First-timer to Taiwan, various questions

Hi everyone!

My first ever trip to Taiwan (8D7N) will be in early March, and this forum has such a lot of great information to help me plan my itinerary. Thank you so much! :)

I%26#39;ve read through many of the threads and still have some questions. Would appreciate if some of you can help me with them:

1. Hualien

I%26#39;ve booked Mr Lu Lai Fu%26#39;s service on a Friday, then read in some blog somewhere that return train tickets to Hualien are almost always sold out! Is that true? Should I definitely purchase my train tickets online first? I%26#39;ve read that non-Taiwanese credit cards are now accepted, but booking on the English website will not allow us to enjoy the return trip discount right? Guess I can%26#39;t have my cake and eat it...

2. Miramar Ferris Wheel

Any comments on whether the view will be better in the day or night? :)

3. Beitou Hotsprings

I%26#39;m deciding between Spring City Resort and Millennium Hot Spring (the public one). If I go to Spring City, I%26#39;ll go for the outdoor one where I understand we can enjoy various pools for NT$800. Can I confirm that they do provide towels and shower facilities? Whereas for Millennium, they have shower facilities but we have to bring our own towels? Currently, the main reason I%26#39;m more inclined towards Spring City is because I intend to cover Tienmu and Danshui the same day (without going back to my hotel) and I don%26#39;t want to lug towels along the whole day...

4. Danshui

A little confused about the ferry ride. Once I get out of the MRT, can I get onto a ferry immediately, passing by Danshui Lao Jie and alighting at Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf? Then after I catch the sunset at Lovers%26#39; Bridge, I can walk back and cover Danshui Lao Jie by foot and also have dinner there.

Or should I get out of Danshui MRT, walk through Danshui Lao Jie, then hop onto a ferry at the other end that will bring me to Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf? Return journey, I have to catch the ferry back to Danshui Lao Jie, then walk through the street again?

Sorry for having so many questions! Appreciate any help anybody can offer. Many thanks in advance! :)

First-timer to Taiwan, various questions

Yes, train tix are next to impossible to get round the weekend, so best to prebook.

Can%26#39;t help u with the Spring resort quest cos the only time we were there we were staying guests.

First-timer to Taiwan, various questions

We went to Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf 2 days ago. We went to Beitou Hotspring (Hell%26#39;s Valley) in the morning and Danshui late afternoon until night time. We took the MRT to Danshui, then transfer to Red Bus 26 to take us to Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. Our plan was to take the ferry (ferry ticket is NT$50 one way or you can use the Easy card) back to Old Danshiu, have dinner there, then walk to the MRT. However, we were too tired and decided to take the bus back to Danshui MRT and skip the night market at the old section of Danshui.

We were told that it is still a fair bit of a walk from the Danshiu MRT to Danshui Lau Jie. Whereas, the ferry from FW stops at Danshui Lau Jie itself.

I would suggest to take the bus going to FW and take the ferry back to Old Danshiu. So you don%26#39;t have to pass through Old Danshiu twice.

I wish you a wonderful time in Taiwan as we did. Cheers.

mariatan:

Thanks! I%26#39;ll try to book my tickets two weeks before my trip then. Alternatively, do I have a much higher chance of securing my tickets if I change my Hualien trip from Fri to Thu?

leisure2go:

That sounds like a great suggestion! I think I%26#39;ll do just that, take the bus from Danshui MRT straight to FW, then take the ferry back to Danshui Lao Jie and walk through it and find food. Thanks! :)

To be on the safe side, I%26#39;ve called Mr Lu to change my Hualien tour to Thu instead of Fri. :)

Is there anyone who can help with my other queries on Miramar Ferris Wheel and Beitou Hotsprings? Thanks! :)

Hi twentyofive,

May I know how much does Mr Lu now charge for his service in Hualien?

Thanks.

2.the view in the night will be better.

3. Spring City Resort do provide towels and shower facilities ,but you have to bring you own swimsuit.

mousehunt:

Mr Lu quoted me NT$2,200 for 3 pax for a standard itinerary. If you do not have 3 pax, you can call him to confirm the rates and check his availability, he%26#39;s very friendly. :)

Mr Lu Lai Fu (吕来福)

Tel: 886-9-2856-9081

lu24759:

Thanks! I%26#39;ll go on the ferris wheel at night then. :)

Anyone been to the public hotspring (Millennium) at Beitou and can confirm if towels are provided?

Millennium does%26#39;t provide towels ,

tw.myblog.yahoo.com/sclchiche/article…

Many thanks for the info, lu24759!

Hi twentyofive,

Thanks for the info. I have contacted Mr Lu and have book a date about 2 weeks from now.

I must be lucky that still able to get him in such a short notice.

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