Travel: Taiwan - Taipei

[Augmum]

spitzcookie:

Hi Angmum,


I've heard from many people that followed tour packages also complaining very tiring, always rushing and like spending 1/2 to 3/4 of their trip on buses. Is it really true?

I'm planning to bring my 2 kids (5 & 7) to Taiwan during the Nov hols this year. Hubby wanted to sigh up a Chan Bros tour package but have kind of persuaded him to go free & easy cos kids are too young for all the rushing and waking up so early. Just want them to enjoy at a more relaxed pace. Think the only thing that we're most worried at will be the handling of the luggages when we changeshotel.

hi spitzcookie and the rest of u.....

fyi, there are 2 similar threads discussing abt Taiwan- Taipei in KSP

yes, u're right, it was a tiring trip.....but it was a fruitful one.......
but not too bad for the kids and those who can sleep soundly on coach
take for eg, my gal, the moment she went on coach, she slept soundly.....
the coach journey can take 3-4 hrs......with intermittent stopping for toilets
so by the time we reached our next destination, the kids had already a good rest

oh......i am \"greedy\" i wanna to see the whole of taiwan....
so, taking up tour package is still the best......
i have freinds who went there on their own for F and E,
it was very ex, ( their cabs charges, and for certain places, the mrt is not accessible) and also u can't visit so many places.

for us, we had to change hotel EVERY NIGHT (becos the next day, we woud be in another city)
after checking in the hotel ard late at night,
after taking out all the stuff u need, such as pyjamas
the next morning, u had to pack all up again by ard 6.30 a.m to 7.00 a.m and quickly rush for yr breakfast which was served in the hotel.
(tell u first, their breakfast is not really to our liking....., some hotel only serve taiwanese porridge for breakfast, while some of them is ok...u can get the international spread of breakfast)

(i don't suggest going for Ch** Br** as their package is often not the best deal......i m not sure abt yr hubby's package, think can scout for better deal elasewhere)
the last trip we had, there were grp members who booked fr diff tour agencies at diff prices, but in the end we were all grouped together under the same local taiwan agency.....so take yr time to compare .......

[amylqf]

there is one time we book from ChxxBrxx from expo fair.

later, my husband found out that their online booking is even cheaper than the price @travel fair.
in the end, they refund us the balance, but we pay double for the entrance to the travel fair and all the hassle.

so from then on, hubby always go online for free n easy.

[Augmum]

hi amylqf


my next hoilday trip would be still to Taiwan F N E one,
but this time only wanna to go to TAipei alone so that got sufficent days for shopping......

so prob i need to seek guidance fr u to show me how to take the public transport to move ard there.......

[amylqf]

Augmum:

hi amylqf


my next hoilday trip would be still to Taiwan F N E one,
but this time only wanna to go to TAipei alone so that got sufficent days for shopping......

so prob i need to seek guidance fr u to show me how to take the public transport to move ard there.......

For shopping, I only went to Cityhall area (pls refer to above schedule on day 4). There are other shopping areas, like XiMenDing. but we never have extra time to go there.
My hubby hate shopping.

Frankly speaking, I don't feel shopping in Taipei is exciting.
maybe because of the season. we went during early spring, no much summer cloth out yet. even with promotion, say 70-80% discount in department store, hardly can find any cloth or shoe less than NT1200. Maybe goto market, can find better n cheaper deal.

[Augmum]

amylqf:

For shopping, I only went to Cityhall area (pls refer to above schedule on day 4). There are other shopping areas, like XiMenDing. but we never have extra time to go there.
My hubby hate shopping.

Frankly speaking, I don't feel shopping in Taipei is exciting.
maybe because of the season. we went during early spring, no much summer cloth out yet. even with promotion, say 70-80% discount in department store, hardly can find any cloth or shoe less than NT1200. Maybe goto market, can find better n cheaper deal.

amylqf, shopping in taipei can be real exciting if u go to the right places.

As for the last trip, since we don’t have much time to shop ard, we decide to come back again the next trip.

Ximengding has a wide array of fashion clothing in various styles including japanese, korean and western designs
but sad to say that we were only given 1 hr there
which included the Q-ing up to buy the famous “Ah Chong mien Xian” (that alone already taken up abt 20 mins or so)
And also in Ximengding, there are lots of “toys catching machines”
which my gal loves it sooooo much ……cheap and “good catching opportunity”
unlike in Singapore. she managed to catch quite a lot of soft toys there.

There are also free street performances by pop stars on weekends.

Besides Ximending, a visit to Wu Fen Pu wholesale centre is a must for we shoppers.
this place is really huge, houses hundreds of shops selling trendy clothes, shoes and bags.
but there is a certain day of the wk which is reserved for wholesale only, so they may not entertain u.
Personally, i found most of the clothes there are too trendy, can pick some for my gal.

And off course, not to forget the shihlin night market……. can shop till u drop….
2 hrs there can only covered half of the night market.
(prob also becos of the slow moving crowd, which hinders u fr walkign fast)

i love Taiwan, simply becos the pple there are so friendly and courteous,
Personally, i found shopping there is so much better than in HK

[amylqf]

right. we didn’t went to the right place

[Augmum]

amylqf:

right. we didn't went to the right place

no lah, no other meaning, i am just here simply sharing some of the exciting shopping areas in Taipei
for those who are interested to go taipei to shop.

[corneyAmber]

A few facts:


1. Taipei definitely can go free and easy

2. Shopping is definitely fun in Taipei and you can be on feet all day and not feel it.

3. Other than shopping, it is one of the most colourful places I have ever been, just the signboards alone can laugh till you drop.

4. People are very helpful and approachable too

5. Child-friendly place.

[TwaTau]

I came back from Taiwan on a free and easy self drive trip with my 2 kids, driving from Hsinchu, Taichung, Sun-moonlake, Hualian and return my car in Taipei. This was from 6-20 December 2009. Overall it was fun for the kids, seeing the mountain, the sea and the city. We stay in 民宿, and the owner of all of them were very friendly. First time driving in Taiwan, so need to get use to it and subsequently was ok. But the mountain drive, which is where most of our accomodation were, it is still quite hairy at some places.


One not so nice experience was when we were in the MRT train in Taipei. My 2 kids were conversing in english and over my shoulder, someone was calling my kids 假洋鬼子. I look back and stare at the guy that call out the name. And after which, I started conversing with my DH in mandarin to let the guy know that we do understand them. We are just bilingual, and why is he faulting my kids by saying such a thing.

[hquek]

TwaTau:

One not so nice experience was when we were in the MRT train in Taipei. My 2 kids were conversing in english and over my shoulder, someone was calling my kids 假洋鬼子. I look back and stare at the guy that call out the name. And after which, I started conversing with my DH in mandarin to let the guy know that we do understand them. We are just bilingual, and why is he faulting my kids by saying such a thing.

Becos his English cannot make it?? sour grapes. :x :x

Then those caucasians that can talk in mandarin leh?