Taiwan Travel Diary 📓: Spilling the Tea on What to AVOID! 🗣️🗣️
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Hello, friends preparing for a trip to Taiwan, here are some heartfelt insights I want to share with you based on my recent visit, especially for first-timers like yourselves—I hope it helps!
- It's genuinely expensive to stay in Taipei!
- If you book late, the traditional guest houses (small inns run by locals) costing around 500 RMB per night might end up being quite small and old, located mostly in outdated buildings within small alleys.
- Strongly suggested: Make your accommodation reservations much earlier! And carefully read other travelers' reviews, comparing several options!
- Want convenience when staying? West Gate District (Simon Town) in Taipei is highly recommended.
- This area is close to the Taipei high-speed rail station and is itself a long-established commerce hub, boasting many cheap street food stalls and night markets.
- Taipei mainly features a distinct 'urban vibe.'
- Many tasteful, stylish shops are hidden along intricate side streets.
- If you're looking for large department stores, you might be disappointed—Taipei mainly offers smaller-scale stores.
- Are you planning to take an elevator up Taipei 101 to enjoy the view? The admission fee is approximately 150 RMB per person.
- Money-saving tip: Buy coffee from a ground-floor café, approximately 30 RMB, and they'll let you use their elevator!
- Notice: This cafe closes at half past eight at night. Don't miss out!
- By the way: Some people say photographing 101 from the alleyways near those little Japanese pubs (izakayas) look great. But honestly, the visuals usually come out just so-so.
- Taipei's High-Speed Rail is incredibly convenient!
- A westbound route conveniently connects to bustling cities like Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
- To reach the famous seaside getaway Kaohsiung, we traveled directly by high-speed rail from Taipei to the Lukang Station of Kaohsiung then took the 'Kaohsiung Express' bus which promptly picked us up right at the exit.
- Important advice: Purchase your high-speed rail tickets at a 7-Eleven convenience store. Buying tickets via phone apps can sometimes cause troubles.
- To be honest, Hengdeng might not match your expectations; it’s neither as fascinating nor as trendy or accessible as imagined.
- Feels much like a small-town county. Compare that to popular European seaside resorts such as Nice in France or Barcelona in Spain, the experience of Hengdeng lags behind.
- If not absolutely necessary, it may not be worth the special journey from Taipei—travel wearisome, pricy accommodation, and also very hot and sunny!
- Unexpected surprise! Nen Hundred in Tainan is a true treasure.
- An age-old Japanese store spanning five levels with everything from consumable food, household goods, to clothing items so charming and delightful.
- Besides, Tainan offers rather affordable accommodations! Piles of tasty street foods too, definitely Tainan is a bargain compared to Taipei!
- It's genuinely expensive to stay in Taipei!
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The shopping mall is in the Xinyi District.
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Taiwan is genuinely great for staying in youth hostels.