[TW GUIDE] 19 days Solo Taiwan Travel under SGD $1500

Thinking of a solo trip to Taiwan? There goes my budget solo tips, and I manage to work out my trip within the small budget of SGD$1500*! (Which means less than SGD$100/day!)
*inclusive of air ticket, accommodations, transports, meals, shopping and attractions!

#1 Air Ticket

Budget Airlines' ticket price usually can satisfy that sudden urge to fly overseas. Bought my air tickets during Scoot Promotion and the return flight + insurance + checkin luggage costed me S$366.52. Not the best price I have gotten from Scoot, but still reasonable enough to convince myself to fly.

Air Ticket: $366.52

#2 Accommodations

Airbnb is like the trendy option to find accommodations, and most of them are rather cheap. I chose to stay in accommodations where the owners do stay under the same roof. Isn't that the whole point of airbnb? I'm treating airbnb like couchsurfing, just that I'm trying not to be a freeloader. My budget was around S$30/night.

I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of hostels' shared rooms, so I was kinda picky when I had to choose the hostels. Shared rooms are usually very cheap, like NTD$500/night for a decent bed. So my picky requirements for hostel were design, cleanliness, number of beds in the room and service. Actually I've no idea why design was my top requirement, perhaps well designed hostels make me less worried happy. And of course, I won't want to stay in 16 beds room and let 15 strangers listen to my snoring at night. (laughs)

Some hostels may have listings on their own website, airbnb and agoda. Do a quick comparison and choose the one that gives the best offers! (do check out agoda deals with different banks for further discounts!)

 

If you're as friendly thick skinned as me, try staying with a Taiwanese's friend for a couple of days. It is a different living experience and an eye opener. Culture shock sometimes.

Accommodations: Average S$30/night x 16 nights* = $480
*Stayed 2 nights at a Taiwanese Friend's house

#3 Transportations

One of the cheapest way of transport will be TRA, but sometimes it goes really slow and the timings aren't that flexible. Thus, planning the TRA timings are the most tough part of the whole trip. TRA pricing depends on the distance, speed and train model. Of course newer trains will be more expensive than older trains.

One of the best moments of the trip was taking a non-aircon train for more than 2 hours. It was truly fun.

Another cheap transport will be coaches between different cities. Flexible timings and many different routes to choose on. But not all the places are linked up with coaches. Like you can't travel through coaches to Hualien because of the mountainous route.

Another alternative is to ride a bicycle; you can rent it from ubike or some bicycle stall. Otherwise, some accommodations do rent it out for free or at low cost. Exercise and travel at the same time was something enjoyable for me!

To travel within Taiwan, please get a metro card, it's easier to travel with the card. You can tap the card on metro and buses, also at some of the trains station, and not forgetting renting an Ubike!

Transportation: Average S$10/day x 19 days = S$190

#4 Meals

Breakfast is super cheap in Taiwan, you can get Egg Pancake with a hot milk tea within NT$50. (Provided you manage to wake up early in the morning for breakfast)

 

If you miss the breakfast store opening hours, you can still grab breakfast at 7-11. A Sandwich + A Drink NT$49, still under NT$50.

Brunch/Lunch/Dinner is super easy to get within NTD$100; you can get a bowl of braised meat rice (NT$45) with a bowl of soup (NT$30). There is still some leftover money and still sufficient enough to head to 7-11 and grab a packet of drink!

If you're feeling lazy, you can get good quality bento food from 7-11 or any convenience store under NT$60 coupled with a Herbal Egg! Drinks in convenience store usually cost around NT$15-25. Still within the NT$100 budget for a meal.

 

Sudden craving for Starbucks, no worries, 7-11/Family Mart/Hi-Mart offers almost the same quality coffee/tea. And only less than NT$60! And you can also get the glass window view in the convenience store just like Starbucks.

Not forgetting cheap and big portions night market food; you can get a super big sized Deep Fried Chicken Cutlet at NT$55! Love all the fusion they offer in Taiwan, making meals at night market enjoyable.

Meals: (average $2.50/breakfast x 10 days) + (average $4.50/lunch x 18 days) + (average $6.50/dinner x 18days) = $223

#5 Shopping

Taipei Underground Mall and Dongqu Underground Mall are my favourite budget shopping areas. I can get a shoe for NT$200 or a dress at NT$80.

Otherwise, online shopping and collecting from 7-11 is my favourite past-time. I can surf the net and shop on my mobile practically everywhere. I have to say Taiwan Online shopping is rather addictive. (Shall not promote too much because it is really addictive, ask me if you're really interested in the ordering process or websites to shop online.)

To avoid the big crowds at Ximending, 敦化南路一段161巷 (Lane 161, Section1, Dunhua South Road) is my personal favourite shopping lane. It has all kinds of different fashion stores; korean style, japanese style, american style etc. But clothes are more pricey over near. (had a tough time preventing my pocket from burning a big hole)

Shopping: Around S$200*
*Includes travel souvenirs, Taiwanese snacks and even haircut+straightening.

#6 Attractions

I only paid two attractions' entrance fee in my entire trip, the rest of the sightseeing were all free. And Taiwan's attractions' entrance fee are usually quite cheap, mostly under NT$50.

Attractions: Under S$5

 #7 Memories & Experiences

  

Meeting strangers and turning into friends was really priceless, and definitely not in my budget.

 Either did I expect myself to adapt so well in hostels, meeting nice travelers from all around the world. Not in my budget too.

So was that fateful day I got chased by a yellow dog at Sansiantai Island and hitched a ride back to city. Definitely not in budget.

Memories & Experiences: Priceless

✿✿✿

My total spending was around $1464.52; I know I am really budget judging on the fact I traveled to 10 cities in 19 days, and carried 10kg of loots back home. But if you read all my backpacking posts, I DO ENJOY MY TRIP ALOT! The small budget did not hinder me creating beautiful memories being a solo traveler.

I know many blogs out there, I am guilty of it too, trying to paint a nice picture about solo traveling, creating alot of "fantasy" for new-comers. Never go for a solo trip expecting yourself to experience the same stuffs as others, as everyone's solo travel experience is unique. (I think being chased by a dog was something I never read off when I was doing my research). It is either you love it or you hate it experience.

But I do believe everyone should try solo travel at least once in your lifetime. It was a very magical process to know yourself better. (:

[Backpack TW] Part 1 - Taipei Jiaoxi Toucheng Yilan
[Backpack TW] Part 2 - Chishang
[Backpack TW] Part 3 - Luye Sansiantai Fushan Shanyuan Taitung
[Backpack TW] Part 4 - Taitung City
[Backpack TW] Part 5 - Fangliao
[Backpack TW] Part 6 - Kaohsiung
[Backpack TW] Part 7 - Little Liuqiu
[Backpack TW] Part 8 - Yongkang Baoan Anping
[Backpack TW] Part 9 - Tainan Shennong Flower Night Market
[Backpack TW] Part 10 - Chikanlou Nankunshen Beimen Tainan
[Backpack TW] Part 11 - National Museum of Taiwan Literature | Tainan Confucian Temple | Baihe Township
[Backpack TW] Part 12 - Chiayi City
[Backpack TW] Part 13 - Changhua City | Fan-shaped Train Garage
[Backpack TW] Part 14 - Lukang
[Backpack TW] Part 15 - Taichung
[Backpack TW] Part 16 - Neiwan Line
[Backpack TW] Part 17 - Taipei; Dadaocheng Bitan
[Backpack TW] Part 18 - Taipei
[Backpack TW] Part 19 - Nanliao
[Backpack TW] Part 20 - Zhu Zi Hu | Houtong  
[Backpack TW] Part 21 - Taipei | Taoyuan Airport