Taiwan November 2024 – Accommodation, Expenses & Itinerary Report
Below is a detailed overview of my Taiwan November 2024 itinerary, accommodation, and expenses. Taiwan remains a predominantly cash-based country, with most large chains, hotels, and transport services accepting cards, but many everyday purchases still requiring cash.
The transit card—EasyCard—must be reloaded with cash, and places like night markets, small vendors, family-run shops, and local eateries often operate on a cash-only basis. Because of this, it’s best to arrive with sufficient cash on hand or have a reliable method of withdrawing money locally during your trip.
Most of my major expenses, including accommodation, flights, and intercity trains, were paid by card (approximately 90% AMEX and 10% VISA). Before arriving in Taiwan, I exchanged about NT$7,000 and had roughly NT$1,000 remaining when I departed.
Itinerary
| Region | Days | Locations / Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | 6 Days | Taipei Fly in: Paris → Taipei | Fly out: Taipei → Seoul |
| Hualien | 2 Days | Hualien |
| Kenting | 2 Days | Kenting |
| Kaohsiung | 3 Days | Kaohsiung |
| Alishan | 1 Day | Alishan |
| Sun Moon Lake | 2 Days | Sun Moon Lake |
| Taichung | 1 Day | Taichung |
| Taoyuan | 1 Day | Taoyuan |
Accommodations
| Region | Type | Name | Price (CAD) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei | Hostel | OwlStay Flip Flop Hostel Garden | C$397.55 | Card |
| Hualien | Hostel | Hualien Wow Hostel | C$78.30 | Card |
| Kenting | Hostel | Kenting Hostel – Da Wan | C$75.68 | Card |
| Kaohsiung | Hotel | The Cloud Hotel | C$187.31 | Card |
| Alishan | Hotel | Dafeng Hotel | C$152.19 | Card |
| Sun Moon Lake | Hotel | Water House | C$218.62 | Card |
| Taichung | Hotel | Hotel Leisure Taichung | C$44.85 | Card |
| Taoyuan | Capsule Hotel | CHO Stay Capsule Hotel TPE | C$68.82 | Card |
Expenses
| Category | Amount (CAD) | Payment / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Food | C$357.60 | 80% Cash, 20% Card |
| Transportation | C$216.18 | 70% Card, 30% Cash Trains – Card | Transit card reloads – Cash | Flight – Card |
| Laundry | C$34.56 | Cash |
| eSIM | C$39.93 | Card |
| Activities | C$115.20 | 50% Card, 50% Cash |
| Shopping / Souvenir | C$125.38 | 80% Card, 20% Cash |