Kavey

Hi All

I am right at the very beginning of the process in planning my first trip to Hong Kong and Taiwan. I've already posted a thread to ask for advice on HK. This one's for Taiwan.

International flights are booked for mid-January 2017. We'll fly to HK and transfer directly onto a flight to Taipei fairly shortly after landing. That gets us into Taipei mid-morning. I know from experience that I never sleep that well on international flights and that I'll be pretty tired but I want to plan for some light-level sightseeing on that date. We have 5 nights in Taipei and will then fly back to HK. Not booked that flight yet but let's assume it's a morning departure for sake of planning and can adjust if I book something different.

My current thoughts are 3 nights in Taipei and 2 nights to visit one other destination in the country, perhaps Taroko Gorge? Could split that 4:1 if that makes more sense...

I'd really appreciate some tips on a few things:

* Recommendations for web resources to help me with my research - on attractions, food, day trips, anything relevant.

* For Taipei, thoughts on which area of the city to base ourselves - Xinyi, Daan, Old Taipei? Any particular hotels within the area you suggest that you can recommend? Of course, if we head of to Taroko Gorge (or elsewhere) we can always stay at different Taipei hotels before and after...

* Any advice related to the trip outside of Taipei - am I right to focus on Taroko Gorge? Is there somewhere else I should look at? Or do you think we'd be better staying in Taipei the entire time and taking some daytrips?

* It may help to know I'm a food-obsessive, in terms of your suggestions on what we should visit. I have of course googled the merits and disadvantages of the various food night markets but what other key foodie attractions should we visit?

US:
- British, mid forties, love trips with a food/ drink focus.
- I have arthritis / hip and back problems so can't do a whole tonne of walking / have a preference for a hotel as near to a metro station as possible. The more I can use public transport (or taxis) to travel to sights, the more of my energy I can save for the actual sights themselves. The pain gets worse as day progresses, so I'll take that into account as I loosely plan daily itineraries too.
- Budget, not really set a ceiling yet, as too early in my research, but I guess middling. Will likely splurge more on food than really splurge on hotel.

I appreciate any tips, and of course if there is more information I can provide that would make it easier to give me helpful advice, please let me know!

Thank you
Kavey

thursdaysd

That is a really short time for Taiwan. Definitely plan to get out of Taipei. I found Tainan more interesting than Taipei - lots of very atmospheric temples. Loved Taroko Gorge, if you are not going to hike you should probably hire a car and driver. If you can afford it there is a very nice hotel actually in the gorge, otherwise stay in Hualien. One night should be enough. Or I suppose you could do it as a long day trip from Taipei if you booked the faster trains and arranged for a car and driver to meet the train.

I used the Lonely Planet guidebook. Don't know any on-line resources, but you could read my blog posts. Start here (links at the top of the page):

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...oon-on-taiwan/

Kavey

Hi Thursday
It is definitely just a taster, I know! We had a two week window, we had to book the flights a month or two back and I wanted a minimum of 7 nights in HK plus an add-on in the region for an additional 5 nights.
There's always scope for me to go back to Taiwan if we like it, and I suspect we will!

I actually had Silks Palace already bookmarked for the gorge, I think that may be the one you are referring to? I've just gone ahead and booked a room there for our first 2 nights on landing, via booking.com which means I can cancel if our itinerary planning takes us elsewhere. I figure that although it'll make initial journey a fair bit longer, we can then relax utterly that first night, do some non-trekking sightseeing the next day and then head back to Taipei after that...

I already had your Taroko Gorge post bookmarked but will go back now and read all the rest of your Taiwan content, thanks!

thursdaysd

Yes, it was the Silks Palace. Didn't see the rooms, but the public areas were very nice. The gorge is gorgeous (lol), and I'm sure the Silks can arrange a car and driver for you. There is (or was) a bus, but you will be much happier with your own transport.

Kavey

Great. I've read a few reviews that it may be a little tired and worn, not quite up to the standards shown in their own images BUT also that it's superb for the price and superb for the location. I've booked halfboard, since I can't imagine anywhere else being available in the vicinity for dinner, though I've sent a request for information on which of their restaurants that is taken in. I haven't requested driver or tour yet, as I need to read a bit more first. I agree that our own transport would certainly make more sense and from preliminary reading, looks like it'd not be that much more than a place on a group tour.

Thanks again!

tripplanner001

Be sure to include a visit to the National Palace Museum during your time in Taipei. You could easily spend a full day there, but a half day would give you a good overview. Also worth a trip is the former residence and gardens of the late Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling.

For food, the best places I found were hole-in-the-wall places that serve the best dumplings, beef noodle soup, sesame rolls stuffed with fried cruellers, hot soy milk, etc. We found many in the Daan area and around Lungshan Temple.

thursdaysd

When I was there there was definitely nowhere else you would want to eat nearer than Hualien. You will probably want full board. (I was there in 2010, things may well have changed.)

Note that the hotel is at the far end of the gorge, you will need transport to and from.

Also note that mainland Chinese are now visiting Taiwan in large numbers. The museum may be very busy.

Reading54

>> Also note that mainland Chinese are now visiting Taiwan in large numbers. The museum may be very busy.<<
Not anymore.
In January of this year the DPP's nominee, Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen, won the Taiwanese presidential election, the pro-Chinese KMT party was defeated. Since then China has curtailed its tourist quota to Taiwan, as a way to curtail the tourism dollar flow to Taiwan.

someotherguy

I agree that Tainan is more interesting than Taipei.

The most scenically interesting place I've been to near Taipei is Yehliu (Google for images), it's about a one hour bus ride.

The Palace Museum will be packed. Go at lunchtime and have a plan.

I've stayed at Silk's Place. They have a bus that'll pick you up at the station. It's about a one hour drive. They also do sightseeing tours around the gorge. I did both a morning and afternoon trip and found them good value. In addition to its restaurants, Silks has a lounge with food and drink for those in the executive rooms (I got upgraded). There are a couple of food stalls in the "village" that are OK for lunch.

tripplanner001

I agree that Yehliu is gorgeous and well worth a visit, but it may be challenging with OP with potential walking issues.

someotherguy

I'm pretty lame myself (I walk with a cane and I'm 20+ years older than the OP) and I don't recall Yehliu being particularly onerous, though I kept to the paths rather than skipping over the rocks.

I did find the Sha Ka Dang trail in Taroko a bit challenging, but the guide (from Silks Place) kindly carried my pack for me.

Kavey

Brilliant, thank you all, this is extremely helpful!

beccc

Taipei Tourism Bureau https://new.travel.taipei/en/information/links website actually has so many tips and information for tourists , last time i got lots useful information on their website and found & joined a cool traditional musical event . you can check it for traveling plan

billirandall

Wooow great!!you are so lucky that even you get a chance to go Hong Kong..Its is been my dream place to go on a long tour but am not getting a chance to go..Hav fun!!Enjoy

Kavey

Thanks Becc, I've got that one bookmarked as well, it's quite useful.

On landing, we'll be met by a family member of a friend, who has kindly booked train tickets for us. We'll be transferring to the train station and taking the train to Hualien for two nights at Silks Palace in Taroko Gorge. I've booked a full day private car and driver and the hotel have proposed an itinerary for that which looks good to me.

Then we'll get the train back to Taipei and have three nights there. I'm not planning very heavily for this, more researching and making notes of what we'd like to see and do. The same person meeting us on arrival has kindly offered to do a little foodie tour for us in Taipei so I've accepted very eagerly.

For HK I've booked a private walking food tour for half day, the rest is all open but I'll research the options in advance. And we're taking a day trip to Macau in the middle of our week in HK.

Thanks again, all.

jichen

Hi Kavey,

Nice to hear you are going to visit Taipei in mid of January. It's the time before Chinese New year (based on lunar calendar, Jan/27 is the Near Year's Eve in 2017). Most of the shopping stores or restaurant will close for 2-3 days in new year, it won't affect your stay before Chinese New Year. However, you will experience the happy and joyful new year feeling and decorations in the city.

Besides, it's very convenience to take Taxi or MRT (metro subway) for the city tour. Shopping prices and restaurant food prices are all listed as tax included (only 5%).

There are many food options and different cuisine, I believe you already got many suggestions from friends or website.

Except food, another thing I love to enjoy is the massage spa in Taipei, it's cheap and with good quality. You may try Villa Spa (many branch stores in Taipei) or Villa Like, they are clean and provide good massage for body or foot.

Finally, hope you do enjoy the tour and please share your valuable and joyful experience afterward.

Happy Holiday!

Kavey

Thanks for the massage recos, I love massage and having some suggestions of good places is helpful, I might be tempted by a foot massage at least!

Thanks for your good wishes for my trip!

Kavey

Little trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...macau-2017.cfm