Travel: Taiwan - Taipei

[godiva]

alphonsus:

CharleneX:

Hi


Appreciate very much if anyone could share with me their itinararies or interesting places which we should cover on our trip to Taiwan this November (2A + 1 8YO).

It is going to be a 12 days trip. We r planning to just book a 2-3 nights accomodation in Taipei for the 1st few days and check out the hotels/ minsu when we r there. Is that advisable? Btw, any recommendation of minsu at Hua-lien?

Thanks in advance.

Lene

I am also going to Taiwan this Nov and had planned this 9D/8N itinerary mainly for my kids(4 & 8yrs). I am planning the route in this manner to minimize travel time since TaoYuan is nearer to TaiChung and going back from TaiChung is easy. I will be taking High Speed Train mainly to move between major cities. You can add another day in Hua Lien to visit Farglory Ocean Park and one day in TaiChung or 清境農場及青青草園 and one more day in Taipei to cover JiuFen/KeeLung/YehLiu which I intentionally left out since we had been there before.

Day 1 : SINGAPORE / HUA LIEN (花莲)
Stay @近月旭海minsu.
Dinner @鹽寮龍蝦海鮮店. Lobster is very fresh & cheap.
Day 2 : HUA LIEN (花莲)
Stay @花蓮新光兆豐休閒農場. Farm activities.
You can add another day in 花莲 and go to 花莲海洋公园
Farglory Ocean Park
Day 3 : HUA LIEN (花莲)
Driver to pick us up from farm hotel @8:30am, dropped luggage at
minsu and tour 太鲁阁, 清水断崖, 七星潭, 燕子口, 天祥, 九曲洞, etc.
Dinner @花莲南滨夜市. Try 孔明燈 (天燈)
液香扁食, 竹筒飯, 曾记(麻薯), Wonton (餛飩)
Day 4 : HUA LIEN (花莲) – TAIPEI
臺北市立動物園, (貓空纜車)
Stay @Caesar Park Hotel, minimise travel time and trouble.
Visit 中正纪念堂, 西门町, 龙山寺
Dinner @伍角船板 Five Dime Driftwood Restaurant
Day 5 : TAIPEI
小人国, 淡水老街, 渔人码头, 古宫博物馆 & 忠烈祠(if time permits)
Dinner @士林夜市
Day 6 : TAIPEI - KAOSHIUNG（高雄）
Dream Mall 梦时代广场, Love River 爱河 river cruise, 莲池谭, 孔子庙,
打狗英國領事館(if time permits).
Dinner @六合夜市
Day 7 : KAOSHIUNG（高雄) - TAICHUNG (台中)
新社花海 (If event timing fits) or 心之芳庭, 紙箱王,
lunch or dinner @伍角船板(if missed Taipei branch)
逢甲夜市
Day 8 : TAICHUNG (台中) - SUN MOON LAKE (日夜谭）- PULI (埔裡) -
TAICHUNG (台中)
Driver picked up from hotel and go to Puli & Sun Moon Lake.
文武廟, Ci-En Pagoda, Sun Moon Lake boat cruise, 埔裡酒廠, 紙教堂.
造紙龍手創館, , 日月老茶廠, 18度C巧克力 &
Olliere Castle – 欧莉叶河城堡(If time permits).
Day 9 : TAICHUNG (台中) – SINGAPORE
Last minute shopping before departing for 6pm flight back.
Buy local specialty – 糖村ougat, 太陽餅, 鳳梨餅, 麻糬, 綠豆糕, 鴛鴦餅,
豬肉紙 etc.

Hi Alphonsous,

I am also planning a day tour from taichung with similar places mentioned by you - but I stay the night at SunMoon Lake minsu instead. May I know how much the tour/cabbie charge you for your Day 8 tour/ for how many persons?

which hotel are you staying in Taichung? I am also considering staying in taichung instead of SML because tot can go Fengjia night market.

did you have to pay a deposit to your tour/cabbie guide for the day tour?

[Blessed Homemaker]

I think Meeky’s rate is the cheapest so far. The rest I’ve enquired is NT4000 or more for 8 hours.


I’ve enquired with a few Hualien drivers but no one indicated deposit needed, not even the famous Mr Lu.

[Blessed Homemaker]

You're most welcomed.


Meeky is very popular, I attribute that to his very competitive rates, NT3000 for 12 hours.

dimsum:

wow, so many of us are gg to taipei in Nov! I wanted to book Meeky from 12-14 Nov but unfortunately, he's not available. We settled for Carr Zhang. Thanks again, Blessed Homemaker for your comprehensive list

As for airport transfer, I booked the driver recommended by sunnyling. He responded to email very quickly.
• Name: Mr. Zhao
• Cell Phone: +8869-3699-4558
• Pick from airport to hotel: NT750
• Pick from hotel to airport: NT750
• Email: kstw0403@yahoo.com.tw

[Blessed Homemaker]

Do share with us on your experience flying with TransAsia when you return.


YMCA's location is good, very near Taipei Main Station.

caroline3sg:

blessed homemaker
TransAsia's promo of 1 for 1 is up till 31 Oct. I paid $1271 for 2 persons, incl taxes.

YMCA is at Taipei Main Station.

godiva
I am not venturing out of Taipei. The cabbie that I booked does not ask for deposit.

[godiva]

Blessed Homemaker:

I think Meeky's rate is the cheapest so far. The rest I've enquired is NT4000 or more for 8 hours.


I've enquired with a few Hualien drivers but no one indicated deposit needed, not even the famous Mr Lu.

I know - which was why I'm so surprised when the guide/cabbie I intend to engage ask for a 30% deposit for my 1 1/2 day tour. The total deposit is $100, not a lot but also not negligible. I have been reading tripadvisor and have never come across cabbie asking for deposit. What if he doesn't turn up? It is not like the minsu which is located at a place.

I wonder if the winds of change are blowing.

[anx]

godiva:

Blessed Homemaker:

I think Meeky's rate is the cheapest so far. The rest I've enquired is NT4000 or more for 8 hours.


I've enquired with a few Hualien drivers but no one indicated deposit needed, not even the famous Mr Lu.

I know - which was why I'm so surprised when the guide/cabbie I intend to engage ask for a 30% deposit for my 1 1/2 day tour. The total deposit is $100, not a lot but also not negligible. I have been reading tripadvisor and have never come across cabbie asking for deposit. What if he doesn't turn up? It is not like the minsu which is located at a place.

I wonder if the winds of change are blowing.

Hi Godiva,

i tried to book tiffany chang for my dec day trip at taroko. she will not be free, so i booked her husband instead. also paid a 30% deposit.

[MandyMummy]

There is an article in Lainhe Zaobao today on Shilin night market's relocation.


http://www.zaobao.com.sg/zg/zg110919_003.shtml

台北士林夜市地下化　 地上地下都是美食天堂？

　　台北著名的观光夜市士林夜市将在今年11月迁到新址，并走入地下，在台湾掀起一场热议，担心地下化、室内化后的街头小吃魅力大减。

　　士林夜市自治会深知美食才是最有力的招揽，等不及搬新家，9月开始推出一桌新台币3000元（约126新元）“百汇宴”，让食客一次过品尝到士林夜市的特色小吃。新闻一见报，预定电话响个不停，订单已超出150桌，反应热烈可见一斑。

　　本报还特别采访了首个用宴席方式呈现夜市小吃的宁夏夜市，探讨台北夜市小吃“概
念化”的最新促销趋势。

　　再过两个月，广受台湾本地及外地游客喜爱的士林夜市将从现在剑潭捷运站对面的临时市场，搬迁到新建的永久性公有市场，并走入地下，成为全台湾独一无二的地下化观光夜市。

　　新地址和现址的步程距离少于十分钟，一样享有捷运带来的交通便利。

　　不过， 士林夜市地下化备受争议。台北市的一些议员和学者痛批“地下化等同谋杀夜市”。而士林夜市的一些摊贩也认为地下化将打击生计。

The rest of the article can be found at the link given above.

[anx]

godiva:

Hi Blessedhomemaker, and Carolinesg


I am unable to book Meeky as he said he is fully booked!

I managed to contact another cabbie mentioned in another forum and he quoted TWT 3,500 for 8-9 hours. Seems a bit higher than the market rate? i tot it was TWT 3000.

Another question - did any cabbie asked for payment of deposit? Cos my cabbie/tour guide from Hualien asked for 30% deposit in advance...I tot it was quite unusual cos it is to an individual.

Hi, I could not hire Mr Meeky too cos he's fully booked for Dec. I engaged his friend, Mr Xu. Maybe you can try calling him?

[alphonsus]

godiva:

alphonsus:

[quote=\"CharleneX\"]Hi


Appreciate very much if anyone could share with me their itinararies or interesting places which we should cover on our trip to Taiwan this November (2A + 1 8YO).

It is going to be a 12 days trip. We r planning to just book a 2-3 nights accomodation in Taipei for the 1st few days and check out the hotels/ minsu when we r there. Is that advisable? Btw, any recommendation of minsu at Hua-lien?

Thanks in advance.

Lene

I am also going to Taiwan this Nov and had planned this 9D/8N itinerary mainly for my kids(4 & 8yrs). I am planning the route in this manner to minimize travel time since TaoYuan is nearer to TaiChung and going back from TaiChung is easy. I will be taking High Speed Train mainly to move between major cities. You can add another day in Hua Lien to visit Farglory Ocean Park and one day in TaiChung or 清境農場及青青草園 and one more day in Taipei to cover JiuFen/KeeLung/YehLiu which I intentionally left out since we had been there before.

Day 1 : SINGAPORE / HUA LIEN (花莲)
Stay @近月旭海minsu.
Dinner @鹽寮龍蝦海鮮店. Lobster is very fresh & cheap.
Day 2 : HUA LIEN (花莲)
Stay @花蓮新光兆豐休閒農場. Farm activities.
You can add another day in 花莲 and go to 花莲海洋公园
Farglory Ocean Park
Day 3 : HUA LIEN (花莲)
Driver to pick us up from farm hotel @8:30am, dropped luggage at
minsu and tour 太鲁阁, 清水断崖, 七星潭, 燕子口, 天祥, 九曲洞, etc.
Dinner @花莲南滨夜市. Try 孔明燈 (天燈)
液香扁食, 竹筒飯, 曾记(麻薯), Wonton (餛飩)
Day 4 : HUA LIEN (花莲) – TAIPEI
臺北市立動物園, (貓空纜車)
Stay @Caesar Park Hotel, minimise travel time and trouble.
Visit 中正纪念堂, 西门町, 龙山寺
Dinner @伍角船板 Five Dime Driftwood Restaurant
Day 5 : TAIPEI
小人国, 淡水老街, 渔人码头, 古宫博物馆 & 忠烈祠(if time permits)
Dinner @士林夜市
Day 6 : TAIPEI - KAOSHIUNG（高雄）
Dream Mall 梦时代广场, Love River 爱河 river cruise, 莲池谭, 孔子庙,
打狗英國領事館(if time permits).
Dinner @六合夜市
Day 7 : KAOSHIUNG（高雄) - TAICHUNG (台中)
新社花海 (If event timing fits) or 心之芳庭, 紙箱王,
lunch or dinner @伍角船板(if missed Taipei branch)
逢甲夜市
Day 8 : TAICHUNG (台中) - SUN MOON LAKE (日夜谭）- PULI (埔裡) -
TAICHUNG (台中)
Driver picked up from hotel and go to Puli & Sun Moon Lake.
文武廟, Ci-En Pagoda, Sun Moon Lake boat cruise, 埔裡酒廠, 紙教堂.
造紙龍手創館, , 日月老茶廠, 18度C巧克力 &
Olliere Castle – 欧莉叶河城堡(If time permits).
Day 9 : TAICHUNG (台中) – SINGAPORE
Last minute shopping before departing for 6pm flight back.
Buy local specialty – 糖村ougat, 太陽餅, 鳳梨餅, 麻糬, 綠豆糕, 鴛鴦餅,
豬肉紙 etc.

Hi Alphonsous,

I am also planning a day tour from taichung with similar places mentioned by you - but I stay the night at SunMoon Lake minsu instead. May I know how much the tour/cabbie charge you for your Day 8 tour/ for how many persons?

which hotel are you staying in Taichung? I am also considering staying in taichung instead of SML because tot can go Fengjia night market.

did you have to pay a deposit to your tour/cabbie guide for the day tour?[/quote]For Day 8, I had not booked any cabbie yet, still looking around for one.
My group will be 4A + 2C, so most likely I'll need a 7-seater cab which is more expensive, guess will be at least NT3500 - 4200. I heard there are plenty of cabs around HSR and it will be very easy to find one for a day trip to SML and Puli.

I've booked 2 quad rooms at this hostel in Taichung as I want to stay near to Fengjia market. You can find the booking infor and reviews at this link.
http://www.agoda.com/asia/taiwan/taichung/tomato_rooms_hostel/reviews.html.

The HuaLien driver I've booked for a one-day trip does not require me to pay any deposit.

[fohope]

Hi,

I saw newspaper that you can collect free gift (ticket to 古宫博物馆, voucher for collecting of pastries in Taiwan airport) at UIC Building if you travel to Taiwan.
For more info, pls call 62236546