Continue from: https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/421884

Interesting Itineraries, blogs & photos sharing

Taipei & surroundings (By JYS)- http://jy-s.com/category/travel/taiwan/
Taipei/ Kaushiung/ bullet train (By Jasz_24) - http://www.mytripbloggies.com/taiwan.htm
Taipei/Hualien/Chin sui bay/Taroko Gorge (by stimix): https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=30641516
Taipei..Emphasize on Jiufen/Yilan (By kampungboycitygal): http://kampungboycitygal.com/2009/07/execu...i-yilan-taiwan/
By Zstan: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=53036884


Hotel recommendations:

Current Popular 3* Hotels: Best to call them directly for booking. All Taiwan 3* Hotels have a 30~40% discount, so ask for it if the discount is not already mentioned on their website.
Won Star Hotel : http://www.wonstar.com.tw
Ta Shun: http://www.tshotel.com.tw
Go City Inn: http://www.gocityinn.com
Neijiang : http://www.neijiang-hotel.com.tw/
(Lowest price Quad room )
See You Hotel: http://www.taipeionestarhotel.com.tw
明日大飯店 [台北] - NT$980 [very very good location, but rate will differ on weekend, first nite $1180 but they give $200 disc voucher which can be used for ur following day stay]
高山青[阿里山] - RM260.87 [april quite peak season, best i can find]
Laurel Villa[日月潭] - NT$1800 [cheapest hotel i can find on the lake - other places with cheap rate need around 30mins bus ride to reach sun moon lake]
五號小築 [花蓮] - NT$999 [nice ming su - but the driver charge is very expensive]

Others:
http://www.agoda.com/asia/taiwan/taipei.html
http://www.asiarooms.com/taiwan/taipei.html
http://www.hotelclub.com/SearchResults.asp?id=5645

Hostel Recommendations

http://www.taipeihostel.com/ - Basic, clean & the cheapest - RM60/nite for 2. But expect to share toilet (Clean). Best - Free WIFI & also chatting & making friends from all over the world

Boon's recommendation: http://www.taiwanmex.com/

Others: http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php?Se...y67emDKPJCqqd61
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Taipei Hotels Review:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=33107851

Shoppings, Food & Nightlife recommendations

The Best place for Electronics is Guanghua http://www.freewebs.com/crazyazn/guanghuae...ronicmarket.htm

Nightlife: http://www.taiwannights.com/

Halal Food: http://www.taipeimosque.org.tw/mosque/pages/halalfood.html

Shihlin Nite Market: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilin_Night_Market

Ximending: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ximending


Transport

MRT Line

For more info: http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xItem=10...27496&mp=122032

Taiwan High speed train (only west coast to Kaoshiung):
http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/

Taiwan Rail Authority (Inc of Tilted's Taroko Express to Hualien)
http://www.railway.gov.tw/en/ticket/ticket-1.aspx

MUST Visit attractions in Taiwan:

-Taroko Gorge (Day trip sufficient)
- Yehliu Geopark
- Dansui old street
- Taipei 101
- Chiang kai Shek Memorial
- Jiufen
- Alisan
- Sun Moon Lake
- Hehuan Shan & Chinjing farm
- Beitou Hot spring (Taipei)
- Yang Ming shan ( Volcano & hiking)
- Wulai Hot spring
- Taipei Zoo

Nice Info about Taiwan:

http://www.taiwanese-secrets.com/facts-about-taiwan.html

Discounted Youth travel Card: http://youthtravel.tw/youthtrekker/

Easy Card for MRT, Buses & train: http://www.easycard.com.tw/english/index.asp

Currency Exchange /Money changing

At the time of this write-up (Dec'09), The Taiwan Dollar is not trading at a good rate in Malaysia & RM is also not well traded in Taiwan.
Thus, To get better rate, it is advisable that you change to US$ first in Malaysia..check the rate here: http://www.moneymaster.com.my/cc.php

However, on certain occasion, US$ might not be well traded as well in Taiwan & pls do & comparion 1st before deciding to convert 1st or otherwise

Thereafter, once u reach Taipei Airport, just changte the US$ to Taiwan $ at any currency exchangers in the airport (All the same rate + NT$30 commission). Check the rate here:
http://rate.bot.com.tw/Pages/Static/UIP003.en-US.htm

Old US currency



Taiwan Electric socket type:


Taipei Weather:



More free guides & brochures about Taiwan:

Taiwan Visitors Association, Kuala Lumpur Office
Address： WISMA GOLDHILL Suite 25-01, Level 25, Wisma Goldhill, 67 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel： +60-3-2070-6789
FaTx： +60-3-2072-3559
E-mail： tva@streamyx.com

This post has been edited by stimix: Aug 28 2012, 08:08 PM

Congratulation on Taiwan V2.

Well done.

Third

Welcome to Taiwan V2 thread..

Congrats on V2 of Taiwan thread. Taiwan is a place must go!

stimix, the MRT route map is outdated. there's 1 extra line in the middle of red and brown.

guys,

any advice which airline to taipei??
give up air-asia.. will die hard for 5 hours traveling..

thanks

if u guys dun mind checking out my posts:

Taiwan Day 1
Taiwan Day 2
Taiwan Day 3
Taiwan Day 4
Taiwan Day 4 - Part 2
Taiwan Day 4 - Part 3
day 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 have to wait till i have my blogging mojo back..

---

Added on May 27, 2011, 5:18 pmmoney not an issue?

then can try cathay pacific or EVA Air or MAS

This post has been edited by smoochiesayn: Jul 29 2011, 04:08 PM

i not think he will go for cathay too.. since there is a stop at HK..

can go HK airport jalan jalan awhile ma..

congrats on V2... looking forward all other sharings... can't wait to go in March - although it's 10 months from now >.<

Pls give me the link to replace the outdated one

Congrats on the new thread.....

Regarding the water fall, actually i didn't pay to go the waterfall if use foot to walk la... if i use the cable car then need pay ald la....

stimix - U da MAN!!
Looking at the info makes me wan to go there!

yay...version 2

Going Taiwan this Sunday.....eagerly waiting. Anything to do in Alishan?

there's a national park there.. and watch sunrise~

Hi all,

I'm going to Taiwan in September and planned to travel around West and Southern Taiwan.

I planned to drive through the journey as it is not as convenient as Taipei. Any advice on driving in Taiwan?

This is my draft itineary:
Taichung --> Sun Moon Lake --> Cingjing --> Nantou --> Chiayi --> Alishan --> Tainan --> Kaohsiung

It will be a 9 days trip and of cos for some of the places...it will only be day trip or half a day trip.

Please advice on the driving portion!

just to share my experience.
buy travel card if u're travelling around in taipei city. (悠游卡)
average bus fare from taipei to kenting should range around 700~800 NTD per trip. round trip cost around 1500. if u book the whole bus the price goes up to 2100 and above.
taxi fare starts from 70 NTD.
if u're looking for cheap accomodation, try 富玉庄 in shilin 士林 . get down in jiantan 剑谭 mrt station. it is only 5 minutes walk from mrt station to night market, 15 minutes walk from hotel to night market.
try to talk to taxi drivers when u arrive. they can tell u almost everything u ned to know, like places to eat. and dun eat in night market..food quality is very low in overall.

if u're looking for cheap purse/wallets with good quality, go look for a guy in shilin night market.his stall is in the center of the market, always talking '好了啦 我不要说了啦'..thn he will demo by burning his stuff with lighter. each item cost only 200 NTD.miss it, u will find same product with price of 600NTD and above..

hope it helps.

fourth day in taipei now enjoy shopping hehe. anyway jz check my pb update, credit card swipe rate : 100TWD = 10.64RM

and uniqlo taiwan doing huge promo tomolo, gona go shopppp again XD

---------------------------------

oh ya.. AA 5hour flight realli pain in da ass...

This post has been edited by lawliet88: May 29 2011, 07:05 PM

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial hall

---

Added on May 29, 2011, 8:56 pmJiufen

This post has been edited by wyen: May 29 2011, 08:58 PM


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stinky taufu




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Shabu shabu...really cheap around NT100-120 ~ Rm 10-12




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Hmnn the shabu-shabu very familiar...Don't tell the same one I went near Shihlin MRT station?

taroballs at jiufen, yehliu and shilin NM

---

Added on May 29, 2011, 9:20 pmAlmost there! Just beside Jiantan MRT

This post has been edited by wyen: May 29 2011, 09:20 PM


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Leofoo Village theme Park

This post has been edited by wyen: May 29 2011, 10:08 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

Hi guys,
I am not sure if this is the right forum to post this, please direct me to the right forum if im in the wrong place.

I am working for a mystery shopping company and currently we are urgently looking for shoppers in Hualian/Jiayi/Tainan/Kaohsiung cities.
It is an automotive project where shoppers need to visit car dealers and enquire about a particular car model.

Shoppers need not test drive, but they need to get the name cards/price list of the vehicle.
I will provide the model that shoppers are required to inquire. Shoppers are allowed to visit maximum 3 outlets on any day and any time.

Shop fee is $20 euros/shop, each visit is estimated to take about 30 mins.

Report will be filled on our client's online reporting system in Mandarin ONLY.

If anyone is in Taiwan currently or has relatives/friends that is interested in this project please PM me for more info.

Feel free to ask any questions too.
Thank you.

Hi all,

I'm going to Taiwan in September and planned to travel around West and Southern Taiwan.

I planned to drive through the journey as it is not as convenient as Taipei. Any advice on driving in Taiwan?

This is my draft itineary:
Taichung --> Sun Moon Lake --> Cingjing --> Nantou --> Chiayi --> Alishan --> Tainan --> Kaohsiung

It will be a 9 days trip and of cos for some of the places...it will only be day trip or half a day trip.

Please advice on the driving portion!

First of all, u need to get the international driving license..

Btw how many people are going? if just 2 of you, i not think driving is good idea.. some more not familiar with the surrounding n road condition, better strict to hiring a driver + car if money not a problem for u..

stimix, here you go, reuploaded to imageshack to prevent hotlinking.



enlarge version: http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/6185/metrotaibei.png

This post has been edited by aiyume: May 31 2011, 12:01 PM

Oh man, the pictures of food makes me miss Taiwan so much Lol

just checking, if i have 4 people travelling, izit cheaper to take a cab? or still MRT/bus is cheaper?

how much will it cost for 4 people with luggages to take a cab from taoyuan airport to shilin? say at around 11pm.

My hostel charge NTD1,000 for 1 to 4 person per cab.. i think it is the standard price..

during my research, i got see some charged for NTD900+

Guys , how i check my booking number at airasia without login ? i need to know the booking status .

thanks guys~

OK Tnx. I probably use other than imageshack bcos of their pathetic rules of requiring login & those using IE cab't really view it

During payment time, u r using credit card or direct debit? if direct debit, ur statement might show out ur booking no..

Another method, try use back the email address u used during booking n create account with AA.. hope that they got record down based on ur email address

hmm...then it's cheaper to take bus to taipei then MRT. cost less than TWD600 for 4pax. thanks.

okie. just host whichever better. been ages since i last used imageshack.

I found this

Maybe u can try consider.. look like more cheaper now

thanks alice! 1500 2 ways sounds like a good deal. i'll keep this in mind.

i use the direct debit by public bank , but i need update my details, and need to check the latest status for airasia ticket ...

did u log in as member when you did the booking? if not, you might need to register as a member now using the same email address you used during booking.

Ok, now login to you public bank portal/website and check on the description for your payment to AA.. like mine, i am used Hong Leong bank n in my payment description it does stated my booking no.. thus, if yours r the same as mine, then u got the booking no n can proceed to update your details n etc in AA's page..

i think u better go with register ur email address u used during ur booking with AA now





This post has been edited by @lice~~: Jun 1 2011, 04:02 PM

when i booking i dint login , , i use my friend email to buy one , nwm i call him reg 1st then see how , thanks for help me ya

gone to Tamshui 貓雨咖啡 cat's coffee today
sooooo many cats in there. must go for those cat lover or wanna pet cats .

just behind the starbucks at tamshui mrt.

How is the price in that cafe? Reasonable?

I never went to cafe at Taiwan before.... Really regret....

taiwan also got hello kitty cafe oh ^^

also got jay chou cafe.. called Mr J

where is mr j cafe??? oso where is the hello kitty cafe????

There's a thing called google search u know

Anyway, here's Mr J Cafe. The one at TMU is more famous..as what i read. I've never been there before. It's french-italian restaurant. I think there's a minimum spending required if u wanna dine there.

There are two Mr J's Cafe in Taiwan.
1) Taipei Medical University located at 250 Wu Xing Street. (As the security counter for direction when you get to Taipei Medical University)
Take the MRT to Taipei City Hall MRT Station and transfer to a free shuttle to the Restaurant.
2) 308 Guangfu South Road
Take the MRT to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall MRT Station and exit at Exit 2. Take a short walk to the Restaurant



Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe.
No. 90 DaAn Rd. Sec. 1、Taipei City (MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Exit 3) 台北市大安路一段90號

Tel: (02)2711-1132

http://www.hellokittysweets.com.tw/




This post has been edited by jlgoh9: Jun 7 2011, 01:31 PM

U know i know google search but hor, all chinese word then it start get me confuse when come to map... tat y i din manage go to these cafe.... i failed to search the jacky cafe also....

@jlgoh9, the digital tour buddy, did u apply online in advanced or you only apply when you reach there? if online, how long did it take to get approved? when you collect from the airport, how long did it take for you to get it?

reason i need to know coz my flight arriving TPE at 22:25 (if flight on time), i'm not sure if i got enough time to get a bus to the hostel. by the way, i can arrange late check in time with fun taipei right?

regarding the digital tour buddy, u need apply thru online.... when i approach the staff there, they said need apply at least 3days before ur arrival.... it very fast only as u just need show ur passport then they will copy and u fill in a form... it won take u longer than 15mins....

if u take bus then u need around 1hrs something to reach taipei city.... u need sometime to clear from the kastam....

aiyume~~

digital buddy can apply starting one month before your departure... if they have the phone at their hand, they will reply u asap.
when i was there, i just need to fill in ur details and they will explain a bit. quite fast actually. just right outside of the departure hall.

price range quite high, 1 set inclusive of main dish, drinks within range below 200TWD (enuff for 2 pax), 1 small fruit dish = TWD350

i try their seafood cheezy baked rice, very satisfied with the dish, many cheese and cream, & especially the squid , dam Q and sweet .


* site-note for digital tour buddy:
after u apply online, if still did not receive any confirmation 1weeks before ur trip, try send an email to them. u will get back reply real fast


------------------------------------------------------

between, TS the link for : The Best place for Electronics is Guanghua is down

This post has been edited by lawliet88: Jun 7 2011, 08:55 PM

yeah..most of them answered your questions. You can start apply the Digital Tour Buddy(DTB) a month before you are scheduled to reach there. If both you and your partner is aged 30 and below, you can apply for each of you. Better cos both of you actually have phone that you can call to each other in case one of you is lost. Anyway, make sure that you get a conformation email from them that your application is successful. You can remind them about a week before you reach and they will reply fast.

Print it out and hand to them when you collect your DTB alongside a copy of ur passport, and driver's license(if you're not driving). The process of collecting is not long...maybe 5-10mins ok already because they have already prepared for you in advance. You need to make sure that you stated in your application that you want to collect it at Taoyuan Terminal 2 (if there is where you land. Airasia land in T2. I'm not sure about MAS which i think is ur flight and other airlines). The collection is at customer service counter which is right at the entrance of the arrival gate.

I think late at night, you'll get out faster unless your baggage is the last one to be thrown onto the conveyor belt I think you can get out within 30mins. My flight with airasia reached at 2.20pm. By 3pm I'm already at the express bus to Taipei.

I think most hostel/homestay allow late check in. You'll need to inform them in advance.

---

Added on June 7, 2011, 10:15 pmI'm banana also... but i can find it

Er...Jacky cafe?

This post has been edited by jlgoh9: Jun 7 2011, 10:18 PM

the xian gei cafe.... heard xian gei have cafe.... Actually I didn't knew that Jay Chau have cafe when I went to Taiwan.... Regret....

anyone here been to taiwan during end of Aug? how's the weather there?

That time is typhoon time... better not visit the east of Taiwan at that time...

where are the places ?

Hualien, Taroko

most likely i'll get those airport transfer car, saw 1 charging TWD750 per way.

thanks smoochie

i'm taking AA just hope no flight delay loh... i'm travelling with 3 others. only 2 are under 30. but i think 4 ppl with 2 phones should be ok gua.

then how about the youth travel card? anyone has applied?

AA have flights that reached at night? I thought they only have one going there everyday that reached about 2.30pm.

I didnt apply the travel card. but it's no harm applying for it since it's free anyway. you'll get some discounts at selected places, so if you don't visit the places, there's no use of the travel card la.

ya there is. flight at 5.45pm reaching 10.25pm. that's why the time abit rush if i were to take a bus then change to MRT. need to collect the tour buddy somemore. tot since i'm applying for the tour buddy might as well apply the travel card together since it's free.

---

Added on June 8, 2011, 10:17 ambtw, when are u updating your next blog entry leh?

This post has been edited by aiyume: Jun 8 2011, 10:17 AM

ic. you can ask your hostel about the option of the airport transfer whether he can get a better price for you or not.

my blog ar? haha. working on it now actually..maybe a few more days..perhaps..i can't believe that it's 2months+ since i went there and i still haven't finish writing about it

i'm booking the fun taipei backpackers 1 room 2 double beds. seems decent and few recommended (including you ) after i booked and paid the deposit they will response thru email right? then i can ask if they have a better option for airport transfer.

lol it always happen. most of my travel entries ended half way XD then it got too outdated i din even finish

Yes. After you paid the 10% booking fees, Kevin would require you to confirm the reservation with another 30% payment. The balance will be paid when you reached there. Once the 30% is paid (thru paypal) then you can actually ask him about the transfer.

what if i don't have paypal? can i use cc instead?

---

Added on June 8, 2011, 11:36 ami din know have to pay another 30%. coz it wasn't mentioned in the hostel page.

This post has been edited by aiyume: Jun 8 2011, 11:36 AM

well, i didn't know either. we used our friend's paypal account.

but yes, you still can use cc. there's an option at the paypal page. don't worry, i think it's just a standard procedure...

oh ok....think of bright side, at least i no need to bring so much cash with me XD thanks for your info.

it's correct as mentioned by jlgoh9.. u can pay by credit card via the paypal site, i done it.. between u may direct contact Kevin n do the booking.. it's the same process u go thru other booking website.. n a good point is Kevin can give a little bit of discount

Make sure u inform Kevin in advance abt ur late arrival..

can do direct booking with Kevin? how? i only know hostelworld.com and hostel.com

Yes, just direct email him.. he will send you the payment instruction for deposit via paypal once you confirm to stay with them

PM me if you need his email address

Don't worry if u arrive too late... you're not going to meet Kevin anyway...haha...

You can just take the key and pay at the OK Mart nearby the hostel. The OK Mart is open 24hours.

if can hand carry the luggage better still. no need wait for luggage.

i applied for the youth travel card but doesnt serve any much use. most prolly my sightseeing ticket is already paid for. but u get to keep the tag for souvenir. no harm applying, IMHO. might get discount on certain things

my trip were almost 8 months ago. i'm still at my Day 3 for my 10 days trip.. lost my blogging mojo d..

don't think can hand carry a luggage with 7days of clothings XD

ya, coz i'm going on my own. might need it somewhere.

Kevin kinda fast in responding email but no discount

u don't need to bring 7 days clothes... bring 3-4 days can liao... either u buy new one there or u wash the clothes there. keep the luggage space for your shopping items

if going taiwan alone for sightseeing need visa or anything ?

no need...

i mean just use passport only ? and can stay more than 10days ?

do you tell him you recommended by other?

lol....if cannot get nice ones there mar kantoi

no leh....how to tell him who recommended leh? unless he got super good memory? XD

wash la..got a lot of coin operated laundry there...

how much is the taiwan food for malaysia money ?

Taiwan street food price range is usually from NT30 to NT65. If u take the current exchage rate, it's going to cost you probably from RM3.5 to RM7 per dish.

Anyone can suggest what MUST buy things in taiwan? Pineapple cake? what else?

While prepare the list of items to bring over to Taiwan, suddenly I thinking I should list out what I should bring back from Taiwan too..

i din buy pineapple cake during my trip since msia also can get it easily
if u can eat non-halal food, try this, i get high rating from my fren n family




hints: actually u can find alot of food type gift under their supermarket。
try go over to Taipei City Hall mrt area, there got:
4x 新光三越 （Shin Kong Mitsukoshi - try visit lower floor of A4 block, alternative way to purchase pork paper i post),
統一阪急百貨 (Hankyu - Uniqlo Taiwan)
诚品信义区 (Eslite)
BELLAVITA (heard it was the highest class lady department store o_o)

all these just nearby each other at city hall mrt during night time, all these building bling bling with different color 1 lol

This post has been edited by lawliet88: Jun 11 2011, 02:32 PM

even now they suspect the pineapple tarts ALSO have the cancer causing chemicals. so be careful what you buyin.

usually ppl buy pineapple cake, sun cake and muachi back from taiwan...

personally, i don't really like taiwan's pineapple cake as ours are much more nicer. but since your friend/family might not been to taiwan before, can let them experience that la...

i bought sun cake from taichung. tasted ok but not really wow. taichung is famous for it's sun cake. but my tour guide say that you can get better one at Jiufen.

else, i also bought some food stuff at cingjing.

p/s - blog updated

This post has been edited by jlgoh9: Jun 11 2011, 06:28 PM

buy pineapple tart from Vigor

Hi,

I will be backpacking at Taiwan for 8 days. Is there anyone know any info on the Storage Locker at train station?

there are 2 types.
1. luggage box - locker system. Rate from NTD20~70/3hours
2. luggage room. rate NT17 per luggage per day.

I need to store my medium size luggage. Is the luggage room able to fit it??
btw.. where can i get the luggage room? Is tis available at all train station?
cant seems to find any info on this service though :S