2 week vacation in taiwan...any help?

[SilentZero]

Planning on a trip to taiwan this spring, can anyone give me any suggestions as to costs of things like food/dining, entertainment, taxi costs, etc. Also I am looking for a 4 star or above hotel in taipei that is in a good location, so if anyone has travelled or perhaps lives there, I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks.

 

[kogase]

Why are you going to Taiwan? Touring electronics factories?

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: kogase
Why are you going to Taiwan? Touring electronics factories?

Friends and a job prospect

 

[mrrman]

I stayed at a place close to the Tawian Trade Center that was reasonable, dont recall the name but google the trade center for a addy check out hotels in the area. If shopping is your thing, the markets are the place to go for cheap stuff. Do a search on tourism for that area.

 

[Mark R]

I was quite impressed with the Grand Hotel in Taipei when I went - certainly, everything you'd expect given the name. Not cheap though, as it was way more than US $100 per night. The other problem was that it was miles away from the city centre - taxi mandatory. I spent some of the time at a hotel in the city centre (The Leofoo), a better location, but only a 3* rating and I wasn't particularly impressed, even for that.

If you can find someone who lives there, they are probably the best guide to entertainment. However, obvious tourist hot spots are the National Palace Museum, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and the Night market. Some would include 'snake alley' too, but the gory stories seem much exaggerated.

Taxi fares were generally OK, around NT $300 for a 5 mile ride. Taxis are a typical New York style yellow, and quite plentiful. Just be aware that you might find some drivers try to rip you off - particularly if you look like a gullible tourist.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Mark R
I was quite impressed with the Grand Hotel in Taipei when I went - certainly, everything you'd expect given the name. Not cheap though, as it was way more than US $100 per night. The other problem was that it was miles away from the city centre - taxi mandatory. I spent some of the time at a hotel in the city centre (The Leofoo), a better location, but only a 3* rating and I wasn't particularly impressed, even for that.

If you can find someone who lives there, they are probably the best guide to entertainment. However, obvious tourist hot spots are the National Palace Museum, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and the Night market. Some would include 'snake alley' too, but the gory stories seem much exaggerated.

Taxi fares were generally OK, around NT $300 for a 5 mile ride. Taxis are a typical New York style yellow, and quite plentiful. Just be aware that you might find some drivers try to rip you off - particularly if you look like a gullible tourist.

Thanks for the helpful info :thumbsup:

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
Planning on a trip to taiwan this spring, can anyone give me any suggestions as to costs of things like food/dining, entertainment, taxi costs, etc. Also I am looking for a 4 star or above hotel in taipei that is in a good location, so if anyone has travelled or perhaps lives there, I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks.

i was just there a few weeks ago, you can check out my pics in my sig.

most of the time, i stay with my relatives for free. i did stay at a business hotel for about NT$2000 ($60) a night for 2 nights. You would be able to get the same deal at the Grand Palace Hotel if you had someone who's a citizen there book a room for you online.

Dining is very cheap. For traditional breakfast that consists of soy bean milk, scallion egg pancake, and a steamer full of pork dumplings will cost about $2 or less. some motels will offer free breakfast buffet. of course, you can spend more money on food if you want, but you don't have to for a good meal. even at 7-11, you can get a delicious lunchbox for about $2.40.

Taxi meter starts at NT$70 ($2.10), very cheap compare to here.

 

[ElFenix]

night market!

 

[doze]

No matter where you stay you will need to take a taxi or the subway/train is also easy to use. If your going for a convention then the Taipei Grand Hyatt that MarkR mentioned is nice but priced according to convenience. I've also stayed at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel several times, its as nice as the Hyatt but cheaper and also pretty close to some shopping and other areas.

Taxi's will run you about $10 for a 20 minute ride and there are plenty of them. There is a luxury car service (mercedes, bmw etc...) that operates from the airport and all hotels that is about $30-40 a ride and I always take it from the airport to hotel because it's at least an hour ride and after spending so much time on the plane its worth it to be comfortable rather than riding in a cab that almost costs the same amount.

Local food is cheap and the hotel and western places are priced fairly high. If you have a GSM phone then bring it buy a sim card in Taipei so you dont have to pay hotel rates for calls. Its cheap even when you call the USA because mobile phone carriers are actually competitive there.

 

[Pepsei]

oh yeah, subway is cheap and there's good shopping in the underground street mall by the Taipei grand central train station.

bus is cheaper, but i wouldn't know which one to take from just looking at the sign.

I want to go again soon.. probably during the winter again.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: doze
No matter where you stay you will need to take a taxi or the subway/train is also easy to use. If your going for a convention then the Taipei Grand Hyatt that MarkR mentioned is nice but priced according to convenience. I've also stayed at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel several times, its as nice as the Hyatt but cheaper and also pretty close to some shopping and other areas.

Taxi's will run you about $10 for a 20 minute ride and there are plenty of them. There is a luxury car service (mercedes, bmw etc...) that operates from the airport and all hotels that is about $30-40 a ride and I always take it from the airport to hotel because it's at least an hour ride and after spending so much time on the plane its worth it to be comfortable rather than riding in a cab that almost costs the same amount.

Local food is cheap and the hotel and western places are priced fairly high. If you have a GSM phone then bring it buy a sim card in Taipei so you dont have to pay hotel rates for calls. Its cheap even when you call the USA because mobile phone carriers are actually competitive there.

Excellent info, and thanks for the tip on the luxury car service!

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
oh yeah, subway is cheap and there's good shopping in the underground street mall by the Taipei grand central train station.

bus is cheaper, but i wouldn't know which one to take from just looking at the sign.

I want to go again soon.. probably during the winter again.

Thanks for the info and the picture link. I am going to go twice this year I believe..~may and then again ~sept/oct.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: SilentZero

Originally posted by: Mark R
I was quite impressed with the Grand Hotel in Taipei when I went - certainly, everything you'd expect given the name. Not cheap though, as it was way more than US $100 per night. The other problem was that it was miles away from the city centre - taxi mandatory. I spent some of the time at a hotel in the city centre (The Leofoo), a better location, but only a 3* rating and I wasn't particularly impressed, even for that.

If you can find someone who lives there, they are probably the best guide to entertainment. However, obvious tourist hot spots are the National Palace Museum, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and the Night market. Some would include 'snake alley' too, but the gory stories seem much exaggerated.

Taxi fares were generally OK, around NT $300 for a 5 mile ride. Taxis are a typical New York style yellow, and quite plentiful. Just be aware that you might find some drivers try to rip you off - particularly if you look like a gullible tourist.

Thanks for the helpful info :thumbsup:

No point in staying in the Grand Hotel. It's an old place and it was famous long time ago. Now there are hotels sprawling all over the place, and pretty much if you take a look around the Grand Hotel, it's mainly tourists that live there.

It's not the most convenient location,a nd while you can see the MRT station, it's still quite far since u're up on a hill.

I recommend staying near the Taipei Main Station. There's a Caesar Park Hotel there with plenty of restaurants below. THeres electronics stores right around there (3 I count at least), and plenty of shopping there too.

I'm currently in Taipei myself, and I'm staying at the Howard International House on Xin Sheng S. Road Sec. 2. My parents like staying there cuz it's cheaper and the rooms are nice and big. Plus internet is cheaper there.

Umm. Costs around 90 NT to get to the Rail Station from this hotel, and to get to Taipei 101, it's about 110 or so.

If you're paying 300NT to get somewhere on Taxi, even though it's a mere $10, you're going WAYYyyyy too far.

Thats why I recommend staying in Caesar Park. You're right next to MRT station, and a ton of bus stops.

Good hotel? Hyatt next to Taipei 101, but I say it's not worth it. TOO expensive. That area is newer, and generally less popular because it's more newer developed. Convention center is there, more business/finance stuff, expensive shopping, etc. The more crowded areas are like near central Taipei at the rail station.

Originally posted by: doze
No matter where you stay you will need to take a taxi or the subway/train is also easy to use. If your going for a convention then the Taipei Grand Hyatt that MarkR mentioned is nice but priced according to convenience. I've also stayed at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel several times, its as nice as the Hyatt but cheaper and also pretty close to some shopping and other areas.

Taxi's will run you about $10 for a 20 minute ride and there are plenty of them. There is a luxury car service (mercedes, bmw etc...) that operates from the airport and all hotels that is about $30-40 a ride and I always take it from the airport to hotel because it's at least an hour ride and after spending so much time on the plane its worth it to be comfortable rather than riding in a cab that almost costs the same amount.

Local food is cheap and the hotel and western places are priced fairly high. If you have a GSM phone then bring it buy a sim card in Taipei so you dont have to pay hotel rates for calls. Its cheap even when you call the USA because mobile phone carriers are actually competitive there.

Gosh. Local food? I can eat with my parents and spend something like $15 US tops and we'll all be full. You can get freaking crazy full on steak meals (western) for $30 even. That's pretty decent IMO. Don't try their western food though. There's no point. I think of western food here as those cantonese cafes they have in the US where they serve a mix of Asian/Western food. It's just not authentic western food. I just went to a Thai restaurant with no PAD THAI last night (I was about to die looking at the menu and not being able to find noodle dishes).

Yea.. try the car shuttles from the airport. I believe I paid $1100 NT to get from CKS Intl. to Taipei in a nice new Camry. Good service I say.

 

[OdiN]

Well...honesty I would say don't take a job there and take a gas mask. The pollution there is HORRIBLE...well...I'm assuming you are going to Taipei.

They don't have near the level of restrictions on pollution that we have here in the states and you will probably have a sore throat by the end of your first day if you are out and about a lot. They have bunches of factories and such....I really do not like it.

 

[PoPPeR]

i wish i could help u out since i've been to taiwan 8 times in my life... but they were all before i was 18 years old and i dont remember sh!t from them

 

[Powermoloch]

Man...

I went to bangkok (pronoucned as bang-cauk)..beautiful....

Just avoid scary places...

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: SilentZero

Originally posted by: Mark R
I was quite impressed with the Grand Hotel in Taipei when I went - certainly, everything you'd expect given the name. Not cheap though, as it was way more than US $100 per night. The other problem was that it was miles away from the city centre - taxi mandatory. I spent some of the time at a hotel in the city centre (The Leofoo), a better location, but only a 3* rating and I wasn't particularly impressed, even for that.

If you can find someone who lives there, they are probably the best guide to entertainment. However, obvious tourist hot spots are the National Palace Museum, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and the Night market. Some would include 'snake alley' too, but the gory stories seem much exaggerated.

Taxi fares were generally OK, around NT $300 for a 5 mile ride. Taxis are a typical New York style yellow, and quite plentiful. Just be aware that you might find some drivers try to rip you off - particularly if you look like a gullible tourist.

Thanks for the helpful info :thumbsup:

No point in staying in the Grand Hotel. It's an old place and it was famous long time ago. Now there are hotels sprawling all over the place, and pretty much if you take a look around the Grand Hotel, it's mainly tourists that live there.

It's not the most convenient location,a nd while you can see the MRT station, it's still quite far since u're up on a hill.

I recommend staying near the Taipei Main Station. There's a Caesar Park Hotel there with plenty of restaurants below. THeres electronics stores right around there (3 I count at least), and plenty of shopping there too.

I'm currently in Taipei myself, and I'm staying at the Howard International House on Xin Sheng S. Road Sec. 2. My parents like staying there cuz it's cheaper and the rooms are nice and big. Plus internet is cheaper there.

Umm. Costs around 90 NT to get to the Rail Station from this hotel, and to get to Taipei 101, it's about 110 or so.

If you're paying 300NT to get somewhere on Taxi, even though it's a mere $10, you're going WAYYyyyy too far.

Thats why I recommend staying in Caesar Park. You're right next to MRT station, and a ton of bus stops.

Good hotel? Hyatt next to Taipei 101, but I say it's not worth it. TOO expensive. That area is newer, and generally less popular because it's more newer developed. Convention center is there, more business/finance stuff, expensive shopping, etc. The more crowded areas are like near central Taipei at the rail station.

Originally posted by: doze
No matter where you stay you will need to take a taxi or the subway/train is also easy to use. If your going for a convention then the Taipei Grand Hyatt that MarkR mentioned is nice but priced according to convenience. I've also stayed at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel several times, its as nice as the Hyatt but cheaper and also pretty close to some shopping and other areas.

Taxi's will run you about $10 for a 20 minute ride and there are plenty of them. There is a luxury car service (mercedes, bmw etc...) that operates from the airport and all hotels that is about $30-40 a ride and I always take it from the airport to hotel because it's at least an hour ride and after spending so much time on the plane its worth it to be comfortable rather than riding in a cab that almost costs the same amount.

Local food is cheap and the hotel and western places are priced fairly high. If you have a GSM phone then bring it buy a sim card in Taipei so you dont have to pay hotel rates for calls. Its cheap even when you call the USA because mobile phone carriers are actually competitive there.

Gosh. Local food? I can eat with my parents and spend something like $15 US tops and we'll all be full. You can get freaking crazy full on steak meals (western) for $30 even. That's pretty decent IMO. Don't try their western food though. There's no point. I think of western food here as those cantonese cafes they have in the US where they serve a mix of Asian/Western food. It's just not authentic western food. I just went to a Thai restaurant with no PAD THAI last night (I was about to die looking at the menu and not being able to find noodle dishes).

Yea.. try the car shuttles from the airport. I believe I paid $1100 NT to get from CKS Intl. to Taipei in a nice new Camry. Good service I say.

Well I am actually planning on the Hyatt....just because of its location and status mainly. I am not really a food person, so I am not picky at all. From living in hawaii the past many years (now back in NY), I am used to high food prices, so even if its $75 per day for food I am not so worried.

One question though..is the sheraton hotel in a better location than the Hyatt? How do the rooms and stay compare? Thanks.

 

[Pepsei]

1100 from cks to taipei!?!?! i think i only exchanged enough dollars to get NT$9000 and I have NT$2000 left after 15 days. If you have relatives in Taiwan they should go pick you up, take you out for food, and let you stay at their place or spring for the hotel.

the western meal that i had was even better than here in terms of price and quality. now, reading from an excerpt of my diary

The $1200NT (total of $36 set meal for 4) dinner starts off with appetizers and soup , which consists of Caesar salad, mushroom soup(with filo dough on top), tempura fish & asparagus, spicy marinated pork wrapped on inoki mushroom, fried asparagus wrapped with bacon, garlic baked escargot, and baked mushroom au gratin, the main dishes includes wild mushroom penne, spicy fish roe and squid pasta, mushroom & bacon thin pizza, and bacon mushroom linguini. The finish touch is fresh pear and orange blended ice drink with two desserts tiramisu and chestnut cake.

i'll need to find another site to put up more pictures.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
1100 from cks to taipei!?!?! i think i only exchanged enough dollars to get NT$9000 and I have NT$2000 left after 15 days. If you have relatives in Taiwan they should go pick you up, take you out for food, and let you stay at their place or spring for the hotel.

the western meal that i had was even better than here in terms of price and quality. now, reading from an excerpt of my diary

The $1200NT (total of $36 set meal for 4) dinner starts off with appetizers and soup , which consists of Caesar salad, mushroom soup(with filo dough on top), tempura fish & asparagus, spicy marinated pork wrapped on inoki mushroom, fried asparagus wrapped with bacon, garlic baked escargot, and baked mushroom au gratin, the main dishes includes wild mushroom penne, spicy fish roe and squid pasta, mushroom & bacon thin pizza, and bacon mushroom linguini. The finish touch is fresh pear and orange blended ice drink with two desserts tiramisu and chestnut cake.

i'll need to find another site to put up more pictures.

:beer:

 

[doze]

I think the Sheraton is in a better location unless you are going to the convention center, otherwise both are comparable as far as rooms and stay. I've also heard that Brother hotel was nice with better rates. Basically any 4 star hotel in asia will have nicer, cleaner rooms and better service at a much lower rate than its US equivalent. I used to use a website (i think it was asiatravelmart ??) to book rooms also because they had better rates than places like expedia.

 

[Kaieye]

When my inlaws(who live in Kaohsiung) visit Taipei, they like to stay at the Cosmos hotel not too far from the main railroad station. I believe the computer shops are not too far from this place.too! I have to say that the Cosmos is probably rated about two stars- three? but the location is centrally located. I just got back from Taiwan less than 48 hrs. ago and stayed at the Chien Tan for two nights with my family. This is a cheap overseas youth activity center that used to be operated by the KMT in the past.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Kaieye
When my inlaws(who live in Kaohsiung) visit Taipei, they like to stay at the Cosmos hotel not too far from the main railroad station. I believe the computer shops are not too far from this place.too! I have to say that the Cosmos is probably rated about two stars- three? but the location is centrally located. I just got back from Taiwan less than 48 hrs. ago and stayed at the Chien Tan for two nights with my family. This is a cheap overseas youth activity center that used to be operated by the KMT in the past.

Sounds like that loveboat camp thing. Those kids stay at Jiantan MRT station or around there at least.

Sheraton is actually pretty good. I highly advise against staying at the Hyatt. Sure it's next to Taipei 101, but that area is relatively new and it's not the most popular location yet. It's expensive, but yea... I advise staying near the Taipei Main Station because there's a LOT to do there. Computer shops (at least 3) + tons of food + tons of shopping + many people =]. Plus it's very easily accessible by bus, car, and MRT. It's also the center of the city pretty much.

Edit: Hyatt is wonderful in terms of facilities, luxury, brand new, etc. From what I see outside, it's very very luxurious. People who have stayed there comment that it's nice, but clearly the price is a lot higher. It just depends what you need really. I just need comfortable beds and good service + some facilities and that's it.

Sheraton is probably not the newest, and won't be the best, but it's a popular location but I can't comment too much. Haven't been there.

I'm staying at Howard Intl. House right now, and I'd say its old, but still good. The rooms are ginormous and I have 2 huge desks to work on, meaning I get a place for my laptop, and so do my parents. Locationwise, it's not the best, and I have to walk about 6 - 7 minutes to MRT, but that's not too hard...

I've stayed at Caesars which I told you about and the rooms are smaller than where I'm at. It's more expensive because you pay for location I guess, but definitely cheaper than Hyatt. But otherwise I love it.

Bottom line I think Hyatt will have the best rooms (I don't k now about size), but definitely quality Hyatt will win since its very new. Your decision pretty much hinges on price, location, convenience, and yea...

I recommend that you get an idea where your friends are in Taipei. Are they accessible by MRT? Bus? Etc? Bus is a REALLY cheap way to go if you want to travel there. For a couple of winters, I lived up in Tian-Mu and I would take the bus to visit my grandparents. I would have to change lines, and go on for nearly an hour ride, but it would be like less than a buck fifty US. MRT is quite cheap too, definitely cheaper than BART rides here in CA, and you could go a LONG way with $2 US. Typically rides will cost you around $1, and it's definitely FAST + on time.

Oh and since someone mentioned the rides from CKS airport, I go with this company called Mimi I think. Mom tells me this is what people from her company (HP) go with when they go on business trips to Taiwan. $1070 NT got us from airport to our hotel room in a Camry. Driver is a nice guy, will meet you right when you exit customs, and all that. If you want a phone #, I'll try to get that for you. Pay $200 - $300 NT m ore and I believe you can ride in style in a Mercedes =P

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Kaieye
When my inlaws(who live in Kaohsiung) visit Taipei, they like to stay at the Cosmos hotel not too far from the main railroad station. I believe the computer shops are not too far from this place.too! I have to say that the Cosmos is probably rated about two stars- three? but the location is centrally located. I just got back from Taiwan less than 48 hrs. ago and stayed at the Chien Tan for two nights with my family. This is a cheap overseas youth activity center that used to be operated by the KMT in the past.

Sounds like that loveboat camp thing. Those kids stay at Jiantan MRT station or around there at least.

Sheraton is actually pretty good. I highly advise against staying at the Hyatt. Sure it's next to Taipei 101, but that area is relatively new and it's not the most popular location yet. It's expensive, but yea... I advise staying near the Taipei Main Station because there's a LOT to do there. Computer shops (at least 3) + tons of food + tons of shopping + many people =]. Plus it's very easily accessible by bus, car, and MRT. It's also the center of the city pretty much.

Your advice is taken and appreciated. I was going to stay at the Hyatt...but I will now reconsider. Thanks.