Ideas for Taipei with kid?

[dRossi]

I have a 4 nights stopover in Taipei with my 6year old daughter and am wondering if any you has been there recently and can give me some ideas on what's worth seeing/ doing. The Lonely Planet guide on sale is a 2007 edition so I am not sure how far it can still be trusted, but I would appreciate any ideas and tips you can give me, especially regarding public transport, money, day trips etc.
Cheers

 

[JetLagged]

Taipei with a kid - suggest coat the kid in seasoned flour then shallow fry until brown, add lemongrass, chillies and spices and stir until the aromatics rise, then add coconut milk and cook until tender! Wonderful kid curry with Asian influence!

:mrgreen:

 

[jukebox333]

I have a 4 nights stopover in Taipei with my 6year old daughter and am wondering if any you has been there recently and can give me some ideas on what's worth seeing/ doing. The Lonely Planet guide on sale is a 2007 edition so I am not sure how far it can still be trusted, but I would appreciate any ideas and tips you can give me, especially regarding public transport, money, day trips etc.
Cheers

I hate to ask how you ended up with 4 nights in Taipei - it's kind of a backwater to get to, so I assume that duration is by choice?

Some basics first: In my experience you wont be able to get Taiwan Dollars NT$ until you get to CKS airport - no big deal, there are plenty of places to exchange, or just grab some from your home account using an ATM.

The airport is a (relatively) long way out, so the airport bus is the cheapest way into the city - there's a few different options so it helps to know the hotel you are staying at.

I found the Taiwanese very shy when it came to speaking English - so you will find yourself struggling to be understood in many situations if you can't speak a little Mandarin (which is generally understood by most of the younger inhabitants).

Getting around Taipei is easier if you get the local equivalent of an Octopus card, the EasyCard. That also discounts your fare, and can be used on buses too.

Day trips for young kids? That's a bit harder. There's a "metropolitan children's playground" amusement park sort of thing near Chung-shan; a popular place to visit is Taroko Gorge, which is spectacular, but probably more than a day trip away. Taipei 101 is worth going up on a clear day. Danshui (at the end of the MRT red line) is a touristy seashore destination... The Zoo at the end of the Mucha line might be a time killer. There's plenty of night markets to see, but I'd guess the 6 year old will be tucked up in bed before any of those realy kick off...

I found Taipei safe, if a little dull for young kids. But the people are friendly enough, and it isn't terribly expensive.

 

[Hvr]

If you're going soon the Taipei Floral Expo may be worth a visit. Lots of bright flowers to see.

I went to Tarako Gorge in January on a one day trip and don't really think it would be suitable for a six year old. Lots of walking and stuff that she probably wouldn't be interested in.

Taipei 101 is interesting but depends on how she handles heights.

Agree with the comment on the Taipei public transport system, very easy to get around. Lots of temples around she may enjoy. The night market has some nice sights.

Enjoy.

 

[dRossi]

Thanks a lot for your comments so far, Taipei was actually a choice stopover as I have wanted to see Taiwan for a while and we are flying Eva Air in Premium Laurel from Brisbane to Paris, but I couldn't get any shorter stopover due to lack of flights. We'll be staying at the Shangri La, so maybe I'll contact the hotel for a suggestion on how to best get there. Our daughter has travelled a fair bit and doesn't mind a bit of walking so should be alright, also not scared of heights so we'll definitely do the 101. Anyone been to some of the hot springs? I am bringing a Mandarin phrase book and dictionary so at least can point to things I want to do but am hoping that the staff at the Shangri La will speak English and be able to help me out.

 

[jukebox333]

Thanks a lot for your comments so far, Taipei was actually a choice stopover as I have wanted to see Taiwan for a while and we are flying Eva Air in Premium Laurel from Brisbane to Paris, but I couldn't get any shorter stopover due to lack of flights. We'll be staying at the Shangri La, so maybe I'll contact the hotel for a suggestion on how to best get there. Our daughter has travelled a fair bit and doesn't mind a bit of walking so should be alright, also not scared of heights so we'll definitely do the 101. Anyone been to some of the hot springs? I am bringing a Mandarin phrase book and dictionary so at least can point to things I want to do but am hoping that the staff at the Shangri La will speak English and be able to help me out.

The Shangri La is okay - it's central, but not really close to anything (which will make more sense once you get there). Da-an is a nice large park nearby - somewhere to burn off some energy! Also the CKS memorial hall is attractive on a nice day - you see lots of couples having wedding photos taken there. The Shangri-La is on one of those hotel bus routes I mentioned - the people selling tickets at the airport will tell you which one you need - and you can also get the same bus back to the airport from right out front, too. It's the best part of an hour to get to/from the airport.

Taxis are dirt cheap, so don't be afraid to use them in the city - but you will need the destination written in Chinese, as I found the guys in cabs to be some of the hardest Taiwainese to explain myself to

The hot springs can be found at Xin Peitou, on the red MRT line.

You may want to try and get a day trip to Wulai. It's about 35km South east of the city - there's a bit of a museum showing local aboriginal crafts and a cable car ride up the side of the mountain over a waterfall. I sugest you Google it to see if it appeals.

Don't be afraid to try food from the street vendors - sweet BBQ sausages, and flakey fried egg/pancake looking things the norm - and certains street markets sell strawberries skwers dipped in a really thin coating of toffee that are really tasty!

Good luck!