Job Discussion Forums

snatchiw · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

When I arrive in Taiwan I will have a year's worth of luggage (presumably three bags or so). Since I have yet to decide where I will be living/teaching and plan to go on a frantic pan-island tour in search of my ideal location I don't want to be weighed down with my bags.
Since I will have to leave the country to get my ARC eventually, I was thinking about leaving my bags (except one) at the airport (in Taipei where I will be arriving) or in a hostle near the airport.
I am aware that I could fly out of Kaohsiung, which would be a better option if I was planing on staying in the south, so maybe a city closer to the geographic centre of the island (like Taichung for example) might be a good option.
Is there a bag storage service at the airport?
And presuming there isn't, as most international airports the world over no longer offer that service due to security issues, is there a trustworthy hostel or hotel that can offer such a service?
Or if someone has another suggestion about dealing with this issue (i.e. what you did), it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

well, im no expert, but firstly i'd say maybe travel a little lighter. also, i am not sure if you need to leave taiwan to get an arc anymore. i believe there have been some changes in the way arcs are processed, but like i said, i am sure others know more.

snatchiw · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Canada

Well obviously I could manage but what's the point if I don't need to.
I won't have a ton of stuff but I am more interested in finding out if there is anywhere that I could leave my stuff. This isn't a pressing matter just one put forward out of interest and convience.

And is that true that you no longer need to leave the country to get an ARC?

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

You never leave the country to get an ARC. If you are working legally the school you work for will process the paperwork. People leave the country to do visa runs. These people came to TW with a less then 60 day visa, or the wrong visa. When you come it would be wise to have a 60 day tourist visa. After you get a job make sure to get a new multi entry visa right away. The visa and the ARC are not the same thing.

According to this airport website they still offer baggage services. You'll have to check out more about this yourself.

http://www.cksairport.gov.tw/english/tourist/baggage.htm

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

To my knowledge, most major airports still offer baggage storage. Can anyone verify otherwise? If you arrive on a 60 day tourist visa you won't need to do a visa run, (unless of course you run out of time to process the visa) but if you arrive on a 30 day landing visa you may have to. I don't know. Things change and different people have different experiences. If you are planning to stay in a hostel then I'm sure that they will let you leave your luggage there. Most hostels do. Otherwise you could leave your stuff at the train station, the bus station, or even the school. Hell, you could even go to the gym and leave it there.

Three bags?!? Why do people travel like this? Travel light and buy things here. Taiwan is not an expensive country. You will be able to pick up some cheaper clothes at night markets, etc.

For anyone's benefit: Airlines let you carry three bags. One bag underneath. One piece of hand luggage. One laptop, also handluggage. Only the first two are weighed. So if you have any heavy books, etc, then buy a cheap laptop-like bag.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

CKS has always been problematic in this area. I've never needed to leave bags there though....due its inconvenience although I have used the train station's lockers which is unlikely to be an easy alternative for someone who doesn't know their way around.