2009 Taiwan Trip - Won Star Ximen @ Taipei

Won Star Ximen (萬事達西門館) is located exactly at Ximending area where one can enjoy shopping or dining anytime he / she wants. It has been opened for a month only, thus, everything is still very new.

Romantic color of bedding but not my cup of tea.


Similar to most hotels, the room comes with integrated shower tub, toilet and washing area.


Good that there's an in-room wardrobe which is not available in JustSleep. However, Won Star provides no safe.


By comparison, staff of JustSleep is more friendly and nice.

Price: HK$ 590 / room / night (No breakfast)
Room Type: Twin
Capacity: Max 2 pax
Add: Xining Nan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City 105 (台北市萬華區西寧南路105號)
Remarks: In-room free Wifi is available

2009 Taiwan Trip - Just Sleep @ Taipei

JustSleep (捷絲旅), a new hip hotel which is very popular among Hong Kong people. It's located at the opposite of famous shopping area, Ximen. A few minutes from Ximen MRT Station on foot.


Its room setting does beat down many other hotels. Unlike most hotels, the twin room comes with 2 desks which allow more privacy to each roommate.


Washing area, toilet and bathroom are well separated. Better facility and time management for roommates.



Staff there is nice but not too professional to handle many guests at a time. Yet, it's a good try while it's still new.

Price: HK$ 700 / room / night (breakfast included)
Room Type: Twin
Capacity: Max 2 pax
Add: 台北市中華路一段41號
http://www.justsleep.com.tw/StoreDetail.aspx
Remarks: In-room free Wifi is available

2009 Taiwan Trip - Shui Yang @ Sun Moon Lake

As I often mention, a good hotel would make a trip to be more enjoyable. Let's start from the best hotel during my trip. Shui Yang (水漾民宿) is a minshuku located in Sun Moon Lake.


The owner is a super friendly and nice gentleman. Actually, he is pleased to answer any questions his guests raise. He even allowed me to settle full payment upon arrival as I am not from Taiwan. Moreover, he has good connections with restaurants and transportation operators. Therefore, his guests can often enjoy a better rate.

Its L shape floor-to-ceiling windows in room allow you to appreciate the lake from day to night or from night to day.





Only one drawback of this minshuku is it's a bit far away. I had to take bus from the Sun Moon Lake tourist centre to it. The bus operates once an hour. If you miss it, then one have to take taxi or limo to there. Despite of the location, Shui Yang is value for money.

Price: NT 3,900 / room / night (breakfast included)
Room Type: Tow Double Bed
Capacity: Max 4 pax
Add: 南投縣魚池鄉日月村豐年街56號
http://shuiyang.emmm.tw

2009 Taiwan Trip - Summary

Oct 26-Nov 1, 2009 (7D6N)

During my trip, what impressed me most was the majority of Taiwaneses were very friendly and helpful. It's what I didn't experience much at my first trip around 10 years ago. Probably because I joined a tour rather than arranged everything myself last time. Well, there's one funny exceptional case. A young lady replied she was lost and ran away after my friend and me asked for direction. I hope her reaction was caused by Halloween. Haha.

Let's have a look on the itinerary:

Day 1
HK --> Tao Yuan Airport --> JustSleep (Dragonair + King Bus + MRT Ximen Station)
Lunch @ Sushi-ExpressNational Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (MRT National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station)
National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Area & Zhongxiao Dunhug Area (On Foot)
Dinner @ Dintaifung & Tuhsiaoyueh (On Foot)
Raohe Street Night Market (Taxi)
Taipei 101 (Taxi)
Stay @ JustSleep (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 2
Presidential Office Building (MRT NTU Hospital Station) Lunch @ Yonghe Soybean Milk (On Foot)
National Taiwan Museum (On Foot)
Taipei Zoo (MRT Taipei Zoo Station)Dinner @ Butaya
The Red House (MRT Ximen Station)
Stay @ JustSleep (On Foot)
Day 3
Sun Moon Lake (MRT Taipei Main Station + Taiwan High Speed Rail Taichung Station + Nantou Bus Sun Moon Lake Station)Lunch @ Sun Moon Lake (On Foot)
Shuiyang Minshuku (Lake-surroundings Bus Ita Thao Station)Lalu Island & Syuanguang Temple (Cruise)
Market (On Foot)
Thao Performance & Dinner (On Foot)Stay @ Shuiyang Minshuku (On Foot)

Day 4
Shueishe (Lake-surroundings Bus Ita Thao Station)
Hanbi Hiking Trail (On Foot)Lunch @ Mos Burger (Nantou Bus Taiwan High Speed Rail Taichung Station)
Won Star Ximen (Taiwan High Speed Rail Taipei Station + MRT Ximen Station)
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (MRT C.K.S. Memorial Hall Stationc)
Dinner @ Yongkang Beef Noodle (On Foot)
Yongkang Street (On Foot)
Shida Night Market (MRT Taipower Building Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 5
Jioufen (Taiwan Railway Ruifang Station + Keelong Bus Jioufen Station)
Lunch @ Ruifang (Keelung Bus Ruifang Station)
Jingtong (Pingxi Line Jingtong Station)
Shifen (Pingxi Line Shifen Station)Seafood Dinner @ Keelung Miaokou Night Market (Pingxi Line Ruifang Station + Taiwan Railway Badu Station + Taiwan Railway Keelung Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (Taiwan Railway Taipei Station + MRT Ximen Station)
Day 6
National Palace Museum (MRT Shihlin Station + Bus Red 30)
Lunch @ Jianchiwu (MRT Minchuan W. Rd. Station + Taxi)
Rooftop Ferris Wheel @ Miramar Entertainment Park (MRT Chientan Station + Free Shuttle Bus)
Dinner @ Shihlin Night Market (Free Shuttle Bus MRT Chientan Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 7
Breakfast @ Dintaifung (MRT Zhongxiao Dunhug Station)
Eslite Bookstore (On Foot)
Hello Kitty Sweets (On Foot)
Lunch @ Tuhsiaoyueh (On Foot)
Taipei Main Station Area (MRT Taipei Main Station)
Ximen Area (MRT Ximen Station)
Won Star Ximen --> Tao Yuan Airport --> (Taxi + King Bus + Dragonair)