What budget for activities and outings Taiwan?

Throughout Taiwan, access to many monuments (historical or natural sites, temples, night markets...) is free. Museums generally charge a fee (up to NT$400 for the National Palace Museum).

The majority of sporting activities in Taiwan are free of charge, whether it's forest or mountain hiking, running or cycling along the country's many bicycle paths. On the other hand, most marine activities (diving, surfing, sailing, etc.) must be booked through a professional agency.

The cost of living in Taiwan is as high as in France, although some products are competitively priced compared with Europe (especially electronics and textiles).

Entrance to Taipei's clubs costs between NT$500 and NT$1,000 (usually with one or two free drinks). Lady's Nights (free drinks and entry) are common on Wednesday nights.

What budget to eat Taiwan?

There are restaurants to suit all budgets in Taiwan, from small neighborhood canteens where you can eat for a few hundred Taiwanese dollars to luxurious establishments that can charge several thousand dollars for a meal. International credit cards are generally accepted, but you'll need to pay cash in the lower-end establishments.

Alcohol is relatively expensive in Taiwan, but there are some cheap bars (around the Red House in Ximen, for example). For two beers and a snack, for example, the bill is around NT$600. International credit cards are not accepted in the more modest establishments.

What is the budget for accommodation Taiwan?

For low-end but well-kept hotels, you should expect to pay between NT$600 and NT$1,700 for a double room. Youth hostels offer dormitory beds for modest sums (NT$600 to NT$1,000). Mid-range hotels offer a quality service in the vast majority of cases, for at least NT$2,000. Rooms in the most luxurious establishments can fetch astronomical sums, and you should expect to pay at least NT$3,500.

Travel budget Taiwan and cost of living

The cost of living is much the same as in France. If you sit on the corner of a table in an unpretentious snack bar, you can still eat well for NT$150 (€4), and a museum ticket rarely exceeds NT$100 (€3.3). Public transport is not expensive. So, as far as your wallet is concerned, there's no need to worry about a hole in the budget, except for accommodation. There are plenty of hotels in Taiwan, but the world-class establishments, where the staff speak English, are fairly expensive by comparison. On the other hand, if you don't mind where you sleep, the price of your stay should remain reasonable.

Some indicative prices : A liter of fuel (petrol): NT$ 35. A newspaper in English: NT$20, in Chinese: NT$15. Pack of cigarettes (American brands): NT$100.

Currency exchange. Banks, hotels and exchange offices accept all foreign currencies, but if you have a rare currency, prefer airport exchange counters to those in city centers. Please note that Taiwanese currency is not convertible, so it's best to have your own money before you leave.

Find an ATM. Note that, although ATMs are not compatible with all European cards, Visa® and MasterCard® holders should not encounter too many problems.

Use an English-speaking ATM. Generally speaking, ATMs are operated in the same way as in France. If the French language is not available, select English. "Retrait" is then called "withdrawal". If you are asked to choose between withdrawing from a "checking account", a "credit account" or a "saving account", select "checking account". Select "debit" for debit and "credit" for credit. (If you make a mistake in any of these options, don't worry - the only risk is that the transaction will be refused). Enter the desired amount and confirm ("enter"). To the question "Would you like a receipt?", answer "Yes" and keep your receipt in a safe place.

Withdrawal charges. As the euro is not the local currency, a commission is deducted from each withdrawal. Withdrawal fees vary from bank to bank, and generally consist of a fixed fee averaging 3 to 4 euros and a commission of 2 to 3% of the amount withdrawn. Some banks have partnerships with foreign banks or allow you to benefit from their network, offering you advantageous fees or even free withdrawals. Ask your bank advisor for details. Note also that some ATMs may charge a commission, in which case this will be mentioned at the time of withdrawal.

Haggling. Prices in Taiwan are fixed, with the exception of market prices.

Taxes. In luxury hotels and restaurants, the customer is charged 10% of the service charge, to cover service and taxes. But this only applies to a small number of addresses.