Taipei Revisited: Our 5-Day Family Fun (Part 1)

The Mundane

Flights with Singapore Airlines

After successfully going on an hour-long flight to Kuala Lumpur two years ago, the prospect of a near five-hour journey posed a greater challenge for my younger boy. Hence, selecting Singapore Airlines and choosing seats towards the front of the cabin was an obvious decision for us.

I’m pleased to say it proved to be an awesome experience. Except for my boy, we all watched “Wicked” on board (he watched a documentary on HDB, of all things!), and all of us were very satisfied with the food and service.

A slight hiccup occurred on our flight back though.

I might have missed it, but self-dropped baggage wasn’t available at Taoyuan International Airport. Hence, the check-in and baggage drop process took a longer time than expected. Consequently, we had only about half an hour for lunch, before boarding.

Arriving three hours before the flight would probably be a better idea.

Stay at TaiSugar Hotel

There were plenty of options available for accommodation in Taipei. In fact, too many! It took me quite a bit of time to sieve through the choices, considering location, price, and number of rooms.

Having spent a bit more on flights, we decided to settle for a 3-star hotel that is just across the Ximending walking street — TaiSugar Hotel.

We weren’t quite sure of its quality. While it received an average score of 8.0 on Booking.com, and a 4.0 on Google, the reviews are pretty extreme, ranging from very good to poor.

We were glad that it turned out better than what we expected. The rooms are clean and spacious, with strong water pressure and Japanese bidet toilet seat.

While similar each day throughout our stay, the breakfast offered a decent spread. Moreover, there are other options around the neighbourhood if you even get bored of it.

All in all, TaiSugar Hotel proved to be a basic yet satisfactory hotel that met our travel needs.

Transport and Communication

For a seamless experience, we booked our airport transfers, unlimited Taipei Metro travel pass, and e-Sim through Klook.

The airport transfer proved to be more economical than online taxi estimates, and the process was incredibly smooth. An airport staff member was there to greet us upon arrival and promptly called our driver after confirming our details.

Redeeming our MRT Travel Pass at Ximending Station was also hassle-free, offering us fantastic convenience for getting around the city.

Lastly, the Klook e-Sim was simple to activate and use. It cost us roughly S$13 for all three of us, though I could have reduced that to around S$9 if I’d opted for the 3GB plan instead of the 10GB for myself.

Day Trip

Our day trip to Shifen (十分) and Jiufen (九份) was undoubtedly the highlight of our tour! These popular destinations are located in New Taipei City, about an hour’s drive east of Taipei.

Klook offered various packages, but after some research, we opted for their ‘“Private tour Car Rental with Driver” package. At just around S$170, it was more than 50% cheaper than other private tour options for the same area.

Like you, I was initially skeptical about the price difference.

It turns out the other packages typically include a dedicated tour guide, while our booking was purely for car rental and a driver who dropped us off to explore independently.

We figured a guide wasn’t essential for these well-known tourist spots, and positive online reviews sealed the deal for us. This trip, too, exceeded our expectations!

Exploring Shifen Waterfall and Releasing Sky Lanterns

Our ride was indeed a taxi, but that didn’t detract from the experience. The car was clean and well-maintained, and most importantly, our driver, Alan, was exceptionally professional and friendly.

He texted me in advance and arrived punctually at our hotel. His enthusiasm was clear as he shared many interesting facts about Taipei during our drive.

As you can see from the above pictures, Shifen is truly picturesque.

Visiting on a weekday also meant fewer crowds, which made the experience even better. Moreover, since we weren’t tied to a tour group’s schedule, we enjoyed a leisurely three hours in Shifen, taking plenty of pictures, releasing our sky lanterns, and having a relaxed lunch.

Jiufen’s Timeless Charm

Perched on a mountain, Jiufen, with its narrow staircases and iconic red lanterns, exudes an old-world charm.

Alan shared with us that the area gained significant popularity after the 1989 movie A City of Sadness (悲情世界), starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. Its resemblance to the setting in the animated film Spirited Away further boosted its appeal, drawing in even more tourists – so much so that it can still be quite crowded even on a weekday.

Being on a taxi meant Alan could quickly drop us off at the mountain’s summit, saving us the climb up many stairs and making the wet weather much more bearable. Furthermore, his clear guidance, complete with an annotated map and pictures, allowed us to navigate the alleys with ease.

We effortlessly located Ah Gan Yi Taro Ball shop and savoured the simple, delicious dessert while enjoying a magnificent view of the sea that was even more memorising after the rain.

Our fun, albeit tiring, day concluded at Keelung Miao Li Night Market, where we grabbed some street food to enjoy back at the hotel.

Stay tuned for the next post where I will share more on sightseeing, food, shopping, and break down the cost of this trip.

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