Howard Lake Resort Shihmen Dam

Our family of six from Canada had the best stay of our month-long budget trip here, and the kids had a blast in the " Joyful Land " play area during our three days. The room was clean, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed the buffet included with our stay. We especially liked the espresso machine, ice cream, cereal, and toast bar, with five kinds of the same jam brand we have at home. After 12 hours of travel, we reached the hotel only to find our Priceline booking didn't exist. If you can't call them, there's no way to reach a person, and the number isn't toll-free. Thankfully, the hotel staff saved the day. There isn't much to do in town, and some taxi drivers take advantage of guests staying at this nice hotel. One charged us 500NWT for an 8-minute ride, compared with 650NWT for the 36-minute trip from the MRT, so after that we used only Ubers. We ordered Uber Eats or went out for dinner each night because the restaurant's dinner menu didn't appeal to us. Still, we'd highly recommend it as a retreat, especially for families who enjoy a clean room, friendly staff, and a western-friendly buffet.

I slept well in a tidy, quiet room, even though mine didn't have a good view, and taking a bath helped me relax. Breakfast was a highlight, with special, tasty dishes like beef noodles, Gua Bao, and fish. There are lots of games for families with children. The hotel is near Shimen Reservoir, which is nice for a morning stroll or jog, though the parking spaces are limited.

The family room on the second floor wasn't well soundproofed, and the WiFi kept cutting out. Although the employees were friendly and nice, Joyful land felt outdated, especially the swimming pool, where the water was cold and dirty. Very disappointing.

The kids have a nice entertainment center, and the swimming pool is nice too. Restaurant choices are limited apart from breakfast, but you can order UberEATS.