Taoyuan or Taipei for one night layover?
Sep 27, 2014, 10:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
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Taoyuan or Taipei for one night layover?
I've got a TPE-YVR flight next month and will be arriving the night before from SIN for a one night layover.
Trying to decide whether to stay in Taoyuan or go into Taipei for my overnight layover. If I stay in Taoyuan, I'd prefer to return to the airport in the morning, check in for my 11:55 p.m. flight and then go into Taipei for the day. Don't know if BR does early check in at TPE.
Alternative would be to go into Taipei on night of arrival. Leave bag at downtown hotel for the next day, and then return to TPE after dinner.
What do experienced FTers recommend?
Trying to decide whether to stay in Taoyuan or go into Taipei for my overnight layover. If I stay in Taoyuan, I'd prefer to return to the airport in the morning, check in for my 11:55 p.m. flight and then go into Taipei for the day. Don't know if BR does early check in at TPE.
Alternative would be to go into Taipei on night of arrival. Leave bag at downtown hotel for the next day, and then return to TPE after dinner.
What do experienced FTers recommend?
Sep 27, 2014, 10:23 am
#2
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I've got a TPE-YVR flight next month and will be arriving the night before from SIN for a one night layover.
Trying to decide whether to stay in Taoyuan or go into Taipei for my overnight layover. If I stay in Taoyuan, I'd prefer to return to the airport in the morning, check in for my 11:55 p.m. flight and then go into Taipei for the day. Don't know if BR does early check in at TPE.
Alternative would be to go into Taipei on night of arrival. Leave bag at downtown hotel for the next day, and then return to TPE after dinner.
What do experienced FTers recommend?
Trying to decide whether to stay in Taoyuan or go into Taipei for my overnight layover. If I stay in Taoyuan, I'd prefer to return to the airport in the morning, check in for my 11:55 p.m. flight and then go into Taipei for the day. Don't know if BR does early check in at TPE.
Alternative would be to go into Taipei on night of arrival. Leave bag at downtown hotel for the next day, and then return to TPE after dinner.
What do experienced FTers recommend?
Otherwise, I would regard staying in Taoyuan as a hassle, and bee-line to downtown Taipei.
Sep 27, 2014, 1:27 pm
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2012
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Sep 28, 2014, 11:38 am
#5
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You've convinced me. Downtown it is. I may ride the high-speed train from Taoyuan to downtown, in any case. But it sounds like it will be less busy in the evenings.
Sep 28, 2014, 9:21 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
upon arrival from SIN, I'd take bus (or shuttle to HSR train) to hotels in Taipei city proper, tour & walk the city, take subway (MRT), etc....
Next day, late checkout or store your luggage, and only head to TPE airport for 11:55pm flight to YVR (sadly on 747) around 8-9 pm, it takes ~40 minutes on bus ($100-$150 NT) or taxi ($700-$1000 NT)
See if you can check-in online also, then you can leave Taipei even later
Next day, late checkout or store your luggage, and only head to TPE airport for 11:55pm flight to YVR (sadly on 747) around 8-9 pm, it takes ~40 minutes on bus ($100-$150 NT) or taxi ($700-$1000 NT)
See if you can check-in online also, then you can leave Taipei even later
Sep 29, 2014, 5:13 am
#7
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 7
By the time you have messed about getting to the HSR and waited for your train you could be downtown. No sure who wrote no traffic at night from TPE to downtown but obviously has been driving with his eyes ..... Staying in Taoyuan is a no no, its a dump.
Sep 29, 2014, 8:53 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
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OTOH we arrived 2 hours late into TPE and the 3* was acceptably clean, though not spotless, it took 20 minutes each way and cost including transport about half the cost of the Novotel. Breakfast was supplied to the room in cardboard.
So put it into the budget category. I have stayed both at the airport and downtown Taipei.
Happy wandering
Fred
Sep 29, 2014, 9:27 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
I should clarify that I personally haven't encountered traffic from Taoyuan going into downtown Taipei when I arrive later at night. I'm not sure how it is earlier in the evening, and of course, special events and incidents will impact traffic. 
Sep 29, 2014, 9:40 am
#10
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I might take a bus straight form the airport, if I'm feeling tired, or if the weather isn't nice. But I thought it would be interesting to check out another mode of travel that is missing from North America (HSR). I wouldn't be doing it for the speed, however.
Sep 29, 2014, 12:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
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Thanks for the additional feedback. I'd be landing around 6 pm, so probably will see a lot of traffic into Taipei.
I might take a bus straight form the airport, if I'm feeling tired, or if the weather isn't nice. But I thought it would be interesting to check out another mode of travel that is missing from North America (HSR). I wouldn't be doing it for the speed, however.
I might take a bus straight form the airport, if I'm feeling tired, or if the weather isn't nice. But I thought it would be interesting to check out another mode of travel that is missing from North America (HSR). I wouldn't be doing it for the speed, however.
But of course it is for work related research, not just for the fun! (note your user name...) The shuttle bus to HSR station is not fun though...
It's a high floor traditional bus with no separate luggage compartment (low floor transit bus is still a new concept in Taiwan...) so you need to climb up the stairs with your luggage in tow.In the future, transfer from TPE to Downtown Taipei will be a lot easier when the Metro purple line opens. The express train from TPE to Taipei Main Station should be 35 minutes. No need to fuss with transfer at Taoyuan HSR station.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoyuan...al_Airport_MRT
Oct 2, 2014, 5:26 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Oct 2, 2014, 10:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Here
Posts: 1,907
Thanks for the additional feedback. I'd be landing around 6 pm, so probably will see a lot of traffic into Taipei.
I might take a bus straight form the airport, if I'm feeling tired, or if the weather isn't nice. But I thought it would be interesting to check out another mode of travel that is missing from North America (HSR). I wouldn't be doing it for the speed, however.
I might take a bus straight form the airport, if I'm feeling tired, or if the weather isn't nice. But I thought it would be interesting to check out another mode of travel that is missing from North America (HSR). I wouldn't be doing it for the speed, however.
Stay in Kaohsiung the night instead
- I enjoy it more.
Oct 3, 2014, 7:40 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KHH, FUK, SNA
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Posts: 1,181
If you're like me a big fan of HSR - i've got a suggestion. Forget Taoyuan, forget Taipei. Ride the thing south all the way to Zuoying (Kaohsiung) and spend the night there. A "business" class fare is like 80-90 USD one way.
Stay in Kaohsiung the night instead - I enjoy it more.
Stay in Kaohsiung the night instead
- I enjoy it more.If taking the train to Taipei, I may suggest the YMCA hotel, which is central (across the street from the station) with nice new renovated rooms for about US$65. As mentioned, Taoyuan is not really visitor friendly I would recommend not staying there.