Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
Hi everyone, I’m preparing for a one-month trip in October. I’m traveling solo and would love to explore the countryside, but I’m also wondering if there are any themed urban hikes or walks. In Japan, I did some themed city tours, especially by bike.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
Marie
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
I’m heading to Taiwan soon and would love some up-to-date info on Wi-Fi.
From what I’ve gathered, Taiwan offers it for free, but I’ve heard it’s not secure since it’s not protected by a "password." Since I’ve been traveling outside the EU for years without a local SIM card, I only use Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, and cafés. For me, that’s more than enough. So, my question is: Do these places secure their Wi-Fi with a "password"? If not, does buying a SIM card or eSIM seem like the only alternative?
Also, if any of you have recommendations for budget-friendly hotels in the main "cities," I’d love to hear them!
Hi, I'd like to know—I'm planning to go to Taiwan and would like to make a stop in China, then another stop in China on my way back from Taiwan.
In total, I'd stay less than 30 cumulative days in China, but would I still be allowed to return after coming back from Taiwan (while still benefiting from the visa exemption)?
We’ve got a round-trip from Paris to Tokyo with Eva Air, and we’ll have a layover in Taipei.
It’s probably a silly question, but how can we pay for small extras (drinks, etc.) in the airport shops? Cash? If so, which currency (I’ve still got a few US dollars left!)? Credit card (including Revolut)? Anything else?
Hi there,
I’m planning to cycle around Taiwan in 2026 and I’d love to know if it’s possible to do the whole island on bike paths, how many kilometers that would be, whether wild camping is easy, and so on…
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a trip to Taiwan in a few months. After spending a few days in Taipei, I’d like to explore the rest of the country. Could anyone share contact details for local agencies in Taipei?
Is English enough to get by outside of Taipei?
Thanks in advance!
Tara
Hi everyone, we’re planning a trip to Taiwan in April. I’ll be joining my son, who’s a teacher there, for about 21 days total (including travel). We’d like to spend around 8–10 days in Taiwan, and then we have another 8–10 days to explore somewhere else. We’re torn between Japan, Vietnam, or another country—I haven’t booked my flight yet, but I know I shouldn’t wait too long. Which country would work well for all three of us for 8–10 days? Japan is tempting, but I’m hesitant because of the logistics and the higher budget. Any other ideas for a good compromise?
Hi,
I’m arriving at T2 in Taipei and was wondering if there are ATMs in the arrivals area or after exiting.
Someone advised me to withdraw from Cathay United Bank ATMs since they’re fee-free. I’ve been before but only at T1.
If you have other bank names, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks
Hi there,
- Rented a Budget car online, pick-up and drop-off at the airport: 11 days for 540 €, 1,400 km driven, gas at 0.85 €/litre. Driving was very easy in the country.
- Two weeks was enough to see the highlights of Taiwan, especially with a car.
- Withdrawing cash with a Revolut or Wise card: no bank fees at Cathay Bank ATMs. They’re yellow and green, often found in Family Mart stores.
- Hikes: we did a few, the landscapes were interesting, but the trails were often too artificial for our taste (concrete, slabs, endless stairs, etc.).
- Accommodation: averaged 42 €/night, booked in the afternoon for the same evening with no issues. Often stayed in B&Bs run by locals in remote areas—sometimes hard to find and with little English spoken, but no problem with a car.
- Food: Chinese cuisine everywhere was excellent.
- Weather in December: 8 great days, 5 average, 1 bad. Temperatures were pleasant, a bit chilly at higher altitudes.
- Chungwa SIM card: 15 days for 20 €.
- Most comprehensive website: taiwanobsessed.com.
- We loved the hikes through the tea plantations in the Alishan region, Kenting Park, and the incredible Chung Tai Chan Monastery (tour with an English-speaking nun). Since Taroko was closed, the drive up the east coast from Kenting to Hualien felt long and not essential.
Here’s our practical feedback from the trip—feel free to ask if you have any questions. Safe travels!
I’m especially asking those of you who’ve been to South Korea and Taiwan. Which would you pick for a three-week trip in September or October? I need to consider budget, variety of places, and the weather.
I’d heard—and rightly so—about the incredible kindness of Taiwanese people. I had just spent a few weeks in Korea, a country of teddy bears, where the locals loved telling me about a place full of… more teddy bears. It was going in circles.
So I arrived in Taipei with stars in my eyes, ready to face all that generosity. Yet, surprisingly, the guard posted in front of the presidential palace wasn’t exactly courteous. And then, the countless military vehicles really struck me. Have you ever seen a teddy bear driving a tank?
I spent most of my evenings in a bar along a very large avenue. I’d go alone and always find company—men, women, it didn’t matter as long as I could blend into this new country, discover its people, their culture, their history.
The heat made me sweat nonstop, my beard had grown back, I was wearing a black T-shirt as worn-out as possible, and my face bore the marks of several months in Russia and Korea. In short, I looked like the perfect globetrotter—the kind I’d probably dreamed of being as a kid.
So there I was, sitting at the bar, deep in conversation with a Taiwanese friend, when a fight broke out between an Italian and an American—two drunk, stupid beasts. Shouting, shoving, we kicked them out.
Well, *we* didn’t. My friend didn’t move; I was the only one who reacted, letting my temper get the better of me.
He looked at me and said, without malice, that white guys had also fought two days earlier.
I turned my head toward the room—I was the only foreigner. I was used to it, but tonight was different. The looks in the mirror were full of distrust. I felt like an idiot for all the others. I felt like an idiot.
I said goodbye to my friend; I was convinced I’d never see him again.
As I headed toward my hostel, my brain was racing. Asia had confronted me with a side of travel I didn’t know. I’d always managed to blend in, to go unnoticed, but when your features and skin color prevent that, the game changes.
And this hyper-globalization, this hyper-communication, the fact that poor guys like me can enjoy travel—is it really a good thing? Does it create an expectation, a need for a mass of tourists who couldn’t care less about the country they’re visiting? No, really, I felt like an idiot.
And then all those damn tanks, and what’s with those dozen tents in front of the presidential palace? It intrigued me. It was late, but there was movement.
Hey!
Hey! How are you?
Good, just a little drunk.
Ha ah aha!
What are you doing here? Why are there so many military personnel around you?
Ha ha ah! You can come if you want!
Oh really?
Yeah, yeah!
I climbed over the fence and learned. I learned that in the mountains to the east of the island, the island’s natives still live. I learned that their culture is disappearing, that they themselves are disappearing. That nothing is being done to preserve the very origin of this country. That all those tanks and military personnel were there for about thirty cheerful troublemakers who had made the trip. Because by being there, they were announcing: *Yes, we’re still here.*
I spent the rest of the evening with them until early morning. They showed me how to weave my own shoes (flip-flops), plied me with endless coffee, laughed when a cop took my picture and I shouted, *Yes, I’m a French spy*, and gave me a bracelet.
I left with a new look in my eyes.
This trip will end as it began, but the next one will be different. I’ll be prepared; it won’t just be an escape or an adventure.
Travelers destroy more than they preserve—it’s not easy to tip the scales, but I’m going to try anyway.
