Before spamming photos and details on the Taipei Trip, i decided to post information and certain necessities cost for Taipei. Hope it will be useful, i will definitely be visiting other parts of Taiwan again in the near future hence this piece of information will be able helps me plan my itinerary better and have a better understanding of the cost.
Preparation before trip:
1. Visited TVA (Taiwan Visitor Association) at Chevron House Level 10 to redeem free gift for each traveller
- Each month is different, we got Everrich Duty Free Gift coupon. Was hoping for Taiwan Easycard, but oh well gift coupon was good too.
- It can redeem specialities or souvenirs at a range of NT80 - NT200.
- Suggest that you give TVA a call to check on the gift, it will save you a trip down if you are not interested that month's gift.
2. Change Currency
- Both my boyfriend and i prepared SGD800 to be changed to TWD for the trip. We tried to budget it at SGD100/Person/Day. Though at the end we overspent of about SGD100 as i went crazy on clothes and specialities/souvenirs for both of our families and friends (which cause us to exceed our luaggage limit). For people who is not as crazy as us and do not intend to make much purchases, SGD800/person is way more than enough.
- Based on online exchange rate at that time, from SGD1 - TWD is 23 if i am not wrong. We changed ours at Boon Lay, we were offered 22.9 which i think was quite ok. Later in Taipei i remember Edmund mentioning that exchange rate was better there.
- Not a lot Money changer in Taipei, or maybe i should say not at all. Only place you can visit was either at airports or banks. For SGD, not all banks accept, couldn't remember which one was it.
3. Travel Insurance
- Got ours from POSB, Traveller shield. SGD78 for both of us
In Taipei:
1. Mobile Prepaid Card
- Sold beside Arrival Hall, everyone will be queuing up for it hence it was easy to spot.
- They have different brands like Taiwan Mobile, FareastOne & Chung Hwa.
- Got ours from Chung Hwa as i heard that the reception was better even on mountainous area (which was absolutely true, the internet connection was fast and receptive throughout)
- Prices between brands was relatively similar, they have 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days to a month depending on your needs.
- Package was priced differently depending on whether you want more data or more outgoing calls. We prefer more data hence got ours at NT500 (10 days unlimited data and NT100 usage of outgoing calls) we chose 10 days package even though we were only there for 8 days.
- If usage exceeds, you can conveniently top up at any 7-11 store.
2. Easy Card
- Card price was NT100 which will not be served as transport fare hence will require top up
- Card can be purchased from EasyCard counters or from Easy Card machines located at any MRT Stations
- For MRT, the fare ranges from about NT14 - 30 depending on where you are going. The furthest we go was only about NT26 if i am not wrong. If not travelling to many places NT500 for 8 days is enough.
- If you will not be there for many days or not intending for another visit next time, you can return the card back to counter and will be refunded NT100 as long as the card age was less than 3 months
- Personally think it is cheaper than paying for the travel tokens which price at a minimum of NT20
per trip to NT35 if i am not wrong
3. Youth Card (Optional)
- Free registration at Taipei Main Station Visitor Information counter (located at the left side of the main hall)
- Can get you discount for attractions like Taipei Zoo
- Will be useful if you will be visiting a lot of parks or what otherwise it is pretty useless. We only used it once at the Taipei Zoo
4. iTaiwan Wifi Access (Optional)
- Free registration at Taipei Main Station Visitor Information counter (located at the left side of the main hall)
- It provides you wifi at most public areas like restaurants, certain attractions, MRT i can't remember seeing it but i guess it does provide
- I would say it is quite redundent if you already have gotten yourself a prepaid card but who knows, it might come to good use if say like data used up or what.
Other information:
1. Transport
- Taiwan have 3 train types: HSR, TRA & MRT (it is really easy to get mess up, especially our hotel was located at Taipei Main station where all 3 was available there.)
- HSR (High speed railway) brings you to main city like Taipei - Banqiao - Taoyuan - etc, take this if you are going on backpack travel around whole Taiwan. NT150 - NT200
- TRA (Taiwan Railway Administration) brings you to small divisions of each cities. Usually will specific a certain destination e.g. Taipei - Keelung then in between have many stops. NT50 - 100
- MRT (Metro) is concentrated in taipei, it doesn't bring you to far places like keelung or other small towns. If just travelling around Taipei it will be the option for you, Ximending, 东区, Taipei 101 etc is all within reach. NT14-NT30
- Buses, many companies. If from Airport to Taipei, more well known ones are like Freego, Kuokuang etc (From airport to Taipei is around NT125 or so, normal short trips is around NT20)
- Taxi, is really really expensive in Taiwan, especially if you are travelling in twos or threes. My experience from Taipei to Taoyuan airport was NT1000, from Jiufen to Shifen to Keelung was NT1200, from Taipei to taipei, 10 mins ride was around NT500 or so. Certain long trips is unavoidable but otherwise transportation in Taiwan is relatively within reach and quite efficient i would say so if not in a hurry Trains or buses will be a better option.
2. Spendings
- Hotels. Was told by a nice uncle from a night market at Shifen that in Taipei NT2000/Night for hotel is ideal, it can get you a good hotel or NT1000/night for minsu. Because will be out most of the time, so a small hotel is fine. We booked Hotel Relax, it was conveniently located near MRT. Staff was very friendly and nice. Interior was modern and as the name says it was relaxing. Although there is no great facilities like spa or what like big hotels but basics like laundry room (NT50) and cafe they do have.
- Food. I would say it is relatively cheap. On an average of NT30 - 50 for normal street food. For restaurant or fast food will be an average of NT100 - NT300 or higher depending on what you are eating. For specialities & souvenirs like Tai Yang Bing, Pineapple tarts etc, it is priced at around NT100 - NT200 depending on which place you go. Places like Jiufen i find them having a huge variety and range of specialities and souvenirs hence a good place to buy souvenirs at.
- Clothes/goods. If talking about Wufenpu clothes it is price on an average of NT150 - NT200. For normal retail i would say it is not so cheap. Many big brands just entered Taiwan not long ago hence it will be more expensive than countries that already have those brands. Same goes for their 3Cs products. Prices is relatively close to market price, not particularly cheaper than other places.
- Attraction. Most of the places i went was free admission. In terms of attractions Taiwan really is a good place to visit. Museums and parks admission was affordable and interesting enough. E.g Zoo was NT60/person and further NT30 discount if you have your youth card. Gold Ecological Park & Beitou Hot spring Museum was all free admission. Taipei 101 was NT500 which is think was of a reasonable price too.
My Itinerary:
Day 1
1. Ximending - Street eats & Shopping
2. Taipei Main Station
Day 2
1. Yang Ming Shan
2. Taipei 101
3. Shihlin
Day 3
1. Taipei Zoo
2. Dong Qu
3. Wu Fen Pu Commercial Market
4. Rao he Night Market
Day 4
1. Ximending - Movie & KTV
Day 5
1. Xin Beitou - Museum, Hot spring, Ramen
2. Damshui - Old street, Fishermen's Wharf
Day 6
1. Jiufen
2. Gold Ecological Park
3. Shifen
4. Ximending - Dinner
Day 7
1. Wu Fen pu
2. Shida Night Market
3. Shihlin Night Market
Day 8
1. Ximending - Shop & street eats
Photos and details of the trip will be in the next few posts. As you can see, Ximending is our favorite hang out place as it was just one stop away from our hotel.
