Travel: Taiwan - Taipei

[Jennifer]

S-H:

Hi Jennifer,


How's your trip to Taiwan with WTS overall? I'm thinking of a holiday to Taiwan during December school holiday. I'm thinking of joinning the tour package n is still thinking of which travel agent to join?

WTS has a few branches. I booked with Bt Panjang branch. The staff who called my hse to inform me to meet at T1 row x did not wear WTS uniform that day at the airport. She claimed that she told my #2 that she will wear a black t-shirt. Though my #2 told her to call again in the evening, she did not. We were so anxious at the airport. Luckily i saw a couple holding a WTS enevelop and approached them to check with them where is the WTS staff.

Then the flight seats was not processed properly. The WTS staff claimed that the office has faxed the list of passengers to the airlines so that seats are be assigned accordingly. The flight was very full. Luckily still managed to sit with my #2.

Our group has only 7 pp - a family of 3, a couple plus us. We were not joined with other tours and had a tour guide n bus driver n a small bus. Paid NT$700 per pp for tip to tour guide n bus driver. The local tour agency is Polo Holidays.

On the departure day, our boarding passes were again not assigned properly. Though the group was assigned the same row, the seats were random. My #2 and I had 34A n 34F. Dun know whose error this is. Luckily still same row can easily switch with the others.

Overall I guess WTS is quite ok though others who hv joined other agencies said that WTS so-so.

This package that I joined is quite slow pace. Morning call 6.30am, check-out by 8am. Only on the day we were supposed to leave for Sun Moon Lake, need to depart at 7am. Usu. check in a hotel by 3pm. After that, we went to night mkts. Back into hotel before 8pm (the others continued on their own). Got plenty of time to watch TV and World Cup. I also managed to catch my KBS drama on Wed n Thurs

[Jennifer]

Augmum:

Jennifer,

Oh......so u're back, how?? tiring ?

i also dun like the \"iron egg\", so hard.....wonder y others found it nice....

so u also bot the PIXIU.....how much u paid for it....
as for me, i bot a rather big one (not really that big but with a transparent case) and 2 small pocket ones (for me and my gal)

Not too tiring. 1st morning got a shock when I saw the sun already up. Literally jumped off the bed, thought I overslept :lol:

The PIXIU I bou is the dangling type NT$7888 (medium sized). The staff was kinda of pushy. She brou out the type you bou and quoted NT$17888. I quickly called hubby n then gave the excuse that hubby said not to buy until he sees it.

Hv you striked lottery? I bou for my boy. The staff checked his name n claimed that he needs more support. I hv not told hubby abt this purch (he flew off to Aust the same day we came back).

Btw, the shop u buy PIXIU from, did the staff say anything not so good abt your life? The one who attended to me claimed that I am prone to traffic accidents which made me jumpy when I crossed the roads in Taiwan.

I did not try the mienxian. The couple in our group tried n said so-so only. Overall the food were quite salty (the big sauages too). I think we like the Chinese traditional cakes and desserts more. Those chicken chops looked yummy on TV but the moment I saw the frying oil, I did not feel like buying.

At FengJia night mkt, there were pushcarts selling jelly balls made from tapioca flour, also so-so. A few fruits pushcarts too. We bou a packet of rock melon- the hard part nearest the skin was not cut away, quite difficult to eat while walking along the streets.

[Jennifer]

In Taipei, we stayed in Riverview Hotel (4*), mins away from Ximenting Night Mkt. Breakfast buffet was international. BUT the beds are really hard. The last two days we stayed in Taipei Gdn Hotel (5*)- international breakfast buffet and comfy beds. Also mins walk to Ximenting.

[Jennifer]

Today's MYPAPER has a writeup on Taipei. Very informative.


Btw, the tour guide brou us to this shop VIGOR KOBO to buy preservative free pineapple tarts, etc. http://www.taiwan-vigor.com.tw/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=349745

[S-H]

Jennifer:

S-H:

Hi Jennifer,


How's your trip to Taiwan with WTS overall? I'm thinking of a holiday to Taiwan during December school holiday. I'm thinking of joinning the tour package n is still thinking of which travel agent to join?

WTS has a few branches. I booked with Bt Panjang branch. The staff who called my hse to inform me to meet at T1 row x did not wear WTS uniform that day at the airport. She claimed that she told my #2 that she will wear a black t-shirt. Though my #2 told her to call again in the evening, she did not. We were so anxious at the airport. Luckily i saw a couple holding a WTS enevelop and approached them to check with them where is the WTS staff.

Then the flight seats was not processed properly. The WTS staff claimed that the office has faxed the list of passengers to the airlines so that seats are be assigned accordingly. The flight was very full. Luckily still managed to sit with my #2.

Our group has only 7 pp - a family of 3, a couple plus us. We were not joined with other tours and had a tour guide n bus driver n a small bus. Paid NT$700 per pp for tip to tour guide n bus driver. The local tour agency is Polo Holidays.

On the departure day, our boarding passes were again not assigned properly. Though the group was assigned the same row, the seats were random. My #2 and I had 34A n 34F. Dun know whose error this is. Luckily still same row can easily switch with the others.

Overall I guess WTS is quite ok though others who hv joined other agencies said that WTS so-so.

This package that I joined is quite slow pace. Morning call 6.30am, check-out by 8am. Only on the day we were supposed to leave for Sun Moon Lake, need to depart at 7am. Usu. check in a hotel by 3pm. After that, we went to night mkts. Back into hotel before 8pm (the others continued on their own). Got plenty of time to watch TV and World Cup. I also managed to catch my KBS drama on Wed n Thurs

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you so much for your info. :thankyou:

[Augmum]

Jennifer:

Not too tiring. 1st morning got a shock when I saw the sun already up. Literally jumped off the bed, thought I overslept :lol:

Jennifer, solli for the late reply as i had forgotten to follow up this thread...

me too, i thot i overslept when i was awoke as it was so bright,
but when looked at my watch, it was only 5.40 a.m.....

Jennifer:

The PIXIU I bou is the dangling type NT$7888 (medium sized). The staff was kinda of pushy. She brou out the type you bou and quoted NT$17888. I quickly called hubby n then gave the excuse that hubby said not to buy until he sees it.

We bot the orange jade Pixiu. originally it was at the list price u stated.
we had seen similar one in HK, (almost wana to buy but din, it cost more and yet the jad was not so brillant)
we finally bot it in taiwan, together with the 2 small pocket ones…….

Realised fr our tour guide that she is one of the renowned feng shui master in Taiwan
who often go on air on TV……. (but there’s not impt as we already decided to buy a Pixiu long ago )
Since we were interested in 3, she gave us a huge discount for a package after a longggggg bargain…….all at NT $20 000
inclusive of consultation service for our new hse ..…..so all in all was a good deal to us !!!

Jennifer:

Hv you striked lottery? I bou for my boy. The staff checked his name n claimed that he needs more support.
Btw, the shop u buy PIXIU from, did the staff say anything not so good abt your life? The one who attended to me claimed that I am prone to traffic accidents which made me jumpy when I crossed the roads in Taiwan.

Strike lottery ??? we dun have the habit to buy lottery.....

But this pixiu did help in hub’s business.
In fact, merely a month later, he received an unexpected call fr one of his customers for an order which was hold off for a year,
as there's a change of peron –in –charge of singapore’s office……. ,

Actually, pixiu is not really meant for “heng cai” or windfall,
pple used mainly for wealth enhancer and a “guard” for the hse
against wealth loss, ward off from evil spirits or catastrophe …..

the master din say much thing abt me and hub
but she emhasised greatly on my gal.....
as she said that she had hardly come across my gal Baizi
she said it's gd......hopefully true....

talking abt the road in taiwan
OMG, those motorcylist can just go thru the pedestrian crossing when it is red light :x
i was so afraid to cross their roads,
and their roads are so long and wide, unlike those found in singapore
this was the first thing that our tour guide had warned us.........

Jennifer:

I
did not try the mienxian. The couple in our group tried n said so-so only. Overall the food were quite salty (the big sauages too). I think we like the Chinese traditional cakes and desserts more. Those chicken chops looked yummy on TV but the moment I saw the frying oil, I did not feel like buying.

oh....u din try the meinxian too...
overall, i dun like their food, to me their food are rather bland, tastless,
except those sold in night markets.....

at ximenting, did u try the Snowy mango ?? it's so superb, very fine ice

so overall , din u bot lots of stuff bk ???

[Jennifer]

Augmum:

so overall , din u bot lots of stuff bk ???

Think the PIXIU shop you n I visited is different. Only 1 master (think 50+ man) gave a presentation. Then several salespp came out to serve us.

I did not try the snowy mango Didn't buy much either. Not much luggage space. Also dun know where the money went :lol:

[Augmum]

oh...yrs is a man in charge......prob diff place


what a waste for not trying the snowy mango, the shop at Ximenting is one of the best few.....
very fine ice (almost feel like snow) and the milk they used is diff fr those avail locally......and their mango, off course is very sweet.....

[S-H]

I’m planning to go Taiwan on a package tour during the Dec school holiday. Anybody can advise which travel agent provide best Taiwan tour package? Thank you.

[Jennifer]

S-H:

I'm planning to go Taiwan on a package tour during the Dec school holiday. Anybody can advise which travel agent provide best Taiwan tour package? Thank you.

I guess it depends on where you want to go visiting. Historic sites and night mkts did not appeal to my boy :oops: He likes the Leofoo theme park, the Salt City ATV ride and the hotel stay at the hot springs resort.

Are you going with children?