Taipei

Peggy was our guide, and she was incredibly kind and made the trip enjoyable. I went with a friend, but I think my mom would have loved it if I had brought her. We went in early November, and Taiwan had just gotten colder, so I was worried it would be that cold up there, but it was really cold, around 10 degrees Celsius. I recommend wearing several layers of thin clothing and a suitable windbreaker on top. If you feel cold easily, a light down jacket is fine. My friend was so thin that she ended up wearing two raincoats. LOL. There wasn't much sunlight, but it was often drizzly and foggy, so a hat and raincoat were really helpful. Raincoats are sold at vending machines on the mountain for 20 NTD, but I wore the raincoat I brought with me. Since there's no food on the mountain, it's a good idea to buy some snacks beforehand. I bought some chestnuts and some snacks, and they were delicious. LOL. There were eight of us in the car, including the guide, so it's best to buy snacks that don't smell bad. The road there is very winding, so some people might get motion sickness. I also ate eggs and corn at the hot springs, and they were very delicious because they were cooked in the hot spring water. The eggs cost 100 NTD for 6 eggs and the corn for 100 NTD for 2. You can rent a basket to soak in the hot springs for 20 NTD, but there is a 200 NTD penalty, so you can return it and get your money back. I thought I could bathe in the hot springs, but that wasn't the case. I ate eggs and corn on the joined tour. It might be different for a private tour. After the hot springs, we went to eat Ai Yu that the guide took us to, and that was really delicious. I didn't expect much because I've lived in Taiwan for a long time, but it was delicious. I thought I would return late in the evening, but I arrived at Taipei Station around 6:10 PM on a weekday, Monday. If you love nature and forest hot springs, I highly recommend this trip.

Ease of booking (KKday's usability) ​Pros: ​The procedure was easy to complete in Japanese, and the purchasing process was smooth. ​I was able to get a good deal at a discounted price (stating the discount rate or specific amount would be more convincing). ​Were there flexible options for seat selection and time changes when booking (if you used this service)? ​Was it easy to enter the required information, such as your passport number? ​Concerns (if any): ​Were there any issues with using the website or app? ​Was it time-consuming or confusing to issue or collect your voucher? ​🎫 Ticket collection and redemption ​Pros: ​It was very easy to redeem your ticket at the station (did you use the counter or the automatic ticket machine?). ​Was it enough to just present your electronic voucher (the booking confirmation you received by email)? ​Was the waiting time for redemption short? ​Concerns (if any): ​It was difficult to find the redemption location, or the counter was crowded, etc. ​Did you experience any language barriers when redeeming your ticket (whether Japanese was available or not)? ​🚅 What was good about your experience riding the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail? ​The interior of the train was clean and comfortable. ​The seats were spacious, so I didn't feel tired even on long journeys. ​The train ran on time, allowing for a smooth journey. ​I enjoyed the scenery from the train window, and other specific impressions. ​What were your concerns (if any): ​Inconveniences with the onboard services (Wi-Fi, food and drink, etc.). ​Dissatisfaction with the environment, such as the air conditioning being too strong.