Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

We went to Osaka last week and we had an amazing trip! We spent four days in Osaka and one day in Kyoto and Nara. Thanks to Google Trips, Google Translate, Google Maps, and Google Search, we were able to travel, communicate, and search for whatever we fancy quickly and without the hassle. We didn’t even had to hire a translator or a tourist guide because in most places, the Japanese locals and the staff in train stations, restaurants, and shops can communicate in English, Chinese (Mandarin), and basic sign language (pointing here and there). 😉

Where to Go in Osaka

Osaka has a vibrant streetscape with friendly people and delicious food. While its origins date back to the mythological early days of the Japanese Empire, today it is undoubtedly one of the most modern cities in Japan. If you’re wondering where to go, here’s a list of top-rated tourist attractions in Osaka. It can be tricky to select which ones to visit especially if you only have a few days. On the flip side, regardless of what you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a good time! Check out these places we visited in this glittering Japanese metropolis, and view my Instagram Story Highlights to get a glimpse of our travel experience.

Top 11 Places We Visited in Our First Time in Osaka, Japan

1. Shitennoji Temple

Shitennoji Temple (四天王寺) was our first stop on Day 1. The reason why I thought it’s interesting is that it’s the first Buddhist temple in Japan. Founded by Prince Shotoku in AD 593, Shitennoji Temple was built under Emperor Suiko, but like many buildings in Japan, it was destroyed during the World War II. Despite repeated fires over the temple’s 1,400-year history, the grounds remain the same.

There are some parts with ongoing reconstruction, but the temple compound still offers a good stroll and some great examples of Japanese religious architecture. We went on a Sunday and were fortunate to see and purchase items from the temple’s flea market. Different vendors sell accessories, plants in pots, jewelry, food, Japanese pottery, and more.

2. Osaka Nipponbashi Denden Town

Located in the southern Minami district of Osaka, Nipponbashi is known for offering cheap electronics and appliances. This is also famous as a center of otaku (or geek) culture. Nicknamed Denki Machi which means “Electric Town” or just Denden Town, this area is Osaka’s answer to Tokyo’s famous Akihabara electronics district. My husband is a fan of so many Japanese anime, so we decided to include this in our travel plan.

The area was quiet in the morning and got busy only in the afternoon. Along Otaku Road, we entered some stores that sell manga comics, anime music and videos, retro toys and games, cosplay costumes, and collectible models and figures.

In Denden Town, we also visited Maidreamin, a maid cafe where girls in maid costumes serve drinks and chat with customers. Note that there’s a required entrance fee of 500 yen per person (as of June 2019), aside from the bill for food and drinks.

3. Kuromon Ichiba Market

Near Denden Town, we followed Google Maps and walked to Kuromon Ichiba (黒門市場) for a food trip. This place is a must-visit destination for those who want to eat a lot of fresh seafood, Japanese kobe beef, wagyu beef, and other authentic Japanese street food. With over 190 years of history, Kuromon Market is also called “Osaka’s Kitchen.” It started raining when we arrived, but the good news is that the market is covered by plastic roof.

Kuromon Ichiba is travel-friendly and you don’t need to speak in Japanese to order food. There’s also free Wi-Fi, currency exchange machines, and coin lockers, so you can shop and dine worry-free. Furthermore, it has an information center where you can get a brochure featuring the best food to try. There are approximately 180 shops lining this marketplace, so you won’t leave hungry for sure. 🙂

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4. Hozenji Temple

A temple with a dreamy atmosphere right in the middle of crowded Namba is Hozenji Temple. It’s a very small temple but you can still expect to find solitude. This was where I first experienced cleansing in the purification fountain using the wooden dipper, scooping water, and washing my hands following traditional Japanese etiquette. The alleyways surrounding Hozenji hark back to an older Osaka, with cobblestone streets and noren-cloth-covered entryways.

5. Dotonbori

Located in Minami area, Dotonbori (道頓堀) is one of the most must-see attractions in Osaka. It’s Osaka’s most touristic neighborhood, and it’s easy to see why. If you love Japanese food, this place is definitely for you. Dotonbori is your heaven as it offers superb okonomiyaki, takoyaki, kushikatsu, ramen, and more than you can imagine. We stayed here for hours and we didn’t get bored for a sec!

The top attractions in Dotonbori include the photogenic billboards (don’t miss the Glico Running Man), the moving gigantic crab, flashy neon lights everywhere, and restaurants with captivating front displays. The crowd gets thicker by the hour especially at dinnertime, the pace is frantic, almost like a scene in a movie.

6. Shinsaibashi-suji

Just a few steps away from Dotonbori, you’ll land in Shinsaibashi (心斎橋), the best district for shopping in Osaka. It’s the place to shop till you drop, literally! Luxury brands, fast fashion retailers, drugstores, cafes, and souvenir stores offer countless of clothes, accessories, bags, household items, snacks, handicrafts, office supplies, etc. If you’re searching for gifts or mementos for your friends, family, or yourself, Shinsaibashi is right up your alley. We also spent hours here and enjoyed every minute. 🙂

7. Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

On Day 2, we reserved the whole day for our Universal Studios Japan (USJ) visit. If you’re a kid at heart, you can’t miss this place! USJ is the most visited amusement park in Japan along with Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea). It has fun and thrilling attractions in different zones of Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Jaws, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (our favorite!). There’s also a Japanese twist that we really appreciated. You’ll find some of the most popular Japanese entertainment like Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, Neon Genesis Evangelion and even Godzilla.

Tips: Book your ticket in advance (we got ours from Klook) to skip the long line. Buy an express pass to avoid waiting lines in the rides. Definitely stay until 8-8:30pm for the night parade and have a magical experience meeting your childhood superheroes and characters in action.

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8. Shinsekai

On Day 3, we went to Shinsekai (新世界), Osaka’s old downtown district where the nostalgic atmosphere strongly remains. We were happy to discover that food and items in this place cost way cheaper than in Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, and others we’ve been to. Hence, we grabbed the chance to eat lunch two times: in a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant and in a kushikatsu pub. Two full meals = more reason to walk for hours to burn the calories. 😛

What’s most famous in Shinsekai is probably the Tsutenkaku Tower, one of the biggest/tallest landmarks of Osaka, as it closely resembles the Eiffel Tower which it’s modeled after. The observatory deck is a great spot to view the charming city.

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9. America Mura (American Village)

In the afternoon, we rode the train to America Mura or American Village (アメリカ村) to have a peek of the “young culture” in Osaka. Per my research, America Mura is compared with Harajuku district in Tokyo, and it’s also lined with shops selling trendy and fashionable clothing (vintage, second-hand, unique, Japan street fashion, you name it). We got into most of the stores and found many fashion trends. We also didn’t pass up the chance to try the delicious takoyaki in Kogaryu, listed in ‘Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2016,” near Sankaku Koen, the triangle-shaped park.

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10. Osaka Castle

On Day 4, we explored the Osaka Castle (大阪城). Inside the castle is a museum which tells mostly about the great history of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the man that unified Japan. Osaka Castle today is a symbol of Osaka and is one of the top castles in their country. Visitors can rent out an audio guide for free for a guided educational learning while walking through the exhibitions inside the building.

11. Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street was our last stop before going to Kansai International Airport (back to Manila). Stretching for over 2 km, it’s the longest shopping street in Japan where you can find a huge range of items for sale just like in Shinsaibashi-suji. However, unlike Shinsaibashi, this place sells more local and not internationally branded clothes, household items, shoes, books, and other souvenirs.

El Nido is a province of Palawan in the Philippines and well known as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago. According to the latest survey, some of the most beautiful beaches and coral reefs in the world exist in El Nido. There is no denying that the planet’s most extraordinary natural splendor can be seen here. If you are planning a trip here, book one of those cheap flights to El Nido and make the most of your vacation.

It is no wonder to see El Nido, a popular destination among the tourists and especially families. The islands here have become world famous for their natural splendors and beauty. There are dozens of hidden caves and lagoons to explore and dive underwater to enjoy the spectacular marine life.

Reaching El Nido Palawan and moving around with your kids

There are many El Nido cheap flights provided by different air carriers in order to cater to the growing demand. One can easily get a direct flight from Manila through El Nido Airport. Hundreds of families arrive here every year to enjoy the white sand beaches, and postcard-perfect islands plus the laid-back lifestyle. Once you reach here, you will find that it is very easy to explore El Nido on foot as it is a small town.  One can easily walk to the major attractions and enjoy the local culture as well. You can even rent scooters or take tuk-tuks.

Food, accommodation, and shopping

Parents can pick from any of the vast numbers of options for accommodation. All they need to be careful about is to ensure that the hotel or resort is kid friendly and centrally located. One can stay near El Nido Beach that are just minutes away from those glorious beaches. Some popular resorts include names like The Nest, Amakan. Garden Bay Beach, and more. The prices will vary based on location and availability.

El Nido Fish Market is great if you want to enjoy some fresh seafood delicacies. Jarace Grill is one of the most popular restaurants here. D’Factory Ice Cream is a great place to enjoy ice-creams with kids. Some other favorite eating joints are Fat Choy, The Nesting Table, Bella Vita El Nido and more for Asian, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Italian options. As no trip is complete without shopping, you can visit El Nido Boutique Artcafe, Pops District Promenade and Palawan Divers for local artifacts and souvenirs.

Things to do

Kids will love El Nido and its abundant wildlife, amazing islands, and natural beauty. You will never run out of options of how to plan the day with your family.

• Discover the iconic spots in El Nido – Many nooks and crannies are still waiting to be discovered. So, you can take your family and kids to any area or location in those lagoons and spot different fish and aquatic species.
• Enjoy Kayaking and Snorkeling – If your family is the adventurous type, why not plan a kayak and snorkel trip in the Big Lagoon. The Big Lagoon is amply incredible for kids as they would feel comfortable in the shallow waters of the deep, turquoise lagoon and enjoy looking at the colorful sea life.
• Take them to Shimizu Island – It would be an incredible experience to look at the rock formations of Shimizu Island that indeed look spectacular. Your little ones are surely going to be amazed, looking at that work of nature.
• Look for colorful starfish at Cadlao Lagoon – Cadlao Lagoon is very popular because of those beautiful waters with colorful starfish. It is a popular activity among the tourists to visit the open lagoon with shallow waters to search for the starfish or simply swim around.
• Explore the Cudugnon Cave – Visit the Ipil Beach to explore the spectacular cave. The Cudugnon Cave with tall ceilings once held artifacts from the indigenous people. Kids would be filled with awe once they are inside the cave.

My husband, Louie, wanted us to go to Taiwan during the Holy Week, and he told me this one month before the Holy Week! Primary reason? He was craving for some Taiwanese street food. Thoughts swirled through my head, but three questions stood out in my mind: Where to go? What to eat? What to do? I’ve been to Taiwan two times before, and I don’t like going to the same places again. (Read this post for the top 10 attractive places we visited in Taiwan in 2015.)

Deciding where to visit and what food to eat are always an important part of our travels. This trip to Taiwan was no exception. We had to make the most out of our stay and explore the city’s exciting food scene and historical sites as well. Taipei may not be a huge city, but it makes up for its size with astonishing food options and rich history. It can be daunting to choose the best ones, so in a week’s time, we finally narrowed down our list to 20 tourist spots and things to do. If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan soon, this can be your guide.

Back in Taiwan: 20 Tourist Spots to Visit and Coolest Things to Do

1. Have a fun food trip and shop for souvenirs in Shilin Night Market

Shilin Market (士林夜市) is one of the largest and most famous night markets in Taipei. It’s a must-visit attraction if you’re hunting for bargain goods and Taiwanese street food. We stayed in an Airbnb nearby and we did purposefully so. Filled with a variety of local, traditional, and international merchandise like clothes, gadgets, and souvenirs, this night market is bursting with energy every single night. And yes, even when it rains! The fun doesn’t stop until midnight. There’s A LOT of tempting food in Shilin Night Market, so it’s wise to get there early to avoid the massive crowds.

2. Taste and compare different milk tea and bubble tea 

Bubble tea must be Taiwan’s unofficial national drink, because there’s plenty of stalls selling bubble tea everywhere. We ended up drinking bubble tea every day when we were in Taipei. We’re such fans of this milky delight! How to spot the best ones? It’s easy. See lines extending around the block? Head for it and don’t miss out. Our best bets are CoCo 都可茶飲, 珍煮丹, and Milk Shop. Tiger Sugar is another must-try.

3. Go mall hopping in Xinyi District 

I’ve been to Taipei three times, and the Xinyi Shopping District (信義區) is always a good choice for shopping. This is where you can find the famous Taipei 101, ATT4FUN, the flagship Eslite bookstore, Neo19, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place, Breeze Songgao as well as other entertainment, shopping, and dining complexes. If you have a loose itinerary, visiting Xinyi District is certainly a good way to explore Taiwan’s remarkable range of shops.

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4. Explore the Beitou Library

We booked via Klook for the first time for the Beitou and Yangmingshan day tour. We met at Taipei Main Station and drove to the first stop: Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch. Located within Beitou Park in Beitou Hot Spring area of Taipei City, Beitou Library is Taiwan’s first green library. The surroundings look clean and green.

What’s notable here is that the library is fitted with eco-friendly features and settings. The building is made entirely of wood. With large windows that allow natural light to substitute interior lighting, ventilation that reduces the need for fans and air-conditioning, and roof covered by photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity, Beitou Library is one of the most energy-efficient and environmental-friendly architecture in East Asia. If you want to also book through Klook and avoid the hassle, click here and get P150 when you sign up.

5. Visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館) is another attraction just within a short walk from Beitou Library. Built during the Japanese colonial era, this museum is a Tudor-style building with a brick and wood façade and black tile roof set picturesquely in the surrounding greenery.

Exhibits inside include the discovery of hokutolite, the geological landscape and development of the Beitou Hot Springs, stories about the reconstruction and preservation of the museum, some posters displaying Beitou’s impact on Taiwanese cinema, the youth of Beitou, and a multimedia auditorium. If you’re interested to learn about Beitou’s rich hot spring culture and history, this is your place to be.

6. Check out the Thermal Valley

When the Japanese took control of Taiwan, they brought with them a rich and well-developed Hot Spring (onsen) culture in Beitou and sought to develop Taiwan’s various hot spring locations into popular destinations for rest and relaxation. One of the coolest attractions is the Beitou Thermal Valley or “Hell Valley” (地熱谷). The lake here is one of the primary sources of hot spring water for the resort area. The emerald green color of the water is probably that of the year-round sulphuric steam that rises up from the water and blankets the valley in a haze of extremely humid fog.

7. Enjoy the surroundings near the Yangmingshan Flower Clock

When exploring Yangmingshan, you can’t miss out on the Flower Clock in Yangming Park (陽明公園, 花鐘). It’s the centerpeice that’s located near the western entrance to the park. The landscape is adorned with many types of flora and fauna. Best time to visit is during the flower festival in Taipei.

8. Visit Yangmingshuwu (Zhongxing Guesthouse), one of Chiang Kai-shek’s official residences

Yangmingshuwu (陽明書屋) served as a place where the late President Chiang Kai-shek received guests from around the world and spent his summer vacations. It was the only residence Chiang Kai-shek chose to build in Taiwan, hence it became one of the culturally and historically significant buildings in the Yangmingshan National Park.

9. Learn the volcanic history of Xiaoyoukeng

Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) is a post-volcanic geological park located on Mt. Qixing’s northwestern foot. This place is known for the fumaroles, sulfur crystals (smell of sulfur is very intense), hot springs and spectacular “landslide terrain.” Most people are surprised when they hear just how close Taipei City is to a dormant volcano. Here you can see streams of fumes coming from fumaroles in the distance. As you get closer, you can feel the geothermal heat and you will even see bubbling puddles by the side of footpath.

10. Take a hike in Qingtiangang Grassland in Yangmingshan National Park

After the eruption of Mt. Zhugao, the lava flowed north towards the area, creating this unique landscape. During the Japanese occupation, Qingtiangang (擎天崗) was established as a ranch for cattle to graze. The park is still home to cows and other wildlife to date. We thought we could see the clouds due to its elevation. Unfortunately, there was too much fog when we got to the top. Anyway, if you’re into hiking, include Qingtiangang Grassland in your itinerary. It’s the most popular hiking destination in Yangmingshan National Park, with a foot path impressively lined with undulating grass and stumpy shrubs.

11. Dip your tired and sore feet in Lengshuikeng

Lengshuikeng (冷水坑) was our last stop in our Klook trip. Why it’s called “cold water pit” when translated into English is that it’s cooler than the hot springs in the area. So visitors are invited to soak their feet into the hot spring for a quick hot spring experience. It’s a popular rest spot for those hiking or touring Yangmingshan National Park. It also houses a visitor center, small restaurant, and a formal hot spring building (where visitors are separated into genders and must enter nude). Access is free for all.

12. Satisfy your palate with hotpot dining

Taipei City is dotted with hot pot restaurants, so make sure to try one. Some feature all-you-can-eat deals, some cater to single diners, while there are also those that specialize in certain, high-quality ingredients like imported beef. In spite of the dizzying variety of Taipei’s hot pot options, what they all offer are intimacy, fun, and bubbling vats overflowing with food. We had lunch in Little Mongolian Hot Pot in Xi Hu with my aunt and cousin.

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13. Go furniture shopping in IKEA

We visit IKEA with sheer excitement whenever we can, outside the Philippines. Since we planned to go food tripping in Raohe Night Market, we might as well check out IKEA Dunhua North Road Store in Songshan District. Located diagonally across Taipei Arena, it’s only two metro stations away from Songshan station. While it’s not the biggest IKEA branch in Taipei, it’s also worth the time to go as it offers reasonable prices, tasteful design, and delicious food. First-time visitors may feel lost, confused, and overwhelmed, and that’s fine. The store has directions everywhere and customer service assistance can help find things you’re looking for.

14. Try delicious Taiwanese street food in Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市)

After visiting IKEA, we went straight to Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市) to get Taiwan street food for dinner. With 600 meters of shopping space, this place is packed with fun and interesting food, quaint shops and entertainment stalls, and carnival games with prizes. We’re surprised that it’s as crowded as Shilin Night Market when we went there. But unlike Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market is easier to navigate and browse through. Traverse two straight lanes and you can find yourself out pretty satisfied. Taiwanese sausages, beef noodles, pork rib noodles, Fu Zhou Shi Zu food stall’s Black Pepper Buns, and monga fried chicken fillet are up for grabs! Read my post here to learn the top 20 Taiwanese street food we tried and recommend.

15. Have a relaxing and soothing foot massage

After hours of walking, we couldn’t help but feel excited when we saw the foot massage center near Raohe Night Market. A well-deserved foot massage helped our feet feel better. If you have sore and tired tourist feet and your feet are screaming for mercy, take time to indulge in a massage; it’s the perfect pampering experience while traveling!

16. Be mesmerized with geological formations in Yehliu Geopark

There’s a limited number of buses that drive to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園) every day, so I booked another Klook tour for our convenience. Yehliu Geopark is home to a number of unique geological formations including the iconic “Queen’s Head” (女王頭). It’s located along a cape stretching out from the town of Wanli.

Part of the Daliao Miaocene Formation, the cape stretches around 1,700 meters, formed as thousands of years of geological movement forced the Datun Mountains to change their shape, jutting out into the ocean. Besides the Queen’s Head, other remarkable formations include Sea Candles (燭台石), Fairy Shoe (仙女鞋), Ginger Rocks, Elephant Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Kissing Rock, and Princess’ Head. Come and enjoy before it morphs into another nature wonder piece. 😛

17. Discover the old streets of Taiwan in Jiufen

When in Taiwan, you can’t have enough street food. Jiufen is another town known for Taiwanese street food. Popular food to try are glutinous rice cakes, peanut ice cream rolls, and meat ball soup.

Originally built by the Japanese, Jiufen is now a maze of lanes and alleyways with rich history and culture. Many buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence. Here you can feel “spirited away” as this was the inspiration for the Japanese fantasy anime, Spirited Away. It was also featured in the Taiwanese historical drama, A City of Sadness.

18. Feel closer to nature at Shifen Waterfall

Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布) isn’t the biggest waterfall but it’s a beautiful sight. The 20-meter tall cascading waterfall is a great background for taking photos. It creates a rainbow as water splashes into the lake.

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19. Write your wishes and fly your own sky lantern at Shifen Old Streets

Shifen Old Streets is a lively place for people who want to get a glimpse of an old railroad town still retaining the charm of the past. It features a collection of lanes and alleys in and around the Shifen railway station area. Originally built to transport coal during the Japanese era, the station and track runs straight through the village. Today, it’s more popular for flying sky lanterns so you can let your wishes come to life.

It’s interesting to know that the sky lanterns were used as a signaling system for those living and working in the railroad industry. We wrote our wishes with calligraphy and released them into the sky. This was certainly one of the coolest things we did in Taiwan.

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20. Try the famous misua and original hot star chicken in Ximending

To make our trip complete, we went to Ximending to have our share of the Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle. I’ve had it a few years ago and it still has the same savory taste. Prepare to queue but don’t be discouraged because it moves quite fast. Note that there are no tables and chair at Ay-Chung Rice Flour Noodles. Place your order, get your bowl of “mee sua” noodles, add condiments, then stand on the street and start slurping…before it gets cold. 🙂

Airbnb has been present since 2008 and it has garnered revenues over $2.6B in 2018, but it’s my first time trying it now…in 2019. 🙂 I’ve always preferred staying in a hotel just because I thought it’s more convenient with the service staff and the usual hotel amenities. Also, I usually check out agoda.com for our hotel bookings. When I get discount offers from the site, see a clean room with a comfortable bed in a location accessible to public transit, I’m happy. If there’s complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi, I’m over the moon!

Call me an Airbnb snob, and my husband is quite the opposite. He prefers having a unique experience and staying in a beautiful room with a homey vibe and creative interior design. Our trip to Taipei was the perfect chance to stay in an Airbnb and that’s exactly what we did. In this post, I’m sharing my review of Uruztopia201 at Shilin Aegean Decor and my experience as a first-time Airbnb guest.

Looking to book your first Airbnb? Sign up via this link to get up to $55 discount (or PhP 2,200 off) toward your first trip. Note: Coupons expire one year from date of sign up.

Review of Uruztopia201 at Shilin Aegean Decor (Taipei, Taiwan)

Location: We wanted to be close to any night market in Taipei since food tripping and shopping are the two main reasons why we came here. At first, our top choice was to stay in Ximending Area or Taipei Main Station. However, there wasn’t a lot of good accommodations available. We also checked online booking sites for hotels but most hotels are farther away from the MRT and are quite pricey. When we turned to Airbnb, we found Uruztopia201 at Shilin Aegean Decor. It’s walking distance away from Shilin Night Market (500 meters from Shilin MRT Station). Note: Exact location will be provided once booking is confirmed.

Space: For only $39 a night, my husband and I shared one room but we felt like having the entire place to ourselves. It’s like staying in our own temporary home in Taipei. How awesome is that! The design was great with the aegean blue and water theme, which was very pleasing to the eyes. The room is also neat. We had to wear bedroom slippers when entering the house. There was good shower water pressure in the private bathroom. It’s also remarkable that safety features are in place: fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, smoke detector, and even a first aid kit.

Amenities: The one downside of staying here is that we didn’t get free breakfast like we normally do when we stay in hotels. That wasn’t a problem since Family Mart and 711 are nearby. We did enjoy a lot of amenities: use of Wi-FI, cable TV, water boiler, mini fridge, blender, small oven, toaster, microwave, and electric stove in the small kitchen area. We were also allowed to prepare and cook our meals. Cooking basics like pots and pans, oil, salt and pepper, dishes and silverware are available. Bathroom essentials (towels, shampoo, soap, and toilet paper) and bed and bath stuff (hair dryer, clothing hangers, bed linens, extra pillows and blankets) were also provided. As mentioned, it’s literally like living in our own home while outside of the Philippines. I can’t ask for more.

Flexibility: Instead of worrying about strict check-in and check-out times that might interfere with our travel itinerary, we had the pleasure of having a kind Airbnb host who offered flexibility throughout our stay. We worked our arrangements prior to our visit and everything was fine since from our first day to the last.

Service: I used to think that Airbnb has the drawback of not having hospitality. I was wrong. Our host, Alan Chen, was friendly and approachable. He answered all my questions even before coming to Taipei and provided his recommendations and local tips as well. He’s free to talk online via WeChat and he showed genuine care to help. He sent me reminders, maps, links to good places to visit as well. I guess this is why many Airbnb guests have rated him 5 stars and also why Airbnb users say that this platform is a fun way to meet locals and learn about local culture.

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Thoughts as a First-Time Airbnb Guest

We had a wonderful experience staying in Uruztopia201 at Shilin Aegean Decor and I recommend it to anyone planning to go to Taipei soon. I guess we got lucky in having a supportive and engaging superhost or we might have just chosen a great place. Because of this, I’m more open to trying more Airbnb space next time! To wrap this post up, here are my some tips when booking your Airbnb:

1. Apply filters. When booking with Airbnb for the first time, apply the many filters available in the site to narrow down choices. These will really help you show results according to budget, preferred locations, amenities, facilities, etc.
2. Read the reviews and looking for a good rating. The reviews are a good basis for choosing where to stay. Check out what other people say about the location, check-in and check-out process, cleanliness, price for value, and all other factors. For us, a rating of 4 and above are worth looking at. If you’re a first-timer like me, it may also be best to book with a superhost, so you can be rest assured that the host already has received good ratings from fellow travelers. Superhosts are the type to reply quickly to inquiries and offer the most secure booking transaction.
3. Pay attention to details. Don’t miss out on every photo uploaded on the Airbnb listing to have a better view of the entire layout and ambiance. Learn which rooms can be entered and which amenities can be used so you won’t be disappointed upon arrival. If unsure, you can send the host a message to reduce the guesswork.
4. Choose the most convenient location for you. It’s best if it’s near restaurants or stores and accessible for public transportation (near a bus stop or MRT). Explore what the neighborhood has to offer before booking. The nearby places and activities you can do in the area are also important in the decision-making process.
5. Do your homework and do compare prices. AirBnb is not always more expensive than a hotel. Accommodation pricing depends on the season and availability for the most part. If hotels don’t fit the bill, give Airbnb a try. At best, you’ll have a good experience as we did. Otherwise, it will be a good experience also to learn for next time. Either way, you’ll have a story to tell your friends and the world. 😉

[schema type=”review” url=”www.airbnb.com/c/louies511″ name=”Review of Airbnb in Taipei, Taiwan” description=”Uruztopia201 at Shilin Aegean Decor” rev_name=”Near Shilin Night Market and Shilin MRT Station” author=”Rochkirstin Sioco” pubdate=”2019-04-25″ user_review=”5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]