Period of travel was between 29/09/13 to 11/10/13 from Cingjing (Nantou) -> Taichung -> Taipei.
Total spend: $486 per pax for 13days
Throughout the trip we stayed in 4 different places, 2 hotel and 2 minsu. Taiwan is famous for their minsu which is equivalent to a guest house, B&B (bed &breakfast), home stay or farm stay if there are animals within the property. Do give it a try if you're on tight budget and wanna try on something new other than the typical hotel.
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Day 1 to Day 3
@ Spring Ground Minsu, 春大地民宿
LOVE the design of
the place! The room is very cosy and the owner provides free transport to the
two main attractions in Cingjing, 青青草原 (Evergreen
grasslands) & 小瑞士花園 (Small
Swiss Garden). The nearest 7-11 is just 400m away.
The only con about the place is that the owners are not so friendly but we were alright with it.
Room type: 精緻雙人房 (Their standard double room)
Price: NT 4000 for 2 Nights (sunday and monday) , $88.11 per night.
This was the price after discount cause I was very thick skin to ask the minsu's owner if they can give me a discount since it was my birthday on the day of stay.
E-mail: springground@hotmail.com
Website: http://springground.cingjing.tw/
Check in: After 3pm
Our room, clean and simple with natural wooden decoration.
Saw a lot reviews that there's no heater in the room but since we're there during sept which is not that cold so it's alright for us.
Superb mountain scenery right at the balcony but do not open the door of the balcony for too long as there's bugs everywhere!
Spring Ground is just
beside the most expensive minsu, Old England (老英格蘭) , in Cingjing.
Their cheapest suite
are going at TWD13,500 (S$580) !!! Staying in Spring
ground means that you can have a great view of Old England minsu!
The car they use to send us to and fro.
Food
Breakfast they provide are simple Taiwan porridge buffet which I enjoyed.
There's bread for people who don't like porridge.
Breakfast from 7 to 9 am.
The sides to go with my porridge which don't look appealing but you're wrong!
They provide steamboat as dinner but only till 7.30pm.
Price @ NT 250 each, you get to choose between beef, pork or lamb.
It's quite yummy but at the end the soup will be very salty (But boyfriend love it).
The Dinner and breakfast place.
The reception.
Exploring the place.
Somehow the name of the place is Spring Field but their website state Spring Ground.
Another thing to take note is that you'll need to climb a lot of staircase if you book other room types.
Day 3 to Day 5 @ CityInn Plus Taichung Station Branch
The newest branch under Cityinn hotel plus.
They spent a lot afford in designing the hotel. Each level of the hotel is in different theme and other than the standard rooms all the rooms have their own unique design.
If you're planning to visit Taichung I'll not recommend you to stay in this part of Taichung as the location is bit far from Yi Zhong Jie (Shopping district) and Feng Jia Night market (Biggest NM if I'm not wrong). Cab fare to these two places are around NT 200.
But if you're travelling to other part of Taiwan by railway it'll be convenient for you to stay in this hotel as the hotel is just behind Taichung railway station. Initially we thought that Taichung Railway station and Taichung HSR station is at the same location that's why we book this hotel. But its actually a railway station away.
Other than that the location itself is good as there's a big mall (mode mall) within walking distance and a lot of shop houses. And we did enjoy our stay there!
Book through Agoda's website as it was the cheapest during that time.
Room type: Standard room
Price: $155 ($77.5 per night) comes with breakfast
Hotline: +886 4 2223 2333
Email: Service5@cityinn.com.tw
Website: http://www.cityinn.com.tw/
Check in: After 3pm
The floor we stayed in. Which is my favourite <3 .="" p="">
Here's a map provided by ITrip.
I'd circle the Taipei South Island home stay (南島‧嶼) and ITrip in the map and their nearest MRT exit. Hope it helps!
The ground level for the guests to rest with free coffee and drinks for guests.
The room is only 14 sq.m according to Agoda. There will be no walking space if both of us open up our luggage. Very small but we don't mind as it's cosy.
Free movies available other than the usual cable tv channels.
Making use of the full length mirror =)
Day 5 to Day 10 @ South Island Taipei Homestay, 南島‧嶼
南島‧嶼 (South island Taipei homestay) is another minsu we stayed in. The location is really good and the hosts are very friendly.
At first we were scare that we'll get cheated and end up having no where to stay for the 5 nights as it's relatively unknown. But since we need not put in any deposit, we just give it a bet and it turn up to be a present stay.
The price is very cheap for the location, at kun ming street, less than 5 min walk from Ximen MRT station exit 3. Very easy to find. 7-11 just underneath, yummy lu rou fan, beef noodle, fried chicken, famous 老天祿魯味 (Lao Tien Lu Lu wei) and MANY more food around the area. No worries if you feel hungry in the middle of night!
Rooms are true to the pictures they provide, free wifi within the room.
++ carrefour is around 10 mins walk away, visit there to buy Taiwan's famous beef maggie and tie dan back home.
Room type: Island Suite No.1
Price: NT 7900 after 10% discount for 5 Nights ($69.80 per night)
Contact : +886 928227066 (Whatsapp or line)
Email: island0928227066@gmail.com
Check out the reviews by 5 others here!
I've no idea why they remove the price list on their website but you guys can contact them through whatsapp or line for more details.
After arriving we'll have to wait for the owner to pick us up as you need a access card to go to the level we stay on.
7-11!!! Our favourite store in Taiwan!!!
The room with washing machine and dryer being build in!
A book by the bedside for guest to write their review.
Day 10 to Day 13 @ Itrip Taipei Inn
Itrip is on the 9th floor of a commercial building located in the middle of ximending which make it quite difficult to find. If you're leaving or coming back to the hotel late, you'll have to take note that all entrance of the building will be closed except for one (entrance nearest to the lift). But overall the location is good after you're familiarise with the place.
Booked through Booking.com.
Room type: Superior Double Room with no window
Price: $291.05 ($97.02 per night) with breakfast.
Contact : +886 02-23317770
Here's a map provided by ITrip.
I'd circle the Taipei South Island home stay (南島‧嶼) and ITrip in the map and their nearest MRT exit. Hope it helps!
Here's some of the useful website I used to find my accommodation,
I'll normally search for my accommodation through these website and if it catch my eyes, I'll google more about it. Sometimes it's cheaper when you book directly from the hotel/owner.
And PLEASE do your homework by reading through the reviews before booking.
Another tip for planning your overseas trip is to read the review written on other's blog.
I find it very useful as there's more details and pictures compare to the reviews you normally find on Tripadvisor.
For example if you're planning for your Taiwan trip, you can just google "taiwan blog" or "taiwan blog 2013". It work for all countries!
Hope my post is useful for your Taiwan trip !!!
Will be back to blog on the places to visit and here's some of my favourite picture taken in Taiwan!
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Search #SheanTravel on Instagram for my Taiwan trip's photos & videos!!!
Updated posts on Taiwan.
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