DO I NEED AN EASY CARD IN TAIWAN?
I was very excited to be visiting Taiwan earlier this year as part of our fabulous six-month trip around Asia.
We had carefully planned our Taiwan Itinerary in order to carefully cost out the whole trip and keep control of our budget but also to pack in as much sightseeing and experiences as possible over our twelve-day/ten-night sightseeing adventure.
Read more about our exciting 12 Day Taiwan Itinerary and Travel Guide!
ON ARRIVAL IN TAIWAN
On arrival at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) – which is the main gateway to Taiwan for tourists and those visiting the north of the country – we needed to find the Klook kiosk in the arrival hall.
This was to collect our pre-ordered pre-paid Easy Card and SIM package and our intercity Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) discounted tourist tickets.
For Taiwan it’s easy to preorder your Easy Card and a pre-paid local SIM along with your THSR tickets using Klook.
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DO I NEED AN EASY CARD IN TAIWAN?
The Easy Card is a prepaid electronic and contactless travel card that allows you to move easily around Taiwan on local trains and busses and ferries without having to worry about buying individual fare tickets.
You can also use it at bicycle hire stations.
It’s an easy one-swipe process.
To use it you simply touch the Easy Card to the IC Reader.
If you don’t have an Easy Card then you will need to buy a ticket from a ticket machine at the train station every time you change lines.
The stations are usually crowded and once you’ve found the right ticket machine (and there are many) and waited in line to buy the fare ticket you need you’ll have probably missed your train.
The Easy Card is by far the easiest way to use public transportation.
Each time you tap it to use the public transport of your choice, you can see your balance displayed when you tap your card at the exit gate. The fare is calculated and deducted automatically according to the exit destination.
WHERE CAN I USE MY EASY CARD?
The Easy Card is not just for ease of payment on local transportation in Taiwan. You can also use your Easy Card to swipe a payment for goods in local convenience stores like 7-11 Stores and Family Marts (where you can also top up your Easy Card).
You can also use it to pay for coffee at Starbucks!
HOW LONG DOES TAIWAN EASY CARD LAST?
Your Easy card does not expire as it is a ‘pay as you go’ card. Although, you would have to reactivate it, if you haven’t used it for over a year.
DO I NEED A SIM CARD IN TAIWAN?
SIM Package: Our choice of package gives us a local SIM for our phones with 10 days unlimited Wi-Fi data and 100 TWD for any calls we might make.
In every country I visit, I feel it’s important to have Wi-Fi on my phone.
I find it especially useful when I’m out and about in cities for using Google Maps, finding directions, looking up places to eat and drink, and maybe ordering a Grab taxi.
Regarding the SIM packages: you can choose how long your SIM is active to suit your planned stay in Taiwan.
SIM packages are avalable at prices for Unlimited Data and credit for calls at either 5,7,10 or 15 days.
DO I NEED A SEPERATE TICKET FOR THSR TRAIN TRAVEL?
THSR Discounted Tourist Ticket (ticket for non-Taiwanese): Do note that you can’t use your Easy Card on the intercity Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) ‘bullet trains’ so you’ll need to purchase a ticket separately.
OUR TAIWAN ITINERARY AND TRAVEL PLANS
From Taoyuan International Airport, using our Easy Card to swipe and pay, we took the airport express train to Taipei Main Station.
At Taipei Main Station, using our THSR Discounted Tourist Ticket, we took a southbound THSR Bullet Train down to the mid-point city of Taichung.
Do read my post on our Taiwan High Speed Rail ‘Bullet Train’ experience.
Our itinerary would also mean taking an intercity bullet train between Taichung City and the south coast city of Kaohsiung. Then for the return journey to Taipei.
But within the cities we would exclusively use our Easy Cards to travel around using the local trains, local busses, and even the ferry over to Cijin Island.
TRAVEL TIP FOR TAIWAN
My BIG TRAVEL TIP for you is to arrange your Easy Card, your SIM Card, and your intercity THSR Discounted Tourist Ticket, all ahead of travel.
You’ll get a voucher from Klook for your online purchases and clear instructions for an easy and convenient airport pickup at the KLOOK KIOSK in the arrivals hall.
This will all make travelling around Taiwan not only easier but more fun and more affordable too.
I hope this article has been helpful to you.
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Check out all my posts on Taiwan.
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