Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung — Classic Family 4-Star in the Heart of Lingya
Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung is a trusted 4-star property from the Howard Hotels Group — the same Taiwanese chain that runs Howard Beach Resort Kenting — offering families and mid-budget travellers spacious rooms, a breakfast buffet, a pool with a kids' area, and a central Lingya address within easy reach of Sanduo Shopping District.
Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung opened in 1987 and has undergone several rounds of renovation in the decades since. It belongs to Howard Hotels Group, a reputable Taiwanese chain better known to beach travellers through its Howard Beach Resort in Kenting. In Kaohsiung, the brand brings the same formula: reliable service, generous room sizes, and full-service amenities at a price point that works for families and business travellers alike. The hotel rises 30 floors above Lingya District, putting 280 rooms well above the city skyline.
Guests describe it like this: "The room was much larger than they expected for the price. Breakfast had great variety — local congee, dim sum, and a full Western spread. Kids loved the pool. Staff were helpful throughout. They'll definitely return."
The chief selling point for families is straightforward: space. Family rooms are genuinely sized to accommodate a rollaway or a second bed without the cramped layout that plagues smaller city hotels. The pool area is divided into a shallow kids' section and an adult lap section, offering something for everyone. The breakfast buffet runs the expected range of Taiwanese staples — rice congee, steamed dumplings, braised tofu — alongside Western eggs and toast, and it draws consistent praise across review platforms.
Location sits at No. 311, Qixian 1st Road, in Lingya — Kaohsiung's business and retail core. MRT Sanduo Shopping District Station (Red Line) is roughly 8 minutes on foot, connecting you quickly to Zuoying THSR station (for day trips to Tainan), the Cijin Island ferry, and Formosa Boulevard's famous stained-glass dome. Hanshin Arena Shopping Plaza is within walking range, and Ruifeng Night Market — widely regarded as Kaohsiung's best for locals — is a short cab or Uber ride away.
Guest rooms are furnished in a calm, traditional Taiwanese hotel style that prioritises comfort over Instagram aesthetics. Flat-screen TVs, in-room fridges, and free Wi-Fi cover the essentials. Superior and Deluxe rooms on upper floors offer city views; a handful of rooms on high floors claim partial views toward the Love River. The hotel also operates a fitness centre, multiple meeting rooms, an airport shuttle service, and a business centre — making it equally practical for corporate groups travelling to the south.
The in-house restaurant serves Cantonese Chinese and Western dishes at reasonable prices, so guests with early check-outs or late arrivals aren't forced to scramble for food outside. Service levels are consistently rated among the hotel's strongest points: front-desk staff draw praise for clear English communication and practical recommendations for exploring Kaohsiung, which many visitors find less tourist-mapped than Taipei.
The honest trade-off is the building's age. Howard Plaza Kaohsiung dates to 1987, and while renovations have kept the property presentable, some sections — particularly in older wings — carry a dated look that newer design hotels cannot match. Compared with Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung or Hotel Dua a few streets away, the interiors feel more functional than fashionable. For guests chasing a photogenic, contemporary aesthetic, those alternatives are worth a look.
Weigh everything up and Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung remains the most dependable value-for-money option for families and mid-budget travellers in the Sanduo–Lingya corridor. Spacious rooms, a solid breakfast, a family pool, and a 35-year track record of service reliability combine to make it a default recommendation for anyone who wants comfort without paying luxury prices in Taiwan's second city.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spacious, well-maintained rooms — great value for families
- ✓ Breakfast buffet praised for variety and quality
- ✓ Staff consistently rated polite, helpful, and communicative
- ✓ Good mid-range price for the facilities on offer
- ! Décor and some areas of the hotel feel dated versus newer rivals
- ! Pool is modest in size — busy on public holidays
- ! Parking is an additional charge
- ✓ Rooms are much larger than expected for the price — families delighted
- ✓ Good breakfast — local and Western options, well stocked
- ✓ 8-min walk to MRT Sanduo makes getting around easy
- ✓ Howard Hotels standard — reliable, professional service
- ! Some rooms in older wings await renovation
- ! No sea view or standout scenic feature
- ! Not walkable to major attractions like Lotus Pond or Cijin Island
- 💡If contemporary design matters to you — Howard Plaza is a classic 1987 property; interiors are functional, not fashionable → Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung or Hotel Dua offer a more modern aesthetic nearby
- 💡If you want a river or harbour view — Lingya District doesn't deliver water views → consider hotels directly on the Love River or at Cijin for a scenic setting
- 💡If the pool is a priority with young children — the pool is solid but not large; on busy weekends, plan your swim before 10 AM for the most space