Important Facts: Things to Know Before You Fly

Traveling to a new country always comes with a few "I wish I knew that earlier" moments. To save you the trouble of doing deep-dive homework, here is a quick guide to the random but critical facts about Taiwan. 🔌 Electricity & Sockets

• The Socket: Taiwan uses Type A and Type B (the same as the US).

• Voltage: 110V

• For UK/EU travelers: You will definitely need a travel adapter. If your devices are from the US, you can plug them straight in.
  

💰 Money & Payments

Taiwan is ultra-modern, but it remains a surprisingly cash-heavy society.

• The Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD / NTD)
  

• The Mental Math:

  • 1 USD ≈ 30 TWD

  • 1 GBP ≈ 40 TWD (Example: a bottle of beer 120 TWD is around 4 USD / 3 GBP)
    

• Common Notes:

  • $100: £2.5 / $3.5 ish (The red one, keep plenty of these!)

  • $500: £12.5 / $16.5 ish

  • $1000: £25 / $33 ish
    

• Card vs. Cash: You can use cards in convenience stores (7-11, Family Mart etc), malls, hotels, and big restaurants. However, for night markets, small boutiques, and local eateries, cash is essential.
  

• Digital Pay: Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most chain stores. Amex is often NOT accepted, so always have a Visa or Mastercard backup. Many cash-only places also accept Line Pay (Line is the primary messaging app in Taiwan, similar to how everyone uses WhatsApp in the West).
  

• The "Receipt Lottery": Every time you buy something, you’ll get a receipt with an 8-digit number. This isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a government lottery ticket! Winning numbers are drawn every 2 months, and prizes range from $200 TWD to $10 million TWD. Even tourists can win, you just need your passport to claim the prize. BTW, the success rate is high! I’ve never heard of any Taiwanese who hasn't won at least once. If you don't want to carry them around, feel free to give them to Chi! If your receipt hits the jackpot, she’ll split the winnings with you 50/50. 😉

Source: I won $10 in the Taiwan receipt lottery

🤝 Cultural Etiquette (The Good Guest Guide)

• No Tipping: There is no tipping culture in Taiwan. Please don’t randomly tip people, some might even find it insulting, as if you think the country is struggling or you are better than them. But a "I love your service" is appreciated! * A 10-12% service charge is often added at restaurants/bars.
  

• No Bargaining: Prices are as marked. Taiwan economy is strong, so people normally won't overcharge you just because you're a foreigner, so there's no need to haggle.
  

• The "Trash" Situation: Because of Taiwan's "Garbage doesn't touch the ground" policy, you’ll notice there are very few bins on the street.

  • The Local Hack: Carry a small plastic bag in your pocket for your personal trash. You can dispose of it when you get back to your hotel (or just somewhere you find opportunities).

  • The "Ice Cream Truck" That Isn't 🚛

    If you hear classical music playing loudly on the street, don’t run outside looking for ice cream. That is the garbage truck! In Taiwan, we don’t leave trash on the curb to sit all day; the trucks play music so everyone knows to come out and hand-deliver their bags. It’s like a neighborhood social hour, but with trash.

🏮 The Number 4

You might notice some buildings "missing" the 4th floor. In Mandarin, the word for "four" (si) sounds very similar to the word for "death". It’s just a bit of local superstition, so don't be alarmed if your elevator button goes straight from 3 to 5.