions. Address screenshot.

Joe — host

Joe's Airbnb profile image: a hand holding a red flower.

Joe sent the replies quoted above. This is the image displayed on his Airbnb profile. Profile screenshot.

Yusen — co-host

Yusen's displayed Airbnb profile photo.

Yusen is listed as co-host in the trip details. The supplied replies are labeled Joe. Profile screenshot. Trip details.

Full screenshot record

The 39 supplied captures are grouped into seven panels. Two repeated captures were omitted, leaving 37 unique screenshots. My name, profile picture, and personal background are redacted, along with door and lockbox codes and the Wi-Fi password. The conversation remains in its original order, including my angry messages and the host's later correction.

The three images above are cropped message excerpts. These links open the complete combined screenshots:

  1. Booking and check-in instructions — screenshots 1–7
  2. Camera concern and first refund request — screenshots 8–12
  3. Changed explanation and cancellation refusal — screenshots 13–17
  4. My challenge and angry messages — screenshots 18, 19, 22, 23
  5. Admission and offer to help request a refund — screenshots 24–25
  6. Reservation, address, and host profiles — screenshots 20, 21, 26, 27, 29
  7. Listing photos — screenshots 31–39

Screenshot 28 repeats profile content in 29; screenshot 30 repeats the conversation in 25. Times above are those shown in the conversation. Airbnb's interface shows “Translation on.” The screenshots do not include the pre-booking listing description or a final Airbnb decision.

This is my personal review. It is not affiliated with Airbnb.