Walk into Hotel Dua in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and you will feel like you’ve entered a serene, softly lit, cocoon. In a busy city like Kaohsiung what this hotel offers is a welcome respite.
Travelers like this hotel for its location. Steps away from Formosa Boulevard station on the city’s Metro, it is also easily accessible from the high-speed rail terminus at Zuoying. Plus, the Kaohsiung International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.
Confusion then Calm
The entrance can be a bit confusing. There’s a large golden gateway in the open-air foyer. A statue of Buddha and a red cut-out figure seem to be appraising you as you gauge where to go next.
Look around and you won’t find a sign, but you’ll see black sliding doors that lead to the reception area. It’s a little daunting.
Once inside, though, the atmosphere of Hotel Dua is one of complete calm. At reception, you’ll check in at a long marble counter. The lights are low, indicating this is a place of sanctuary. And a good night’s sleep.
Hotel Dua, Lobby like a Living Room
Adjacent to the reception area was a seating area with low couches and comfortable chairs. Magazines lined a credenza and black and white photos hung on the walls.
Sitting on top of one table was an espresso machine where guests can help themselves.
Dua means “stay” in Taiwanese and reflects the hotel’s efforts to make Hotel Dua of Kaohsiung a relaxing, yet upscale home-away-from-home.
Generous, Relaxing Hotel Dua Guestrooms
Guest rooms are spacious, with modern, stylish décor. They range from 10-ping ( 350 square feet) to 14-ping for an Executive King (500 square feet) to a large two-bedroom family suite of 28-ping (almost 1,000 square feet).
After a tiring day, you can lean back in your quiet enclave, flip on a flat-screen TV, and make a hot beverage with the tea and coffee-making equipment. On the TV you can access cable and free-to-air programming which is mostly in Mandarin. If English is your preferred language, it’s best to access Internet-based media through Wi-Fi, which is free.
Décor is minimal, with Asian floral accents on the mini-bar covering, pillows, and lamps. Inside the minibar, you’ll find some soda and juice, which is complimentary.
Get to Work, Soak, or Workout at Hotel Dua
Most rooms have work desks and some have a sitting area with a small couch. The large windows can be covered with black-out drapes.
A minimalist bathroom is fitted with a deep soaker tub and separate shower, and the lighting is fixed right into the mirror.
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For fitness buffs, there’s a small gym. If you are there on business, meeting rooms are available and for special events, there are banquet facilities. Parking is free.
Breakfast with a View
When you are ready for breakfast, head to the étage 15, the restaurant on the 15th floor.
Lining a long countertop, the breakfast buffet offers a sumptuous selection of continental and Asian dishes. There are slices of bread, cold cuts, salads, eggs, and other hot items. Taiwanese dishes include roasted sweet potato, steamed buns, and congee.
The rooftop location has an outdoor patio where you can savor your meal, or you can sit indoors depending on the weather.
Cocktails or Cantonese Cuisine
Étage 15 is also open in the evening. Locals like going there for cocktails and dinner, which is especially appealing due to the terrace’s sparkling city view.
The Hotel Dua of Kaohsiung has another restaurant called Yuepin which specializes in high-end Cantonese cuisine and Hong Kong dim sum.
Love and Shopping
People who are recently engaged, on honeymoon, or celebrating an anniversary are drawn to Kaohsiung for several reasons. The big one is the Love River. Famous for its faux gondolas with karaoke captains, romance is afloat in this city.
In the evening visitors also flock to the lively Liuhe and Nanhua night markets where you can try your hand at one of the prize redemption vending machine games and pick up local treats from food vendors.
Hotel Dua of Kaohsiung is a restful abode to return to after a night out. The hotel’s low lighting might require your cell phone flashlight when finding your room. But, as much as that might be an annoyance, it might also be just the right touch for those returning from a cruise on the Love River.
Rates start at $130 US for a standard double and go up to $275 US for the family suite. Indicate if you want breakfast when you book. It’s an additional fee of around $15 US. You can also make reservations through hotel booking site agoda, which often has better rates and is a good site for properties in Asia.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
