TAI Urban Resort (承億酒店): A Luxury Urban Oasis in Kaohsiung
Last Updated on March 9, 2025 by Erin Donahue
Are you traveling to Taiwan and looking for a hotel in Kaohsiung? Discovering TAI Urban Resort (承億酒店) was like uncovering a hidden gem in the city’s skyline. The hotel is Taiwan’s first urban resort-themed five-star cultural and creative hotel. It’s part of the Hotel Day Group’s collection of eight properties across Taiwan, and after my stay here, I can see why this hospitality brand has earned such a stellar reputation.
The property boasts 208 panoramic rooms, six restaurants, two high-altitude outdoor bars, Taiwan’s only high-altitude transparent infinity pool, a gym, a spa, a chic bookstore, a café on the ground floor, and a cigar cellar.
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How to get to TAI Urban Resort
While not in the city center, Tai Urban Resort is easily accessible via Kaohsiung’s MRT public transportation. The most direct way is to take the Red Line metro towards R24 (Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital) and exit at R8 Sanduo Shopping District station. This is also the area to photograph ‘Kaohsiunghenge‘ during the months between November and January. Use Exit 2 and follow Zhongshan 2nd Road until you reach Linsen 4th Road. The total journey from the station to the hotel typically takes ~15 minutes by foot.
Arriving from Other Cities in Taiwan
For travelers coming from Taipei or other major cities via High Speed Rail (HSR), get off at Zuoying Station. From there, the metro system connects you directly to the hotel area. The journey is straightforward and well-marked with English signage.
Getting Around Kaohsiung from TAI Urban Resort
The hotel’s location offers convenient access to Kaohsiung’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, making it easy to explore popular attractions throughout the city. For those planning day trips or wanting more flexibility, private car services are readily available. This is a particularly useful option if you’re planning to explore beyond the city limits with day trips.
Address: 189 Linsen 4th Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City 806023
Classic Japanese Room at TAI Urban Resort
During my time at TAI Urban Resort, I stayed in their Classic Japanese Room and I’m genuinely impressed by the space. The moment you walk in, you notice the traditional tatami flooring. It’s such a beautiful touch that sets the mood for the entire room. Beyond that, what struck me immediately was how roomy this hotel was. There is a noticeable difference in hotel room sizes between the north and south of Taiwan. I noticed this when I stayed at both Shangri-La’s in Taiwan. In the southern part, you feel like a king, and that you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
The Classic Japanese Room comes with two super comfortable queen beds, and they’ve gone all out with the amenities. There’s a complimentary mini-bar, Nespresso capsule coffee machine, and a Smeg kettle too to boil water.
I was surprised there was a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer provided. If you travel a lot, you know how rare it is to find these in hotel rooms. The only other hotel I’ve been in so far that had a Dyson was the Four Seasons in Lisbon. It’s premium touches like these that elevate the whole experience!
Guest Experience at Kaohsiung’s TAI Urban Resort
I noticed tons of families during my stay. On the booking website, they have rooms specifically designed for people with kids, which isn’t something you typically see at luxury hotels. There’s also a steady stream of Western business travelers, which makes for an interesting mix.
The Crown Jewel: Kaohsiung’s Highest Infinity Pool
The absolute highlight of the hotel is the infinity pool on the 24th floor. Suspended above the city, it’s the whole reason why I decided to book this hotel for my stay in Kaohsiung because the view looked like the “Marina Bay Sands of Taiwan”. It’s the country’s only high-altitude transparent infinity pool and has views of 85 Sky Tower the tallest building in Kaohsiung, and the 2nd tallest in Taiwan after the Taipei 101.
For those who don’t know, 85 Sky Tower’s design was inspired by the Chinese character ‘gāo’ 高 meaning tall, and also part of the city’s name. You can see the colors of the sky reflect off the glass and steel during the day, while it’s an impeding structure looms like a shadow at night. Unfortunately, 85 Sky Tower has largely become abandoned. Many of the offices and businesses that once occupied the building have moved out, and the shopping mall has closed down. Even the observatory deck that used to offer a stunning view of the city has been completely emptied.
Authentic Taiwanese Breakfast Dining
The food scene at TAI Urban Resort in Kaohsiung is pretty impressive. There are six themed restaurants and two high-altitude outdoor bars. As a paying customer, breakfast was included only two-thirds of my stay. I think it should be included for as many nights that have been booked, but many hotels don’t even include breakfast so I digress. What I love though is that they don’t cater the food for Western palates. The spread is diverse and authentically Taiwanese. As someone who travels a lot in Asia, it’s refreshing to see a luxury hotel embrace local flavors so completely.
Is TAI Urban Resort in Kaohsiung Worth It?
Overall, I enjoyed my stay here, and would definitely stay again. That being said, if there’s one thing I didn’t like it’s the elevator system. I found it completely inefficient and frustrating! There’s no direct line between the guest room floors to the ground floor. You have to transfer to the 25th-floor lobby to get anywhere, which can be a pain during rush hour. It’s my only complaint about the place, but hey, no hotel is perfect, right?
So whether you’re here for business, family time, or just to explore Kaohsiung, there’s something special about staying in a place that feels so connected to its location.
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