{"id":4983,"date":"2017-06-07T09:20:41","date_gmt":"2017-06-07T01:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/?p=4983"},"modified":"2017-06-09T08:36:08","modified_gmt":"2017-06-09T00:36:08","slug":"10-reasons-why-you-need-to-book-a-trip-to-taiwan-stat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/2017\/06\/07\/10-reasons-why-you-need-to-book-a-trip-to-taiwan-stat\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons Why Taiwan Should Be the Next Country You Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you have been googling lists of most visited countries in Asia by Filipinos, chances are you won\u2019t find Taiwan on any list. Most people, especially Filipinos, don’t know much about Taiwan — except, of course, for\u00a0the fact that it is where the hit Asian\u00a0TV Drama Meteor Garden<\/em> originated which took the Philippines by storm. Going\u00a0to Taiwan, you’ll surely realize that it offers a variety of experiences for different kinds of travelers… and so much more.<\/p>\n

Taiwan, officially known as The Republic of China, is an amazing country nestled in the middle of the ocean just off the coast of mainland China. Their official language is Mandarin, so you might want to dust off that Mandarin to English book. There’s also a\u00a0noticeable\u00a0Japanese influence that persists to this day, and it comes from the period when Taiwan was under Japanese rule.<\/p>\n

Here are the top 10 reasons why you need to book a trip to Taiwan stat!<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. VISA-FREE ENTRY\u00a0SOON FOR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Taiwan will soon offer visa-free entry to Philippine Passport holders. It will be on a one-year trial period which will give\u00a0Filipinos a chance to enter and stay in Taiwan visa-free for\u00a030 days.<\/p>\n

    Although this was supposed to be implemented starting June 1 this year, it will be postponed to September due to technical problems that the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs are having.<\/p>\n

    Offhand, tourists who has an existing or used visa from Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, or the United States may also enter Taiwan visa-free.<\/p>\n

    For more information about the Philippine Passport Holders\u2019 visa exempt policy, please visit the website1<\/sup> of the Taipei Economic and Culutral Office in the Philippines.<\/p>\n

    If you are not a Philippine passport holder, you can check if your country is included in the visa-free list on the website2<\/sup> of Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. AIRFARE IS CHEAP<\/span>
      \n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"\"Taiwan is only a 2-hour plane ride from the Philippines. Budget airlines, such as Cebu Pacific and Air Asia, usually offer cheap airfares going to Taipei. During seat sales, average cost of a back and forth trip from these airlines would cost around Php 2,800 to Php 3,500 excluding Travel Tax Fee. Regular airfare costs around Php 5,000 and up depending on which airline you\u2019re taking and when you book your trip.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. FOOD IS DELICIOUS<\/span>
        \n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Taiwan\u2019s capital, Taipei, is home to one of Asia\u2019s most exciting street food scenes. According to Gothamist Getaways, street food is the hallmark of Taiwanese dining, and night markets are the<\/em> quintessential Taiwanese experience.<\/p>\n

        Never pass on the opportunity to visit the original Din Tai Fung, a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant known for its delicious Xiao Long Bao (steamed dumplings with soup); or eat the famous black pepper pork buns (Hu Jiao Bing) at Raohe Night Market.<\/p>\n

        With the number of food choices available, you will\u00a0never run out of options from breakfast to midnight snack.<\/p>\n

        Here are some of the amazing food that you should try when you visit Taiwan:<\/p>\n

        \"\"Din Tai Fung\u2019s Xiao Long Bao (NT$ 220 for 10pcs)<\/span>
        \n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"Black Pepper Pork Bun at Raohe Night Market (NT$ 50)<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"Pork Fat Rice at Jiufen (NT$ 50)
        \n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"Flame Grilled Ribeye Cubes at\u00a0 Raohe Night Market (NT$ 150)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"Peanut Ice Cream Roll at\u00a0Jiufen (NT$ 50) <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"Fresh seafood at Addiction Aquatic Development<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        Some other food to try:<\/u><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Taiwanese Breakfast<\/li>\n
        • Stinky Tofu (only if you can tolerate the smell)<\/li>\n
        • Taiwanese Beef Noodles<\/li>\n
        • Oyster Omelets<\/li>\n
        • Braised Pork Rice<\/li>\n
        • Cheese Potato<\/li>\n
        • Deep Fried Octopus, Squid, Crablets<\/li>\n
        • Flame Grilled Oyster and Scallops<\/li>\n
        • Small Sausage wrapped in big sausage<\/li>\n
        • Muah Chee (Mochi)<\/li>\n
        • Pineapple Cake<\/li>\n
        • Taiwanese Fried Chicken<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          1. EXCHANGE RATES ARE NOT STEEP<\/span>
            \n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Taiwanese Dollar (NT$ or TWD) is the official currency of Taiwan. As of writing, 1 TWD\u00a0is roughly equivalent to\u00a01.64 PHP. Not bad, right? Compared to other top tourist destinations in Asia, Taiwan\u2019s currency doesn\u2019t sway that far from the Philippine Peso. This means you\u2019ll most likely get the most bang for your buck during your trip, especially if you’re carrying currencies stronger than the Philippine Peso.<\/p>\n

            That being said, an average daily spending in Taiwan for food would range from NT$ 300 to NT$ 600 depending on where you want to treat yourself.<\/p>\n

            \"\"<\/p>\n

            Conversion rate as of June 6, 2017 via www.xe.com<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. VIBRANT NIGHT MARKETS<\/span>
              \n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              A trip to Taiwan is not complete without a visit to its night markets. It is a common fixture in the country, operating from around 5 p.m. until midnight. There are more than 10 night markets in Taiwan but for starters, you might want to visit Raohe Street and Shilin Night Markets.<\/p>\n

              Raohe Street Night Market<\/strong> is one of the oldest and most traditional markets in Taiwan. It is located just outside of Songshan Station (MRT Green Line 3) and it stretches nearly 2,000 feet. It is packed with various kinds of food, shops and stalls that will keep you busy the entire night.<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              Shilin Night Market<\/strong> is one of the largest in the country. It is also one of the most popular points to experience\u00a0Taipei\u2019s night life. Located in Taipei\u2019s Shilin District, just a few meters away from Jiantan MRT Station, the narrow lane is filled with various kinds of merchandise as well as local cuisine for both foreigners and locals.
              \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

              \"\"<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. YOU GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                If you want a country that can satisfy your curiosity for\u00a0both traditional and modern culture, Taiwan is the place for you.<\/p>\n

                Take a whiff of Taiwan\u2019s amazing culture when you visit Lungshan Temple of Manka in Wanhua District, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, Martyr\u2019s Shrine, Maokong Tea House, Jiufen and Shifen Old Street.<\/p>\n

                \"\" Lungshan Temple<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                \"\"Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                \"\"Jiufen Famous Tea House<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                \"\"Shifen Old Street<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                \"\"Jiufen narrow street<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

                For a more modern take on the city, visit the Ximending Shopping District which is located just outside of Ximen Station in Wanhua District. Ximending is like a miniature Times Square that gets even busier at night when the street begins to fill up\u00a0with street performers and tourists.<\/p>\n

                Also make sure to visit the following destinations:<\/p>\n