TAIWAN TRAVEL GUIDE: Tips on how to Journey from Manila to Taipei (For First Timers)

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When you’re on the airport, the most important hurdle for a lot of Filipino vacationers is the Immigration Interview. Primarily based on expertise, it wasn’t as intimidating as I believed, however being ready helped lots. 

Immigration

What You Ought to Know:

  • Memorize your passport quantity, expiration date, and flight particulars 
  • Be prepared to clarify your goal of journey (leisure or tourism) 
  • Be clear about who you’re touring with (solo or group) 
  • Know the variety of days you’ll be overseas
  • Keep calm and reply confidently however truthfully 

In my case, the Immigration Officer was easy, requested concerning the journey, and after confirming my paperwork, I used to be cleared in lower than 5 minutes.

Evaluate Air Fares

A fast and simple manner to do that is to make use of flight search engines like google A.Ok.A airfare comparability websites. Get began by following the steps under:

Step 1: Go to the very best flight search engines like google listed under (click on the hyperlinks to open a brand new tab).

Step 2: Enter your locations and journey dates to check airfares.

Step 3: Return to this web page and choose one other flight search engine.

Step 4: Repeat steps #2 & #3 till you go to all websites listed.

Step 5: Evaluate the airfare outcomes to seek out out which airline/website presents the most affordable costs. Pay attention to all of the airways listed. Use the “Filter” characteristic to see an inventory of airways that fly to your vacation spot.

Reserving and Pre-Flight Prep

We booked a Cebu Pacific flight from NAIA Terminal 3 to Taoyuan Worldwide Airport. It was scheduled for a Wednesday midnight, which was good for vacationers like us who needed to maximise our first day in Taipei. 

Us with our pal, Gelo

I used to be touring with my spouse and a few pals, so we made certain to reach on the airport 3 to 4 hours earlier than our scheduled departure. At that hour, NAIA Terminal 3 was already buzzing with passengers and airport workers.

Each entry you need to present your airplane ticket

The second we acquired off the taxi, airport personnel approached us asking for our flight data. Fortunately, I had a digital copy of our ticket prepared on my cellphone.

RELATED: NAIA New Terminal Assignments

Examine-In Course of

Since we had been all touring mild with no checked baggage, we had been guided to the Paperwork Examine counter as an alternative of the common check-in traces. There, we introduced our passports, had our paperwork reviewed, and had been promptly given our boarding passes. 

Cebu Pacific Doc Examine counter

From there, we headed to the Immigration space, the place every of us was interviewed individually. My interview was easy: the officer requested about our flight and the aim of journey.

That is the second!

He wasn’t intimidating—extra like doing a routine verify—and I used to be relieved to get cleared shortly.

Safety Examine & Boarding Gate

After immigration, we handed by a strict safety screening—even footwear needed to be eliminated!

Took off footwear on the safety verify

All devices had been positioned in trays. As soon as cleared, we walked towards our boarding gate: Gate 105. Terminal 3’s lengthy alley felt limitless, however the excellent news was there have been many open retailers, memento shops, and eating places, even at 10 PM. 

Shops inside Terminal 3 departure

We had a fast dinner at Kenny Rogers, although the costs had been noticeably greater than common branches exterior the airport.

Going to Gate 105

Alongside the best way, we noticed walkalators, charging ports, restrooms, and free WiFi—positively a extra nice pre-departure expertise than I anticipated. 

I noticed a children playground on the departure corridor in T3

In-Flight Expertise

We lastly boarded a couple of minutes earlier than midnight. Cebu Pacific’s flight was on time, and it was a brief and uneventful journey. In simply 1 hour and half-hour, we touched down at Taoyuan Worldwide Airport Terminal 1 round 1:00 AM. 

Goodbye Manila

Airline Promo Fares

If you’re in search of low cost flights within the Philippines, see airways listed under or view all promo fares:

Airport Immigration & Amenities

Upon arrival, the airport felt virtually abandoned—quiet and eerily clear. Most retailers had been closed at that hour, with solely merchandising machines working.

Arrival corridor at Taoyuan Airport T1

We proceeded to the Immigration space, the place we merely introduced our passports. There was barely any dialog; they scanned our paperwork and allow us to by easily. 

Taiwan’s e-Gates had been notably spectacular. You simply scan your passport, take a fast selfie, and that’s it. No must line up when you’re eligible for automated entry. 

Baggage carousel space

We walked previous the bags declare space and waited for our pals who took a bit longer at immigration.

Making withdrawals from Financial institution of Taiwan ATM

We then regarded for an ATM machine, and I discovered a Financial institution of Taiwan ATM close to the South Assembly Level, the place I used to be in a position to withdraw money utilizing my SeaBank card.

Attempting Our Luck at Fortunate Land

We additionally noticed the Fortunate Land sales space, the place vacationers can strive profitable NT$5,000 value of e-vouchers. Out of all of us, just one pal acquired fortunate, however it was a enjoyable expertise both manner. 

Taiwan Fortunate Land Sales space

Our pal gained NT$ 5,000 Fortunate Land e-voucher

By the point we had been prepared to go away the airport, it was already previous 2AM. The Airport MRT wasn’t working but, so our solely choices had been taxi/Uber or bus. Wanting to save cash, we opted for the Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Bus heading to Taipei Foremost Station

Switch signage from TPE first degree

READ MORE: Tips on how to Get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei, Taichung & Extra (by Practice, Bus & Taxi)

The place to Catch the Bus

We went to the basement degree, the place there’s a 7-Eleven (sure, it was open!) and ticketing counters.

A 7-Eleven retailer at Taoyuan Airport basement

An aged man was manning the Kuo-Kuang counter, and he offered us tickets for NT$133 per particular person.

Kuo-Kuang Bus Ticket to Taipei

Fortunately, there was a bus prepared to go away, so we didn’t have to attend lengthy.

Kuo-Kuang Bus to Taipei

Inside Kuo-Kuang Bus

In about an hour, we arrived at Taipei Foremost Station. 

As a substitute of Taipei Foremost Station, we had been dropped off Taipei Bus Station which is linked to Taipei Foremost Station

Taipei Bus Station

From right here, we hailed a taxi to our resort in Ximending, which was nearly 6 minutes away.

Us catching a taxi journey in entrance of Taipei Bus Station

The fare was NT$200 for the three of us, however we later realized an Uber would have value solely NT$100. Nonetheless, it was early morning and we had been drained, so we had been simply glad to lastly get to our resort. 

This pattern itinerary is ideal for these visiting Taipei for the primary time and need to expertise a mixture of tradition, meals, and fashionable points of interest. 

Day 1: Tradition + Night time Market Journey

Morning

  • Arrival at Taoyuan Worldwide Airport
  • Journey to resort (Ximending, Zhongzheng, or Daan are nice areas for vacationers)
  • Examine-in and clean up
Choice 1: Bodily SIM Card

  • Buy at Taoyuan Airport or on-line prematurely (Klook, KKDay
  • Widespread suppliers: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Cellular 
  • Value: Round NT$300–NT$500 for 3–5 days of limitless knowledge

Choice 2: eSIM

  • Perfect for newer iPhones or Android gadgets with eSIM functionality 
  • Purchase on-line and activate through QR code earlier than you arrive 
  • No must swap SIMs! 
  • Beneficial: Airalo, Klook eSIM, or Holafly
  • Value: Much like bodily SIMs, round NT$300–NT$500 

Tip: Airport WiFi is free and quick, so you may obtain and activate your eSIM proper after touchdown if wanted. The EasyCard is a contactless card used for: 

  • MRT and buses 
  • Maokong Gondola 
  • Comfort shops (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) 
  • Some merchandising machines and points of interest 

The place to Purchase

  • MRT stations, airport kiosks, or comfort shops 
  • Value: NT$100 (non-refundable) + load quantity

How A lot to Load:



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