Advice on Taiwan and trip planning.

[Matt_01]

Looking for a bit of advice on Taiwan, I have been to TPE twice but these were land go to the city, meetings, overnight morning meeting and then leave. I have decided to go back and go further afield. It is a solo trip so I do not need to worry about Mrs&MissM would have thrown into the mix, as much as I love them I can normally cover a fair bit of ground in a day without them in tow. I have been using my friend ‘the google;’ to work out how to get around and what to see. Although it is a different country in the back of my mind I still find myself wondering how similar or not the train system (high speed and metro) maybe to the likes of JP, HK or KR which are all easy and I am familiar with.

In looking at places to go some are the tourist spots and as I am arriving at some zero dark hundred hour, I am thinking it may be easier to knock off the out of the way places first. My current plan is to head into town and get on the shinkansen equivalent and head to Chiayi. From there it looks like I can get to Sun Moon Lake and back in a day but the transport options seem quite limited so not sure if this is possible. The following day I would like to travel on the Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi to Alishan, I think I have worked out that I need to get off at some point and connect to a bus. I may spend 1 or 2 nights in the Alishan area before heading back to Taipei. From there I will base myself to look around and/or take day trips to other locations.

When searching the google something called ‘easyCard’ keeps coming up. Is this just Taiwan’s version of the Suica, Octopus, Oyster or any other metro card that can be topped up and used on the rail system including the shinkansen equivalent. On the topic of high speed lines is it a separate line/system and only arrives/ departs at some stations. Also is there a pass/card that can be purchased in advance similar to a JR Pass that can be used for the shinkansen equivalent and around Taipei. I noticed there was a 5 day metro option available but it seems like it is for Taipei only.

Also any recommendations for accommodation or places that are off beaten track would be most welcomed. I will be in Taiwan for 7 days

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Toroko Gourge was a very nice place to stay and spend a few days. We stayed at the hotel inside the gourge

 

[auriga]

The HSR system is totally separate to the mainline rail system.
Sometimes the stations may even be very far apart, eg Chiayi HSR station is some 10km away from Chiayi Station.
Easycard is for metro use- bus/subway/bike etc, for various purchases in convenience stores, etc. It can be used for some mainline train travel, but that is without seat booking. So someone with a assigned seat ticket can kick you out of your seat.
There are discounted HSR tickets that can be booked up to a month in advance, if your plans are firm. I don't believe there are any passes suitable for tourists for HSR.

 

[drcam]

Taroko Gorge is gorgeous.

 

[Ktan89]

Following this. Will be here in December for 5 days.
Just booked Caesar Park Hotel Taipei near the main station. Looks decent and was on sale with free cancellation too. Will be out everyday exploring so just needed a base and the location seems central.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Taipei is a fun city hope you enjoy your visit.

 

[stm1sydney]

We just had a lovely time in Taipei, and you will like it even more if you like stinky tofu and pig innards!

On arrival at the aiport, head towards the Airport MRT (clear signs in the arrivals hall) and you will see a couple of Bank of Taiwan ATMs to withdraw cash (no fee charged on my Citibank a/c - the usual one) at the top of the travelator down to the basement level.

At the barrier gates to the Airport MRT there is a glassed-in customer service booth where you can buy your Easycard - NT$100 fee plus whatever value you load, say $400 will do to start, total cost $500. Then use the Easycard to go through the gates and jump on the next train into Main Station (express or commuter service - if the express is showing 5 mins after the commuter then you may as well wait for it, otherwise just jump on the commuter). Then you can walk to your hotel or to the HSR station or Taiwan Railways station or connect to a Taipei MRT line (either Beimen or Main station) to get to your hotel.

 

[FishFood]

I'm visiting in May for a couple of days so interested in some of the suggestions here

 

[antycbr]

Going to TPE on Wednesday actually, thanks to QF have 2 x J awards on CI. Itinerary is 3 nights in Taipei, 2 for Taroko Gorge, 1 x Kaohsiung, 1 x Tainan, 1 x Shizhao for tea plantations and 1x Taichung then on to the airport. So a round the island trip!

We are only doing one HSR journey as we have booked convenient hotels near the TRA (normal) stations which are in the centre of town.

Bookings open up ~14 days prior.

Will post more as I go.

 

[AIRwin]

So a round the island trip!

Sun Moon Lake?

 

[stm1sydney]

I'm visiting in May for a couple of days so interested in some of the suggestions here

If you like museums you'll love the National Palace Museum and the Maritime Museum. Night (food) markets - I thought Raohe St was the best, especially the pepper pork buns at the entrance - the queue moves fast.

 

[jase05]

I love the Astronomical museum.
The CKS park and hall are worth a visit and if it’s not too busy you can stick around for the changing of the guard which is quite an experience.
If the weather is good then a tour of Taipei 101 is pretty cool and offers great views of the surrounds

 

[p--and--t]

If you have the time to overnight at Sun Moon Lake, the Fleur de Chine was fabulous when we stayed there a few years back on a tour. Large Japanese style Onsen in the basement, private hot spa on the balcony overlooking the lake, great food and relaxed atmosphere. All guests issued with a dressing gown and encouraged to wear it around the hotel even to dinner in the restaurant.

 

[stm1sydney]

Oh yes, agreed, the CKS Memorial Hall and changing of the guard are worth a visit as noted above. Also go through the museum underneath the main hall.

Walk up Elephant Mountain for a great view of Taipei including Taipei 101. Plnety of local restaurants in the Xinyi district old street for lunch (Zhuangjing Rd).

The Maokong Gondola is great (but not much at the top), not sure the fare but not much, and you can go through the zoo on your return back down by getting off at the Zoo South station. The zoo including the shuttle bus was only NT$65. Just tap your Easycard for all of this.

 

[Matt_01]

A question on using lockers at the HSR stations. Looking on the web it would appear that lockers are charged for 3 hours, is this in total or can I leave stuff in them all day and just pay additional fees when retrieving the them.

.....you can buy your Easycard - NT$100 fee plus whatever value you load, say $400 will do to start, total cost $500. .....

When purchasing the Easycard can these be purchased/ loaded via a AU credit card or do you need TWD (cash).

I heading there in a couple of weeks so now booking accommodation and working out what to do. The current plan is to arrive at around
04:40 and make my way to Taoyuan HSR towards Taichung. Catch the bus to Sun Moon Lake spend the day there and then back to Taichung onwards to Chiayi and stay overnight. Catch the Alishan Forest Railway to Fenqihu look around then a bus to Alishan and stay overnight. In the early morning (zero dark hundred) catch the train to Zhushan Station for the sunrise. Catch a bus back to Chiayi, take a look around and in the early evening catch an evening train back to Taipei. I will base myself in Taipei for the next 4-5 days and will make it up as I go and day trips as required.

 

[craven morehead]

Following with interest. I'm heading there in August for a few days

 

[RooFlyer]

@Matt_01 . jessicatam is there right now (or may have gone by now). Might be worth a quick Q or two.

A flight a day ...

It has been a while since I posted a trip report, so this seemed opportune. I have 28 days leave and so I thought I would do a bit of a status run before my BA year ends. Now you would realise that I am good at starting trip reports, but bloody hopeless at finishing them. Well this time it's...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Matt_01]

@RooFlyer I know Jess and have discussed some of her seemly mad travel with her but we are in different leagues. 29 fights in 28 days is well beyond be me. For this trip I was trying for TPE, ULN, KUL in a 10 day window and it was all just to hard so off to TPE back through KUL/SIN to AU. ULN or the train trip to Tibet is next year's goal.

 

[FishFood]

With the Easy Card you have to load it with cash (TWD). It is a 100 TWD ($4.91 AUD) card fee and the ATM that I used in the Seven Eleven where I purchased the Easy Card had a 100 TWD ($4.91 AUD) withdrawal fee.

I was able to use the Easy Card for public transport as well as a couple of museums/attractions. Public transport only accepted cash/Easy Card except for the Airport Line that also accepted contactless.

 

[stm1sydney]

With the Easy Card you have to load it with cash (TWD). It is a 100 TWD ($4.91 AUD) card fee and the ATM that I used in the Seven Eleven where I purchased the Easy Card had a 100 TWD ($4.91 AUD) withdrawal fee.

Yep, NTD only as I recall. Ouch on the 7-11 ATM fee, there are fee-free ATMs that worked with my Citi card eg Bank of Taiwan at the airport as noted above and also Chang Hwa Bank.