Tourists looking to “stretch [their] travel budget until it oozes contentment” are advised to visit Taiwan and eight other places next year, according to a Lonely Planet online article dated Oct. 20.
Lonely Planet, an independent travel service that promises to “tell it like it is, without fear or favor,” said Taiwan delivers great all-round value.
“Taipei is significantly cheaper than Hong Kong, Seoul or Tokyo and, while hotels are a bit expensive, dorm beds and homestays abound in Taiwan and camping is common in a lot of the [nation’s] national parks and forests,” it said.
The post highlighted inexpensive rail passes for travel on fast and modern rail lines, adding that admission to many attractions and temples is economical.
“Eating, perhaps the main attraction in Taiwan, is accessible to all, whether tucking into dumplings at a street stall or enjoying high-end fare at lower prices than comparable cities,” according to the travel guide’s Web site.
A large bottle of Taiwanese beer costs around NT$120 at a bar or restaurant, or much less if it is bought at a grocery store, Lonely Planet said.
The Web site’s “About” page said that there are many amazing sights, hotels, travel companies and gear manufacturers in the world, adding: “We want to tell you which ones we think are best.”
“[However] we never compromise our opinions for commercial gain. If you read something written by a Lonely Planet author, you can guarantee they’ve been there, had a look for themselves and are telling you what they really think,” it added.
In East Asia, the only other best-value destination recommended by Lonely Planet for next year was Shanghai.
Shanghai remains affordable for budget travelers, Lonely Planet said. It said basic dorms start at less than US$10, and the low prices continue through budget and mid-range hotels.
“It’s a similar story when eating out: ‘Characterful’ street-treats for a dollar and big portions in popular restaurants for little more. Best of all, walking the city’s safe and buzzing streets is the best way to take the pulse of this fast-changing metropolis.”
Other “best value” travel destinations listed for next year are Tunisia, South Africa, Samoa, Bali, Uruguay, Portugal and Romania.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
The German city of Hamburg on Oct. 14 named a bridge “Kaohsiung-Brucke” after the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. The footbridge, formerly known as F566, is to the east of the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district, and connects the Dar-es-Salaam-Platz to the Brooktorpromenade near the Port of Hamburg on the Elbe River. Timo Fischer, a Free Democratic Party member of the Hamburg-Mitte District Assembly, in May last year proposed the name change with support from members of the Social Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union. Kaohsiung and Hamburg in 1999 inked a sister city agreement, but despite more than a quarter-century of
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS