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How to Book a Food Trip to Taiwan

How to · Travel

How to Book a Food Trip to Taiwan

A practical guide to planning your Taiwan night market trip and managing the costs.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $2,800 before anything else
Across the 0% window $155.56/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $2,800 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Taiwan is all about the food, from the smoky stalls at Shilin Night Market to beef noodle soup in Taipei alleys. You want to go when the weather is mild and flights are a bit cheaper, which usually means booking your mid-week travel well ahead of time.

A trip like this typically runs around $2800 for flights, lodging, and eating your way through the city. Spreading that cost out over time takes some planning, so let's look at how to map it out without wrecking your monthly budget.

That 18-month window is a hard deadline, not free money, and any remaining balance at the end will start racking up standard interest charges.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your dates

    Book your flights for mid-week travel to keep the airfare as low as possible. Aim for the shoulder seasons when the weather is pleasant and crowds are smaller.

  2. 02

    Map the markets

    List the specific night markets and neighborhoods you want to visit so you can book a place to stay nearby. Walking distance to a good MRT station saves both time and taxi fares.

  3. 03

    Use your intro window

    You can use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, which offers 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. Spreading the $2800 cost across that 18-month intro window on purchases comes out to $155.56 per month.

  4. 04

    Set up auto-pay

    Calculate what you need to pay each month to clear the balance before the intro window ends. Set up automatic payments so you never miss a month.

  5. 05

    Book local transit

    Grab an EasyCard for the subway and buses as soon as you land. It makes getting around the city cheap and seamless.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

How much does a trip to Taiwan cost?

A typical US traveler spends about $2800 for a solid trip covering flights, mid-range hotels, and plenty of night market food.

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

Spring and autumn bring the best weather for walking around outside. Booking mid-week flights during these months also helps cut down on total costs.

How do I get around Taipei?

The MRT subway system is clean, fast, and covers almost everywhere you will want to go. An EasyCard keeps transit simple.

What is the catch with 0% interest cards?

The 0% rate only lasts for the stated intro window. If you still have a balance when that time runs out, you will owe interest on what is left.