Tips for the Budget-minded Tourist

At first glance, prosperous Taiwan might not appear to offer many budget travel options, and in one sense this is true: hotel rooms, even very basic ones in small towns, are not cheap, with prices starting at about NT$1,500 (US$46). But the rest of the news is all good. Many of the highlights that make Taiwan such a special travel destination are either very reasonably priced or completely free of charge. For example, Chinese cuisine - one of Taiwan's true highlights - is eminently affordable. Even in the capital city, Taipei, a fairly lavish Chinese meal with friends rarely exceeds about NT$600 (US$18) per person.

Museums are another bargain. Tickets to virtually all of Taiwan's museums, from the Shisanhang Museum of Archaeology in the far north to the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in the far south, are very inexpensive.