Question 1

Is taking the HSR from 富華大飯店 to Shifen a good idea?

Accepted Answer

To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from 富華大飯店 to Shifen, HSR is quick but pricey and has difficult taxi access. From the earliest departure at 06:03 to the latest at 22:23, there are up to 75 high-speed rail from Tainan to Taipei each day. Assuming you depart from 富華大飯店 (Zhongxi District, Tainan City)  and head to the nearest Tainan HSR station, a taxi ride would cost about NT$300 and take approximately 33 minutes. After arriving at the HSR station, the time to walk in, purchase tickets, and wait on the platform is about 15 minutes. Then, take a 85-120-minute (104 min on average) HSR ride from Tainan Station to Taipei HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$1,350 per person, followed by a 15-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 52 minutes with a fare of NT$1,000, you will arrive at your destination at Shifen (Pingxi District, New Taipei City). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 3 hours and 39 minutes. Assuming 4 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$1,680. However, in Tainan City, there are only just over 4,100 licensed taxis. The taxi density is 4.6% of that in the Taipei/New Taipei metro area. In other words, hailing a taxi on the spot is 20 times more difficult than in a major city like Taipei. Even if you are lucky enough to hail a cab, a minority of taxi drivers in Tainan City may not use the meter, and might overcharge or take detours, especially with passengers who appear to be from out of town. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$1,630, and the journey takes 4 hours and 39 minutes. For long-distance travel, the HSR is indeed faster, but it comes with an extra transportation cost of about NT$200. Therefore, for those who are not in a major hurry, booking with Tripool is the more cost-effective option. If you are traveling in a group of three or less, you can also consider Tripool's carpooling service to save up to an additional 50% on transportation costs.

Question 2

Is it advisable to rent a car and drive from 富華大飯店 to Shifen?

Accepted Answer

If you have a driver's license, do not mind driving yourself, and you do not need to use the travel time to rest in the car, there are only a few rental car companies, such as 可德租賃, 雲嘉小客車租賃, 綺驛國際租賃, available in the 富華大飯店 - Zhongxi District, Tainan City area. Typically, car rentals are billed by the day. A small sedan like a Toyota Corolla or Ford Fiesta costs around NT$1500 per day, while a 9-seater van like a Hyundai Staria or Volkswagen Caravelle starts at NT$4500 per day. Extra costs such as fuel (approx. NT$3/km), eTag tolls (approx. NT$1/km), roadside parking (approx. NT$40/hour), insurance, and potential fines are not included. Most rental agreements specify a daily mileage limit of 200-400 km, with surcharges ranging from NT$100 to NT$2,000 for exceeding it. Since the vast majority of rental companies do not offer one-way rentals, assuming you make a same-day round trip between 富華大飯店 and Shifen, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4500 or NT$7500 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi.  If you plan to sightsee along the way to Shifen, renting a car for the day is certainly convenient and affordable, but it means the driver will not get to relax or fully enjoy the trip. Moreover, the rental location may be some distance from 富華大飯店, and you must adhere to their business hours for pickup and return. The rental process itself is tedious, often taking an extra 30 minutes for contracts and vehicle inspection. You may even need to refuel the car yourself before returning. If you encounter a dishonest operator, you risk being hit with various unjustified charges upon return.

Question 3

Would it be economical to take a taxi from 富華大飯店 to Shifen?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Tainan City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc., and if you cannot hail a cab on the street, you can also consider calling the only neighborhood taxi company in Zhongxi District, Tainan City, 一成計程汽車行 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$6,815 and 8,200, but you could save up to NT$1,700 by booking with Tripool instead. But if you cannot book in advance or prefer to hail a cab on the spot, be aware that in the whole Tainan City, there are only about 4,140 licensed taxis. The taxi density is just 4.6% of that in the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, meaning it is 20 times more difficult to hail a cab on the spot compared to Taipei or New Taipei. Furthermore, some taxi drivers in Tainan City flat-out refuse to use the meter. Nearly 17% of them will try to negotiate the fare on the spot—often asking far above the standard rate. If you’re not familiar with local pricing, you are an easy target. To avoid getting ripped off, it is strongly advised to book online in advance. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from 富華大飯店 to Shifen in terms of both price and service quality.

Question 4

Does tripool provide charter tour services? Is there a price list that I can check first?

Accepted Answer

Tripool provides private day tours and charter services all around the island, including Shifen and 富華大飯店. Tourists are welcome to choose from point-to-point transportation service to 2~12 hours private trip service. The price is 100% transparent without any hidden fee. What you see on the website/app is the actual price. There is no need to email us or even make a phone call to verify. The full-day service price may not be lower than other providers. But if you only need a few hours or just a one-way transfer service, we can guarantee that our price is the most competitive in the market and tripool is the best choice. We offer 5-seater sedans, SUVs, and 9-seater vans. If your group is more than 9, we can arrange a bigger bus for you.

Question 5

Which is the best taxi app in Taiwan? Uber? Grab? Didi? Bolt? Lyft?

Accepted Answer

Among these options, Uber is the only one with broad and reliable coverage in Taiwan, available in major cities such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Grab does not operate in Taiwan. Didi previously entered the market but has since exited. Bolt has just launched in Taiwan and is currently limited to Taipei. Lyft is not available in Taiwan. If you are choosing among these five, Uber is by far the most practical and widely used option in Taiwan. However, for longer intercity transfers, airport rides, or day trips, tripool is often a better choice—offering transparent pricing, professional drivers, and coverage across Taiwan.

Question 6

Will tripool provide a receipt for my booking? Can I use it for employee expense reimbursement?

Accepted Answer

Tripool will send a receipt through the third-party system one week after the ride. If passengers need to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, there is a blank to fill with the company's title and tax ID. It's legal, and there is no extra 5% for the receipt. Once the receipt is received via email, it can be printed out for reimbursement or saved as a PDF.

Question 7

Do tripool and the drivers provide legal car-hiring services in Tainan City and New Taipei City?

Accepted Answer

There are many gypsy cabs or illegal taxis in Line and Facebook groups. Their fares are cheap but with many risks. If the cabs are pulled over by polices, passengers cannot continue the trip. If there is an accident, none of the insurance companies will settle a claim. Worst of all, illegal drivers may conduct crimes without any trace. Don't put your life at risk for just saving a few bucks. On the other hand, tripool contracts with legal drivers without any criminal record. All vehicles provide up to $5 million in insurance. The easiest way to distinguish a legal vehicle is the car plate number. Unless the initial character of the car plate number is either T or R, the car is 100% illegal for taxi service.

Question 8

What type of vehicle should I book for a group of more than 9?

Accepted Answer

Some drivers in Line and Facebook groups claim that they can offer private transportation services with a group of more than 8 in a single van, but their services are illegal. According to Taiwan traffic laws, a van can only accommodate nine people maximum, including a driver. Excluding a driver, the maximum number of passengers is 8. If your group is 9 or more and you prefer to travel together in one vehicle, a bus is the only legal option. Some 9-seater van drivers modify their cars and add one or two extra chairs. If these modified vans are detected by the polices on the street, your trip will be terminated immediately. Worst of all, there are additional risks for accidents. And insurance is definitely not covering it. Don't risk your family's and friends' life for a lower price. If your group is no more than 10, we recommend hiring a 9-seater van and a 5-seater sedan. It is cheaper than booking a bus on most occasions. But if your group is more than 12, hiring a bus may be ideal. However, there are few exceptions, such as traveling to mountain areas or narrow lanes. It is better to consult our online service before booking.

項目	tripool 旅步	高鐵	租車	計程車
行程時間	280 mins	-	310-340 mins	295-310 mins
每人價格	NT$1,630/person	NT$1,680/person	NT$1,130/person	NT$1,710-2,050/person
優點	1–8 passengers Truly pickup anywhere Ride guaranteed No hidden fees	Comfortable seating No time wasted	Low-cost Flexible schedule	Meets urgent needs No upfront payment
缺點	Pre-booking only No cash	Tickets often sold out in peak season Multiple transfers needed Higher fare	Extra commute to car pick-up Time restrictions for pick-up and return Additional risk involved Requires same-day return or a multi-day rental	Inconsistent quality Difficult to find a ride Higher price Risk of overcharging

富華大飯店→Shifen: high-speed rail is the fastest, and car rental is the cheapest

Your itinerary, your schedule. We just drive

關於 tripool 旅步

我們的服務車款

五人座

七人座

九人座

合作夥伴＆企業用戶

Shifen 接送常見問題

除了富華大飯店到 Shifen，還有⋯

立即下載 tripool App

到府接送直達服務

立即下載 tripool App

更多從富華大飯店附近出發的路線

除了富華大飯店到 Shifen，還有⋯

富華大飯店→Shifen: high-speed rail is the fastest, and car rental is the cheapest

Your itinerary, your schedule. We just drive

關於 tripool 旅步

我們的服務車款

五人座

七人座

九人座

合作夥伴＆企業用戶

Shifen 接送常見問題

除了 富華大飯店 到 Shifen，還有⋯

立即下載 tripool App

到府接送直達服務

立即下載 tripool App

更多從 富華大飯店 附近出發的路線

除了 富華大飯店 到 Shifen，還有⋯

除了富華大飯店到 Shifen，還有⋯

更多從富華大飯店附近出發的路線

除了富華大飯店到 Shifen，還有⋯