Taiwan provides the full range of lodgings, from basic hostels to world-class hotels and resorts, and air-con is standard. Quality, how...
Taiwan provides the full range of lodgings, from basic hostels to world-class hotels and resorts, and air-con is standard. Quality, however, can really vary, even at the same price range; a newly remodelled hotel may charge only slightly more than the decaying establishment beside it. In addition, many hotels are really a star or even two below their advertised rating. Few hotels really deserve the five-star rating as facilities and service are rarely top notch. Many continue to charge as if they do, however, which exasperates even the tourism board.for setting tents on. You can pick up a tent cheaply in Taiwan for under NT1000. Grass camp-site spots cost on average NT200 per person per night, while a wooden platform with an eight- person tent already set up may go for NT800 (negotiable if there is just one of you and you have a tent). Most camping grounds offer bathrooms (with showers), bar-becue areas and a small convenience store. Some unfortunately also have karaoke. You can camp in some national parks (Kenting, Sheipa and Taroko, and also Yushan if you are hiking on the trails) but not usually in forest recreation areas.
Remember to prepare for the elements. Higher elevations can get chilly at night and below freezing in winter, but it’s important to monitor the weather carefully whatever time of year. And remember to bring bug repellent if you’re going to stay by the beach.
Remember to prepare for the elements. Higher elevations can get chilly at night and below freezing in winter, but it’s important to monitor the weather carefully whatever time of year. And remember to bring bug repellent if you’re going to stay by the beach.
Homestays/B&Bs
Mínsù (homestays) offer travellers a way to meet local people in a setting that can often lead to
friendship. There’s been an explosion of new homestays in the past few years,
and most are well run and offer good accommodation at a fair price. Some are
positively charming with rooms full of old furniture and mountain or sea views.
The
tourism board puts out a booklet (also on its website: www.taiwan.net.tw)
listing the 40 best homestays in the country. We checked out about two-thirds
for our research and none were wanting. Most charge in the NT2000 to NT3000
range, with off-season and midweek rates dropping considerably. If you have a
Youth Guesthouse Network card, you can stay in the Top 40 for NT1200 to NT1500
a night, sometimes less if they have a dorm room.
Signs
for homestays are everywhere, with a big concentration down the east coast. Ask
local people or look for the English signs that say B&B.
Hostels
The great news is that more and
more excel-lent hostels are being opened, and by well-travelled,
English-speaking young Taiwanese. A basic dorm bed starts at NT250, though the
better places charge NT400 to NT500 per night. Private rooms, when available, are
usually tiny and start at NT500. You can often
While some Taiwanese hostels are
affili-ated with Hostelling International (HI); and offer discounts accordingly
for cardholders, most are not. Some are also technically illegal, though there
is nothing dodgy about them otherwise.
Hostels generally have laundry,
simple cooking facilities, a TV, computer hook-up with ADSL and a room for
socialising. Note that many Taipei hostels are dingy and old, having catered to
a different era. Choose carefully in the capital.
Hotels
There’s a great
range of options among hotels (fàndiàn or dàfàndiàn). Starting at about NT550 per night,
you can have a private room in a very basic budget hotel. For that price you’re
likely to find threadbare accommodation and occasional mouldy odours, but
private bathroom (no shower curtain), TV and phone are generally included.
Don’t count on being able to make yourself understood in English. At a slightly
higher price, NT800 to NT1600, quality varies greatly. Usually above NT1200
rooms are good enough that you wouldn’t feel embarrassed putting family up.
ADSL, either in rooms or at a small central computer station, is com-mon at
this price range.
At
midrange hotels (NT1600 to NT4000 per night), you’re likely to find a fancy
lobby, one or more restaurants on site, ADSL and possibly plasma TVs. Private
bathrooms include shower (or bathtub with shower) and shower curtain. Décor can
range from a little dated to very modern. Unless you’re looking for a luxury
experience, most travellers will feel comfortable here. In the big cities usually
at least one or two staff members speak some English. Elsewhere you’ll be able
to muddle your way to a room.
The
big cities abound with international-standard topend hotels. Typical amenities
include business centres, English-speaking staff, concierge services, spa
and/or fitness centre, massage services and a sense of style. In this book,
‘top end’ starts at NT4000 per night, though rack rates at big-city hotels can
easily be double that.
Don’t forget that hot-spring hotels are
also for those just looking for accommodation
Note that if you’re phoning someone at a
hotel and do not speak Chinese, you may run into trouble at all but the
high-end hotels as staff may not recognise the guest’s name. Hint: speak
clearly, and if the last name does not work, try the first name. A room
number is best.
Rental Accommodation
If
you’re going to be in Taiwan for an ex-tended period, getting your own place
makes sense. Your employer may be able to help you set something up.
English-language
newspapers carry rental listings, though these are usually luxury accommodation
catering to expats on expense accounts. If you’re looking for an upscale or
even good midrange apartment, it’s useful to hire an agent. Look in the papers
for numbers. Usually the agent charges a fee of half a month’s rent.
For
less expensive accommodation, check out websites catering to the foreign
community or enlist the help of a Chinese-speaking friend to peruse the
Chinese-language papers. You might also just choose an area where you’d like to
live and look for signs tacked up on telephone poles and outside apartments.
You can usu-ally ask building guards if there are apartments for rent. The
excellent Tsui
Mama website (www.tmm.org.tw) provides listings of mid - to low-range accommodation by area and price in Taipei.
Bland
studio apartments (no kitchen) in Taipei range from NT5000 to NT10,000 per
month, while a small three-bedroom place might go for NT20,000. In a good
neighbourhood, rents can easily be double that. Outside of Taipei, even in the
cities, rents are much cheaper: a decent three-bedroom apartment could cost as
little as NT7000. Negotiations are usually possible. One good approach is to
say that you really like the place but can only afford (however much) right now.
Temple Stays
Here
are three temples we know of that offer overnight stays: Shitoushan, Foguang-shan
and Tiengong. The accommodation at the temples is surprisingly good and the
vegetarian meals delicious.
Youth Guesthouse Network
The network (www.youthguesthouse.org.tw) offers 15-to-35-year-old travellers basic accommodation around the country for NT300 to NT500 a night (usually only weekdays, however). Many are in old police hostels, hero houses (for soldiers) or labour recreation centres that previously were off limits to the public. Quality really varies and sometimes the hostels are quite far from a bus or train station. Still, the programme offers yet another budget option. It also offers good discounts on the 40 best B&Bs. See the boxed text, below for information on picking up a Youth Travel Card.
The network (www.youthguesthouse.org.tw) offers 15-to-35-year-old travellers basic accommodation around the country for NT300 to NT500 a night (usually only weekdays, however). Many are in old police hostels, hero houses (for soldiers) or labour recreation centres that previously were off limits to the public. Quality really varies and sometimes the hostels are quite far from a bus or train station. Still, the programme offers yet another budget option. It also offers good discounts on the 40 best B&Bs. See the boxed text, below for information on picking up a Youth Travel Card.
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