Coming to Taipei

[Desmond]

Hey guys, I just found out I'm coming to Taipei on the 24th of January!!

I'm going to teach English for a while, so I'll be looking for an apartment. However, for the first two weeks I'll be coming with a friend. There are so many areas of Taipei, I was wondering what areas you guys would suggest that I stay in for the "trip" portion of my stay, and why?

Also, what areas would you recommend that I find an apartment in, and why?

Thanks a bunch!

[bhchao]

Congratulations! I really envy you. Haven't been back for 20 years

Tianmu is a nice area, but I heard it has been very expensive to live in. Perhaps some of the folks here who recently lived and studied in Taipei can help you out on this one.

[gato]

Tianmu is not necessarily that convenient by public transportation. I would recommend getting a place in central Taipei near a subway stop.

[wix]

I suggest finding somewhere convenient to where you work, first of all and with good access to an MRT station second.

I think many of the areas on the edge of Taipei are good places to live as you can be close to the mountains where you can get some fresh air and go walking. Xindian and Muzha, for example, both have MRT lines and are close to the mountains.

[Desmond]

Thanks for the replies! I'll check those places out first when I get there. If I find a job before I find an apartment, I think wix is right, find somewhere close to work, that way my daily travel time will be cut down.

Did any of you guys get international driver's licences before you went to Taiwan (or anywhere for that matter?). Is it worth it?

[Lu]

Driving is a good way to get around in Taiwan, roads are quite good (although sometimes jammed), traffic not too dangerous. So if you plan to travel the island, getting an int'l driver's licence might be worthwhile.

If you plan to stay in Taipei, however, I wouldn't bother. The public transport is very good, and taxis are cheap. What you might do is get a motorcyle licence there, the motorcycle is THE way to get around in Taipei. Well, you'll see that when you get there.

As to where to live, that really depends on where you are going to work. It's no fun if you have to travel half an hour or more every morning. But as places to live, I'd recommend the area around Guting, Taidian dalou and Gongguan. Or maybe that's just because that's where I used to live :-)

Enjoy your stay in Taiwan!