Arriving Late at the Airport with Bike Box (Taiwan)

Two of my flight options arrive fairly late in the evening at Taoyuan Airport. The later one is 22:30.

I will be arriving with a bike in a box, plus 2 hand bags, which makes getting around a bit difficult. I also note that plenty of the budget accommodation in the city is on upper levels and some seem to have a check in curfew which I could miss. All this could be a real hassle in the middle of the night!

I was wondering therefore if instead of heading into the city, I could get a budget hotel nearer to the airport which might be easier to get to and to get into. There are none mentioned in the LP or Rough Guide. Are there any?

Another option may be to leave my bike in left luggage, get the bus, then come back for the bike in the morning.

Any thoughts welcome.

there's not much accomodation near the airport...if getting around is difficult then i would suggest you leave your bike and get back the next day!

i've ride around taiwan last year, feel free to contact me by robin1010@hotmail.com :)

good luck!!

heading into the city

If by that you mean Taipei, then understand you will spend roughly a half day retrieving your bicycle. It can be done more quickly if you are familiar with Taiwan, but it appears your case is otherwise. moreover the cost of transportation to and from the airport will probably squash many of the savings you get by staying at a budget hostel.

I would take the bike with me out of the airport and plan on spending my first night in the nearby (cheaper-than-Taipei) towns of Taoyuan or Chungli. I'm sure the Lonely Planet guide has some great recommendations. It may seem a little strange to make that your first night in Taiwan, (eg you might feel like a little like a one-night refugee) but you'll save quite a bit in time, money and hassle

qesmonkey is correct however that there at the CKS airport, there is no close lodging, resembling an "airport hotel."

Thanks Bob.

I don't understand what you mean by spending half a day retrieving my bike. I fly regularly with my bike and just pick it up at the oversize luggage area in the baggage reclaim area. It normally takes no longer than normal luggage.

Strangely there are no hotels in Taoyuan, etc listed in the LP or RG books. I have now found some using hotel booking websites, but would welcome any recommendations.

I don't understand what you mean by spending half a day retrieving my bike.

I mean the trip from Taipei to the airport is kind of a process. If you don't know your way around Taipei it could take you ~4 hours round trip including the time you spend in the airport.

Now I understand, thanks.

Looks like a hotel in Taoyuan might be the best bet and then I could leave my sightseeing, etc in Taipei city to the end of my trip.

That's how I would do it.

Once you are on your way (I don't recommend it for your first night)
option for cheap and VERY comfortable lodging in Taiwan is to stay at a series of its many many bath houses. They are called "San Wen Nuwan" and are indicated by this symbol.
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/e/c/0/1224961573570244157Japanese<u>Map_symbol</u>(Spa).svg.hi.png (You MUST shower before you get into any of their various hot tubs, cold tubs saunas are steam rooms.)

They are generally priced between the hostels and the low-end hotels. You don't get a private room. Instead you can spend the night wearing a cotton robe, lounging and sleeping on a fully reclined couch in a common room with a big screen and free cigarettes.

They will be a little surprised that you brought luggage but they'll handle it. A small percentage of them are gay. A large percentage of them are physically attached via secret entrance to a brothel. But they are easy to find (Just ask for "San Wen Nuwan" and look for the symbol). They are clean and comfortable and cheap. Often times you can even order food.

Enjoy your journey