Kung Shang Design Hotel – Kaohsiung – family friendly hotel

We stayed four nights at Kung Shang Design Hotel in Kaohsiung and were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly, comfortable, and well-located it was. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from Formosa Boulevard Station, home to the famous Dome of Light. Tip: stick to the main streets when walking with kids or luggage — the smaller alleys can have uneven sidewalks and make the journey unpleasant.

Highlights	Spacious, family-friendly hotel near Formosa Boulevard with great play areas, free afternoon treats, and superb value — perfect for travellers with kids.
Cost	~A$98 a night
Location	No. 237號, Linsen 1st Road, Sinsing District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 800
Website	http://www.design-hotel.com.tw/

From the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted with refreshing cool air — a huge relief from the hot, humid day. That contrast became one of the small joys of returning each afternoon to the hotel during what was a humid April.

This hotel shines for families. The entire third floor is dedicated to two children’s play areas One section has a ball pit, while another offers a supervised stone area and mega blocks. I’ve travelled to Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and China, and haven’t seen such a thoughtfully designed space for children in a city hotel before.

Other family-friendly touches include:

• A laundry area (Coin only, NTD $50 for washing, $50 for drying),
• A filtered water station (with hot water too),
• A second-floor lounge that serves free cakes, macarons, tea, and coffee during the afternoon. On our first day, we arrived early and passed the time between 1:30 pm and check-in at 3 pm enjoying the snacks while the kids played. It was a great welcome.

We booked the Executive Triple Suite, which came with two queen beds, a lounge area, and a free baby cot. At about 52m², it was very spacious and far larger than most rooms we’ve stayed in across Asia.

The room had:

• A bathtub and a separate shower with both overhead and side nozzles (though it was hard to get the water temperature just right),
• A Japanese toilet, though unfortunately the bidet features didn’t work, and like many places in Taiwan, flushing toilet paper wasn’t allowed,
• A TV with over 80 channels including Taiwanese, Japanese, and international options,
• Two complimentary bottles of water daily.

Breakfast was simple but solid. The bain-marie selection rotated daily and included options like udon, soba, braised pork rice, oden, and fried foods — something for everyone, even our picky eaters.

One minor downside: the two small elevators, each with separate buttons, sometimes required a bit of waiting during peak times. It was a bit tiresome waiting during peak periods for breakfast and checkout times.

Still, considering the room size, amenities, location, and price, Kung Shang Design Hotel was incredible value — especially compared to our hotel in Taipei, which cost more for a smaller space and fewer family features.

A fantastic stay and a great base for families visiting Kaohsiung. We’d definitely stay again.

Please support the website by liking the article or subscribing to the mailing list. The review and the experience above are based on my own views. No commission, freebies or payments have been received.

Here are some of my recent articles: