TRAVEL INFORMATION
Some tips:
If you want to pick up a flight with less stops, you will have to choose either "China Airlines" or "EVA Air". These two airlines are Taiwanese companies. The former has non-stop flight between Taipei and Frankfort/Vienna/Los Angeles/San Francisco and the latter has direct flight between Taipei and Paris/San Francisco/Seattle. Those are the fastest route in principle. You may also choose some flights that have more stops, e.g. one extra stop at a nearby Asia airport (such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing). In this case the airfare might be lower by chance. Most of EU or US citizen can enter Taiwan without a visa or with a landing visa. Please check the information below. You may want to quickly go through wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/Taiwan or http://wikitravel.org/en/Taipei as well.
Airport Transportation
You will have to fly to the
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE - TTY Airport/Chiang Kai Shek Airport)
or Taipei Songshan International Airport (TSA Airport).
Bus and taxi services are available at the TTY Airport. Information are available at
http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english/transportation
http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/english/Publish.jsp?cnid=100150
http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english/Publish.jsp?cnid=1218
In most of the cases you need cash in TWD for these services.
The Songshan airport is in Taipei city (short trip flights from Asia only). It is connected with Taipei metro system. See the general transportation below.
General Transportation
About Taiwan
Taiwan, the Kingdom of the Butterfly, was christened FORMOSA or "beautiful island" by Portuguese mariners in the 16th century. Hundred and sixty kilometers from the southeastern coast of China, located midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the south, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia.
For more information, please visit the website of the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan at http://www.tbroc.gov.tw
About Taipei
Located in northern Taiwan, Taipei is a city that brings together the traditional and the new, the cutting edge and the conservative. Taipei offers areas of spectacular natural beauty, streets lined with shops selling all kinds of products, bustling night markets, countless restaurants with Chinese gourmet and numerous international hotels. National Palace Museum in Taipei houses the world's finest collection of Chinese art. Taipei 101 building was the tallest building in the world before Burj Khalifa was built in 2009. Taipei 101 definitely is the landmark in Taipei and it shows the modern and contemporary side of Taipei. Taipei is certainly a city that has so many things to offer to its guests, no matter it's for business or pleasure.
If you would like to learn more about Taipei, please visit Taipei City Government online at http://english.taipei.gov.tw/
Visa Information
For more information about Visa please visit Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Visa-Exempt Entry
Countries eligible for Visa-exempt entry:
The nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay up to 90 days：Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K. , and Vatican City State.
The nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay up to 30 days：Australia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and U.S.A..
The nationals of India, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, who also possess a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by U.S.A., Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay up to 30 days. Those who meet the above qualification and have never been employed in Taiwan performing manual labor jobs, have to apply to the "Advance Online Registration System for the Visitors of Nationals from Five Southeast Asian Countries to Taiwan". of National Immigration Agency for Entry Permit before coming to Taiwan. Upon completion, the printed confirmation is used to validate the traveler during the boarding and the immigration check. During the immigration check, travelers who cannot show a valid visa or permanent resident visa issued by one of the aforementioned countries will not be admitted into the country.
Requirements
- o Visa-exempt entry only applicable to formal passports, not including emergency, temporary, other informal passports or travel documents.
- o Japanese Citizen is entitled to validity of passport at least three months, under same other requirements. (unless otherwise stipulated by treaty or agreement)
Duration of stay 30 days:
Landing Visa
Countries eligible for Landing Visas:
Requirements:
Duration of stay 30 days:
The 30 days' duration of stay starts from the next day of arrival and is not extendable. Travelers must depart by the end of the said 30 days. Visa-exempt entry cannot be converted to other types of visas.
Remarks:
Holders of USA passport with validity less than six months.
Other Information:
Passengers entering the Republic of China through the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport may apply for a landing visa at the Visa Office of Consular Affairs Bureau at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Currency
The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (currency code: TWD/ common abbreviation: NT$). The current exchange rate is approximately EURO:TWD = 1:40, USD: TWD = 1:30. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at airports and a number of hotels and government-designated banks. Major credit cards (Master, VISA) are widely accepted, and traveler's checks may be accepted by a number of tourist-oriented shops and at most international tourist hotels and banks.
Useful currency converter website: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electricity
Taiwan's electric current is 110 V, 60 Hz which is the same as the U.S. For the equipments from Europe, a wall plug converter is required. There are two type of receptacle:
Time Zone
Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Useful world time and date converter website: http://www.timeanddate.com/
Climate
Taiwan enjoys a subtropical climate, with warm, mild weather the year round. The average temperature of Taipei during the meeting is expected to be around 25°C to 30°C.
Please go to Central Weather Bureau for more information
Business Hours
For most government agencies' office hours are from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays. Banking hours are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Private companies are usually more flexible with their working hours. Most stores remain open until late both on weekdays and weekends, and there are plenty of 24-hour convenience stores around the city.
Taxes
A 10% service charge and a 5% value-added tax are already added to room rates and meals in most cases. No tipping is needed when dining in a restaurant (unless you feel extremely compelled).