InterContinental Kaohsiung

InterContinental Kaohsiung: A Michelin Key Selected Property Review

The InterContinental Kaohsiung, a Michelin Key Selected property in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, generally receives positive feedback for its luxurious ambiance, modern amenities, and convenient location. While often praised for its beautiful design and attentive breakfast service, some guests have noted inconsistencies in service and specific room comfort issues.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The InterContinental Kaohsiung is widely regarded as a beautiful and elegant property, garnering an "Exceptional" rating of 9.2 based on over 4,550 reviews. Many guests express high satisfaction, with sentiments like "This must be one of the top hotels I've ever stayed" and feeling "valued as a guest". The hotel is frequently recommended for its newness and the quality of its facilities. However, a few experiences indicate a mixed sentiment regarding staff attentiveness outside of specific departments.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the InterContinental Kaohsiung:

• Design & Aesthetics: The hotel boasts an undeniably beautiful and elegant design, with a modern and spacious feel. The lobby, with its aquamarine and teal hues, is particularly noted for its striking and elegant appearance. The indoor pool is frequently highlighted as an "Instagrammable" feature with a symmetrical curve arch design, complete with hot tubs and a sauna.
• Amenities: The property offers top-notch amenities, including spacious rooms, a decent-sized pool with hot tubs and a sauna, and a well-equipped gym (though some found it small). Rooms often include high-end items such as Dyson hairdryers and Smeg water kettles, along with Byredo toiletries. Thoughtful touches like an AI voice system in multiple languages are also present.
• Location: The hotel's convenient location is a major plus, situated in the heart of Kaohsiung's Cianjhen District, near popular attractions, shopping districts, and dining options. It's within a five-minute walk to the Sanduo Shopping District MRT station and offers good proximity to Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung Main Station.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at InterContinental Kaohsiung are generally described as spacious, luxurious, and comfortable. Many rooms offer city or distant harbor views, and some guests have praised the spaciousness, especially for an InterContinental property. Key features include:

• Comfort & Furnishings: Rooms are well-appointed with plush bathrobes, luxurious linens, and often include a separate living area in suites. Mattresses are reported to be very comfortable, ensuring a nice sleep. Automated window blinds with day and night curtains are a modern touch.
• Design Elements: While generally modern and elegant, some reviewers found the extensive use of grey in rooms to be "drab and uninviting". However, others appreciated the light, sober color scheme with natural wood, and liked the beige and blue accents.
• Specific Amenities: Rooms feature flat-screen TVs with satellite/cable channels, minibars, and coffee/tea makers. A Chinese tea set with traditional teas is a unique cultural addition. Japanese washlet toilets are also a valued amenity.
• Concerns: Some guests reported issues with the air conditioning system, noting that rooms could feel "stuffy" and hot upon entry, particularly because the AC defaults to 25 degrees when unoccupied. There were also comments about a lack of storage space and the placement of the TV making it difficult to watch from the sofa.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience, particularly breakfast, generally receives positive remarks:

• Breakfast at SEEDS Restaurant: Breakfast at SEEDS Restaurant is often highlighted as a "wonderful" selection with high-quality food, a live kitchen, and a mix of local Taiwanese and international choices. The staff in the breakfast restaurant are often described as professional and friendly. A unique feature is the use of table pegs for made-to-order dishes, which are then delivered to the table.
• Other Dining Options: The hotel offers a variety of dining concepts, including the contemporary lobby lounge Seeds Restaurant, a bistro named BL.T33, Chinese restaurant Zhan Lu, Hawker Restaurant (Southeast Asian specialties), and Japanese restaurant Wa Ra.
• Inconsistencies: While breakfast is generally good, some past reviews mentioned buffet items being only warm due to a lack of heating mechanisms and limited pancake selection. Dinner service at one of the restaurants was described by some as slow and the food as expensive and lacking. Some pastries at breakfast were also found to be dry.

5. Service & Staff

Feedback on service and staff is somewhat mixed but generally leans positive:

• Overall Hospitality: Many guests praise the staff as attentive, helpful, friendly, cheerful, professional, and courteous. Specific mentions highlight staff going above and beyond, such as Guest Service Manager Viola Chen, for her kindness and genuine hospitality.
• Areas of Excellence: Staff in the breakfast restaurant, in particular, are frequently commended for their professionalism and friendliness. Check-in processes are often described as seamless.
• Areas for Improvement: Some reviewers, however, experienced "indifferent" service in other areas of the hotel, feeling that staff were "disinterested" and less proactive than expected for an upscale brand. There were also isolated incidents, such as a housekeeper with food in their mouth.

6. Location & Accessibility

The InterContinental Kaohsiung is strategically located for both business and leisure travelers:

• Neighborhood: It is situated in the vibrant Cianjhen District, known for its blend of modernity and tradition, bustling atmosphere, and diverse culinary scene. The hotel is part of THE ONE Residence, a prominent residential skyscraper.
• Attractions & Shopping: The hotel is immediately surrounded by the Sanduo Shopping District, offering easy access to multiple shopping malls and department stores like Sogo and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. A small street-side night market, Liouhe Tourist Night Market, is also nearby.
• Transport: Its proximity to the Sanduo Shopping District MRT station (a five-minute walk) makes exploring the city convenient. It's also well-located between Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung Main Station, offering convenient transport facilities like airport transfer services.

7. Value & Pricing

While the InterContinental Kaohsiung is considered a luxurious property, its value proposition can vary:

• Price Range: One reviewer mentioned an average rate of NTD6,200 (approximately USD200/GBP155) per night, which they considered high for a Taiwanese city hotel outside Taipei. Another reviewer found around $200 a night to be a fair price for this style of hotel.
• Worth the Cost: Many guests feel it offers good value for money given its luxury, spacious rooms, and amenities. However, those experiencing service or room comfort issues found the price less justified. IHG Diamond Elite status holders may receive benefits like complimentary breakfast, enhancing the value.

8. Common Complaints

Despite its many strengths, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted:

• Inconsistent Service: While many praise the staff, some guests reported indifferent or slow service in certain hotel areas, particularly outside of the breakfast restaurant.
• Room Temperature/AC Issues: A significant complaint revolves around the air conditioning system, with rooms defaulting to 25 degrees Celsius when unoccupied, leading to them feeling hot and stuffy upon entry.
• Small Gym: The gym facilities are sometimes described as small and basic, with limited equipment.
• Swimming Cap Policy: The hotel's policy requiring a swimming cap for pool entry, and charging for single-use caps, has been a source of annoyance for some guests.
• Room Design/Storage: Some found the excessive use of grey in room decor to be drab, and noted a lack of sufficient storage space.
• Dining Experience outside Breakfast: While breakfast is highly rated, some past dinner experiences were criticized for slow service and expensive, mediocre food.

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