Guide to Visiting Taipei, Taiwan for the First Time

Guide to Visiting Taipei, Taiwan for the First Time

The One and Only Taipei for First Time Visitors Guide You’ll Ever Need

If you’re planning a trip to Taipei, Taiwan for the first time, you’re in the right place. I’ll point out the single best area to stay in Taipei for sightseeing plus five popular and affordable hotels you will like in Taipei.

Plus I’m throwing in a couple of recommended restaurants in Taipei you should definitely try for a first taste of Taiwan!

And tips on a couple of things you might want to do after landing in Taoyuan Airport. Plus the best way to get from Taoyuan Airport to the city of Taipei.

You’ll certainly learn a lot on this post based on my frequent travel experiences to Taipei!

On This Trip to Taipei, Taiwan…

Usually when I make my annual trip back to New York I usually stop over in Seoul, South Korea for a weeks stay. That’s my usual routine.

But I’ve been changing it up a bit like going to Doha, Qatar for the first time last year. This year, I also decided it was time to visit someplace different again.

My travel agent gave me a few options. Taipei was one of them. And like that, I decided it was due time to visit Taiwan again.

I also wanted to gather and research up to date info for writing this post about visiting Taipei. Particularly for those planning their very own first exciting trip to Taiwan.

Streets of Taipei

Early April weather in Taipei. The weather was cloudy and cool some days other days nice and warm…

If you’re a regular blog reader of mine you know I’m not big on planning. Just like I did when I first visited Taipei or anywhere else for that matter. I just go. And if I make a mistake then I’ve made a mistake and learned something in the end.

So on this guide to Taipei you’ll learn what to expect while traveling to Taipei from the mistakes of yours truly.

I’ll start off by letting you know what to do the first thing after stepping into the arrival hall of Taoyuan Airport. To the best mode of public transportation to reach the city of Taipei.

Here we go!

Landing in Taoyuan Airport – Be Sure to Exchange Currency and Buy a SIM Card at Taoyuan Airport

Don’t Forget to Exchange Your Local Currency for Taiwan Dollars

Having some Taiwanese dollars on hand is important because the country is primarily cash based. Small restaurants do not accept debit/credit cards. Taipei’s widely popular street food and hawker stands only take cash so you better have some on hand.

One of the biggest mistakes I made for my first trip to Taipei years ago was I did not exchange any cash at all at the airport. I mean, there are ATM machines in the airport right next to currency exchange booths. And there are many banks all over Taipei to withdraw cash as well.

Taiwan Currency

Taiwan is still a cash based society…

However if you’re like my mother who only wants to carry cash expecting to exchange it in Taiwan you might run into a bit of bad luck like I have.

Taiwan has strict regulations on currency exchange. Only banks in Taiwan are licensed and authorized to exchange foreign currency. Also all banks in Taiwan close on weekends. On weekdays banks close around 4pm.

Best to exchange currency at Taoyun airport. There are also ATM machines next to currency exchange kiosks inside the airport…

The Story of My Life

So the bad luck I ran into was I had some Thai Baht I wanted to exchange on hand. I was in Taipei during Qingming Festival which fell on a Thursday. Qingming is a big deal holiday in Taiwan so the banks were closed for 4 days straight for a long holiday weekend.

If you’re visiting Taipei during a long holiday and ran into a bit of bad luck like I had, there is an exchange currency center in the basement level of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Station Store.

However Shin Kong only exchange major currencies like US, Australia, Japan, China, Canada, Euros, etc.

So I was out of luck again with Thai Baht.

Taoyun Airport is Where You Can Get the Best Currency Exchange Rates

But you’ll get better exchange rates at Taoyuan Airport. So remember, if you plan on exchanging cash on your trip to Taipei do it at Taoyuan airport first.

But if you’re planning to withdraw cash from ATMs in Taiwan then this wouldn’t be an issue. As many 24 hour ATMs can be found all over Taipei.

However, I’m only bringing this currency exchange issue up because I know there are still travelers out there whom prefer to exchange currency.

Don’t Forget to Purchase a SIM Card for Your Mobile Phone

Also at Taoyuan Airport, buy a SIM card for your mobile phone at one of the telecom kiosks located at airport arrival level. You can purchase prepaid 3 day data package which includes 4G access for about NT$300. There are also prepaid SIM card packages that go up to 7 days or monthly. But the minimum plan is 3 days.

Even though there are many Wi-fi hotspots all over Taipei, it’s best to get a Taiwan SIM card installed on your cell phone. So you can use google maps for directions to your hotel. And do some quick research on where to go in Taipei while waiting for a train or grabbing a bite to eat.

Chungwhwa Telecom SIM Cards

https://prepaidsim.twgate.net/index_en.html

Why’s it better to pick up a SIM card inside Taoyuan Airport?

Because if you pick one up at a telecom store in Taipei you will not have much selection. And end up paying more than you’d have to.

For example a few years back when I forgot to buy a SIM card at Taoyuan Airport I then had to buy one at a telecom shop in Taipei. They only had a 5 day SIM card that cost NT$500 in stock. But I was only in Taipei for only 3 days at the time.

If I bought my SIM card at the airport I would’ve saved some cash. So pick up that SIM card at Taoyuan Airport so you’ll get the exact plan you need for the duration of your stay.

Here are 2 Taiwanese Telecom Companies in Taoyuan Airport I recommend located on the arrival hall:

  1. Chunghwa Telecom
  2. Taiwan Mobile

Staff at either shop will help you install the SIM card. As well as register the card so you’re all good to go before stepping out of the airport. With a working SIM card on your phone you can use map apps to pinpoint destinations and search for points of interest and places to rest and eat.

Having internet access on your mobile phone will certainly make your first time visit to Taipei more enjoyable as you can search for directions.

You don’t have to pick up a SIM card if you don’t want to. But today having a map app and the ability to use it on your smart phone is just so convenient. Think about it, you’ll have a chance to read this awesome blog in Taipei whenever and wherever!

Google Map Timeline

Using google map timeline to track where I’ve been came in handy for my blog writing…

Personally, I use Google Maps Timeline to keep track of the places I’ve been to. Which is totally useful for me whenever I need to reference for my blog writing. You can turn google maps timeline on and off anytime.

Airport Bus or Airport Train to Taipei Main Station – Which is Better?

Airport bus from Taoyuan Airport is comfortable but I think it’s best to get to Taipei Main Station riding the Airport MRT instead…

Now that you’re out of the airport you’re thinking about which is the best way to get from Taoyuan Airport to the city. You’ve got two choices to get to Taipei, or to be more precise Taipei Main Station which is the city’s main public transportation hub:

  1. Airport Bus (Kuo-Kuang Line Bus #1819 – NT$135 one-way)
  2. Airport Train (MRT – Mass Rapid Transit – NT$160 one-way)

I have tried both modes of transportation. If you’re heading straight for Taipei Main Station then it’s a no brainer decision to choose the Airport Train.

What About Taxis?

Sure you can hire a taxi but if you want to save some cash, public transport is the way to go. And it’s so easy and simple to use public mass transportation. Plus the money you save will be considerable.

Taoyan MRT Route Map 2018

Taoyan MRT Route Map 2018

You’ll Get to Taipei Quicker with MRT

Because airport bus fare to Taipei Main Station cost NT$135 and takes roughly about 1 hour drive with no traffic. The operative word is no traffic. But why risk it?

The Airport MRT cost NT$160 and also takes about an 1 hour to reach Taipei Main Station. The price difference is so small. Pay for the Airport MRT fare and you won’t have to worry about car traffic or accidents and bus malfunctions.

The Airport MRT is the Most Convenient (But the Airport Bus is Useful Too)

That said, the airport bus is your only option to get to Taipei Main Station if you’ve arrived into Taoyuan Airport past midnight. Because the Airport MRT stops service at midnight.

Airport Bus departing Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station runs 24 hours with 15-20 minute intervals.

Now you know how to get from Taoyuan Airport to Tapei Main Station, I’ll point out the best area to stay in Taipei for your first visit to Taiwan!

Matter of fact, you can even walk to this area from Taipei Main Station. It can’t get any easier than that!

Ximending District Taipei Walking Street

Ximending District – The best area to stay in Taipei, Taiwan for your first visit…

Ximending District 西門町 – The One and Only District you Should Stay in Taipei for Your First Visit to Taiwan

Ximending District is a 15 minute walk from Taipei Main Station. You can also hop on a 1 stop subway train ride on MRT Bannan Line (Blue Line) to Ximen station for NT$20 from Taipei Main Station.

The reasons why Ximending is such a highly recommended area to stay in Taipei is because this area has everything you can possibly need for an enjoyable stay in Taipei.

Ximending draws a lot of locals, mostly the young crowd because there’s a lot of shops, movie theaters and special little restaurants. Ximending is Taipei’s major entertainment district!

But the main reason why locals and tourists love Ximending is because of the variety and choices for food! It’s like the entire area is dedicated to foodies.

Staying at a hotel in Ximending is a smart move because everything you’ll need is in walking distance, especially excellent places to eat.

I’ll point out a few places you have to check out for some good Taiwanese food at the end of this guide.

Ximending is like Myeondong District in Seoul, South Korea. And just like it is in Seoul, if you choose to stay in in Ximending you can walk to a lot of popular city tourist attractions in Taipei. Without taking the subway trains.

You can walk to Ximending Station from Taipei Main Station in about 15 minutes. Or you can take the MRT subway train to Ximen station…

You Will See Exploring Taipei on Foot is Quite Pleasant

Taipei truly is one of the best cities to explore on foot. The sidewalks are wide and well paved. There are street signs with English and vicinity maps located throughout street corners.

One thing I want to bring up is local Taiwanese in general do not jaywalk. I’m not aware of any jaywalking laws in Taiwan but locals are super patient and disciplined while waiting for the correct light to cross the road. Even when there are no visible moving cars or motorbikes in sight.

Now that you know why Ximending district is the best area to stay in Taipei, I’ll point out a selection of hotels in Ximending that I’ve personally stayed in and recommend on this guide to visiting Taipei.

Five Taipei Hotels I Recommend in Ximending District

Plus Some Tips on Booking Hotels in Taipei

The key to a good travel experience is to stay at good quality hotels. Though I don’t often plan my trip itinerary. I do spend most of my research time looking for the best areas to stay for sightseeing. And my research showed me Ximending met all my criteria.

The criteria I look for are lively neighborhoods, close to a variety of local food, close to shopping and of course to public transportation.

The hotels and hostels I recommend below are priced in the mid range so about $40USD to $80USD . And depending on the season possibly $100USD.

Breakfast menu in Taipei

Lots of restaurants in Taipei open early ready to serve breakfast…

I don’t suggest paying extra for breakfast at any hotel in Taipei. Not unless the price is too good to pass up.

Because what you can find on the streets of Ximending early morning for breakfast is going to be cheaper and most likely tastier than anything you’d find at the hotel for breakfast.

And since all the hotels I recommend below are close to restaurants you can save quite a bit of cash.

And of course you’ll find 7 Elevens and other types of convenience stores near the hotels and hostel in Ximending I recommend.

Also, bear in mind these hotels offer a choice of rooms with windows and no windows. Rooms with windows cost a bit more. All have free internet Wi-Fi access.

Best Hotels in Ximending District

1. Hotel Papa Whale – Rated 4 Star Hotel

Hotel Papa Whale Exterior

Hotel Papa Whale is a hotel in Ximending district  highly recommend…

Don’t let the weird name of this hotel fool you. I’ve stayed in Hotel Papa Whale more than a few times. It’s one of the newest and most affordable mid range hotels in Ximending District. The rooms are spacious and clean. There’s a unique industrial factory look and design unlike a conventional hotel.

Here’s an in depth review of Hotel Papa Whale on my most recent stay in Taipei. This is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in Ximending District.

Hotel Papa Whale: Check Rates
How to Get There: 15 minute walk from Taipei Main Station. 10 minute walk from Ximen Station.
Address: No. 46, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

2. InPage Hotel and Hostel – Rated 3 Star Hotel

InPage Hotel and Hostel Taipei

InPage Hotel and Hostel is mostly a hostel type property so there’s a shared bathroom access. I know a lot of my readers are females so I recommend InPage Hostel and Hotel because they have female only guest rooms.

Just be sure to indicate during your booking if you want female only guest rooms by inputting it into the special request box.

InPage Hotel and Hostel: Check Rates
How to Get There: 10 minute walk from Taipei Main Station.
Address: No. 37, Section 1, Chongqing South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

3. Roader’s Hotel Taipei – 3 Star Rated Hotel

Roaders Hotel in Taipei

I also know I have a lot of readers traveling with teens and young children. Which is why I’m recommending Roader’s Hotel because there’s a game room with foosball as well as a kids playroom. And for the adults there’s even a small gym.

Okay, well it’s a very small gym but really there are not a whole lot of hotels in Ximending that is kid friendly with a gym yet affordable.

Roader’s Hotel: Check Rates
How to Get There: 10 minute walk from Taipei Main Station.
Address: No. 68, Yanping South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

4. Orange Hotel Ximending – 3 Star Rated Hotel

Orange Hotel Ximending Taipei

I recommend Orange Hotel Ximending because it’s the nicest and most affordable hotel that is only 3 minute walk to Taipei Main Station. I know there are travelers out there for whatever reason they need to get to Taoyuan Airport easily. Because riding the Airport MRT at Taipei Main Station will only take 1 hour to get to Taoyuan Airport.

Besides the convenience factor Orange Hotel Ximending is a nice hotel perfect for families or small groups of travelers.

Orange Hotel Ximending: Check Rates
How to Get There: 3 minutes walk from Taipei Main Station
Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, 中華路一段166號之2

5. Relax III Hotel – 3 Star Rated Hotel

Relax Hotel Taipei Exterior

Relax III Hotel is perhaps the priciest on this list with prices up to the $100USD range. It’s a very modern hotel with modern decorations and feel. Plus it’s also close to Taipei Main Station, about a 5 minute walk.

I’m recommending this hotel because Relax III Hotel rates usually include breakfast. Okay, so I did mention it’s not necessary to book a room with breakfast included because there are better food options outside of the hotel.

However, I understand that there could be readers that simply want a hotel breakfast without having to go out and search for something to eat.

Also I picked Relax III Hotel for traveling families because at this hotel you can book adjoining rooms.

Relax III Hotel: Check Rates
How to Get There: 5 minute walk from Taipei Main Station
Address: No. 34, Huaining Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

Now that you know the hotels I recommend in Taipei is all in Ximending District on this guide, I will now point out a few restaurants that I know you will enjoy as much as I did. As well as a couple of other pointers on where you can find some good eats in Ximending District.

Because what good is a guide to visiting Taipei for the first time if I don’t include a section on food!

Where to Find the Best Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵) in Ximending District

If you don’t know by now, one of Taiwan’s most famous dish (or should I say bowl) is beef with noodle soup “niu rou mian” (牛肉麵). Now if you do a search on google about where the best beef noodle restaurants in Taipei, chances are you’ll come across the famous Yong Kang Beef Noodles. But that restaurant is not in Ximending district. Which I tried. And yes I agree it’s good.

However, I prefer this hole in the wall restaurant in Ximending District called Fu Hong Beef Noodles 富宏牛肉麵 and they have a Facebook page here. Price for a large bowl cost NT$110 and it’s a big bowl with nice chewy thick chewy noodles and a hefty portion of tender beef in a hearty beef broth.

Fu Hong is just a short 3 minute walk from Hotel Papa Whale, which is another reason why I like to stay there. And Fu Hong is open 24 hours so you can have your beef noodle fix anytime of the day!

Fu Hong Beef Noodle Store Front

Fu Hong Beef Noodle Shop – Both shops are the same so pick whichever one has empty seats…

This restaurant is packed full of hungry customers during lunch and dinner. Since it’s open 24 hours I go eat there for breakfast early in the morning. So not a problem at all getting a seat. You won’t find an English menu because there’s not a lot of tourists that come here.

It’s more of a local joint. And when it’s a restaurant full of locals then it’s a good sign.

There are photos of beef noodles so just point to it and they’ll get you set up with a hot steaming bowl. If you’re into spicy chili try their house made chili oil for a spicy kick in r your pants.

Where to Find the Best Fried Pork Chop Noodle Soup in Ximending District

One of the best restaurants for pork chops and noodles is K.M.Y in Ximending district…

Another dish that you should try before leaving Taiwan is the Fried Pork Chops. You can have it over rice or you can have it over noodles. I always order my pork chops with noodles.

The name of this restaurant is K.M.Y. and that link will get you a google map view with directions. But it’s right in Ximending District and not far from Hotel Papa Whale. Yes, another reason why I like staying at that hotel. The price of this fried pork chop with noodle set is NT$210 which is not a bad deal at all.

I like the fact that their pork chop seasonings is not overly loaded with MSG. They have just the right amount of pepper in the batter and the pork chop is fried to juicy perfection.

Fried Pork Chop with Noodles

The best pork chops with noodle soup are at K.M.Y. restaurant in Ximending District…

K.M.Y. is very busy during peak lunch and dinner full of locals. They open around 11am and close about 9pm. Inside space is small so tables are shared and limited. It’s easier to find a table if you’re eating for one. All you have to do is sit down if a chair is available. And there is an English picture menu so once they figure out you’re not a local they’ll bring you one.

I think most people that come to Ximending come to eat. I haven’t been to all the restaurants in Ximending obviously but you know what, you can’t really go wrong when you see a restaurant with lines of local people waiting out the door.

The Takeaway

Ximending District is without a doubt the best area to stay in Taipei for your first visit. You’ll have a fantastic experience in Taiwan.

There are street performers to keep you entertained while you enjoy a snack on hand. There’s a night market with shops including brand name stores. And believe me you’ll find all kinds of unique Taiwanese savory and sweets to satisfy your appetite in Ximending.

NT$70 and you get this big piece of fried chicken at Hot Star Large Fried Chicken in Ximending District branch…

The train stations are not far away plus as I showed on this guide you’ll find a lot of nice affordable hotels in Ximending District close to some awesome restaurants and a popular night market. I really can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Taipei.

Ximending is truly the one and only district you should think about staying in Taipei for your first visit, without a doubt.

Now that you have learned how to get to Taipei from Taoyuan Airport, plus learned a few things you should not forget after landing and where the best area to stay in Taipei, my question for to you is:

Are You Ready for Your First Visit to Taipei?

You should be. Taipei is a wonderful city with friendly people and so easy to get around, explore and sightsee at your own pace. Without the need of a tour guide. I really enjoy visiting Taipei. So much that I might be coming back here more often every year. Especially on my annual return trips to New York.

And I hope my tips and advice on visiting Taipei for the first time will help you enjoy Taipei as much as I have.

If you have any questions about visiting Taipei, drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market

Half Day Trip to Two of Bangkok’s Nearest Tourist Attractions – Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Market

Finally, I went somewhere in Thailand I’d thought I’d never visit. It was a half day tour of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก ราชบุรี) and Maeklong Railway Train Market a.k.a. Umbrella Pulldown Market (ตลาดร่มหุบ).

It’s a perfect combination as a short day trip coming from Bangkok, especially when you’re in the city for a few days. And it was a self-guided tour with good friends, so that’s the main reason why I went.

Because I always tell everyone that Thailand is an amazing country with many beautiful scenery and natural attractions.

But when I mentioned to my Thai friends that I went to Damnoen Saduak, they shook their heads and asked, “Why would you go there?”

Vendors at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Two old vendors selling decorative fans at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand…

Unfortunately it’s because Damnoen Saduak Float Market has a reputation as one Thailand’s biggest tourist traps. I’ve never been.

So I can’t say that it is, or it isn’t.

There’s only one way to find out and that’s to go!

You’ve seen attractive photos of foreigners gently rowed down a river surrounded by friendly vendors selling fresh fruit, souvenir tchotchke and way overpriced coconut water. That’s what people are afraid of, getting overcharged.

Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market is widely advertised as one of the must see side trips from Bangkok. But it’s got that tourist trap stigma that’s hard to shake. And that’s something I’ve known ever since I first traveled to Thailand. And the main reason why I stayed away for so long.

7 Quick Tips About Visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

  1. River tour boats can fit 6 adult passengers.
  2. There’s not really a best time to visit this market in my opinion. If you want to see more tourists and more activity than visit between 8am and 10am. I got there at 11am when activity started winding down. But there were still many tourists and shop vendors by the canal still open.
  3. Life vests are available on request.
  4. Make sure you ask for boats with a roof or umbrella to protect from rain and sun. My wife and I got wet from rain because our boat had no umbrellas.
  5. Don’t hold onto the sides of the boats. Boat drivers get very close to piers and if you’re holding the sides of the boat you’ll hurt your fingers.
  6. There are paddle boats and motor boats for hire. Please choose the paddle boats. It’s environmentally friendlier.
  7. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market has no entrance fee. Just putting it out there in case someone asks for money.

Visiting Damnoen Saduak was Inevitable – With a Side Visit to Maeklong Railway Train Market

As fate will have it, a very good family friend was coming over to Bangkok from Hong Kong. She and her friends wanted to visit Damnoen Saduak and also Maeklong Railway Train Market for a half-day tour.

She’s been to Thailand dozens of times so she’s a seasoned traveler in this country. And she and her friends were curious enough to check both markets. And me too I have to admit.

I was particularly looking forward to seeing Maeklong Railway Train Market. I’ve seen dozens of videos of a big, slow lumbering train passing through an active market. Right before shop vendors quickly, yet casually, pull and roll their goods away from the path of the train.  So I was really looking forward to making a video of the train passing through.

I Have to Admit, I Was Excited to Go

My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to locate a local driver, where I and my wife will be the tour guides. Mission accepted. It’s on, it’s on like Donkey Kong.

I was presented with a chance to visit and write and share it all here. And I must say, I was extremely curious as to what would happen. I mean I already knew there’s a distinct possibility that we’re going to get over-charged for something. What that something will be, I don’t know.

There’s only one way to find out.

Getting to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market from Bangkok

Both well known markets are about 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok. And an hour and a half drive from central Bangkok. Or if you have a crazy van driver with a death wish around forty five minutes with no traffic.

We hired a local Thai driver familiar with the roads of Ratchaburi province where the river market is located. And also Samut Sakhon province where the train market is located.

By car, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Train Market is a short 30 to 45 minutes away from each other. Which is why both stopes make a very good half day to full day trip combo.

Cost of hiring a private driver is 3000THB. Here’s what it includes:

  • Driving from 9am to 7pm. After 7pm the driver gets an additional 300THB per hour counted as over-time.
  • Tollway fees
  • Fuel costs included. Usually when you hire a private driver you have to pay to cover the cost of fuel, so this is normal.

There were seven of us in total, so split that with 3000THB the price came out to 430THB per head. Which is an exceptional value for a private driver. He could only speak a little bit of English but not a problem. My wife and I could do all the translating.

Meeting at 9am Sharp

My wife and I left our house at 7:30am. But of course we got there 30 minutes late. Which isn’t so bad considering the horrific traffic we had to go through.

Our plan was to meet at the hotel my friends were staying at. That’s also where our driver will be waiting. He arrived an hour early. My friends were staying in Siam Square which is a perfect jumping point to both destinations.

Once we got to their hotel we quickly jumped into the van and off we went. Our plan was to make the first stop at the floating market because it’s more active in the mornings.

Also we knew there will be a train running through Maeklong Railway Market at 2:30pm. You can find a train schedule below where I go into detail. So we would have plenty of time to explore Damnoen Saduak first.

This is near one of the entrance. This photo was taken around after 11am and as you can see, the river is not so crowded…

First Stop, Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market

It took us one hour and thirty minutes to reach the floating market. It was a weekday and driving out of Bangkok at that time meant less vehicles on the road but still had pockets of congestion at certain points. And our driver wasn’t a speed freak so that was good.

He also knew a lot of road short cuts which made the trip quicker. Which made up the time where we got stuck in traffic. This is one of the reasons why it’s better to hire a local driver familiar with the area. Google maps is good and effective in Thailand. But not as effective as a driver that really knows the area.

When we got close to the area around Damnoen Saduak we found out there were numerous side boat entrances. But we decided to stop off at the main entrance, use the toilet and then take a short walk around, before checking out prices for tour boats.

First Impressions

Along the canal there are many shops selling souvenirs. Okay, really the first thought that came to my mind was, who buys all of this stuff? There were large pieces of Thai style home ornaments and decorations. Large paintings of fish and animal carvings.

Granted there were t-shirts, keychains, sun hats, umbrellas and sunscreen could sell well. But I couldn’t really see anyone buying large carvings of wooden elephants out in the middle of nowhere and lugging it back to their hotels.

Most of the market is situated along the side of canals. We saw boats selling grilled pork but those were all near the entrance. But as you travel further down the canal we didn’t see any boats selling anything at all.

There’s food and drinks all around which are priced higher than usual. Which is to be expected. But we’re not here for shopping. We’re here to check out the prices for tour boats and hopefully find out the real cost of hiring a boat to tour around Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

My friend from Hong Kong stated that her friend previously paid 3000THB for two persons to tour the river. That price does not include the cost of transportation to the market. A 3000THB price tag in itself is highly suspicious.

Time to Ask Prices for Boat Rides

When you’re touring Thailand, bargaining is a national pastime. Yes, even Thais do it when they travel. And believe me, locals do not get preferential pricing treatment at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

My friends and I took a step back and let my Thai wife do the talking. We only found two boat tour desks.

The first tour desk we approached quoted a price of 100THB per head for a one hour tour of the river. Wow, that wasn’t so bad.

Second tour desk we asked quoted us 150THB per head for one hour ride also. But they’ll take us to some type of “special” place where we can taste some “special” local drinks.

Okay the prices weren’t so bad. It was a hell of a lot better than paying 3000THB for a wooden boat. And we already knew where to go to save 50THB so we went back to the first tour boat desk. Or did we? Yeah I know, 50THB is such a small difference.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Problem with self guided tour is you don’t know what’s the real price for anything…

Talking in Circles

Here’s where things get a little tricky. The first desk that quoted us 100THB now told us the boat ride is for 30 minutes. And that 150THB is the new price for 1 hour trip.

There was another lady who seemed to be the one in charge at a different desk at a souvenir shop that changed the price to 150THB. Granted 50THB extra per person isn’t too much to complain about. I mean, we’re already there so we might as well go through with the tour.

A day later though my wife spoke to her mother and she also said she paid 150THB for a 1 hour river ride. So, I guess that’s the normal price. So I suspect the 100THB was just a lure to hook customers away from competitors. That’s just playing dirty.

But they know what they’re doing. Because we’re there already.

The Real Price of River Boats Tours at Damnoen Saduak

So my friends and I paid 150THB per head. But I checked around on google and read people paid 1000THB per person. But their tours were 2 hours long. We paid 150THB for 1 hour. Like I mentioned already, my friend mentioned her friend paid 3000THB for an hour tour for two persons.

The issue is, there’s no standardized rates nor tour itinerary at Damnoen Saduak. The prices depend on who’s taking you there. Could even be the driver or a hired guide taking a cut. Plus there are tour operators claiming they provide more value for the money. Thus the higher prices.

Our driver never accompanied us and stayed with the van the whole time while we were out. So we can’t suspect him of bumping up our price.

Which makes me think that the real price for a 1 hour boat ride is 150THB at Damnoen Saduak.

Onwards to the Tour

There are lots of boats with tourists coming and going and it was in the middle of the afternoon. The mornings would’ve been a lot worst I was told because that’s when most visitors from tour buses arrive. So we got in at a perfect time.

We hired a paddle boat which moved surprisingly fast through the canal. Sadly, the water isn’t too clean. Tourism has certainly taken its toll. So please take care of your trash.

Once you hop on that boat and start taking selfies, the boat driver will immediately park you near market stalls along the river.

Which you should expect. It’s a floating market after all. But it’s full of souvenirs and things  you probably don’t want taking up space in your home. I honestly didn’t see other tourists buy anything at all. Like almost everything today, you’ll find it cheaper on Amazon.com with free shipping.

Even then, it’s quite nice to glide down a quiet narrow river even though there are vendors just staring at you while hoping you’d buy something. Thankfully, the vendors keep to themselves and never pushed things in our faces.

Usually the boat driver will just hang out at vendors for a minute before moving along to the next area.

Lunch on a River

Since we left our home early in the morning we only had time to grab coffee. So my wife and I were both hungry and waited until we could find some food vendors on the river. And we couldn’t find any.

Later on, we found a stall by the canal selling a variety of food, including paintings of nature and wood carvings of current pop culture figures.

This was actually quite a tasty styrofoam plate of chicken fried rice…

My wife ordered a bowl of noodles with pork. And I opted for a plate of fried rice with chicken. Before our hungry brains realized there were no prices on the menus. That’s a bad sign. My wife asked how much for both items including one bottle of water.

The food vendor just smiled and said one moment. One moment of calculating the price is not a problem to answer a customer. But no answer came.

Pork ball noodle soup at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Double the price of Bangkok for a bowl of noodles with pork. But it’s to be expected…

It was only until our food came out that we were given the price. The total came out to 160THB. So in Thailand that is expensive for an outside food vendor. It’s twice what you’d pay for at a hawker stand in Bangkok.

But it’s certainly a price that a Thai tourist would balk at. And that’s the reason why there are no prices on the food menus. They don’t want to scare away customers that know better. To be fair, all tourist attractions all over the world charge expensive prices for food.

Just take a look at Disney Land for example. Or have you ever bought a bottle of water in Central Park in New York City? Absolutely expensive.

My wife and I didn’t freak out about the prices. Only thing is she didn’t like her bowl of noodles. But my chicken fried rice was good and tasty and a decent sized portion with fresh ingredients. I’d buy another plate.

I think they should just put prices on their menus. There will be customers that find those food prices reasonable.

A Souvenir Shop Stop is Inevitable

Whether you want to or not a boat driver will take you to a souvenir shop. It’s also a rest area so if you have to use the toilet it’s the place to go do your business. You’re not obligated to buy anything at all but if I had a choice I’d just tell the boatsman to take us somewhere else.

Souvenir and rest stop at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Our boat driver dropped us off at this souvenir and rest stop for 15 minutes…

So expect a short trip to a souvenir shop, it’s standard procedure.

After spending fifteen minutes or so browsing at things we would never buy we called for our boat. It was time to head back and just when we did, it started drizzling lightly. Five minutes later it turned into full on rain.

There are roofs that hang out over market stalls that provided cover. But at certain points there are none so if it’s really pouring you’ll get a good drenching.

Back on Dry Land

After we got off our tour boat there was a huge downpour. We quickly ran back to our awaiting van where our driver took us to a really good spot for seafood lunch.

Overall, it’s great now that I can say, yes, I’ve been to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. It’s one thing I can cross off my check list.

And if you are deciding to visit Damnoen Saduak Floating River Market, you too will know what to expect. But I know it’s not easy for most to make this a self guided tour. Especially when there’s a language barrier.

Second Stop, Maeklong Railway Train Market

With our belly’s full from enjoying a seafood restaurant recommended by our driver we made our way to Maeklong Railway Train Market.

I have to admit, this was one place I was really looking forward to seeing. I’ve watched dozens of videos of such markets with trains passing through. I wanted to take an old Go Pro camera and place it in the center of one of the tracks.

Below is my video:

Maeklong is a fully functional local wet and dry market, with an emphasis on local. Thais come here to buy groceries at cheaper than supermarket prices.

There’s fresh fish, all sorts of butchered meat, fresh vegetables and fruits for them to shop for. And the local folks don’t mind us tourists taking selfies in their shopping space. They’re even nice enough to warn folks to not stand too close to the tracks as the train approaches.

There are lots of durian sellers pushing their stinky, spikey fruit at this market. But to be honest, you’re better off going to Aor Tor Gor Market because that’s where you’ll find the best Durian in Bangkok.

Maeklong Railway Train Market Schedule

The local market opens 7 days a week from 6:20am to 5:40pm. Which is the same time the trains operate.

Arrival:

  • 8:30am
  • 11:10am
  • 2:30pm
  • 5:40pm

Departure:

  • 6:20am
  • 9:00am
  • 11:30am
  • 3:30pm

To explain the schedule further, don’t worry too much about the departure time, unless you’re planning to take ride on the train.

If you’re coming to Maeklong Market to see the train passing through, focus on the Arrival hours. We got to the market at 2pm to wait for the 2:30pm train.

The train arrived slightly ahead of schedule. In any case, get there at least 30 minutes before scheduled arrival so you can pick a nice spot to snap them photos.

Above  is a train schedule chart I found inside a local coffee shop with an incredibly super friendly café owner. I wrote an article about opening coffee shops in Thailand and this owner has the perfect location. You can enjoy a drink while waiting for the train to come by.

If You Must Visit Damnoen Saduak & Maeklong Market – Look For a Reputable Tour Agency

If you’re looking for day trip recommendations from Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Markets are really good side trip options. But I know it’s really difficult for foreign visitors to do self-guided tours in Thailand.

And finding a handsome funny guy like me to be your local guide will be difficult.

Okay, kidding aside, I know most travelers don’t want the hassle of doing a self tour where it’s a challenge to organize everything on your own. And organized day trip tours around Bangkok are inexpensive.

Going on an Personal Tour is the Best Way to Visit Both Markets

However, you want to find a tour agency that won’t charge funny fees or ask for money after you’ve paid for everything up front already.

Which is why I recommend TakeMeTour.com that is really popular in Thailand. They have local experts that can take you to all the locations I wrote about on this post. A TakeMeTour local guide will pick you up from your hotel or a meeting point.

Local tour experts will show you around the way only a local can. And when tours over they’ll take you back to where they met you.

Selfie at Maeklong Railway Train Market

After the train passed it was safe for a selfie…

The Final Verdict

I must say, I had a good time and fun! I really did even though I dreaded traveling to tourist trap destinations. But I can say from my own personal experience that Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is not a tourist trap. Sure, the food and souvenirs are overprice.

If those two reasons alone are sufficient to classify Damnoen Saduak a tourist trap then you have to lump Disney Land and Universal Studios also.

It definitely helps when you’re traveling with good friends. I might even recommend it to all of my Thai friends that wouldn’t even want to go near there.

I enjoyed my time so much that if another friend came over to Thailand and wanted to visit both markets as a day trip and asked me to join, I’d go. Without hesitation.

Most importantly was the experiences I gained from visiting Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong markets that I think are perfect day trip tours coming from Bangkok.

AWA Resort Review in Koh Chang, Thailand

AWA Resort Review in Koh Chang, Thailand

AWA Resort Koh Chang Review

It’s been a long while since I’ve written a hotel review in Thailand. So I’m super excited to share my experience staying at AWA Resort Koh Chang.

My wife and I were planning to drive from Bangkok to Koh Chang for a week. And her friend from the island said she has this great recommendation of a 4 star hotel right on Kai Bae Beach. She said we definitely needed to check out AWA Resort.

It’s located on the south end of Kai Bae Beach which means it’ll be a lot quieter. And we do enjoy our quiet. Plus her recommendations were never wrong so far.

She was the one that told us about Emerald Cove Koh Chang which I reviewed a few years back. And she wasn’t wrong then so she knew we would like definitely love AWA Resort.

AWA Resort Koh Chang Lobby

This is a view you get from AWA Resort’s lobby.

I also did my own research and found lots of positive reviews on the internet. So I booked a deluxe room on Agoda.com website for 3 nights at AWA Resort. We went there during late March, which was still high season. We paid $80USD per night which included breakfast. And thats not a bad price for a four star beach hotel on Koh Chang.

Remember to Book a Room on the Main Property

I want to add that if you want a room with a gorgeous view of the hotel’s swimming pool or the beach, then DO NOT book a room on the hillside. You see, AWA Resort has an annex building across the road where the hotel’s car park is also located. It’s not a far walk and the hillside room has a beautiful garden.

But if you’re going to stay at resort on the beach. Then you might as well stay on the beach side. Even then while checking prices recently, hillside rooms at the AWA Resort are only slightly cheaper than rooms on beach side. Pay a little more and you’ll stay at a better part of AWA Resort.

Kai Bae Beach at AWA Resort

Kai Bae Beach at AWA Resort Koh Chang

The resort is located right on the southern end of Kai Bae beach. Which is on the west side of Koh Chang island. During my three day stay at AWA I enjoyed swimming at this beach. You have to go down some steps to get to the water.

Every time I get into the water in certain beaches I hate stepping on sharp rocks and coral. Good news is at AWA Resort I didn’t have that problem. There is a reef further ahead where you can do snorkeling. But overall I didn’t come across jagged rocks. I’ve got sensitive feet so it’s a legitimate complaint.

Amazing Architecture

When you step inside for the very first time through the doors of AWA Resort your jaws will drop. The hotel’s lobby is really high. The walls are white with Chinese motifs throughout. It’s a very beautiful hotel with so much open space.

AWA Resort Lobby in Koh Chang

AWA Resort Reception Lobby

Welcome drinks and fruit at AWA Resort Koh Chang

While checking in we were given a welcome drink, which is a nice touch. We also got a huge basket of fruit! Just joking. Though you can help yourself. I did and the staff never minded. Just leave some for other guests.

I just couldn’t help but get good vibes about staying at this amazing resort in Koh Chang. I’m a hotel exploring fanatic and could not wait to see our room.

There’s a subtle Chinese theme throughout. Chinese porcelain and paintings decorate AWA Resort

Our Deluxe Room at AWA Resort Koh Chang

We booked a deluxe room for $80 USD per night. Which included breakfast. We were shown our room which was on the fourth floor. We passed by some rooms on the ground floor that have easier access to the swimming pools. Next time we stay at AWA we should definitely see if we can get those rooms.

I’m sure it’ll cost more but I’m curious to see how much more.

AWA Resort Deluxe Room

Here’s my only gripe, there’s a big wall but the flatscreen television is tiny compared to the overall space.

AWA Resort Koh Chang

A spacious balcony to hang out

AWA Resort Review Koh Chang

With an incredible view of the swimming pool and beach ahead

We were so impressed with our deluxe room at AWA Resort. It was about 50 square meters with this big bathroom, complete with a bath tub. There were also complimentary bath salts to give yourself a spa treatment. I did every single night before bed. Heaven I tell you.

Everything you needed for a perfect stay was inside. Some beach towels, bathrobes, an electronic safe, coffee and tea maker and a refrigerator with complimentary water. Every evening housekeeping, knocks on guest doors with tiny Thai dessert to hand out.

Don’t you think that televisions too small for that wall?

AWA Resort Bathroom with bathtub

One of the biggest bathrooms I’ve seen for deluxe hotel room

There’s free Wi-Fi and it worked well even though my room was a little far from the router. Yes, I do check. As a digital nomad I always check and see how many routers there are near where ever I stay. Judging from what I saw on the floor I stayed on I think every guest room should get proper internet coverage.

Bath tub at AWA Resort

You know I always thought the mattress at home is the best. Until I went around staying at different 4 and 5 star hotels. AWA Resort mattress was really comfortable. And the pillows were so soft it cradled my head like a fluffy cloud.

Besides the small flat screen television, another thing that bothered me was the amount of lighting inside the room. The brightest light source was the reading light by the bed. But the light on the desk was really dim. Maybe it’s a way to dissuade guests from working?

If so, it worked.

King size bed at AWA resort

Breakfast Time

If you booked a room with breakfast, serving time starts 7:00am to 10:30am. It’s a buffet breakfast and it’s served in a cool looking restaurant called the Spoon that overlooks Kai Bae beach.

The Spoon has these super high ceilings just like the lobby. Though it only seats 120 inside. But no worries, theres plenty of tables and seats at The Sala, which is another on-site restaurant serving Thai food.

My wife and I had our breakfast at the Spoon the entire time we stayed there. And we certainly enjoyed all the food served inside. They’ll make pancakes and waffles fresh. There’s an egg station too. And of course a section with Thai breakfast with noodles and porridge.

I also noticed there are numerous kitchen staff from the Philippines. Because Filipinos can speak English fluently and I suppose management brought them on board to take care of English speaking tourists. Good move AWA.

The Spoon at AWA Resort

You can also enjoy breakfast near this beach. But it’ll be a short walk.

AWA Resort Koh Chang is an amazing hotel. Can you believe it’s priced under $100USD. For us ordinary humans that’s reasonable. As of writing I see a beachfront room for $75USD a night with taxes included on Agoda.com. That’s cheaper then when I booked in March and it’s a better room.

I’ve stayed at several hotels around Kai Bae Beach in Koh Chang and I have to say, AWA Resort is the best, in terms of quality, service and price.

16 Hour Layover Inside Manila’s Airport

16 Hour Layover Inside Manila’s Airport

And a Review of Philippine Airlines Flight 733 From Bangkok to Manila to JFK

Have you ever wondered whether Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is safe or not? How about what it’s like to fly Philippine Airlines from Bangkok to JFK with a 16-hour layover inside Manila airport?

I did. Because I’ve read many not so nice things about NAIA. Particularly this bit about airport security planting bullets in passenger bags to extort foreign travelers.

Because for me, it’s that time of year again where I have to leave Thailand and head home to New York City for a month and a half.

I typically fly to South Korea with a short stay in Seoul. Last year I stopped over in Taipei, Taiwan. But I was looking for a change. So I picked Manila.

My original plan was to visit Manila for a few days. Because I’ve never been to the Philippines. But I had to change plans and head back to New York sooner. And I wanted to rest a little while longer before taking the longer 16-hour flight from Manila to NYC.

So I picked an itinerary with a 16-hour layover which I decided to stay the entire time inside NAIA. What can I say? I’m just trying to get out of my little own comfort bubble.

I Gotta Admit, I Was Nervous…

Typically I don’t do any research whenever I go anywhere new. I’m just a glutton for punishment. However, this is a unique case. Aside from that bullet planting scam inside the airport, NAIA was consistently on the list as one of the worst airports in Asia.

Though it’s off the list today due to active improvements through Philippine President’s Duterte’s no nonsense crackdown on crime. He even threatened to have the air force take control of NAIA if security doesn’t improve.

About six years ago while I was on a Korean Air flight from JFK to Bangkok, with a transfer flight in Seoul, a Filipino passenger sitting next to me told me he would never fly to Manila airport. Even though he was going to Cebu, Philippines. He didn’t go into too many details about it. But he just said it wasn’t safe and left it at that.

Also according to Sleeping in Airports, NAIA is one of the worst airports for a layover. Then you have NAIA survival tips and even a guide on avoiding Manila airport. I mean, holy shit!

Conflicting Info about NAIA

As you can see there’s a good reason why I should do some research on this trip. I even asked friends familiar with flying to Manila Airport for some advice. I also looked at other travel bloggers and travel websites like TripAdvisor regarding NAIA.

But I found that a lot of information I picked out, in the beginning, didn’t jive with what I was about to experience.

Even in economy there’s a lot of leg space on Philippine Airline’s A320

My First Leg of the Trip – PAL Flight 733 BKK to MNL

My Philippine Airlines flight 733 from Bangkok to Manila departed at 11 pm. The aircraft model is Airbus A320. As usual, I went to the airport earlier to check in so I could snag a seat by the emergency exit row for extra leg room. I call this the poor man’s first class seat.

Although inside the plane I noticed all the seats in economy had decent leg room. There’s a 3 by 3 seating configuration and according to seatguru.com, PAL Airbus A320 economy seats have a 29-30 seat pitch with a seat width of 19.7 inches. That’s pretty good for economy.

Flight time was 3 hours and the time flew by quick. I spent most of my time sleeping and even skipping meal service.

There wasn’t a good deal of inflight entertainment options because there’s an overhead display with only one movie showing.

The PAL aircrew was very polite. Just wanted to add that. Before I knew it, I arrived at Manila’s NAIA for the very first time.

Landing at Manila’s NAIA – Terminal 2

The flight arrived into NAIA around 3am. I was tired, but alert.

NAIA has 4 terminals but supposedly, Terminal 2 is specifically designated for Philippines Airline I read somewhere. I shall soon learn it’s not.

I followed the signs to the transfer desk and was told by Philippine Airline staff that I had to exit terminal 2 . Because my connecting flight is at terminal 1.

And because I had 16 hours until my MNL to JFK departs the friendly staff suggested I head out of the airport. I guess I could. But by this point, it was 3:30 am in the morning.

What could I possibly do that early in Manila?

At first thought, it was kind of weird to clear immigration if one is planning to stay completely inside the airport.

But NAIA is not one complete building you see. The airport is spread out so you have to take a taxi or an airport shuttle bus between all four terminals. This is what I dreaded happening because I read about unscrupulous taxi drivers. So, going to avoid that.

Then the staff directed me to use the airport shuttle transfer bus. Which I did.

Remember, As Long As You Have a Boarding Ticket with a Transfer Stamp, Taking the Airport Shuttle Bus is Free

Okay, so outside of Terminal 2 after you clear customs there is a waiting area for the Airport shuttle bus. Technically the shuttle bus was supposed to arrive every 15 minutes. I would love to show you where I found that information but it’s inaccurate.

It does not arrive every 15 minutes. At least not while I was there. But I’ve read elsewhere the bus schedules are very inconsistent already.

I asked a local traveling Filipino and he too said about 15 minutes. But he didn’t seem too confident. Eventually we saw an Airport shuttle bus pass us, and parked further up. He told me it was the airport bus and was just as confused as to why it parked further up, and not taking passengers.

So we waited for another one. About 10 minutes later more people came to wait for the bus. And then a man came out from the airport shuttle bus I saw the first time. He directed everyone to get onboard.

So here’s the fishy part. While the bus was moving the porter came around asking for 150 pesos. He was collecting from other foreign travelers. But didn’t bother the locals.

I didn’t pay. I just looked at him and shrugged. For one thing, I didn’t have any Philippine pesos on hand. The other, I wasn’t even expecting to pay for a fare.

The bus ride from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 took about 5 minutes. Nowhere have I read I had to pay to ride the airport shuttle bus. Incidentally, I spoke with another American heading to JFK that was on the same bus afterwards.

And the bus conductor told him if he didn’t have pesos he could pay in US dollars. Which in itself is highly unusual. He paid $3USD which is slightly over 150 pesos. Either way, it was fishy.

Inside NAIA shuttle transfer bus.
There’s a lot of space inside the airport terminal transfer shuttle bus.

I noticed that the Philippine native I spoke to earlier while waiting for the bus wasn’t even approached by the bus conductor.

Eventually, I learned, as long as you’ve got a transfer ticket on hand, you do not have to pay for the ride.

Here’s my proof. I stepped off the bus in front of Terminal 1 and the conductor just gave me a shy sheepish look. Like he got busted.

At NAIA Terminal 1

One thing that is certainly true about NAIA’s terminal 1 airline check-in counter is that the lines are long. I wish I took photos. Because there’s a lot of people, especially at 3 am in the morning. There appears to be some kind of order along the long lines of people queuing up to the counters.

Luckily, I already had my MNL to JFK boarding ticket printed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. So I can avoid the lines and make a beeline for passport control.

Long lines at NAIA Terminal 2

 

Here’s An Odd Story at Passport Control…

My wife’s friend is a native Filipino and I had previously asked her if she had any tips about Manila’s airports. One thing she said was don’t let immigration officers intimidate me. Sounds like an ominous prediction.

When I heard that my first thought was what’s the worst that they can do? And left it at that.

When I handed my passport to the immigration officer I noticed a very nonchalant attitude.

Then the questions started, “Are you of Filipino blood?”

I answered no.

“Have you ever been to the Philippines?”

No.

Then he spent a few minutes examining and looking through my passport. I have to admit. This was getting rather annoying.

I’m sure he can tell from his computer system and the fresh entry stamp that I arrived an hour ago. And my boarding ticket says I’m transferring.

Then he asked one last question, “Where did you fly in from?”

Thailand, I answered.

“Ah.” he says and stamps my passport.

Maybe I’m just being too sensitive. Maybe I was primed to feel the way I did because of my wife’s friend’s advice about not letting immigration officers intimidate me.

I’ve been stamped out by a lot of airports. And I must say, this one’s the weirdest. But I was glad it was over and by now I was so tired.

It was time to search for a dayroom or a lounge or whatever to sleep and shower in.

And I’m inside Terminal 1 – Looking for Dayrooms

On my initial research, I was looking to rent a dayroom I read about from The Wings Transit Lounge but it’s located inside terminal 3 on the fourth floor.

I walked around all over Terminal 1 and did not find any airport chairs I could sleep on. The chairs are made of metal with thin blue cushions. I read somewhere that airport security will fine passengers for sleeping on the chairs.

I really don’t know if there’s any truth to that. I’m not even going to think about trying. After possibly getting shakin’ down by that shuttle bus conductor, I didn’t want to take any chances.

Found a Dayroom – But is it Any Good?

At NAIA there are many airport lounges where you can pay to use and enjoy. But I was specifically looking for a bed. And most importantly a place to shower.

NAIA terminal 1 dayroom rates are 1680 PHP for 24 hours, about $33 USD so not too expensive.

Well, I found it. There are no direct signs leading to the dayroom rental. Follow my directions though and you’ll find it.

Look for the signs leading to gates 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15. It’s right next to a Starbucks. You will see a sign and a pair of elevators leading to the 4th floor where the dayroom rentals are located.

         Price for room rentals are clearly stated

Cost of Dayrooms

For 1680 Philippine pesos, per head, you’ll get 24-hour access. Which is reasonable. Especially when I’ve got 14 hours to go so I can catch some sleep and a shower. By the way, there’s no wifi access inside the dayroom area. I know, a real bummer.

They only accept cash payments so you’ll have to exchange your local currency. There are two currency exchange counters near the duty-free shops.

There are single rooms with one twin bed. Also a couple of larger rooms with two twin beds.

You get a door key to your room. There’s no safety box inside to store your valuables so a good idea to have a good lock for your luggage or travel bags.

There are only nine rooms available and a receptionist sitting near the guest rooms.

This was the room I stayed in. Outside the window is the tarmac. Which isn’t exactly a good thing.

Single rooms are small but I’m only in here for a small stretch of time. You’ve got a small kit of towels, toothbrush with toothpaste, disposable slippers, soap and a packet of shampoo.

I got room #9 which faces the airport tarmac. I checked in about 5 am. As the morning rolled in I could hear airplanes taking off. I looked outside and didn’t see any nearby airplanes. That’s just how loud airplane engines are so the jet engine noise travels far. It was noisy to the point even the windows inside my room vibrated.

This happens about once every ten or fifteen minutes. It took a while but I did manage to catch some much-needed sleep.

That is until I started hearing staff talking near the reception desk. Also, a dayroom guest complaining about being charged an extra hour he overstayed. And ringing office phones.

The walls and doors at this place are very thin. I could even hear a guy in another room snoring.

As bad as I’m making it all sound I did manage to grab some sleep. And you might be able too.

There are two toilet stalls, a urinal, and a shower room

The best thing of all though at least there’s access to clean bathrooms with a shower room. There’s only one shower room and it’s not in the greatest shape. The ceiling is low and the shower head could use a good screw tightening.

Toilets were clean though. At my age that’s important.

For all the ladies you’d be happy to know there is a separate bathroom facility.

NAIA Dayroom Men's Bathroom

Checked Out and Ready to Leave for JFK

Boarding time for my flight to JFK was 7 pm. I checked out of the dayroom at 2 pm. I still had plenty of time. I wasn’t sleepy at this point and with the afternoon time, it seemed the frequency of planes preparing to take off increased.

Spending a few more hours inside a room with the sound of jet engines roaring past me is not fun.

So I decided to check out of the dayroom. And wait for 7 pm at the Starbucks next to the entrance at the dayroom. There were plenty of soft seats and a good place to waste some time there.

The free airport wifi access is very good inside terminal 1. I read reports somewhere else that it was really spotty. But while I was there for all those hours it worked really well.

Only takes a little while to log in. But when you’re on the speed was good. I could watch Youtube videos and surf with no lag.

I connected with the wifi access from Google. I tried the airports official wifi network but that one wasn’t working. For Google wifi, you get 30 minutes of access. When the 30 minutes are up you can just log back in again.

There are also mobile phone charging ports located near gate 9. It’s set up a little weird. There’s a bunch of chairs surrounding 3 narrow kiosks fitted with USB and electrical outlets.

There were more power ports than seats. But it’s better than nothing. And my flight was departing on gate 10 so that’s where I hung out to pass the rest of the time.

The air conditioning in this part of terminal 1 was really cold so bring a jacket. I was wearing shorts so it was extra chilly for me.

$100USD Extra for Emergency Exit Row Seats??

Here’s a shocker to me. At BKK airport I requested a seat on the emergency exit row aisle seat. Because I really, really enjoy that extra leg room. And I got it. Free of charge which is normal when I make the same request on airlines.

At Manila Airport I asked for the same. Only to hear it cost $100 USD extra to get those seats. I was surprised. Though I have heard airlines today are getting wiser. But why was I not charged for an emergency exit row seat for my BKK to MNL leg of the trip? It’s still an international flight after all.

I just stayed with the aisle seat I pre-booked.

Inside Flight PR 126

This was a Philippine Airline Airbus A350. I have to say, this is a very nice airplane. The seat was comfortable. The first time my ass hit the chair I was could tell a difference between the comfortability of these cheap seats compared to other economy seats on other airlines.

But, after 16 hours your butts still going to be a little sore. At least mine was.

Before the plane even took off I started to drift to sleep. Until I took a look at the in-flight movie selection. There were a bunch of movies available that I haven’t watched yet.

I watched Ready Player One, Pacific Rim 2, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Equalizer 2. The in-flight entertainment touch screen was awesome. The resolution was sharp and clear.

There is a USB charge port but no power outlet for laptop computers. There’s also free 5mb wifi internet access but it didn’t work while I was in this flight.

In-Flight Meal

You’ve got your Western option. And you’ve got your Asian option. I opted for the Pork Belly Singuba. I’ve never, ever tried Filipino food before. Never thought my first time would be on an airplane. I liked it.

At the next meal service, I ate the Chicken Bulgogi and Chap Chae. Not exactly Filipino, but hey, the meal was alright too.

Notice the extra bread roll? Yeah, I’m a big eater

I skipped breakfast which was served about 3 or 4 hours before landing. I was really tempted to try Bangus Lamayo. Which would be my second Filipino meal ever. But I didn’t feel hungry at all.

End of Journey

I have to say my first time flying with Philippine Airlines was a pleasant one. I should emphasize that the flight attendants were very nice and polite. The 16-hour flight didn’t even feel like a 16-hour flight.

The wide variety of choice in-flight movies was partly responsible for time going by so fast.

Lucky I’m flying back to Bangkok in the next month and a half with Philippine Airlines again. That’s how much I’m impressed with them. And if I time it right I could stay in Manila for 3 days or so.

The Curious Case of Houtong Cat Village in Taiwan

The Curious Case of Houtong Cat Village in Taiwan

A Little Side Trip From Taipei With Kitty Cats – And a Mystery Shrouding the Village’s History

Recently on my latest Taiwan trip, I came across Houtong Cat Village 侯硐貓村 in Ruifang District, just northeast of Taipei about 35 kilometers and just 1 hour away from Taipei Main Station by train.

After a few days spent sightseeing in Taipei, I decided it was time for a leisure side trip. I wasn’t looking for a full-day trip away from Taipei. Because I also wanted to drop by various locations to explore along the way.

So I googled for some must-see places to visit in Taiwan that were at least an hour away from Taipei and found Houtong Cat Village. A village with lots of cats. Say no more. I’m there.

Anyone who knows me knows I love cats. I adore them to death and have three cuddly fur balls back home in Thailand. I even created an Instagram account for my feline rascals named Cats of Sai Mai (<– Note: shameless plug to get more followers on my cats’ Instagram account) so I couldn’t pass on the chance of being in the pleasant company of cats again.

Houtong Cat Village with the Keelung River cutting through it…

Houtong Cat Village – Or is It Monkey Station?

I can’t read Chinese so while I was doing research for this blog post I wanted to add the Chinese translation of Houtong Cat Village which is this “侯硐貓村” (as listed on google maps) to my blog. You know me, I like to be thorough with my travel blog posts like a good blogger should be.

But the thing is the actual railway station name for the village has this name “猴硐車站” which translates to Monkey Station. Hmm, monkeys and cats, this could get interesting.

But alas, there’s not a single monkey in this village. At least not anymore. When Japan took control of Taiwan in the late 1890s a coal mining industry was started in this village after it was discovered to be rich in coal deposits. There’s even a retired coal mining cave named after monkeys that is a converted tourist attraction today.

It doesn’t matter which name you prefer to call it, Houtong Cat Village or Monkey Station either one will get you here as this is the only village in Taiwan famous for a sizable cat population outnumbering village residents.

The Best Map of Houtong Cat Village (in English)

Most of the maps were in Chinese but I found the only map of the village in English. I wish I had found it earlier during my visit. Because there were a few points of interest I missed out on.

However, one thing I want to point out is that there are slight inconsistencies like the Ruey San Coal Dressing Plant. It doesn’t look like the illustration at all.

Here’s what the Ruey San Coal Dressing Plant looks like…
Houtong Village Map
Credit: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2012/gsh7217/houtong_map.html

Granted the entire cat village is not a huge place as you can see on the map. You can find billboard maps at certain points inside the railway station and Houtong Square. But those maps are only in Chinese.

I missed out on the visitor center as I didn’t even know it was there. I found the tourist information center and thought it was the same. Just my opinion but I think they should move the visitor center next to the tourist information center so everyone can find it easily.

Huatong Station in Riufang District Taiwan
猴硐車站 Huotong Station Entrance

So What Happened to the Monkeys?

My theory is since humans have such a propensity to be enormous a-holes the monkeys were forcefully displaced or hunted due to the prospering coal industry. I can imagine that the monkeys were looked upon as a nuisance and were getting in the way of day-to-day mining operations.

I mean, if monkeys lived inside the cave I wouldn’t be surprised at all if a couple of wrenches, hard hats and perhaps coal miners’ lunches went missing oftentimes.

Or maybe the monkeys got scared and fled deep into the mountains after watching 6000 humans move into their neighborhood to work the mines and support the industry.

But Ruifang District’s coal mining stopped operating in the early 1990s and with the downfall of the coal industry, the town population dwindled to less than 100 people as unemployed residents left in search of jobs elsewhere. Yet still no monkeys in sight.

But this isn’t the mystery I’m looking to solve…

But First, Here’s a Look at Houtong Cat Village

Houtong Cat Village opens at 8:00 am and the shops close around 6:00 pm. I arrived at the village in the afternoon and since it was early April the weather was cool and at times windy. It was cloudy which added an extra chill in the air. You can hear the wind blowing on my video’s audio.

There are not a lot of cats on this side of the town which is west of the Keelung River while I was there. At the end of the video, you’ll see the entrance of Monkey Cave. You can only get inside with a guided tour. More details about Monkey Cave are below.

Houtong Cat Village
During my visit, most of the cats were found on the residential side of the village…

To find more cats you have to cross the futuristic-looking cat bridge opposite Monkey Cave. This area is where what’s left of the local population lives. And the locals are active in caring for the cats.

I wish I made a video of this part of town but I was too busy playing with the cats. One of the moments as a blogger I wish I had three arms. Oh well, this just means I have to add this to my list the next time I’m back in Taiwan.

How Many Cats Are in Houtong Cat Village?

Hard for me to say since I was only there for about 3 hours. Cats sleep most of the afternoon time and have nocturnal traits. But they are active during mornings and evenings which is the conventional wisdom offered by cat behaviorists.

But I can tell you it’s best to keep your expectations down. I honestly thought I’d find a boatload of cats all lined up in a row everywhere waiting to greet me with purrs while curling under my feet.

Cats of Houtong Village
Inside Houtong Station you’ll find this photo board near the ticket booth. There are only about 80 cats…

If you ask me about cat behaviors I can tell you this, cats are awake and sleep whatever time they damn please on their own accord. If I recall correctly I came across 15 different cats. And I am sure there are more around somewhere. It’s a big village with plenty of hiding spaces for kitty.

It’s just that it was chilly in the morning and even though the afternoon warmed up a little when the clouds cleared the cats were still snoozing in or keeping warm somewhere.

Houtong Village Cat
All the cats I saw that day were adults. Was hoping to see some kittens…

While searching online for Houtong’s cat population number I came across this article stating 200 cats. Another article stated that 80% to 90% of the cat population was neutered and spayed.

At Houtong Station there’s this poster board lined up with cat photos. But I only counted 80 cats and none of them were kittens.

Which leads me to think will there be another generation of cats to bolster the current cat population?

So the next time I go back to Houtong Village I’d like to find out what the official number is closer to.

But first, there’s a mystery to solve and it starts with finding out who Peggy Chien, the woman who single-handedly revitalized the village of Houtong is…

Litter box at Houtong Station
The first time I’ve ever seen a litter box in a train station filled with kitty nuggets…

Houtong Cat Village – How They Get Famous So Fast?

As curious as a cat (pun intended) I was trying to find out how Houtong became a village famous for its cats in a decade.

Online research pointed me to a Taiwanese photographer named Peggy Chien (a.k.a. Chien Pei-ling) who started it all with her Flickr account.

Long story short Peggy’s numerous cat photos in Houtong Village piqued the curiosity of cat-loving Taiwanese people. Eventually, the world matter of fact as her series of cat photos was reportedly seen on Flickr with 800 million views.

That’s an insane number of views. Even for cats if you think about it.

There’s not even a mention in National Geographic’s article about Taiwan’s famous cat village Peggy Chien.

This is the best information I could find about Peggy here. And many other news sources scraped the same article about her to the point I don’t even know where the article originated.

And those articles are the only sources I could base my research on for this blog post.

Cat sitting on chair at Houtong Cat Village
Maybe this little kitty knows who Peggy Chien is…

Coincidentally Peggy’s husband is a veterinarian and along with a group of volunteers in 2007 they all traveled to Huotong and systematically neutered, spayed, and vaccinated most of the feline population.

With plenty of healthy cats roaming around and thousands of eager visitors waiting to play with kitties, Houtong grew into a village that hosted cat lovers worldwide with cat cafés and shops crammed with cat-themed souvenirs.

Just like that a new tourist industry and the attraction were born. That’s the short history version of course but that’s how this village of kitties in Taiwan came to be such a popular day trip from Taipei.

The Real Mystery of Houtong Cat Village

I wanted to add a photo of Peggy to my blog and as adept as I am with this internet thingie I can’t locate one photo of her. There’s no luck finding the actual Peggy Chien (also her alias) of Houtong Village’s claim to fame on Facebook and Instagram.

We all know how easy it is to find people these days on both social media platforms especially if there’s notoriety attached to a name. And reportedly she published several books featuring the cats of Houtong Village too.

Granted maybe she doesn’t have a Facebook account. But she’s reportedly a photographer by trade. If so the least she would have is an Instagram account, right?

I mean look, even my cats have their own Facebook page here. (<– Note: look, another shameless attempt to get more likes! Might as well click the link and follow my cat’s FB page and be done with it)

Souvenir store on the residential side of the village. Regardless of where Peggy Chien is it’s undeniable that cats have revived this village…

Also, I couldn’t even find one book title she published. Or her Flickr account with the 800 million views that started it all. Not even a photo of herself in Houtong Village doing what she does best. Mysterious indeed don’t you think? (cue X-Files theme song)…

Back to the Cat Village

But I digress. I suppose it doesn’t matter. What matters is that a wonderful little village has been given a second life with thousands of visitors coming in on weekends to have a chance to enjoy the company of cats and breathe the fresh mountain air.

The denizens of Houtong averted the possibility of their village becoming a ghost town. There’s a good uplifting story in there no matter how you look at it.

Maybe even a Hollywood movie will be made one day where they’ll cast Scarlett Johansson to play Peggy Chien. Have you seen Ghost in the Shell?

Peggy if you’re out there they should make you the Mayor of Houtong Cat Village.

Houtong Cat Village Souvenir Shop
This is the first souvenir shop right downstairs from Houtong station…
Houtong Village Square
The village square has a handful of restaurants and souvenir shops…
This souvenir shop sells Taiwan’s famous pineapple cakes in the shape of cats…

Chances are if you’re in Houtong Cat Village you’re also going to want to check out Monkey Cave. It’s connected to the Ruey San Coal Transportation Bridge over the Keelung River.

Assuming you’ve successfully maneuvered past all the folks taking selfies. This bridge is a great spot to get a magnificent 360 view of the mountains surrounding the village.

I haven’t been all over Taiwan yet but after spending a little bit of time on this bridge overlooking the Keelung River and viewing the mountains with thick lush green trees and plants one can’t help but think “Wow Taiwan is really beautiful”.

Ruey San Coal Transportation Bridge
Ruey San Coal Transportation Bridge connects Monkey Cave and Houtong Village Square…

Monkey Cave

This is the only attraction in Huatong Village with an entrance fee. An adult ticket cost NT$150 and if I recall correctly NT$100 for children. I think it’s worth it and the money funnels back into the village so why not?

Sitting on a toy train and getting ready to get into Monkey Cave…

You and a group of tourists ride a toy train through a short section of tunnels. Eventually, there will be an open area where everyone gets off. The tour guide/toy train operator only spoke Chinese.

He explained the history of Monkey Cave the daily lives of coal miners that lived in the village and how they worked. I can’t understand Mandarin Chinese but I’m pretty sure that’s everything he said.

Maybe if I could understand Mandarin Chinese I would’ve learned what happened to the monkeys.

This little toy train with enough space for approximately 20 people…
Tour guide at Monkey Cave
Tour guide and toy train operator. He only speaks Mandarin Chinese…
Monkey Cave
The next time you complain about your job just remember this photo…

After the explanation, visitors stay in the area for about 15 to 20 minutes where they can put on hard hats and handle pneumatic drills and push around wheel barrels. The perfect time for obligatory snapshots and selfies.

It’s the one time in your life you get to play pretend you’re a coal miner. If you’re traveling with kids I think they will enjoy this part of the tour.

Cat near Monkey Cave in Houtong
There are fewer cats to see around Monkey Cave…

After visiting this side of the Keelung River it was time for me to head to the other side of the village where it is said you can find even more cats.

Remember, the Keelung River splits the village in two so all I had to do was make my wake back across the bridge through the railway station and walk across the cat bridge.

Huatong Visitor Center
If you do not want to take a tour of Monkey Cave you can certainly learn a lot about the village’s past coal mining operation at the visitor center near Huatong Railway Station. There are public bathrooms inside the visitor center…

From the Monkey Cave entrance to the cat bridge is a short 15-minute walk. This village isn’t all that big. Which is why you probably won’t need to stay here the entire day.

I remember as I was making my way across the village the sun started to peak out and the wind died down. With luck, more cats will come out to warm themselves and soak up the sun.

Off to the Other Side of the Village, I Go

Cat Bridge Houtong Village
Cat Bridge -Kind of resembles a cat but could be I took this pic at the wrong angle…

On this side of Houtong, you’ll see it’s the main residential section of the village. Some of the residents have converted their dwellings into cafés and some sell souvenirs and food outside of their homes.

But you’ll also see evidence of collapsed homes and some that fell into disrepair. I was quickly reminded that Houtong Village once had a population of around 6000 people when the coal mining industry was booming.

Huatong Cat Village
A row of cat café in Huatong Village…

I could see there were more cats in this section of the village. This makes sense because there are locals in this part of town with a ready supply of kitty kibble to feed hungry feline residents. Most of them looked feral however and don’t let humans too near them.

And because the clouds cleared you can see a handful of cats sunning themselves after a chilly start in the morning. Cats wearing collars were more friendly and playful most likely because they’re used to being around people.

A cat in Houtong Cat Village Taiwan
Awwww…
Houtong Village Cat
Don’t you just admire a cat’s grooming ability?…

The Rules of Huatong Village Cat Club

You can tell the residents of the village value the feline population that shares space with them. All the cats I’ve seen look well-fed and cared for.

Some I saw lived indoors with residents but every single cat was coming and going minding their businesses. But almost everywhere I saw have cat shelters placed all over. It’ll be difficult to find a homeless cat in Houtong that’s for sure.

There are even rules posted throughout the area such as:

  • Do not scare the cats or chase them
  • Do not feed the cats inferior food
  • Do not use flash photography on the kitty

And there are rules to protect the village property and personal health like:

  • Do not leave leftover food
  • Wash hands after playing with cats
  • Pick up garbage and keep all areas clean
Feeding Time – A resident prepares a mix of wet and dry cat food for feeding time…
The entrepreneurial spirit is not dead in Huatong Cat Village…
Many cats are looked after by local business owners like this kitty inside this cat café…

How to Get to Houtong Cat Village from Taipei

What I did was take a northbound train to Ruifang. Train fare cost NT$56 one way at Taipei Main Station. You can purchase tickets from automated vending machines but there are no English instructions.

However, station workers are wearing a yellow vest that can speak English and they can assist you with purchasing the right ticket and direct you to the correct platform.

Make sure you don’t lose your ticket because there will be a station attendant waiting to collect your ticket near the station exit. If you lose your ticket they will make you clean every single litter box in the station.

Huatong Railway Station
Houtong Railway Station

Spending two to three hours in Houtong Cat Village is sufficient enough. Additionally, you can also visit nearby Shifen Old Street 十分老街 with its scenic waterfall.

Plus the old gold mining town of Jiufen 九份 also another historic district in Taiwan (I’ll have blog posts about both areas soon) to make a complete day trip from Taipei.

The next time I return to Houtong Cat Village I’m going to make sure I don’t go there on weekends. Because the Riufang train route is very popular with visiting tourists and locals making stops at Huatong, Shifen, and Jiufen. It’s better off visit on weekdays to avoid crowds.

The Takeaway

If you’re looking for a nice little side trip from Taipei and have a soft spot for cats you should come visit Houtong Cat Village. The landscape surrounding the village is breathtaking and if you visit there during the summer the view is even better.

But I certainly enjoyed my time there even though the temperature started chilly.

Houtong Cat Village Taiwan
I recommend visiting Houtong Cat Village with your kids…

If you’re traveling with children this will be a fun outing for them. All the kids I saw looked like they were having a good time.

Whether by chance or design, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. And this is a place that I would certainly visit again when I’m back in Taiwan.

If you need some information about visiting Houtong Cat Village or if you know anything about Peggy Chien so that I may update this blog post, please drop a comment below.

 

Hotel Papa Whale Review in Taipei, Ximending District

Hotel Papa Whale Review in Taipei, Ximending District

One of the Best Hotels in Ximending District, Taiwan

I’ve stayed in plenty of budget hotels all over Taipei, Taiwan. And I prefer searching for hotels in Taipei’s Ximending District. Simply because it’s one of the best areas to stay for tourists. So what do I look for when I’m searching for hotels on the internet?

I start with hotels with weird names. And it doesn’t get any weirder than Hotel Papa Whale.

Sure, I know it’s an odd way to pick a hotel. But let’s face it, Hotel Papa Whale is an eye catching unique name. If this was a marketing ploy, it worked. Even while I was searching for Hotel Papa Whale reviews I could see a lot of guests who’ve stayed there previously have the same sentiment.

Anyways if it indeed was a marketing ploy it worked. After delving into Hotel Papa Whale’s details to make this review I took a good look at the hotel’s surrounding area.

I became satisfied as it looked like a decent hotel to stay in Taipei. So I leaped and booked a room. That was a few years ago.

After a few more stays at this wildly popular budget hotel in Taipei’s Ximending district, I decided to write up a review of Hotel Papa Whale this time to help bolster my most excellent post Guide to Visiting Taipei.

Hotel Papa Whale Guest Reception

Guest reception area at Hotel Papa Whale…

The Location

Hotel Papa Whale is located in Ximending District as I already mentioned. It’s the best area to stay in Taipei hands down for first-time tourists visiting the city. Though the hotel property is on the outskirts of Ximending there is a benefit. And that is it’s not too crowded.

Yet still easy to walk out from the hotel and enjoy the atmosphere as well as find plenty of yummy Taiwanese food and snacks outside the hotel vicinity.

Plus the dozens of 7-Elevens nearby. I’m not kidding. You’ll see when you get there.

Ximending District is most active starting from the afternoon until late at night so expect a lot of people both locals and tourists alike. Although it’s mainly a shopping area I believe most people go to Ximending for the food.

Ximending District Tapiei in Taiwan

Ximending District has a lively nighttime atmosphere. It’s a great area to stay for shopping and eating day and night…

Hotel Papa Whale is not exactly centrally located in Ximending. But you can still walk from the hotel to Taipei Main Station to catch the Airport Train in about 15 minutes.

The hotel property is huge and encompasses a third of the entire block. With a huge hot pot, sushi restaurant, and dessert shop on the ground level. It’s all part of the hotel so if you book a room at Papa Whale with breakfast included you’ll be eating hot pot for breakfast.

However, I never booked a room that included breakfast at Hotel Papa Whale. Only because there are so many restaurants outside to eat instead. But maybe one day I’ll try it out just for the experience.

The Room

For this trip to Taipei, the room type I booked at Hotel Papa Whale for this review is called “Elegant Double Room” and the room size is 13 m² with no view.

If you’ve never stayed inside a room with no window before it’s odd at first. But you get used to it.

However, Hotel Papa Whale has this workaround where they place daylight LED strips outside faux windows. Which makes it seem like you’ve got a view of the outside. Well, sort of…

The weird thing is it’s on 24 hours. Unless there was a light switch but I couldn’t find it. It’s good that the hotel had blackout curtains installed or else my circadian clock would go bonkers.

I booked a room on Agoda.com for $80 USD a night with taxes included and no breakfast. Which is not a bad price at all for a hotel in a prime location in Taipei. But there are cheaper rates for rooms located on the basement level of Hotel Papa Whale.

Please excuse my pajamas on the bed. I don’t know what I was thinking…

Elegant Double Room

The other side of the room and more of my dirty laundry…

Elegant Double Room Hotel Papa Whale Work Desk

A nice big work desk to fit the junk for a travel bloggers needs…

The bed was really nice and comfortable. And the large screen television in front of the bed was a bonus. With lots of television channels including a bunch of movie channels with Hollywood hits. It’s a nice room, big too with high ceilings so you don’t get that cooped up feeling. Unlike most newer hotels today that are built smaller.

Another plus point for Hotel Papa Whale is the amount of universal electrical sockets available in the room. Which comes in handy for any digital nomad. With gear that needs constant battery charges. And because the installed sockets are compatible with most plugs you don’t need to carry around power adapters.

To me, that’s a bonus point for Hotel Papa Whale.

What is a bit odd are the hallways of the hotel. And it is a big hotel with only one set of elevators. There are a total of 365 rooms with 4 floors of guest rooms.

So if you’ve got yourself a room at the far end you will be walking for a little bit. But of course, they do have hotel staff who can help you move large luggage around.

Hotel Papa Whale Property

Doesn’t this look like a dormitory on a spaceship?

Check out that hallway that leads to my room. It has this cool sci-fi look and feel. I felt like a Storm Trooper was going to round the corner anytime soon. Anyways, back to the room review.

The Bathroom

Hotel Papa Whale has earned a lot of points in my book for their bathroom design. There are these cool bathroom fixtures sort of giving off a steampunk style and feel. The shower room and bathroom are separated by a wash basin.

And of course, there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel property. And I must say the connection was fast and I never had any problems with connecting and signal drop-offs.

Also, every room has an individual thermostat so you can set the temperature to cold or warm. There is also a small electronic safe plus a refrigerator with 2 bottles of water stocked daily during room cleaning.

The Overall Hotel Property

So there’s also a laundry room though I have never used it before. I usually save all my dirty laundry until I’m back in NYC to wash it all. Hotel Papa Whale is not considered a fancy hotel. There’s no swimming pool, or fitness center with white-gloved services.

But they serve the purposes of travelers who simply desire a modern and clean room to rest after a long day of sightseeing. Which suits me perfectly.

A large selection of books for guests to browse through in the hotel lobby

Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to review the breakfast offerings from Papa Whale Hotel. I try to be as thorough as I can whenever I do hotel reviews.

But to be honest, whatever Taipei hotel review I do I’m not tempted at all by hotel breakfast. Unless its overall room rate is too good to pass up.

Breakfast menu in Taipei

Lots of restaurants in Taipei open early ready to serve breakfast…

You can find a ton of good restaurants near the hotel if you just walk towards central Ximending. Part of the overall travel experience is eating like locals. That’s my take on it so I don’t believe you need to book a room at Papa Whale Hotel with breakfast.

The Takeaway

On my most recent visit to Taipei, I stayed in Hotel Papa Whale for a week for this blog review. I had no problems with the rooms and services. There are lots of hotels in Ximending District to pick and choose from.

Hotel Papa Whale is one of the best ones in my book for anyone not looking to spend more than $50USD to $80USD a night.

For me, the price was just right. Hotel Papa Whale is not far from Taipei Main Station so you can easily access Airport Bus or Airport MRT train. It’s within walking distance to many of Taipei’s historical sightseeing locations like the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial and also the Taiwan National Museum and others.

Most importantly Hotel Papa Whale is in the Ximending District, which is one of the best areas to visit Taipei, especially for first-time visitors who want to see the best of Taipei.

If you would like to add your own Papa Whale Hotel review to this blog post please drop a comment below. You can find the best rates and reviews on Agoda.com as I did.

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