Introduction
This My Taiwan Travel Guide is written by my wife – Yulia Karnain. Her journey took place on July 2009.
Recently, I complete a travel to Taiwan. Different from the other trip which usually plan individually, I join the tour this time. Since I travel with my Mom (quite senior), I think that it will be more convenient to use the tour company service.
Finding tour is not an easy job also, let see how it works:
Local package tour (Indonesian tours)
Most of the tour has departed already and the date chosen is not people preference. Taiwan is not too popular destination. Tour company prefers to sell tour to China, quite expensive, price range is about US$ 1,000 to US$ 1,200.
Arrive in Taiwan individually then find local tour there.
Taiwan tour usually don’t have an online service, email communication is not a good choice. I find one company but they offer an expensive price since the tour is running privately.
Arrive in Taiwan individually then buy land tours from Singapore agent (also has considered to join the package tour from Singapore)
Chan Brothers (www.chanbrothers.com.sg) :
- Package tours – They offered a lot of Taiwan tours with affordable price, 8 days tour for SGD 1,194 or US$ 811. Quite interesting here since the agent told me that passenger prefers to stay longer days of traveling. If they only need to travel less than these days, they would prefer much closer cities like Bangkok or Bali.
- Land tour – The price only reduce US$ 200 (more or less) to compensate the air ticket price. Also, they don’t provide airport transfer if my arrival time is different from the whole group arrival time. The staff replies email in short time. It is convenient to communicate with them.
CTC Travel (www.ctc.com.sg) Package tours – Price, itinerary, are almost the same with Chan Brothers. They didn’t reply my email so I have not much to inform you. I decide to make a phone call to Singapore. For Land Tour – they told me to arrive at Kaoshiung and they also don’t provide airport transfer if my arrival time is different from the whole group arrival time.
Misa Travel (www.airfares.com.sg) Package tours – Price, itinerary, are almost the same with the two above. They sell land tour package to Taiwan with the preference for 5D, 6D or 7D. It is convenient to talk with them by email too. The 7D tours (my preference) costs me about SGD 438 or USD 297. Payment could made by credit card with 2% additional charge.
Notes:
- Make sure you know what language will be used during the tour program. If you choose the one that provided by Singapore, it is certain that Mandarin will be used as the main language.
- The tour will provide meals as per mentioned in itinerary. If you are Moslem or vegetarian, make sure you inform the tour guide earlier. They will be happy to provide a replacement food in a separate plate.
- If you choose to use the tour company please note that you would have to prepare tips for guide and driver. For Singapore, the amount is determined already NT 100/day. So, make sure you prepare this amount into your budget.
Taiwan Visa
Next step, would be applying Taiwan Visa. Yes, Visa is need to enter Taiwan for Indonesian, however if you still hold a valid visa to UK or US, visa is not needed. It is still a debate for the existence of Taiwan (or Republic of China) as an independent country due to China’s claim on Taiwan. Therefore they don’t have an Embassy but they have what we call as Consular Office or Trade Office (www.teto.or.id) located in:
Gedung Artha Graha,12th fl.
SCBD Area, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 52-53
Postal Address : PO Box 2922 Jakarta Pusat
Jakarta 12190
Phone : (62-21) 515 3939
Fax : (62-21) 515 4626
Visa requirements would be as follow:
- Company Sponsor Letter
- Photo 4×6 cm with red background
- ID Card and KK (Family Card)
- Last 3 month bank statement (for my mother I provide a statement letter confirmed that I shall
- Booking Hotel (I provide tour booking)
- Print out Ticket
- Process day: -/+ 5 days (in my case it took 3 days only)
- Price Rp. 550,000
It is not too difficult to deal with Taiwan Visa; I have done it by myself. If the document required is completed, they would not ask too much questions. Special locket is provided for the TKI so you don’t have to worry for a long queue.
Airplane ticket to Taiwan
Although there are many flights to Taiwan, there is not much preference for cheap flights to Taiwan. If time is not a problem for you, you could consider to use Air Asia or Value Air, both are morning flight so you would need to stay 1 night in KL or Singapore. Since I don’t want to leave my baby girl too long, direct flight is my only choice.
My consideration is between China Airlines or Malaysia Airlines. Since I prefer direct flight, I choose China Airlines although MH will be much cheaper -/+US 100/pax. I didn’t choose MH since we would need to depart from CGK on 5 am which means that I would need to be at the airport at 3 am. Phew…
Luckily, 1 week before issuing dateline, there’s a ticket promo from China Airlines: 50% for the 2nd passenger. The price for 2 persons is USD 820.
After all administration finished, it is time to begin the travel. Taiwan.. are you really really fun as advertised?
Next readings (click on each day list below to read):
Hi,
I am a retiree, and plan to go to Taiwan tour, sometimes after May 2010 with my brother and our spouts. We will take the Airasia budget flt. there, and join the land tour from then.
Your above intro suit my planning, and I am looking forward to source the local agency Misa Travel being recommended by you.
Thank you for your highlight.
[Reply]
Alist Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 4:11 am
Thank you for stopping by.
Another additional information you might want to know, like all tour company, the tour to Taiwan will also bring you to a lot of shops (jade, greentea, lingzhi, pearl, pendant, etc.) You will need to listen to all those bored presentation. Although I believe that the things offer here are 100% original, but the price is not cheaper as well. Please be prepare for this.
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halo bu..
tks ya untuk informasinya.
kita planning ke taiwan 4-9 Januari 2010, dengan beli tiket sendiri dan memang rencana mau cari local tour di taiwan,,
apa ibu tau any recommend local tour yang murah?
kami rencana ber 3 (saya,suami dan anak saya 10 th)
tks ya bu informasinya
rgds,
Prisca
prisver@yahoo.com
[Reply]
Yulia Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 2:56 am
@prisca,
Hi Priscam suami saya sibuk, saya aja yang jawab ya..
Ibu bisa ikut cara saya dengan cari tur dari Singapura, lebih murah, contact number semua sudah saya jelaskan di atas. Good luck yah.
trims,
yulia
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hi, thanks for your post. am also planning to bring my parents to Taiwan. would like to know if you are happy with Misa Travel’s program. was the quality of the hotels that you stayed at ok? was it tiring for your mom? would you recommend it?
thanks so much
[Reply]
Yulia Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:23 am
@spymama,
I’m quite happy with the program. They exploring the whole Taiwan in the most economical way. As I like to travel, the group tour has limited my ability to explore the city but as those for the senior one, they are quite happy since it’s not too tired. My mom is quite entertain by its food. If your parent understand Chinese, it would be more fun since the tour guide is a funny man.
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wow thanks! appreciate you taking time to respond. you are so kind. may you and family have many many years of happiness and health
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Ibu Yulia,
Istri saya mau menghadiri seminar selama 3 hari di Taiwan dan saya berencana ingin menemaninya, apakah saya dan istri perlu apply visa juga??? untuk visa on arrival gmana??
thanks
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nice collection..not to forget http://www.newshan.com for its cheap air tickets or land tour
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Dear Mr.Alist and Ms.Yulia,saya iyan dr jogja.Bulan juli-agustus bsk saya ad rencana utk ikut cultural exchange ke taiwan..saya udh mencoba utk browsing tiket di bbrp airlines spt AirAsia dan China Airlines,tp penerbangan tidak trsedia, kemungkinan efek dr Gempa jepang kmren..is there other recommendation for the airlines?
untuk kehidupan sehari2 disana sendiri gmn yah?biaya hidup apakah tinggi?
thx for the answer
[Reply]
Hi..
Nice blog you have here!! Your review would help people who love to travel.
Anyway, may I know which travel agency that you choose during your visit to Taiwan? I have the same situation with you, I will bring my parent to Taiwan and will choose a travel/tour agency from Singapore as well. But currently, I am still have a doubt on deciding a travel agency.
I read some review that those travel agencies might provide a not very good dishes (or even bad) for us (not as what they have promised/advertised).
Looking forward for your reply!
Cheers
[Reply]
Alist Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@Mikha, Hi, we chose Misa Travel. Overall we satisfied with tour guides, arrangements and also meals during tours.
[Reply]
Hai,
Saya Pretty, saya mendapat beasiswa s2 di Taiwan. Kebetulan mama dan ai saya ingin mengantarkan sekalian jalan-jalan. Karena saya baru bisa check-in di dormitory tgl 8, kami memutuskan untuk traveling bersama sebelum perkuliahan mulai. Anda recommend beberapa singapore tour agency, apakah exclude tiket pesawat? kita berencana untuk menggunakan eva airlines, sub-taipei, tp bakal sampaai di sana subuh, nah, apakah tour agency akan menjemput di Taoyuan airport? Lalu ketika Anda menginap di Taoyuan apakah sudah di arrange travel agency tersebut?
Ttg pembayaran travel agency, apakah menggunakan US$ ato Singapore $? Bagaimana pembayarannya? Transfer?
Thanks
[Reply]
trims byk bu atas semua informasinya,kami berencana kesana januari ini,bgmn dg musim n perlengkapan apa yg wajib kita bawa ya ??kami tunggu info nya,tq
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