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)