Free and Easy Taiwan Tour Tips - Luggage Deposit

Luggage Deposit at Train Stations

Luggage deposit (行旅寄存) service are available in most train stations.  Most of them offer daily rate on a per piece basis.  It is especially useful if you want to area that are harder to access. For example, I plan to stay in Jiufen (九份) for 1 night and it is famous for narrow and hilly path, some small path are not accessible by car.  I decided to deposit 3 pieces of luggage at Ruifang (瑞芳) station. I deposited my luggage on 16-Dec and paid TWD170. One piece of big luggage cost TWD70 and two small pieces cost TWD50 each.  On 17-Dec, we collected our luggage at 1pm and paid another TWD170.

Pay attention to a few things:

1. Luggage deposit counter close quite early.  Most of them closes at 8pm.
2. If you deposit luggage overnight, if is counted as 2 days.
3. Measure your luggage dimension in advance.  It could be useful if you want to "challenge" the operator's classification.  According to the rule, a luggage is classified into big, medium or small depending on the sum of 3 dimensions (see here).  However, in practise the operator classify them into big (cost TWD70), medium (TWD50) or small (TWD30) by subjective judgement.  No measurement was taken for classification.  For example, my luggage was classified as small when I deposit on arrival day.  A few days later, I deposited the same luggage at the same counter but it was classified as big by another operator.  I mentioned to the operator that it was classified as small a few days earlier and she gracefully accepted it as small.

Luggage Locker at Train Stations

Luggage lockers are available at most bigger train stations. It comes with various sizes and range from TWD50 to TWD70 for every 3 hours.  Some can fit very large rolling suitcase and others can fit an handbag or backpack. This is ideal for relieving your burden when you make a short visit to nearby attractions.

For example, on my departure day, I have several hours to kill and I have decided to keep my 3 pieces of luggage and a backpack into 2 big lockers at Taipei HSR train station.  There were about 3 clusters of lockers near the HSR train ticket counter.  Each locker cluster offer about 20 compartment with different sizes.  After putting in my luggage in compartment marked with Door 10, I slot in TWD70 worth of coins and indicated the Door No and press confirm.  The locker is locked and the system printed a receipt.  It is very important to keep the receipt since the CODE to unlock the door is printed there.

Pay attention to a few things:

1. Get ready your coins and small notes (TWD100). Some lockers have automated coin changer machine next to them. 
2. Since the CODE (password) is printed in big font, keep it from any nearby onlooker.  Anyone who know the password can retrieve the luggage.
3. In the case that you lost your CODE, you need to pay additional TWD200 fee.
4. When we collect our luggage, we notice that there are people around us waiting to use our locker.  Apparently there may not be enough locker compartment for all customers.  So I advise you to deposit luggage in the early part of the day to avoid all lockers being used up.  It is unlikely for people to use the locker overnight since it is quite costly (TWD70 for 3 hours) to do so.
5. The locker rental rates could be different at other train stations.

References

A few good write up on luggage deposit:

1. Taiwan Itinerary Blog : baggage storage
2. Taiwan hi Formosa: List of Left Luggage and Locker
3. Magic Travel Blog

Free and Easy Taiwan Tour Tips - Pre Book HSR Train Ticket

High Speed Rail Booking

The HSR (High Speed Rail, 台灣高鐵) train ticket booking opens 28 days in advance.  There are early bird discount (早鳥票) up to ranges from 20% to 35%.  For example, we booked our 17-Dec HSR ticket from Taipei (台北) to Taichung (台中) on 20-Nov with 35% discount (六五折).

You can book the HSR ticket online with a few simple steps:

1. Search for your train.  Look out for the traveling duration as it varies with different train even for the same From and To stations.  Goto the Taiwan High Speed Rail and use the Time Table and Fare Finder.
   
2. After you have identified your Train No.  Then you can search for the ticket price by clicking on the "Online Booking" on the same website.  For example Train No 705 comes with early bird 35% discount for adult tickets only.  There is no discount for children.
3. Choose your Train No and click next page.
4. For this example, 2 adults (35% discount) and 3 children cost only TWD2,130 compared to regular price at TWD2,670.  With this early bird discount, you have a good saving of TWD540.
5. Click through the next few pages and fill in passengers name, passport numbers and make payment using credit card.
6. Print out the booking receipt and bring along for collection of actual ticket.

High Speed Rail Ticket Collection

You can collect the ticket at any HSR train station.  Each booking can have multiple tickets and the main person's passport is to be presented at the HSR train counter with booking reference number.

HSR Train vs Chartered Car for Inter City Transfer

For some remote destinations, it could be easier to charter a car instead of relying on public transport.  For example, if you are planning a trip from Taipei to Cingjing farm and travel in a group of 4 persons, it could be better deal to charter a car instead of taking HSR train followed by bus or taxi.  

1. A chartered car cost about 5500 daily.
2. HSR Train tickets cost TWD1,980 (after 35% early bird discount) + taxi about TWD2,000.
3. HSR Train tickets cost TWD3,060 (assume no early bird discount) + taxi about TWD2,000

Chartered car is slightly more expensive option but it offers flexible schedule and stop-over.

Intra City Chartered Car

This is a nice option if you choose to stay in a city for a few days.  We met very nice drivers in Hualien, Yilan and Taichung.  These are some contact numbers if you happen to visit these cities.  Generally daily rate for intra city chartered car is range from TWD3000 to TWD3500 for 8 hours a day.

1. Hualien(花蓮) - Sam Tean(小田) 0917-207411.  Chinese and English speaking.
2. Yilan(宜蘭) - Mr Liu(劉福壽) 0933-103873.  Chinese and Taiwanese speaking.
3. Taichung() - Mr Lin(林隆泉) 0989-743972. Chinese and Taiwanese speaking.

If you need to call them from overseas, add +886 and remove the zero digit.  For example, dial +886-917-207411 for the local number 0917-207411.

Safari Boo - A Merry-Not-Scary Kids Event

We arrived about 6.10pm and there is already a long queue at the entrance. There are hundreds of people in front of us.

This is our first visit to River Safari. We can see many beautiful aquariums. We are just happily taking photo in the cool evening. It is a bit crowded so we have to wait for the crowd to clear up.

This is Trick o Box, a station for children to guess what is inside the box by touching. I queue 15 minutes while they explore the other stations.

Nice night view of Mandai Reservoir. A kind soul who walked passed us graciously offers to take a family photo for us when he saw me taking picture.

There are many trick or treat station, each with a unique character. Jonathan and Jessie love them so much since they gives away tiny toys and sweets.

The unicorn lady ask them to feel her blue hair.

We took a family photo with Spike, a green iguana. We took turns to feel it's skin.

A fairy, who ran away from us when it was supposed to be our turn. We are totally lost but fortunately she came back to us. She was actually just wanted to replenishing her gift.

A mermaid, who is stucked to a desk for the whole night.

A lady on stilt. We were so worried that some kids may just push her accidentally.

This is their loot. My left and right pockets became Jonathan and Jessie's treasure boxes.

We celebrated birthday at home after the fruitful Safari Boo event.

As an afterthought, I am happy with the decision to sell off my WTA Final tickets (Session 4 - Ana Ivanovic vs Eugenie Bouchard). I didn't watch the Live match but spend a wonderful day with my family.