My family of parents, two young teens and a nine-year-old stayed over at the Howard Plaza Hotel in Kaohsiung during our round trip around Taiwan. The hotel was located centrally next to an entire lane of restaurants and while its exterior was not striking at first, its resort-like facilities certainly impress.

As part of a tour group we checked in with ease (although there was not much of a line in the first place), and ascended to our rooms quickly. One unique addition was some special lighting in the lift that helped medicinally, using some complex science to do it. Honestly don't know what that's about, but a plus anyway.

The rooms were standard - tidy, well-furnished and no noticeable flaws. Bathroom was larger than previous ones we had. I don't remember having any trouble sleeping. Very nice rooms on the whole.

Apart from the rooms there were other facilities as well. There was a good number of restaurants in the hotel. We looked at their menus when we headed out for dinner but it did not suit our palette that night. There were renovation works going on at the time so it wasn't that comfortable eating there anyway. By now it should be done and maybe you'll find it to your taste.

Thankfully, the hotel's prime location proved very helpful in finding nearby restaurants, which are barely a block away. There was this wonderful beef noodle house we ate at somewhere near, and there are many other choices too. Hotel staff were helpful in recommending nearby restaurants and giving directions, albeit in Mandarin only.

The hotel has a miniature shopping center on the first few floors. Free wi-fi was available only around there and the best spot to use it would be at the cafe, but you have to purchase something there to use it.

Breakfast at the hotel was quite good - a good variety and a lot of seating. A bit confusing with two sections in opposite corners of the room serving slightly different things (if I'm not wrong) but still pretty good.

All in all, the hotel was a fine experience for us. We had no qualms staying here. Not sure of the pricing but I think it'll be suitable a price below or around the two hundreds will make this hotel worth it.

Very nice and friendly hotel in central Kaohsiung. Take the elevator up to the reception located on the top floor of the hotel. The room was big nice and clean. Outdoor pool on the roof top was just perfect for staying in Kaohsiung during the summer. Breakfast was one of the best I've ever come a cross with a wide and fine selection of asian (Chinese as well as Japanese) and western style food. The big selection of ice cream was a huge yeaaaahhh (who can say no to a Häagen-Dazs buffet for breakfast!?) :)

The rooms in howard are big and the breakfast buffet is unrivaled in its quality. i still remember enjoying every bit of my stay there and the food stall nearby

It was our first visit to Kaohsiung after years of regularly visiting in Taipei. Our accommodation in Taipei is already good every time we compete in their dragon boat race but as soon as we entered Howard Plaza in Kaohsiung - whoa!

Great food, excellent service, spanking clean rooms...can't wait to stay there again next year!