Taiwan Family Trip post #5

Arrival to Taiwan

Taipei (schedule)

17th of Oct. 
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport: Airport pickup->Hotel

Suggested restaurants
Shandong food 老牌山東水 (台北市中山區農安街33號 near the hotel)
Thai food 通記牛肉粉麵  (台北市中山區雙城街13巷 near the hotel)

18th of Oct
ChiangKai Shek Memorial Hall 
National Concert/Theater Hall
SunYatSen Memorial Hall 
Taipei 101
Lunch (Sushi express in Taipei)


19th of Oct
National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院
Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines 順益台灣原住民博物館
Museum of Formosan Aborigines was well worth to see. Interesting collection of information about all Aboriginal tribes in Taiwan.
Entrance fee: Adult 150NT, Student/Child: 100NT.

Tamsui district (this could be skipped): has nice riverside and lots of stores, but over the weekend too many people. It's not that really interesting as it is promoted everywhere.
Beitou Hot Springs

20th of Oct
National Taiwan University - Bicycling around campus

5pm heading to Taichung by High Speed Rail.

Transportation used: 

Easy Card
(http://www.easycard.com.tw/english/easycard/index.asp)

Taipei MRT, city bus, Ubike
For traveling by city bus and MRT, you can use convenient Easy card. It will charge you 15NT per bus ride (doesn't matter how far) and give small dicount of MRT ticket (comparing to the ticket bought from vending machine).

Taiwan Family Trip post #4

Taxi in Taiwan

From what I have heard and experienced, taxi rides are generally safe in Taiwan. In most cases rider would not trick you, especially if you say 1-2 words or even sentence in Chinese. During my family traveling, we used taxi quite often, more often than expected. We used包車旅遊服務 for long distance traveling.

包車旅遊服務 “Extended taxi service”

包車旅遊服務 that can be translated as chartered tour. It basically includes taxi fare, driver and tourist spot stops and introductions. If you just want to take taxi without any tourist spots intro, you can negotiate cheaper price. The difference between the company that offer 包車旅遊服務 and common taxi company is that 包車旅遊服務 company is used to offer longer distance traveling options for more reasonable price.
 
Long distance taxi traveling with my family: 

1. Taxi from Taichung Train station to Sun Moon Lake (1000NT for 4 people)

In order to get to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung, you can take bus from Gancheng bus station (tickets shall be purchased from the counter in the station) or bus from here (bus stop) for about 180-200NT one way. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.With my family we took random taxi that stopped while we were waiting for the bus. He offered to take us to our hotel in SML for 1000NT (4people + 6 pieces of luggage). I think that was the cheapest possible price we could get. It took 1.5hour to get there.


 2. A) Taxi from Sun Moon Lake日月潭to Alishan Forest Recreation Area 阿里山國家風景區(4000NT for 4 people)
B) Taxi from Alishan (Hotel) to Chiayi train station (2000NT for 4people) 

At the beginning my plan was to take bus from SML to Alishan. I couldn’t find any schedule of this bus unless I ask in person at Shuishe visitor center in SML.Bus (and taxi) use the direct way connecting these two places, road no 21.Bus schedule from the lake 日月潭 to Alishan (only 2 times a day):
8am (1pm arrives in Alishan)
9am (2pm arrives in Alishan)This bus will stop at: 塔塔加遊客中心 and should stop in front of the entrance gate to Alishan forest recreation area.
Still I recommend to take taxi rather than bus. The bus was smalled vehicle for about 15people, and I can’t imagine it would be able to take our entire luggage. Taxi was better and faster choice.   The Kaofeng hotel in Alishan where we stayed helped us to book the taxi from SML to Alishan and from Alishan to Chiayi (SML-> Alishan: 4000NT, Alishan-> Chiayi: 2000NT), the same driver.
It is more reasonable to book long distance taxi service in advance. For 包車旅遊服務 it is necessary.
 
3. Taxi from Kaohsiung高雄火車站to Kenting (Hotel):  for 2200NT (5people)

We booked this service via phone (phone number from the website). I think it was not that necessary to book the taxi as it’s quite common for taxi outside of Kaohsiung train station to take people to Kenting. Taxi driver said during the summer season he goes to Kenting and back to Kaohsiung even 2 times a day.
On the way back (from Kenting to Kaohsiung) we asked our hotel to book taxi. We paid 2000NT (5people) to Zuoying HSRstation  

Short distance taxi traveling with my family: 

Taichung台中-> Dakeng Mountain大坑

We used taxi on the way to Dakeng mountain area. Our hotel called taxi and we took it from the front of hotel (around Taichung Train station) and get off at the entrance to Trail no. 3 (3號大坑登山步道-台中). It costs 400NT (for taking 4 people).
 
Changhua Train station彰化火車站-> BaGuaShan (Big Buddha) 八卦山戰役

We took random taxi from the train st. to the entrance gate of Baguashan for 120NT (4 people) 

Taiwan Family Trip post #3

Transportation options: Taiwan Island

Bus

Bus is the cheapest, but usually slower than train or city metro. The UBUS 統聯客運 and KuoKuang Motor company 國光客運股份有限公司 are two biggest bus companies on the island. There is couple of other companies, but these two have the coverage all over the island.
You can purchase ticket for almost any bus in any long distance destination also in 7-11 for small sub-charge. 

Train
There are 3 types of trains operated on the island:
區間車 [Qūjiān chē] Local, slow train; seat reservation not required
莒光 [Jǔ guāng] Faster, possible seat reservation.
自強 [Zìqiáng] Express, stop on main (or appointed) stations, seat reservation must.

Train ticket is usually double price of bus ticket. I personally prefer trains. Trains in Taiwan are comfortable, clean and affordable.
 
High Speed Railway
One way to get fast from the South point to the one on the North of Taiwan (or to any place in between) is this 300km/h fast-moving super train. You can check out stations here: http://www5.thsrc.com.tw/en/. For ticket purchases, that is possible at High Speed Rail stations in 7-11s. You can even get discount when purchasing well in advance (the earliest 28days before the traveling day), but you must be fast, as the discounts are limited and also would depends on the time of your traveling. You can usually get only 5-15% discount on weekend tickets.     
 
MRT/Metro
In Taiwan only 2 cities have their metro. Taipei MRT and Kaohsiung MRT. Metro is usually very clean, comfortable, affordable and safe. When comparing to for example Beijing metro, in general Taipei/Kaohsiung metro train is newer. Metro stations are well signed, also in English.
{metros maps} 

Bike rental/Ubike

Near many main tourist spot, in main cities you can always find some bike rental shop around. Taipei has it's own network of public bikes that can be borrowed from stations around Taipei. This service is called Ubike 歡迎光臨微笑單車 
You can even download android app called Ubike for locating all stations on the map with the sign if that particular station has bike available, station is full or almost full. Service is provided for half hour free of charge after one time card registration at the station terminal. For more than half hour there is small charge about 30NT per hour. The best thing is that you can return your bike an any station that is not fully, anytime you want. This helps the citizens to connect when traveling between different metro lines or metro + bus and make city even more convenient. 

So far there has been Ubike public service provided only in Taipei city. I sincerely wish there would be something similar in Taichung, Tainan or Kaohsiung. City biking would help to decrease the level of pollution.
Watch and learn more about Ubike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZQ53dR3Vk  

Taxi

There will be special post on traveling by taxi/taking taxi. Follow my blog and read more about tips on traveling around Taiwan.  

Taiwan Family Trip post#2

List of hotels we used on our Taiwan Family trip 

Likes&dislikes:

Taipei

Good Life Hotel

www.goodlife-hotel.com.tw

We found this hotel by walking in Taipei, not through internet, and it was worth to find it. It is cheaper or same as most middle-priced hotels (around 3000NT/night for one room 2double beds=4 people*). Staff was friendly and helpful, breakfast were the nicest we had from all hotels in TW (chinese + simple western style)

The best thing about this hotel is that it's really in the center and very conveniently located (5 min. from Minquan W. Road metro station& 5 min from Zhongshan Elem. school metro st.). Room was clean, relatively spacious and hotel didn't have that many guests. Business style hotel. In overall very good choice.

Taichung

Happy Star Hotel

http://happystar.hotel.com.tw/eng/

We call it Garden Hostel (as it can be find under this name on google maps), otherwise also "Happy star" Hostl. The best thing: again convenient location: 10 min. walking from Taichung train station, very friendly and helpful stuff (called taxi, etc.)

The thing we didn't like but accept: No breakfast, BUT ask reception about nearest BREAKFAST SHOP and they will show you one in front of hotel just on left- traditional style, but I don't remember during my 3 years stay in Taiwan I would eat more amazing tuna hamburger than I ate in this shop! Must try!
Rate: 2000NT per night/ 2 double beds*. We stayed 3 nights so we got discount. 

Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

明湖采堤 Hotel
http://sh.okgo.tw/
I don't know the English name of this hotel, but this was probably the best choice we could ever make when 日月潭水社碼頭) and next to Hotel Del Lago. The room was very new, had beautiful wooden balcony and bathroom that was almost shocking for the price of 4200NT* per night/4 people room (23rd of Oct). It would have been difficult to find something like this for the same price. Really recommend. The only minus were little slow breakfast that made my hungry family little nervous, but even that breakfast were freshly made and "customized" according to wishes (vegetarian, etc). 
considering hotel around Sun Moon Lake. It's relatively new, seems as family owned has amazing position, view and relative price. Located just in front of Shuishe Pier (日月潭水社碼頭) and next to Hotel Del Lago, it can no competition and we really recommend it.

Alishan
Alishan Kaofeng Hotel

阿里山高峰大飯店

We booked this hotel inside the Alishan forest recreation area 阿里山國家風景區. Typical mountainous hotel (or how to call it), that seems a bit old, same as all hotels around. Kaofeng is located right in the center of Alishan Forest Area with walking distance to Alishan Railway station. That time is was very foggy and cold, so the hotel seems "freezing", but has electric mattress with temperature regulation, that was amazing. Don't likes? Well, the breakfast were..hm.."poor" compare to other hotels. But it doesn't seem to bother lots of tourists from Mainland China, usually groups of older generation led by noisy tour guide.  We stayed there on 24th of Oct. for 1800NT* per night/ 2 double beds.

Tainan

Ta Lee Hotel, Tainan 

台南大立大飯店

Chihkan Tower, Tainan

The hotel has no English website and it's also not easy to find it if you don't know about it. The advantage of this fact is that it seems not to have such huge demand that can help your negotiation. We had to change the date of reservation 2 times and it hadn't been problem. We got spacious room, very clean and well maintained, staff was very friendly, breakfast were very nice. It is conveniently located (300m from chihkan tower) and can borrow bicycles to you. Like!
We stayed for 2700NT per night/2 double beds.*

Kenting
Kenting Coast Resort

墾丁海岸飯店

This hotel has sea view and street view (view on the other side than sea). We booked 1 double bed room (street view) and 1 two-double beds room (sea view). In overall we paid around 5000NT for both rooms per night.* At the end we stayed there about 7 days, so by paying cash we got very nice room with balcony, so further we had 2 rooms both with sea view, that was great!. Positive: friendly stuff, sea view and walking distance to Dawan beach or Kenting center, clean and very nice rooms. No minuses that I would be aware of. 

(* Please consider that prices have been negotiated, the rate is non-seasonal and may be subject to changes)

Taiwan Family Trip, post#1

My 3 week traveling holiday around Taiwan with my family (4-5people) 

I live in Taiwan for more than 3 years already, but this is the first time my family is visiting me and Taiwan. It has been my wish since first couple of months being in Taiwan that one day I will show them how is my life here, how is the weather, people, food, traffic, nature, anything and everything. I was always like: “Wooow, great! This is what I will show my mum once she arrives..” I really do like my life in Taiwan so far. I was lucky enough to get job in Taichung in the company having foreigners already, so it doesn’t feel like I would be the only one ‘different’ from all co-workers.

I guess you all have come to see my traveling plan, experience, and so on, so lets do it.

Some details about the trip around Taiwan:

Period of traveling: 17^th of Oct till 3^rd of Nov. 2013

Number of people arriving: 3

Number of people in Taiwan involved in traveling: 1-2 

Number of destinations: 6

Number of hotels: 8

Transportation modes used: Bus, train, high-speed rail, boat, bicycle, taxi, hitch-hiking, metro, walk.

Number of accidents: 1

Period of traveling: 17^th of Oct till 3^rd of Nov. 2013 (18days)

18 days- period was just about enough to have for quiz-rushing style of traveling= active, exploring, but also taking rest.

Weather

One of the first thing I would consider traveling at this time is weather. We travel from very North of Taiwan to very South (to Eluanbi lighthouse) and weather was fine or great in all locations. We have had some light rain during the last day in Taipei (17-20^th of Oct) and the last day in Kenting it was already getting a bit cold (2^nd of Nov.). I heard that during this time the weather in Taroko National Park is already quite cold and rainy, so we decided not to go there later on.

Inside the Alishan National Recreation Area (24^th of Oct) was very foggy, such as you cannot see 10 meters in front of you, and also quite cold for me (but definitely not cold for my family who enjoyed common European Fall breeze).

Kenting was really fine.. not too hot, but still very warm for swimming, having not that many tourist around at that time.    

Number of people arriving: 3

My mum, brother and sister. They haven’t travel that much before, even in Europe, but they managed to take 2 stop 24hours flight only with minor issues. So if you hesitate whether to ask your family to come over, even they haven’t travel or English is not their native language with ok level, then just don’t hesitate and don’t worry too much. (Of course it depends on that particular person) I was quite proud on how well they had been dealing with the things.

Number of people in Taiwan involved in traveling: 1-2 

That’s me and my TW friend- guy who travel with us in Kenting. While planning it was almost necessary to have someone to help you booking the hotels and arranging taxis.

Number of destinations: 6
Taipei, Taichung (+Changhua), Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Tainan and Kenting.. then back to Taoyuan airport.

Number of hotels: 8

Stuff in most hotels have somewhat or poor English, especially when you go to the cheaper ones (even they have the same quality with more expensive ones). It sounds crazy, but coz I really do care about the comfort and experience of my family in Taiwan, I personally visited and see almost every hotel (and room in the hotel) we booked, so we had no issues. This is the list of carefully chosen hotels with consideration about price and its value comparing to price, comfort, location (near to transportation mode), stuff friendliness, room design (big enough or acceptable) overall feeling: see the post#2 (tomorrow ;))

Currency

The valid currency in Taiwan is Taiwanese dollar (NT;TWD). Before coming to Taiwan, it is better to have some amount of US dollars or Euros as Czech crowns are not exchangeable to NT dollars on the island. I have heard that you can pay by US dollars in case of emergency.

1€=cca 38NT

10Czk= cca 15NT (http://www.xe.com/ucc/)

Living costs

If you're student, I think you might spent around 10 000NT and more monthly (including rent, food, transportation=gas for scooter, traveling).

On Campus Accommodation

They will automatically assign you to a bit expensive Ching-yeh dormitory for exchange students (2ppl per room). I stayed there during my first semester, but then I moved out and rent room on my own. The reason was my boyfriend. Guys' visit to the girls’ dorms and other way around are strictly prohibited. The dorm has nice lobby and rooms. It costs 13700NT for girls and around 9000NT for guys. If you want cheaper accommodation, you can ask for Sheng-li dorm. Sheng-li dorm has got kitchen.

Off campus accommodation

You can rent your own room starting from 3000 NT (best in East and North district around the university). You can search through these websites:

-          www.tainanbulletin.com

-          http://www.6mama.com.tw/root/main.php (agency, agent can speak English, need to pay agency fee)

This is a great website, however you have to ask you're friend, coz it's whole in Chinese. Basically you contact the owners of houses directly in most cases, so an agent is not involved. 

-          http://rent.591.com.tw/

Insurance

There is an "university insurance" provided by NCKU. It’s around 2000NT for one semester. It is quite cheap and I have good experience with it. I had a small accident and they paid me back. However, you need to have a bank account in Taiwan, most students get one in Chungwa post bank- the office on campus.

ATMs for foreign cards:

You would not be able to withdraw from all the ATMs. With Czech or Slovak debit card is possible in 

China Trust bank ATMs available in every 7-Eleven and Far East Int. Bank ATM in Mega.

Study Chinese

All foreign students can get free Chinese classes for 2 semesters. You too! Use them for sure!! It will help you to grasp some of the basics of language and understand the local culture as well. It’s just 3 hours per week and has slow flow of learning! 

Language exchange is another great option. Ask your Taiwanese friends or post note on the board in Chinese language center that you search for language exchange. You can teach English (or possibly any other language you know) and he/she will teach you Chinese. You don’t need to pay anything and can learn Chinese relatively quickly. 

Report from exchange study program in Taiwan (Tainan) 2

This report offers sort of basic info about survival student life in Tainan. 

Transportation in Tainan 

o   Bike

Bike is the most common transport for students. Costs around 1500NT in the shop in Sheng-li campus. If you think it’s too much, you can wait till January when university provides free bikes. These bikes are, however, very poor and need to fixed. But, it’s also solution. J

o   Scooter

Scooter from shop costs round 12 – 15 000NT. However, you can buy 100 – 125cc from students and friend from 6000NT. Scooters are almost necessary if you want to move around or outside Tainan more comfortably. We were hesitating, but finally the scooter was very good choice. For traveling around the island you will need at least 125cc and more.

o   Train

Train is comfortable transportation if you travel outside of Tainan. To Kaohsiung in 45 min. by local train for around 80 – 100NT. Don’t forget to use your university’ student card.

o   Bus

Local bus – ticket costs: 18NT and bus routes are searchable: http://ebus.tncg.gov.tw/TNWeb/EIndex.jsp?locale=en_US

However, to rely on bus is not the best option. The bus has longer periods in between routes and everything is in Chinese. 

Distant buses – behind the train station on the right there are 3 bus companies. Bus ticket can be purchased in the offices there, not in the bus.

Weather

Mostly hot and humid- at least for most of us, Europeans! Summer is apprx. from April to November. Though, you shouldn’t underestimate winter – it’s quite cold and next time I would bring a winter jacket with me as well (From December to February). 

Typhoons – local people will tell you a lot and panic, but our stronger storms sometimes are more dangerous. However, you shouldn’t underestimate it too.:)