Is ฿15,000 per adult really enough for a 5-day family trip to Taipei?
Yes for two adults plus a small child under 6 (who travels free at most attractions and shares the parents' bed) — and excluding airfare. The math: a shared 3-star room across 4 nights NT$5,600/adult, food NT$3,000, transport NT$500, attractions plus one Klook day trip NT$2,000, souvenirs NT$1,000 = NT$12,100 per adult or about THB 13,300. That leaves around THB 1,700 buffer per adult for unexpected costs.
Why doesn't a small child count fully in the budget?
Children under 6 enter most Taipei attractions free: Taipei 101 observatory free for kids under 110 cm, National Palace Museum free for under 18, MRT free for under 6. Most 3-star hotels also let one small child share the parents' bed at no extra charge. From age 8 upwards kids pay child or full prices and budget rises by approximately THB 3,000-4,000 per child.
Should I book the Jiufen day trip on Klook or DIY?
Depends on the family. The Klook tour (Yehliu + Jiufen + Shifen) costs NT$1,200/adult with under-110 cm free, includes hotel pickup, and runs about 9 hours with zero transfers. DIY by bus + train costs around NT$330 — less than half — but involves three transfers and a lot of walking, which is hard with toddlers. For families with small kids, Klook saves energy and time and is usually worth the premium.
Where do I book a 3-star hotel for ~NT$2,800 per night?
K Hotel Linsen, amba Ximending, and Hotel Cozzi Ximen all sit in the NT$2,500-3,200 range with breakfast and MRT access. For families, K Hotel Linsen has spacious family rooms and citizenM offers a suite that fits two adults + one child. Book 2-3 months ahead on Agoda or Booking for the best rates.
Is 5 days enough to see Taipei?
For a family it's a comfortable amount: 2 city days (Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Longshan Temple, Maokong Gondola), 1 day trip outside (Jiufen + Shifen), 1 hot spring + sunset day (Beitou + Tamsui), and 1 souvenir + departure day. Small kids won't get exhausted and there's down time. If you want to add Yehliu, Wulai, or Xpark Aquarium, or have older kids, plan for 6-7 days instead.