Travel Tips to Taiwan

It has taken me a while to post this, so here are a few tips when picking up baby in Taiwan. We found a good deal leaving out of LAX on EVA in the evergreen deluxe section $1,100.00US. We flew Virgin America to LAX. You have to exit with luggage to bus A takes you all the way around airport to International terminal. You need to go to 3rd level to find EVA check in. Check in opens @11am. There is a large food court up stairs where we waited for airline to open. Deluxe is between coach and 1st. The seats are bigger and recline slightly more than coach. I found them to be hard as a rock on the 14 1/2 hour trip going. The food came and it was a meat dish, it looked bad so I asked to switch to vegetarian which was rice and something good (can't remember exactly). Ken did like the meat dish though. 3/4 way to Taiwan they serve a noodle cup which was not served on the return flight. The second dish was not good looking I would suggest the western breakfast choice. I recommend sitting in the back of the plane in coach possibly will not have others near and can lift armrests to lay down. Deluxe and 1st armrests do not lift.

The way back we had basinette seating which has a 20lb weight limit. We sis not use the basinette but it was great to have the extra room since it is bulk head seating. We first had made a bed on the floor as we heard others had done, they told us she could not lay there, she refused to use the basinette so sat on my lap crying on and off the flight home. I still suggest using coach and not basinette because armrests do not life in bulkhead and you may get more room if you can find three seats in a row. One baby across form us coming from Hanoi cried every hour the entire flight she wished she had sat in coach too since there were many empty seats in back.

Once in Taiwan we were totally exhausted, especially since I did not sleep on the flight. When you exit after getting luggage there are people trying to give you a cab ride for 2500NT. Go past these people toward the left and next to information booth there is a Limo stand the ride to Hyatt in 1500NT this a Mercedes car. The ride is about 40min to Hyatt. You can get advanced reservation to any hotel from Taipei Airport this is the info Mickey International Director Michael Lee, email phyliss8536@yahoo.com.tw cell (886)+ 0913-513-753

We stayed @ The Grand Hyatt in Taipei the entire time. We stayed grand suite on club level. The hotel is beautiful and huge lobby for Kimi to run around. Our room was awesome, it had a living room, close off bedroom, and two huge bathrooms and closets. There were 2 50" plasmas, computer with internet included, and a hot water dispenser I assume for tea but we used it for bottles. We had access to the 22nd floor which had food available most of the day, more food from 6-10 and 5-8, you could also order room service from that level. The club was quite and we were able to sit in our own section which was great for us and Kimi. The service was great at the hotel, they loved Kimi. They had a crib in the room that we did not end up using. I forgot to ask if they had a stroller to borrow as Les Suites de Ahn does have one. There is an outdoor pool on the 5th floor we did not use because it was raining and cold. They do not have a spa. We had asked for the ipod player a few times but is was not available-they do have one so you can reserve early. There are a few places to eat downstairs (looked expensive and good). The hotel is directly across the street from Taipei 101.

Grand Hyatt to left and Taipei 101 from in front of 7-11 across the street. Taipei 101 is awesome it is one of the tallest buildings in the world. There is a huge mall about 10 stories form what we could tell. We kept getting turned around inside. There is every high end and retail store you would find in US. Down stairs is a great food court even has a KFC for those less adventurous. The noodle places are amazing and the fruit stand in the center is very refreshing for drinks. There is a huge market Jasons that sells everything you might need. It was a great place to let Kimi loose, they have child mini shopping carts it is so cute. She spent many hours watching the live crab and food stands that are low enough for her to see.

Next we took the high speed rail it is about 20min cab from Hyatt. You buy tickets downstairs in an automated machine. You need to pick reserve seating it is $80.00/per person round trip. There si also a business class which did not seem worth it. The train was not crowded we took middle of day on Tue and slightly more crowded the way back. There is a food trolley that comes by with snacks which saved us since we did not have much time to eat in that morning.

Gifts you can buy on the HSR

Trolley menu on the HSR, note the larger dishes are not served during the day. There are vending machines and bathrooms in between cars.
Ken is happy to be on the HSR, it is clean and nice.

Here is a map of the train car configuration. They announce the stops in English get off at Tainan for St. Lucy's it is 1:45 min from Taipei. We used Stephen the cab driver, he is so friendly and speaks some English. We arrived early and asked him to give us a tour of Tainan. He took us to the Confusious Temple and took our picture. He also told us about things as we drove by.

This is the famous cab driver in Tainan, Stephen, his number is 0933-346347. We called him in the morning when we left he met us at the train station. Some info gets lost in translation so this is his photo if he can't find you look for him.


This is a list of places he can take you to in the area, we loved the Temple as there is a wonderful rustic gift shop.

Other places to see in Taipei were, Lunshan temple & LSD, Shinlin Night Market, you need to take MRT shuttle from taipei 101 to red lint switch to blue it's very easy. The Market is the oldes and largest it is crazy and bring a baby carrier not a stroller it's crowded but worth seeing. The craft mart which is 5 stories we never found, Botanical garden we did not visit it was too cold and rainy. kids play is a park we did not go either because of weather, CKS memorial, and jade market. I think the jade market is only open weekends so did not go either but it is a few blocks from Hyatt.

AIT is about 15 to 20 min from Hyatt, be sure to get address in Chinese for cab driver. We also always brought the hotel card with us to give to cab drivers. AIT is now $400.00 dollars we paid cash not sure if you can use credit card. Go to the 3rd floor window 7 they open at 8am. Bring snacks for the baby as can be somewhat of a wait for the interview. Interview is not a big deal just asked us about jobs. They have an area with toys so you don't need to bring any with you.
Internet people have suggested getting a wifly @ Starbucks for 500NT since hotel internet can be expensive. There is a Starbucks in Taipei 101.

Pacifiers The kind the babies use at SLC are called nac nac you can find them at SOGo Ren Ai Road Sect 4 418 2nd floor across from San Yet Sen memorial above KFC. Also branch store Ren Ai Road 4 ally 112 across Chung San hospital (9:30-8:30).

Watson's A pharmacy type store in taipei 101 the only place we found diaper rash cream (we have not used it yet). They keep it behind the counter so you need to ask for it. The only word I knew was pego (butt) in mandarin so it was very funny using mime and mandarin to get the cream.

Cabs There usually is not tipping so we did not tip. Most trips to AIT and train were about 200-500NT.

The trip can be exhausting with the 15hour trip there, preparations before, baby pick up, trip home. Try to enjoy your time in taiwanwith your baby before the final adjustment of getting used to US time schedule. We just celebrated our 1st week home and 2nd week with Kimi and not quite on US time but getting very close. Good Luck with your trip.

There is a 7-11 across from Hyatt, this was one of the item of interest it read chicken with collagen, I could not figure if it was face cream or soup by Quaker?

This is one of the old gates in Tainan, it used to be the capital 400 hundred years ago.

This looked like a rice store next to the 7-11 across from the Hyatt.

These were cute kids at the temple, we were only moments away from picking up Kimi.

This is the University Hospital in tainan, some of you rchildren may have been born here if born in Tainan. the city is known for many good colleges.

Look who's wearing the helmet.... Our daughter lights up when she saw scooters in Taiwan, I hope she wasn't on one.

The scooter nation is huge in Taipei and Tainan, this was in Tainan. Oh it is very warm in Tainan, we brought many sweaters and jackets we were very hot even in the winter.