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.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS