Top 5 Things Every Traveler to Taiwan Needs to Know

Introduction

Many travelers, when planning their epic vacation or backpacking adventure to Asia, often overlook little Taiwan. The Southeast Asian countries are renowned for being low cost while the beaches of Indonesia are understandably a tourist favorite. Taiwan, however, is quickly gaining notoriety as a spot you don´t want to miss because of the huge concentration of beautiful hot springs, the hip urban centers like Taipei, and an efficient transport system that will allow you to explore the country in comfort.
Taiwan is also one of the safest places in the world for travelers. If you want to avoid the pickpockets and thieves that have learned to prey on the ignorance of foreign tourists in other countries, Taiwan is a great place where you can travel and style without having to constantly look over your shoulder. In Taipei and other bigger cities, the night markets that are open into the wee hours of the night make it safe to even walk home to your hotel after a late night out at the bar. Below we look at the top six things that every traveler to Taiwan needs to know.

Eat Local

It always is frustrating to see travelers to some foreign country eating at a McDonalds or Pizza Hut. One of the biggest joys of travel is finding that unknown and unmarked family restaurant that offers truly stunning cuisine. Food in Taiwan delicious, and you can definitely eat on a budget if you choose to eat local. Almost every street in the country´s cities is filled with small restaurants that offer “lunch-box” type meals including soup, rice, meat, and vegetables for under $2 US dollars.
If you want to splurge on a local delicacy, the fried milk fish is to die for and is still considerably cheaper than a Big Mac that you can find in the malls of Taipei. By eating at only local eateries, you can easily get three meals a day for under $10 while eating at the better recognized fast food restaurants might get you a bill of $10 for one (tasteless) meal.

Take the MRT and the Train

Transportation in Taiwan is significantly better than other countries in Asia where you´ll probably find yourself crammed into a bus seat with four other travelers. The train system in Taiwan is fantastic and will take you almost anywhere in the country. You can also take the MRT for getting around Taipei cheaply and efficiently. To save some money, you will want to buy a happy card (like a pre-pay ticket), to avoid the lines of having to purchase a ticket each time you want to get from point A to point B

Invest in a Quality Travel Backpack

To get around Taiwan, you don´t want to have to be lugging your old suitcase on wheels with you. Even though the transportation system is top notch, it is much more comfortable to carry your stuff in a smaller, more mobile, and much more comfortable travel backpack. You can find a great review of the best travel backpacks on the market on my travel blog live once, live wild.

Take Your Phone with You

When travelling in Taiwan, you will be able to share pictures with friends and family back home on a daily basis. While travelling in some parts of the world might force you to disconnect for several weeks on end, Taiwan has some of the best internet infrastructure in the world. And you won´t have to pay for Wi-Fi at a pricey internet café either. There are well over 4,000 free I-Taiwan hotspots located around the country meaning that you can stay in touch with friends and family and even catch up on some work-related emails while enjoying your morning coffee from pretty much anywhere in the country.

Make Sure to Change Money

While you can use your credit or debit card for most travel purchases in Taiwan, it´s always good to have a little cash on you. In some countries, it´s customary for touristy businesses to accept US dollars, Canadian dollars, or Euros. In Taiwan, however, almost no business accepts foreign currency, so you will need to make it to a bank to exchange your dollars for the New Taiwan Dollar which is currently about 31 to 1 US dollar. Also, make sure to take your passport with you to the bank or else you won´t be able to exchange your money.

Enjoy Taiwan

If an epic trip to Asia is on your bucket list, make sure to factor in some time to make it to Taiwan. The mix of local culture, beautiful countryside, and hip, metropolitan cities make it well worth your time. The quality transportation infrastructure, great internet, and safety of the place are extra perks that all tourists should appreciate.

About the Author

Scott Moses is the author of LiveOnceLiveWild: I live in Brooklyn, New York, not exactly one of the most pristine natural spots our world has to offer. Most days I find myself indoors, in front of a computer screen. If it wasn’t for the weekends, I would probably go insane.

About a decade ago, a buddy of mine took me on a backpacking trip in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. While I had been on camping trips with the family when I was younger, there was something unique about carrying your sustenance on your back and staring into the dark, star-filled sky after a day of exploring pristine forests and meandering mountain streams.

Since that time, almost every weekend either finds me on a hiking trail, a ski hill, or on the top of a crashing wave. Getting outdoors literally saved me from the dullness of city life.