Guide Hotel - Kaohsiung Shinkuchan

The location near shinkuchan was a highlight, with lots of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars around, and the staff member who greeted us was patient and kind. She explained what the hotel offered and answered our questions. There’s a free water refill station and a washer and dryer past the check-in counter on the main floor, though the machines are worn and you need your own detergent. The room was the bigger problem. There were streaks and rings on the desk and bedside tables, brown marks on the outside of the sink, a sour bathroom smell, and a musty odor overall. I found hair on the bed and across the floor, tears in the bedding, and a leather-like chair with visibly darker patches. The AC barely worked, as did the fridge. The walls also don’t block much noise: I could hear a neighbor showering, and one neighbor simply letting their door shut woke me. The lobby is much nicer than the rest of the hotel. I wouldn’t stay again unless a lot changed.

The room has several steps, and I tripped over them, so it may be difficult for older guests. The rest of the hotel gave me no complaints. There’s laundry, a dryer, and a friendly front desk open around the clock. The location is quiet and very well maintained, and I’d choose this hotel first if I came back to Kaohsiung. If you or your children get sick, there’s a clinic and pharmacy nearby.

A good hotel, but the walls are thin. Guests checking in late can disturb you at night.

The room was huge for the price, with big beds, a standing shower with six interesting jets, and a bathtub with its own shower head. The only issue was that the AC was a bit cranky. I’ve paid four times as much at other hotels with worse facilities. The location is convenient, near the ShinJuKu shopping area, MRT, and plenty of good cafes and restaurants. Self check-in was easy, despite my concern after reading complaints about Guide hotels in Taipei. We dropped our bags before the rooms were ready, and the front desk staff were still there to help; they also gave us bottled water when we asked. On departure day, we left our luggage in the lobby and picked it up late that night without any trouble.