Asia - Taipei to HKG? Where else?

I got in on the MH low fare to TPE from LAX, and will be traveling in early December 09. This will be our first trip to Asia, and I thought we could do TPE and HKG in the 5+ days we have in Asia. Neither of us are history buffs, but we are attracted to high-tech cities. It appears as if TPE to HKG RT's are expensive ($500USD+/person), which would use alot of the money I had planned on using for hotels and other expenses while on this trip. Is there any better way to get between these cities without wasting an entire day in travel? Should I just do TPE and NRT, being that I could use UA miles for that flight? I had wanted to do Japan all together, but 5 days in TPE seems to be too much?

Don't know where you're getting those prices from. TPE-HKG should be US$300 or less. And you could use UA miles for TPE-HKG on TG (once per day each way).

To be honest the main attraction in Taipei is the National Museum, so if you're not into that sort of stuff at all then I'm not sure why you would want to go there. I don't really know what a "high tech city" is, but if you mean "clean efficient modern" then Singapore might fit you requirements, although to me that rather defeats the point of coming to Asia. Obviously TPE-SIN is easy for miles on SG.

I looked on ITA, Orbitz and others, and not one site has the TPE-HKG RT for under $451AI. As per what type of city we are looking for, we want to of course be somewhere clean, but it doesn't need to be super-hygenic. I don't really care to see SIN for some political reasons, but I had the impression that TPE and HKG were good high tech centers where you can spend 2 days or so and pick up some cool computer and tech toys, and see sites, taipei 101, etc...

CX Packages (http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_TW/offerspromotions/offerslanding?refID=29e60bd6000e3210VgnVCM62000007 d21c39____&WAcampid=TPE_OFFERS_HKGSESEP09&WAemail=SALES) including 1 night hotel from TWD5588 (=US$172, per person, twin share)

Taiwan to HK RT is significantly lower than HK to Taiwan RT. Try eztravel.com.tw for both airfare and package deals. My wife uses them frequently and they usually offer the best deals. I did a quick peek and many RT flights/rates on multiple carriers are available for under NT5000 RT (less than US$200). BUT the website is in Chinese - so I would suggest you ask hotel to help you book on-line when you arrive or pm if you want our help.

As Chris mentioned, National Museum is a must see in Taipei, preferably with a English speaking tour guide. Other than that, there is much more to enjoy in HK and I would recommend spending your extra time in HK.

I agree with the other posters here in that you might be better suited to spending more time in HK than in TPE. I like Taipei, but I don't think of it as super high tech and ultra modern.

HK will impress you more with tons of tall skycrapers, super efficient mass transit and all of the fancy shopping centres you'd want. In addition, it's definitely much more cosmopolitan and international than TPE is.

I agree with the other posters here in that you might be better suited to spending more time in HK than in TPE. I like Taipei, but I don't think of it as super high tech and ultra modern.

HK will impress you more with tons of tall skycrapers, super efficient mass transit and all of the fancy shopping centres you'd want. In addition, it's definitely much more cosmopolitan and international than TPE is.

Ok, well I have to see TPE no matter what, since thats where I land. So maybe land, go to HKG, and then see TPE that last 24 hour period? Is there enough in HKG and Macau (we have been to LV, so we would just go to look) to occupy 3.5-4 days? I assume so.

I'm sure you can find plenty to do in greater HK for a few days. But if I were interested in high-tech gizmos (which I'm not), I would make for Tokyo in a flash, both for shops and tech-related museums.

Meanwhile, you might like the computer markets in Taipei. It's very convenient to explore Guanghua shichang ("Guanghua market") - 廣華市場 (right downtown near the Shandao subway stop). It's a big building full of little shops, plus about a million more little shops in the neighborhood. http://www.kwanghwa.com.tw/ (in Chinese).

It's the kind of place people who DIY their own computers like, but the shops sell finished products as well. A fair number of shop keepers will speak English. But it doesn't compare to Akihabara district in Tokyo for toys-for-the-boys.

Taipei isn't high tech in the sense of feeling like a driving modern city, but it's high tech in that a significant part of the population is extremely geeky :). You might also be able to time your visit for one of the 3-4 big computer fairs held every year at the expo centers.

Is there enough in HKG and Macau (we have been to LV, so we would just go to look) to occupy 3.5-4 days? I assume so.

Absolutely. Check out the Hong Kong forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-436/) if you need tips or a suggested itinerary.

As for Macau, if you're not really into gambling and have already seen the glitz/kitsch (depending how you see it) of Las Vegas, then I wouldn't recommend it if you only have three or four days in HK.

Also, I want to emphasize that Taipei is indeed a great place; great (cheap) food, night markets, trying to avoid getting run over by scooters :D and a lot less hurried and stuffy than other metropolises in Asia. It might not be the exact thing you're looking for but hopefully you'll still enjoy your stay in Taipei, whether it's a day or a couple of days.

http://www.beautyhotels.com.tw/en-us/index.asp this is great hotel for a few days in TPE, I took my dad there a few weeks ago and he is well travelled and he loved this hotel. I think most of the brush off comments on here are by people who have never really tried to explore Taipei for what it is. I think Taiwan has the best Chinese food in al of Asia and there are loads of places to go. We had a day out to Danshuai, the fort is superb, then a nice meal and watched the sunset, called at the night market next to to the MRT station then back to the hotel for a great jacuzzi and then dinner at Capones