many questions about taiwan!

[turboo]

Hi guys!

it'd be my first time to taiwan, need the experienced guys here to advise on the things below. thanks!

1. Renting a 50cc +/- Scooter – is there any rental shop in Taichung that would allow 1-day rental with just my Class 3 driving license?

1a. Is it safe to ride around the area in that manner (2pax travelling)?

1b. Otherwise, how difficult is it to figure which bus to take in Taichung? (understand that the mrt system is not v developed there)

2. Car Rental : which rental shop has a presence at Taoyuan Airport and near Taichung HSR? I’m planning to leave from Taoyuan airport, drive to cingjing > alishan > return car at Taichung,.. then continue the rest of the trip using train and HSR.

Looking for the lowest priced option for 2day rental on weekdays (Tuesday/Wednesday).. so far the cheapest I’ve come across is 2400NTD/day. There’s a cheaper option elsewhere (1600NTD - https://www.rentalcar.com.tw) but I don’t see that it’s available for pickup at Taoyuan Airport.

I also read that some stores actually don’t ask for an IDP (would save some cash if that’s the case). Recommendations welcome.

3. GPS : What do you guys use on your Android devices to navigate around Taiwan? Specifically for the route I proposed, would there be full map coverage?

Also, no zip/postal code is stated when searching on Google Maps – is it a must to type the Chinese name in the GPS app for it to locate the right place?

I have a tomtom car GPS device also, as well as tomtom+Sygic on my phone. Would prefer to have an app that would accept postal code or store all the places (POI) I pinned in Google Maps easily.

4. How do I find the following locations on Google Maps? I pasted the Chinese names but couldn’t get the right locations on the map.
大凍山觀日
長山觀日峰
四天王山觀日
大窯觀日亭
祝山觀日美
祝壽山觀日

http://www.ali-nsa.net/user/Article.aspx?Lang=1&SNo=03002478#a04

Are all these in Alishan within walking distance, or is it an absolute need to drive? Otherwise, what’s the alternative?

5. Which route is better for DIY driving?
Taoyuan → Cing jing → Alishan → Taichung → Taoyuan
Taoyuan → Alishan → Cing jing → Taichung → Taoyuan

 

[twosix]

You'll need a international driving license. dunno if class 3 can drive scooter or not. My friend who move to taipei needs to go for scooter riding course and pass the test before he can officially drive scooter.

if you have never ride scooter before, it may not be safe for you to ride in taiwan, as advised by my friend.

Leave out 觀日 and 觀日亭. These are not locations.

大凍山觀日
長山觀日峰
四天王山觀日
大窯觀日亭
祝山觀日美
祝壽山觀日

 

[kendoarts]

I can only advise you on Car Rental since I drove in Taiwan just few weeks ago.

You may want to try (https://www.easyrent.com.tw/English/).
They are owned by Toyota in Taiwan, so it's rather reliable. Being a left hand drive, different from Singapore, I believe reliability is one of the priorities.

I wouldn't recommend you not to apply for IDP before going because it's definitely not worth the risk. Most actually ask for your IDP. This is what I heard from my fellow colleagues in automotive industry.

For GPS, easyrent do provide, but however, in traditional chinese. If you are uncomfortable with it, I recommend you buy a prepaid data sim card,plug it in your andriod device and simply just navigate.

I used my Samsung device to navigate around and it was easy. I simply key in the road name (in both chinese and english), and out the name appears.

Trust me, a prepaid data card and your andriod is good enough.

Use road names instead of shop names, it's more accurate that way.

The places you list are all outskirts, which mean driving may be a more viable option. Alternative includes taking public transport. But it depends on how flexible and how adventurous are you. 5

IF you ask me about the routing, I would not drive between TaiYuan to TaiChung, High Speed Rail is much faster.
Think of it as a way to spend more time sightseeing than driving.

PS: First time to Taiwan and ride a scooter is something I don't recommend. Because road conditions and drivers there can be harsh. Based on own experience.

 

[turboo]

I can only advise you on Car Rental since I drove in Taiwan just few weeks ago.

You may want to try (https://www.easyrent.com.tw/English/).
They are owned by Toyota in Taiwan, so it's rather reliable. Being a left hand drive, different from Singapore, I believe reliability is one of the priorities.

I wouldn't recommend you not to apply for IDP before going because it's definitely not worth the risk. Most actually ask for your IDP. This is what I heard from my fellow colleagues in automotive industry.

For GPS, easyrent do provide, but however, in traditional chinese. If you are uncomfortable with it, I recommend you buy a prepaid data sim card,plug it in your andriod device and simply just navigate.

I used my Samsung device to navigate around and it was easy. I simply key in the road name (in both chinese and english), and out the name appears.

Trust me, a prepaid data card and your andriod is good enough.

Use road names instead of shop names, it's more accurate that way.

The places you list are all outskirts, which mean driving may be a more viable option. Alternative includes taking public transport. But it depends on how flexible and how adventurous are you. 5

IF you ask me about the routing, I would not drive between TaiYuan to TaiChung, High Speed Rail is much faster.
Think of it as a way to spend more time sightseeing than driving.

PS: First time to Taiwan and ride a scooter is something I don't recommend. Because road conditions and drivers there can be harsh. Based on own experience.

Hello,

thanks for the wealth of advice provided!

noted on the IDP - don't think i should save the money and risk getting rejected over there.

can i check that you were using google maps back then? most of the places i pinned on Maps are accurate, but a few of them (especially those with addresses in english) displayed multiple alternatives. when navigating in other countries, i always use the postal code (works all the time and there won't be another location using the same code).. but for taiwan - why do the addresses don't usually contain the postal code?

yup, i will take HSR on the way back to Taoyuan.

thanks!

 

[turboo]

You'll need a international driving license. dunno if class 3 can drive scooter or not. My friend who move to taipei needs to go for scooter riding course and pass the test before he can officially drive scooter.

if you have never ride scooter before, it may not be safe for you to ride in taiwan, as advised by my friend.

Leave out 觀日 and 觀日亭. These are not locations.

大凍山觀日
長山觀日峰
四天王山觀日
大窯觀日亭
祝山觀日美
祝壽山觀日

i see.. thought it'd be a great experience doing the local stuff (riding scooter) in taiwan.

as per the link provided, aren't those different locations where you can get different views of the mountains?

 

[fireworks79]

Hi guys!

it'd be my first time to taiwan, need the experienced guys here to advise on the things below. thanks!

1. Renting a 50cc +/- Scooter – is there any rental shop in Taichung that would allow 1-day rental with just my Class 3 driving license?
No. u must haf sg bike license

1a. Is it safe to ride around the area in that manner (2pax travelling)?
yes n no. depen on ur experience

1b. Otherwise, how difficult is it to figure which bus to take in Taichung? (understand that the mrt system is not v developed there)
veri difficult.

2. Car Rental : which rental shop has a presence at Taoyuan Airport and near Taichung HSR? I’m planning to leave from Taoyuan airport, drive to cingjing > alishan > return car at Taichung,.. then continue the rest of the trip using train and HSR.
u can refer to my web. there is a quite famous car rental(cost not cheap)
alternative i would recommend u book a pte cab. safer n cheaper

Looking for the lowest priced option for 2day rental on weekdays (Tuesday/Wednesday).. so far the cheapest I’ve come across is 2400NTD/day. There’s a cheaper option elsewhere (1600NTD - https://www.rentalcar.com.tw) but I don’t see that it’s available for pickup at Taoyuan Airport.

I also read that some stores actually don’t ask for an IDP (would save some cash if that’s the case). Recommendations welcome.
i dun recommend this unless u r some1 who is veri familair wif Taiwan

3. GPS : What do you guys use on your Android devices to navigate around Taiwan? Specifically for the route I proposed, would there be full map coverage?
i use hard copy maps. cos due to earthquake, some times the GPS is not updated wif the latest info. there r past cases where ppl drive until dead end but GPS still show there is roads ahead

Also, no zip/postal code is stated when searching on Google Maps – is it a must to type the Chinese name in the GPS app for it to locate the right place?
would b better

I have a tomtom car GPS device also, as well as tomtom+Sygic on my phone. Would prefer to have an app that would accept postal code or store all the places (POI) I pinned in Google Maps easily.
no comment cos nvr did tat b4

4. How do I find the following locations on Google Maps? I pasted the Chinese names but couldn’t get the right locations on the map.
大凍山觀日
長山觀日峰
四天王山觀日
大窯觀日亭
祝山觀日美
祝壽山觀日
take out the 觀日. just key the mountain names

http://www.ali-nsa.net/user/Article.aspx?Lang=1&SNo=03002478#a04

Are all these in Alishan within walking distance, or is it an absolute need to drive? Otherwise, what’s the alternative?
not walking distance. the distance can b as far as 10km apart

5. Which route is better for DIY driving?
Taoyuan → Cing jing → Alishan → Taichung → Taoyuan
Taoyuan → Alishan → Cing jing → Taichung → Taoyuan
2nd wan would b better

comment in blue

 

[calkel20]

comment in blue

But i got class 3 n mil class 2B. Can bo?

 

[turboo]

comment in blue

thank you so much - very helpful.

got a question for the alishan locations:

already took out as mentioned, but still nothing from google. those locations in alishan don't have proper addresses right? can't find them anywhere else..only got location names

 

[fireworks79]

But i got class 3 n mil class 2B. Can bo?

cannot..........

 

[fireworks79]

thank you so much - very helpful.

got a question for the alishan locations:

already took out as mentioned, but still nothing from google. those locations in alishan don't have proper addresses right? can't find them anywhere else..only got location names

¹Å¸q´ºÂI ¤j­á¤s°ê®a¨B¹D

 

[twosix]

thank you so much - very helpful.

got a question for the alishan locations:

already took out as mentioned, but still nothing from google. those locations in alishan don't have proper addresses right? can't find them anywhere else..only got location names

Looking at the map which is showing alaska, you are probably using maps.google.com, where you should be using maps.google.com.tw instead, and then type in what you want to search for in taiwan.

 

[Gixxerfied]

thank you so much - very helpful.

got a question for the alishan locations:

already took out as mentioned, but still nothing from google. those locations in alishan don't have proper addresses right? can't find them anywhere else..only got location names

It's a trail at alishan??

台灣嘉義縣竹崎鄉大凍山國家森林步道

Looking at the map from > http://www.ali-nsa.net/user/Article.aspx?Lang=1&SNo=03002478

and also google map 台灣嘉義縣竹崎鄉大凍山國家森林步道 , this should be correct. Probably somewhere along the trail...

 

[dilphinus]

A 50cc scooter is a danger on the roads.

A 50cc scooter is good for a small island tour, ie, Cijin.

Riding a scooter in Tainan and Hualien for first timer is ok. Not recommended for Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung.

 

[calkel20]

A 50cc scooter is a danger on the roads.
A 50cc scooter is good for a small island tour, ie, Cijin.
Riding a scooter in Tainan and Hualien for first timer is ok. Not recommended for Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung.

Valuable advise. But do note, occassional gust of wind can coz u to lose your balance when riding too fast, if not familiar, go easy. The places of attractions will still be there, no need to rush.

 

[kendoarts]

Hello,

thanks for the wealth of advice provided!

noted on the IDP - don't think i should save the money and risk getting rejected over there.

can i check that you were using google maps back then? most of the places i pinned on Maps are accurate, but a few of them (especially those with addresses in english) displayed multiple alternatives. when navigating in other countries, i always use the postal code (works all the time and there won't be another location using the same code).. but for taiwan - why do the addresses don't usually contain the postal code?

yup, i will take HSR on the way back to Taoyuan.

thanks!

Sorry for the late reply.

Certain location/road names does exist is more than one state, so bear in mind. Use some general knowledge to guage, for example, the distance to destination.

Use road name instead of postal code ba. I have never use their postal code therefore can't really advice you. Alternatively, you can use building/store/shop name.

 

[calkel20]

Sorry for the late reply.

Certain location/road names does exist is more than one state, so bear in mind. Use some general knowledge to guage, for example, the distance to destination.

Use road name instead of postal code ba. I have never use their postal code therefore can't really advice you. Alternatively, you can use building/store/shop name.

U try 中正路，中山路，忠孝路。 literally all counties have them. Good luck. Of course if u add the city behind, u will get it right.