Korean Job Discussion Forums

jobot · Joined: 17 Nov 2010 Location: Ireland

Hey!

I'm going to Taiwan at the end of September for a week,

any suggestions on what route to take, where to stay, cool things to visit or how much I should bring??

Any help appreciated!
Thanks

ChrisLamp · Joined: 27 Jul 2010

go south, Kenting is amazing. there is a hostel called that surf shack that is inexpensive and very nice. you can rent a scooter and hit up any number of beaches. paradise.

my gf and I did a week in Taiwan (three nights Taipei Four nights Kenting, the speed train is expensive but worth it.) for about 8 hundred thousand won each, plus airfare. we didnt do much shopping but we ate and drank till our hearts were content and never restricted our spending.

also Roxy Rocker in Taipei has to be one of the coolest bars in the world, you will love it. they have a vinyl collection you can sift through and make requests to the dj. our crew had the place to ourselves and he just payed every record we wanted him to. so fun.

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

I was in Taiwan for vacation recently. I strongly suggest that after a couple days in Taipei, head to Hualien on the east coast. Rent a scooter from the Pony Rental shop across from Hualien Station (no license needed, just photo ID) and drive up to Taroko Gorge. When you're finished with that, there's an aboriginal village on the way back to Hualien where there's a river swimming hole with actual blue-green water! (can't remember the name of the place though). Next, drive south on the scenic highway 11 and take in the beautiful coastline and mountains.

Hualien is a bit more out of the way than other places in Taiwan, but it's well worth it for the things mentioned above. I ended up staying there a day longer than I originally thought I would!

iselynjenniep · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: bundang

i really liked hualien/taroko gorge as well. i went last chuseok.
http://teflorbust.wordpress.com/2010/09/26/taiwan/

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

I also recommend the Hualien area. If you have time you could rent a scooter and go down to Taidong. There is a place named Dulan that has somewhat of a hippy arts colony thing going on. Place named sea art hostel there .http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=429655948055

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

I probably would only spend one or two nights at most in Taipei. its a great city but more of a lived city like Seoul than a tourist spot. If you are there in Seoul got to YanmingShan Mountain and hike the Jinbaoli trail. At the end of the trail you can go to Tienlai hot springs resort.
http://www.tienlai.com.tw/en/about.php

Just ask anyone and they will tell you where it is, its about 15 mins walk from end of Jinbaoli trail.

The Great Toad · Joined: 12 Jun 2004

I was there for a while- I second the Kenting trip if you like beaches- also you can use the bus to get around easy just like KOrea - and for no clear reason they built a High Speed rail around the whole island or you can ride the slow train around too - but I guess in the Gorge a scooter might easy as well if you want to stop and start to see the spots along it. But, you are more like to be slain on a scooter there ten Korea - I was hit by a car there on my bicycle.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

any hotel recommendations for Tapei? Reasonably priced if poss!

iselynjenniep · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: bundang

i stayed here in hualien, it was really nice:
http://www.cj-hotel.com/eng/page/location.htm

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

Green island is super nice. Go south down the east coast by train. Cant remember the city, but its a major stop near the bottom. You can take a boat or fly there. I flew, cost like 35 bucks. Super nice. No English or ATMs so be prepared for a little charades. But so beautiful. I rented some old lady's scooter for like 5 dollars and was one of like 30 people on the island. Cute baby deer running around as well.

Douglas B · Joined: 06 Jul 2009

Hey,

Hualien is smallish town with surfable waves. An american guy there runs a bar/live music place with pretty talented people from the philippines performing.

also, if you go to kenting, you may want to stay in Hengchun itself for a more authentic taiwanese experience. buses run every 10 minutes or so from Hengchun down to Kenting and back until pretty late (1 a.m.) A taxi would be like $10 USD at most.

I stayed at Blue-hi hostel

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/BlueHi-Hostel/Kenting/29950

I dont know why the ratings are so low. These people are clearly traveling pussies. Joey was amazing, drove us all around the area (for free) and showed us amazing restaurants we'd never have found on our own. It us not a hostal, but you get your own, clean, well-furnished studio apartment with a little balcony in an apartment building in the center of town. he leaves breakfast (sandwich and juice) on your door knob every morning. the local beach has an outdoor bar with live music every afternoon at five.

enjoy!

Doug

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

Douglas B · Joined: 06 Jul 2009

I stayed in Chocolate Box Backpackers Hostal. Pretty standard for an Asian hostal, very friendly staff speaking perfect English. Excellent location in the hip neighborhood (forget name). Lots of coffee shops, excellent live music bar nearby and metro.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

I'd recommend eating at the original Din Tai Fung when you're in Taipei. The ones in Korea are decent, but the original one in Taipei is fantastic. Be prepared to wait a bit if you go during lunch or dinner hours (mid-afternoon you can probably walk right in).

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

One other piece of advice， if you are travelling in the week and with a partner you can get great deals at the hot spring resorts at places like Wulia
http://www.groupon.com.tw/index.php?id=4365&countryId=333&mt=2931

You might need a Chinese speaker or Google translate. I should work for the Taiwan tourist board.