<p>Our kids plan to travel a few days together in Taiwan in May. DS is studying in Singapore and is now accustomed to Asia touring. He will arrive a few days prior for solo touring. Both of their travels revolve around Taipei flights. </p>
<p>DS (age 22) has proposed they rent a car. I’d be worried about him (no recent driving) or DD (a mellow driver) on the road in Taiwan. I’m not even sure our insurance covers it, and it seem an international license is required. I’m hoping there are some Cafe pals who could suggest day trips from Taipei that they’ve navigated with bus or train (or tour group). </p>
<p>Any other tips, website suggestions, etc are also appreciated </p>
<p>If your S is planning to drive in/around Taipei, one thing to be aware of is motorcycles, scooters, and bikes weaving between two closely spaced motor vehicles in traffic. </p>
<p>In addition, if he and his friends are walking on sidewalks, be aware of those two-wheeled vehicles zipping around. When I visited my father’s undergrad alma mater, I was almost run over by a motorcycle zipping after stepping only a few feet outside the campus wall on a sidewalk well away from the street. </p>
<p>I must admit to being relieved that it to read that it is tough for foreigners to rent scooters. That worries me too after hearing about traffic craziness. </p>
<p>First, DO NOT rent a car and international license is required when you call but when you arrive, some companies just need your US license. For a day trip, its better hire taxis or buses/subway.</p>
<p>Do they want to tour the country or just stay in Taipei? give <a href=“http://www.c-holiday.com”>www.c-holiday.com</a> a call(650)-589-9000. The owner Johnson is my personal friend. He specialize in Taiwan Tours, they have elaborate tours all over the island.</p>
<p>If you are going to have a day trip in Taipei, do not need a tour, with a map for bus or subway are plenty good. Frankly, unless you have a local guy with you, there is not that many things to look at in Taipei, if they have not been there before. The 101 tower is a must and the Palace Museum.</p>
<p>We visited the Ju MIng Museum that’s about an hour north of Taipei. It was a truly surreal experience, and I highly recommend it. There is also a teaching Buddhist seminary nearby that we visited. That trip took us along the coast, which was also beautiful. I also wouldn’t rent a car - hire a driver. Taipei City can easily be experienced without a car.</p>
<p>Co_mom - we were driven to the museum by a local acquaintance (very lucky for us!). But I believe that there is public transportation from Taipei. Just search “how to get from Taipei to Ju Ming museum” and you’ll find something. Also, I’ve had luck going to local travel offices, or just asking at hotels about hiring a car with a driver. It’s been amazingly inexpensive. The trains around Taiwan were so easy to use, and the people were so willing to help us. </p>
<p>There are also tea plantations within Taipei that are pretty incredible. As are the night markets. I really loved my travels in Taiwan, and am excited for your sons. </p>
<p>Uh oh… if I read much more I might be sorry we are not going along with the kids. (It’s actually a son and a daughter, good friends.) But they wanted their own adventure, and we had vacation time allotted for other uses including beach house with DS after he finishes his Boston summer job. </p>
<p>Any suggestions for Tapei rendezvous plan? I was hoping DS (travelling a few day in Taiwan prior) would meet DD at the airport. That may not be practical. It seems taxis from airport to city are approx $50… true? </p>
<p>Any Taipei recommendations for youth hostel or budge motel? </p>
<p>If your children are a little bit adventurous, they could try the high speed rail between Taipei City and Taoyuan City. From the Taoyuan City high speed rail train station, they can take a bus that will take them to the airport.</p>
<p>It is much cheaper to go from Taipei City to the airport in this way. The high speed rail, unlike Amtrak here, is very fast. I think it likely takes only 15 minutes between Taipei City and Taoyuan City. There may be one train leaving from the Taipei City every 20 to 30 minutes most time during the day.</p>
<p>I believe there are buses that take visitors from the airport to the Taipei City (and most other cities in the central or southern Taiwan as well.) But I have never tried it by myself.</p>
<p>The fare from Taipei to Taoyuan is less than $6 in US dollars. The commuter bus you could take just outside of Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station costs very little (less than one dollar?)</p>
<p>The Taipei High Speed Rail Station is like a hub in Taipei City, from which you could easily go anywhere. On one (south or west?) side of the train station, there is a taxi stand where there are always taxies waiting for the customers.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I am not familiar with youth hostel so I can not help you with this. BTW, it could rain a lot during Spring im Taiwan. Rain gears are recoemended just in case.</p>
<p>Arguably, that’s better than going in Late June-August when it can get seriously muggy and hot. It was already seriously humid when I went in early June. </p>
<p>Thanks all! I’ll take a look at that High Speed Rail link. </p>
<p>DS is adventurous. He’s been in Singapore since January. While there also has toured Bali and Vietname (and possibly other places on his own dime not yet mentioned to us). He will do a few days of Taiwan touring alone before DD arrives. </p>
<p>DD has never traveled internationally. She is 25 and somewhat adventurous, but it is a LONG trip from Colorado to Taipai. I fear she will be rather sleep deprived and culture shocked when she arrives. . </p>
<p>The High Speed Train fares look more reasonable than I expected. (I did a sample trip from Taipei to south end of Taiwan, about 2 hours with fare around $50).</p>
<p>We had dinner with DD tonight. She’s on one week count down, very excited about the trip. DH is galantly helping out with early morning airport logistics… not easy now that she lives an hour away from us. </p>
<p>Direct bus services to Taipei or many other locations are right at the airport. It’s like $4 and there are stops in Taipei that you can get off. The last stop is at the main train station where all subways and high speed trains are located. </p>
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Thanks!</p>