Taiwan Travel Forum

How do I get to JianHuShan from Taipei? Thanks.

There is a new hotel that opened about 1 month ago in Magong. It is located on the boardwalk next to the water front where all the boats dock to receive ice and other fishing goods. The Mongfun (peace) hotel is around the corner from this one. Can someone please find the name of this hotel for me. It's something like Ocean Hotel or Hotel Ocean. There is a huge moral of a seahorse on the side of the building and there is a 50" inch LCD TV in the lobby. Very modern looking hotel.

This has to be the worst airport experience I have had in my entire life. Just recently I went back to Taiwan for my grandma's funeral and due to the change in schedules of some religious ceremonies I decided to extend my stay. On the date of my departure I had to fill out the temporary transit pass issued by the immigration department since I had stayed for more than 2 weeks. I was asked to wait in another queue after filling out the paperwork.

However, having waited for so long and it was getting close to my boarding time no immigration officier even notified or approached me on the status of my paperwork. I approached one officier and asked politely on the status and to my dismay he responded "how the hell would I know? Just wait in that line." Of course no tourist will be happy with that response so I expressed my discontent and asked why they had to treat the tourist with such disrespect (and I was not creating a scene and I still asked politely). For no reasons at all this immigration officier flipped out and yelled at me "it was your own fault that you stayed beyond your permitted time in Taiwan and why the hell are you even bothering me on this? Just go back and stood there and shut up." I could barely hold back my anger and so I yelled back to him "Are you crazy?" Upon hearing that remark ("are you crazy") he became furious and called the airport police to arrest me for creating a disturbance and for insulting the immigration office (for calling him crazy ? Who was the one that started this ?)

I was then held at the detention center at the Taoyuan Airport and this Taiwan immigration officer urged the airport police to file charges against me. I tried to explain to other immigration officers and even to his superior but they refused to listen to my reasoning or explanation. The police at the airport however were more rational after they had learnt about what happened and didn't even want to start the paperwork on any formal charges.

Nonetheless this only added fuel to the fury of the Taiwan immigration officer. He thought he was above the law and refused to let me leave Taiwan. At this time the airline staff and other officers at the airport started to intervene the case and that immigration officer insisted on filing charges against me for "I insulted the immigration officer of Taiwan ROC and I made a remark (just calling him crazy ) that leads him to believe that I have no respect for the people of Taiwan. Come on ! My grandma and my mom is from Taiwan and I am a Chinese as well. Can they even come up with better reasoning ?

After close to 2 hours of emotional torment I was told that my only way to leave Taiwan to sign a letter of confession saying how sorry I was for making the remark against the immigration officer (even though he was rude to me and disrespect me for asking a simple question). This is outrageous. I have always regarded Taiwan as a modern and civilized region and I have a lot of respect and love for all the good people there. Nonetheless this incident has irreversibly changed my impression about this region. How could a representative from the government do something so horrible to a tourist who simply wished to know about the status of her paperwork ? How did the government of Taiwan train their immigration officers ? Is there even a supervision system in place that keeps these immigration guys in check ? After I returned to the US I tried to go through a formal complain channel at the airport but they don't seem to know how to handle a complaint. What's worst I was also told that since I signed the confession letter admitting that I was the one at fault and I apologized for it I now would have no case.

Where is the justice in that ?

I am attending a conference in Taipei (mid-July unfortunately) and considering spending 3 weeks traveling solo through the countryside (reading Lonely Planet). I am eager to hear about driving experiences and/or suggestions for transportation for making the most of my time. Also, should I have any serious concerns about traveling alone as a female?

can't find this info on internet. please help.

what train do i take from taipei to kaohsiung?
how much will it cost?
what are train schedules?

Dear All,

I will be coming back from keelung to Taipei. I know i can take train from keelung train station back to taipei, do i need to buy the ticket in advance? Is there any other mode of transport back to taipei?

Dear everyone,

I have read through a tread in this forum whic give reccomendation to people to tour around Yeliu,Jing Gua shi, Joufen and Keelung in one trip which is cater for first timer.

I am still a bit confused over which should come first?Is this the order? From Yeliu go to Keelung to board bus to JingGuashi? How do i get from JinguaShi to Jiufen then finally to keelung? I wish to have keelung as my last stop as i want to got to miaokou market.

Can anyone kind enough to guide me on this? Thanks for your help!

hi
i am planning for a 8days 7nights tour to taiwan during 22dec07 - 29dec07 for 6 person.
i hav really not much idea how i should start planning. i would like to vist hualien during my trip too.. can someone please give me some guide in planning and recommand some hotels and places of interest to visit.


thanks

I am planning a trip in Dec 08 (4 adts and 2 young children aged 4 and 2).

Need some advice on which hotel to book in XMD?

1) Won Star Hotel
2) TS Hotel
3) Royal Castle
4) Nejiang
5) East Dragon

Also need advice how to get to Leo Foo Theme Park by train from Taipei?

Hi, a group of us will be in TW in Oct and we are now searching for nice, safe & cheap (hehehe...) hotels.
Any recommendations? Would prefer those in ximending or nearby.
Heard that KDM hotel is not bad, although it's not in XMD. Any other hotels of the same range?

Thanks in advance for any help rendered.

Hi guys , can someone give me some advice on how i can get to taipei from keelung(miao kou) ??

if possible , can u provide me some webby that provides public bus guide around taiwan ??

thanks so much =)

Hi,

Would like to check is it alright just to spend half a day @ YangMing Shan?
What are the places that is a MUST to go?

My boyfriend loves scenic place.

Pls advise.

Thanks

Hi,
Me and my 2 friends are planning a trip to Taipei on 2nd May - 7th May.
We are plannin to visit Alishan and Sun Moon Lake.

Can anyone advise whether Sun Moon Lake is worth visiting? because we only have 6D5N..we might drop SML if we have to spend a long time travelling..

Also, our plane will reach Chiang Kai Shek Terminal
1 at around 5+pm. We were plannin to settle in Rainbow hotel. How do we go to rainbow hotel from the airport? and should the sequence be taipei-alishan-SML or upon arrivin at the airport we should proceed to chiayi->alishan?

How should we plan our trip? How much would it cost us via train/bus to go to this 2 places and back to taipei? Do we need to book train tickets early?

Sorry for the many questions.. am at a lost now and the trip is in 3wks time..

Hope someone can give us some advise so we can book the relevant train tickets/ hotels early.

Thanks alot!

Been trying to book the Cosmos Hotel and cannot get it . Try Rainbow Hotel, fully booked either, still on waiting list . I'm very nervous and frighten that I've booked the air tickets to Taiwan on 16.04.07 to 20.04.07 (5D4N). We are travelling of 4 Adults with 2 lady and 2 men. Itinery are all been planned by myself and things like hotel booking doesn't seemed to be go smoothly at planned. Can anybody help in my itinery too?
Day 1 : Morning Departure Singapore at 8.00am, arrived Taiwan Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 12.40pm (Afternoon), after clearance of customs, head to buy EVA bus tickets to Cosmos Hotel (Taipei Main Station) Travel time estimate about: 45 mins (depends on traffice flow). Check-in Hotel, check any faults in hotel before unloading all luggages. Go to Taipei main station =>Shilin Station => Miramar Shopping Centre美麗華, Geant Hypermart愛買吉安, =>JianTan Station =>Shilin Night Market =>Taipei Main Station =>back to hotel.

Day 2 : Breakfast in hotel at 8.00am, 8.30am => book one day / half day tour packages from Hotel to Chiu Fen / Leofoo Village 1pm-2pm, East South Beach (4 Hours @NT 1000 = S$ 50 per person), =>either book night city tour



Day 3 : Breakfast complimentary in hotel at 8.30am, 9.30am =>Taipei Main Station buy train tickets (Zhi Chiang Train) to Hua Lien Station (3 Hours), Contact Mr Li Lai Fu for the arrival timing in Hualien, Meet at Hua Lien Station =>Ri Yue Tan日月潭, => He Wan Chang and etc ….. Whole day plan by taxi driver, night => Night Market ?? => check in hotel
日月潭Hua Lian Ri Yue Tan
九曲洞 Tunnel of Nine Turns
布洛灣 Bulowan (75 min.)
燕子口 Swallows Grotto
綠水 Lushui
天祥 Tianxiang
太魯閣遊客中心 Taroko Tourist Center

Day 4 : Breakfast in hotel at 8.00am, 8.30am ask taxi driver to Hua Lien Sation back to Taipei Main Station (3 Hours) =>back to Hotel, Taipei Main Station buy train tickets to Ximending Area shop around and have lunch there, Night walk across to Raohe Night Market for dinner and more shopping, => Return to hotel.


Day 5 : Breakfast complimentary in hotel at 8.30am, 9.30am => Check out before 12 noon and temporary put all luggages at lobby counter to go to Ximenting for more shopping and return hotel in the afternoon, ask where to buy EVA bus ticket to Taoyuan International Airport heading for evening flight to Singapore.

0800 To Leofoo Villiage
This is one of the biggest amusement parks in Taiwan. All-you-can-play passports at Adults (NT$890) prices. Hours:9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.(to 6:00 p.m. on holidays)
1. MRT to Zhongxiao Dunhua
2. Catch southbound Tailien bus at Zhongxiao Dunhua intersection

Hi everyone,

It's kinda silly to ask this. But where r the places where i can take BOTH the merry-go-horse and ferris wheel in taiwan? Some sort like amusement park in taiwan. Appreciate the kind effort for posting!

Javier

I've booked jetstar's tickets to taiwan for 2 wks (from 29/3-12/4). Will be staying over at relative's place located near ding xi MRT station.
Read through the forum and realise there are many places to go!! But out of so many.. what are the MUST-GO??
because i'll be there 2 weeks, i'm planning to travel out of taipei as well. any recommendation?
i've only heard that it's a must go to yang ming shan to see the yin hua.. there's this flower festival if i'm not wrong??
would it be a good idea to go for hot spring during this season??
heard that it rains quite a bit during march and april??

I'm not Sure where to post this so here it is:

Please read info in the following link on Carry on baggage requirements.
I just saw it on the HWZ board posted by a keen eyed forumer:

http://210.241.93.137/big5/banner/images/security-for-cabin-baggage.htm

Hi All, I am coming to Taiwan from 19/3 to 27/3.

Hope all of you could give me some comments on anyhting, my itinerary as follows :

19/3 - Arriving Taipei at 5 pm plus, heading to Imperial Hotel. After freshing up, start our journey at 8pm. Will take bus 257 & 287 at Zhong Shan Bei Rd to Mirramar, take the ferris wheel, then take the free shuttle bus by 10:30pm to Jian Tan MRT, walk to Shih Lin night market.

20/3 - Visit Zhong Lie, CKS, Ding Tai Feng for lunch, Taipei 101, Wu Fen Pu, Rao He (Any more proper plan to be sugegsted?)

21/3 - Heading to Ching Jing via greenbus. Stay 1 night at Win Lu Mings (some said the location is quite out of the way, any comments?)

22/3 - View the sheep show at 9:30am, heading to Lu Shan for hot spring and to Sun Moon Lake. Will stay 1 night at Laurel Villa.

23/3 - Early morning heading to Chiayi to Alishan. Stay 1 night at Alishan (any suggestion for the mingsu nearby Alishan train station??)

24/3 - Going back to Taipei from Alishan. Wish to visit Jiu Fen and stay 1 night there. Nut I am not sure if I still got time?? (The purpose is to take train to Hulian from Ruifen in the next morning)

25/3 - Take train to Hualian. Stay 1 night at Stone house (Is this mingsu in the Hualian train station or Hualian town)

26/3 - Going back to Taipei, must reach CTV by 6:30pm for Guess Show. Stay in TS Hotel

27/3 - Taipei, Stay in TS Hotel

28/3 - Going back to Singapore

I realised that I have not yet cover my fauvorites like Wu Lai, YMS, Beitou, Dan Shui etc.. Nuttyan and all, could you please advise me if there is anyhting to be amended? Please help me to plan the itinerary or transport if you could..

Many thanks to all of you.

Best Regards,
MT

hihi, 2 of us girls have booked to go taipei on end-dec. schedule as follows:

Day 1 - arrival & taipei at 1900+hrs, at leisure
Day 2 - cks memorial hall/ martyr's shrine/ national palace museum/ chiufen/ peitou hot spring/ shilin night market
Day 3 - 7 - fne
Day 8 - departure from taiepi at 1800hrs flight

accommodation at rainbow hotel is booked till checkout on 1st jan (Day 5). then we gotta sleep on the streets.
How can we add in sun moon lake and taroko gorge into our itinerary? how do we travel to these places from taipei? anywhere else i should go sicne i have so many free days? can anyone help to plan an itinerary? thanks!

i'm planning for a 8d 7N trip to Taiwan and will be going there end Dec'06. Appreciate could help me to review if the following itinerary works smoothly or if i need to make any changes?

Taoyuan CKS Airport--> Taipei--> Sun Moon Lake--> Alishan--> Hua Lien--> Wu Lai--> Taipei --> Taoyuan Airport.

A few questions here :
a) Is it advisable to take the Guo Guang bus from Taipei West train station to Sun Moon Lake? Is there a shorter travelling option other then this one(4.5hrs)?

b) Do you think we should only book for 1st nite hotel stay in Taipei and leave the rest of the hotel/train bookings aside and do it in taiwan?

c) For Alishan, is 1 full day sufficient to cover the hot tourist spots?

d) For Hua Lien, we intended to go for a half day guided tour from Ming Li, the travel agent which you've recommended in other posting. Do you think advance booking is required?

e) Is Wu Lai worth visiting? Or should we go for Beitou for hot spring instead? Will half a day b enough?

Thanks!!

Hi, I'll be in T'aipei in Nov. for the first time in my life, not exactly for leisure, but for a conference for a week. I would like to know if there are particular events in november I can see and things to do that are least mass tourist possible. This includes food! I love food, cooking and discovering wild food. ok, hope to hear from someone before november! hehe

R

Hi,

we are planning a trip to Taipei in the end of August.
After visiting Taipei, we would like to travel to a beach or an island.
But we don't know, which beach is the nicest for snorkeling and diving?
And which beach has a long sandy beach?
Maybe Kenting, Penghu or Green Island???

Can anyone recommend Kenting or one of those islands???

Hi,

just wondering what is MVP mean in Taiwan?
Have seen MVP appearing in some of the movies and songs....

Thanks
Val

My wife and I are planning a visit to Taipei in November for the wedding of our son to a wonderful young lady from Taipei. Our son has told us that in Asia, wrist watches are considered an important status symbol. This has my wife convinced that we should replace my $100 Seiko watch with something more impressive. We can afford doing that, to avoid making a bad impression, if that is necessary. But I am not eager to spend more than is necessary to have an acceptable watch. If somebody who lives in Taiwan would tell me what type, brand, and price range are considered respectable, we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Mark Townsend
Camp Hill, PA

PS I am in my mid-60's, if that matters.

My wife and I are planning for a trip to Taipei in November, for the marriage of our son to a wonderful young lady from Taipei. My wife has tried to find out what kind of clothing she should wear for the festivities, since we know nothing about local customs. But neither our son nor his bride seem willing to give any advice, other than that she should not show up wearing bluejeans! She would love to know more than that! What colors, styles, accessories are appropriate and which are not? For example, we think we know that wearing anything with black in it is not considered appropriate, but we aren't sure.We don't want to make a bad impression on the family. If somebody who has attended Taipei (Buddhist) wedding celebrations would be willing to give us a bit more guidance, we would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Mark Townsend
Camp Hill, PA.

PS We are both in our early 60's, if that matters. And her family is fairly well off, though not apparently rich.

Hi

We are planning to be in Taipei in September and was searching the web for 3 day tours to Penghu Island recommended by a friend but have problems locating a travel agents offering such package tours.

Anyone got one to recommend?

hi,

what is the things i shouldn't miss in those places?
Food? Sovenier? nitelife? or even sightseeing?
what is the recommended number of days for me to be in Taipei and Kaohsiong..?

apart from that... is there worth while for me to travel to taichong?

thanks and regards
Val

hi,

what is the best recommendation for mode of transportation if i were travel to Kaohsiung from Taipei?

What is the duration and cost for the mode of transportation?

Thanks
Val

Are there any ferry/boat/ship options for getting to Taiwan besides the ferry from Okinawa?

thanks,
Loren

hi,

May i know where's Wu Fen Pu located in Taiwan? Which city?
What is the recommended transportation for me to reach this place if i were in Taipei?
And how much does it cost?

Thanks
Val