Preparing for Taiwan
This is the page excerpt, an introduction recommended here
preparing for Taiwan
Pre-trip checklist
Below you’ll find all the next steps for your journey, from what currency to get to which apps to download.
Throughout all this, your travel designer will be there with you, helping to plan and answer any questions you
have. Please note, this timeline is for your reference only. For specifics, please check with your travel designers
and also make sure to notify your insurance company or doctor for any concerns you may have.
When
When
Now
Your dedicated travel designer is a Taiwan expert with a passion for
responsible travel. If you have questions, they are just a phone call
away throughout your entire trip-planning process
Secure your WildTaiwan trip with a 500USD/person deposit
Book international flights, send all passport and insurance copies so
we can start securing services on your behalf, and let us know if
anyone in your party has dietary or mobility restrictions by filling
out our trip registration form
90 days before departure
Complete medical checkups and get vaccinations if required
60 days before departure
Make final balance payment with WildTaiwan
30 days before departure
Convert currency to TWD and let your bank know you’re traveling
14 days before departure
Download LINE and other apps
preparing for Taiwan
Packing list
Whether you pack heavy or light – two suitcases or none – we have a few tips on what to include for Taiwan.
If you forget something, your guide will happily stop by a local store to pick it up.
Focus on packing your essentials:
Passport, camera, medications, and your phone, many other things can be found once you’re here. Below are our suggestions for the key things to include:
Recommended clothing
Recommended toiletries
Other items
preparing for Taiwan
Some notes on what to bring
1. Your passport: always keep it on you
Local law requires all visitors over 14 years of age to carry their passport with them while in Taiwan
2. Travel with your medications in your carry-on
If you are traveling to Taiwan with medication, you should always have this in your carry-on bag in its original packaging along with a note from your doctor. For emergencies, there are English-speaking hospitals and pharmacies in most major cities, but these tend to be expensive if you do not have international health insurance.
3. Do not bring personally valuable items with you
Travel can sometimes bring unexpected surprises, such as delayed bags or different security protocols. In order to avoid potential heartbreak, we recommend leaving irreplaceable personal items at home. For instance, there are some restrictions in Taiwan about what you can carry onto planes. You cannot take lighters onto domestic or international flights, nor can you carry power banks that do not have the power rating displayed. For more information on what you can or cannot take onto planes in Taiwan, see our Transport section below.
preparing for Taiwan
Visas
Most nationals may spend up to 90 days visa free for tourist purposes in Taiwan.
But double check here for your country of residence.
Most nationals may spend up to 90 days visa free for tourist purposes in Taiwan.
But double check here for your country of residence.
Please note that this is correct at the time of publishing. If you have any questions or would like specific updates, please contact your travel designer, who will be happy to help.
preparing for Taiwan
Covid-19
Taiwan is now open for quarantine-free travel for international arrivals.
If you experience any symptoms or suspect, you may have COVID-19 upon your arrival in Taiwan, please contact the airport staff for immediate medical assistance.
preparing for Taiwan
Travel insurance
Do you need it?
Travel insurance is optional when traveling with WildTaiwan, but we highly recommend purchasing it. We recommend insurance that covers emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation or delays, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage. While we hope you’ll never have to use it, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control.
Having travel insurance can give you (and those at home) peace of mind, as it helps ensure you’re not stuck without aid or with a large hospital bill. Below is a company we recommend for insurance when traveling to Taiwan:
Global Rescue
We’ve partnered with Global Rescue to offer both travel insurance and rescue & evacuation services in case of injury, illness (including COVID-19), or safety threats during your trip. For more information on how to secure Global Rescue insurance for your travels follow this link.
preparing for Taiwan
Accesing Internet
Internet speed:
Taiwan has the fastest internet speed in the world, and is access to the internet is pretty much island-wide.
In short, you can expect great internet access and service in all but the most remote places.
Is anything restricted?
Taiwan has no online censorship or restrictions, and its internet has been ranked the freest and most affordable in Asia. Users report spending less than 1% of their monthly wages on mobile networks.
What if I’m travelling to rural areas?
In general, Taiwan has great 4G and 5G coverage all over the island.
preparing for Taiwan
Apps to download
To make the most of your time in Taiwan, and to easily contact your guide, family and friends, as well as any new acquaintances you make in Taiwan, we highly recommend you download Line on your phone.
Line is the most-used app in Taiwan, connecting the island through messaging (much like WhatsApp), and can be used to text, call, video chat, send photos, and so much more, including text translation.
preparing for Taiwan
Electricity
Taiwan uses an electric current of 110V at 60HZ, so appliances from Europe, Australia, or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer. However, some
larger buildings may have sockets for 220V for their air conditioning systems.
Adaptors
Taiwan has the same electrical standards as the US and Canada, but those traveling from elsewhere will need an adapter. Taiwan is associated with two plug types:
Type A, which has two flat parallel pins, and Type B, which is the same but with a third grounding pin. Most large hotels will have USB charging ports too.
Converters
A converter will be needed for most appliances in Taiwan, due to the voltage difference. Even though this difference is within the 110-240V safety range dual voltage operates at, it is still better to use a converter.
Type A plug socket
Type B plug socket
preparing for Taiwan
Timezone
Taiwan has one-time zone throughout known as Taipei Standard Time (GMT +8). We’ve made a map for you below to show the difference in time between major international cities and Taiwan.
For example, Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -7) is 15 hours behind Taiwan Standard Time. Please note, Taiwan does not observe daylight savings time, so be sure to factor this in if your country does.
Thank you for booking your adventure with WildTaiwan.
Before you get here, we want to help you prepare as much as possible, so you can focus on the experiences that matter once you’re on the ground.
From transport to shopping to our recommended reading list, this Taiwan pre-departure guide will provide everything you need to know about Taiwan and our services.
And if you still want to learn more, we’re just a call or an email away.
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