The Howard Plaza attracts a lot of tour groups, but don't hold that against it. The rooms were all recently upgraded, and they have marble-clad bathrooms (complete with tushy-warming—and tushy-cleaning—Japanese toilets), dignified tan and brown boxy modern furnishings, and blackout curtains. Because the guest rooms don't start until the 5th floor (there’s a luxury goods mall on the first four floors), none get the traffic noise one would expect in this busy location. You'll also have the options of three restaurants, bar, gym and that very rare perk for Taipei hotels: an outdoor pool, making this is an excellent choice for family. In the lobby, a gown-bedecked singer belts out American pop songs in the midst of a small lake. Whether she’s singing in Chinese or English is hard to tell, but her presence certainly adds a touch of kitsch to the otherwise dignified lobby.