Question 1

Is taking the HSR from Jiufen to Alishan a good idea?

Accepted Answer

To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from Jiufen to Alishan, HSR is quick but pricey and has difficult taxi access. From the earliest departure at 06:26 to the latest at 22:16, there are up to 59 high-speed rail from Taipei to Chiayi each day. Assuming you depart from Jiufen (Ruifang District, New Taipei City)  and head to the nearest Taipei HSR station, a taxi ride would cost about NT$1,600 and take approximately 57 minutes. After arriving at the HSR station, the time to walk in, purchase tickets, and wait on the platform is about 25 minutes. Then, take a 73-103-minute (91 min on average) HSR ride from Taipei Station to Chiayi HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$1,080 per person, followed by a 5-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 142 minutes with a fare of NT$2,600, you will arrive at your destination at Alishan (Alishan Township, Chiayi County). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 5 hours and 20 minutes. Assuming 4 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$2,130. In suburban and rural areas, taxis are already limited. Unlike in big cities, rural drivers don’t actively drive around to look for passengers. So if you need a taxi on the spot, you may have to wait a long time—or you simply won’t find one nearby.. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$1,930, and the journey takes 5 hours and 56 minutes. For long-distance travel, the HSR is indeed faster than a car by 36 minutes, but it comes with an extra transportation cost of about NT$800. 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 Jiufen to Alishan?

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 玖肆伍參國際租賃, 泰一小客車租賃, 瑞鋐通運, available in the Jiufen - Ruifang District, New Taipei 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 Jiufen and Alishan, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4700 or NT$7700 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi.  If you plan to sightsee along the way to Alishan, 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 Jiufen, 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 Jiufen to Alishan?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the New Taipei City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc.. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$9,015 and 13,500, but you could save up to NT$5,800 by booking with Tripool instead. Please be aware that since the Jiufen is in a remote area, taxis do not cruise the streets. You are unlikely to be able to hail one directly. Taxis here typically only accept pre-bookings by phone, and calling for one on the spot may result in a significant waiting time. If you plan to make a return trip on the same or next day, be aware that taxis are even harder to find in Alishan (in the Chiayi County area), as Chiayi County has only about 325 taxis. It is recommended to plan ahead. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from Jiufen to Alishan in terms of both price and service quality.

Question 4

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

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 5

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 6

What are included in the service fee? Is there any extra charge or hidden fee?

Accepted Answer

The quote on the website and the app already include the car rental fee, driver's fare, cost of gasoline, toll fee, insurance, and tips. Passengers don't have to pay for the driver's meals and accommodation fees. There is no other hidden fee. What passengers see on the website is the actual price.

Question 7

Does tripool provide child car seats for private transportation service between Jiufen to Alishan?

Accepted Answer

According to the law in Taiwan, all passengers have to fasten seat belts, no matter what ages they are. For a baby below 4-year-old or a young child who cannot comfortably be on the seat with a seat belt, it is necessary to use a car seat or a safety booster. There is a check box for renting a baby car seat or a child safety booster on the check-out page. Each rental fee is NT$300. If you need multiple car seats/boosters or you need an infant car seat, please check with our online customer service first. Tripool encourages parents to bring their car seats and boosters, and, of course, it is free of charge.

Question 8

How can I book a car with a lot of luggage or oversized objects?

Accepted Answer

In common, a 9-seater van can accommodate eight passengers with six 30" luggage. Suppose there are fewer passengers in the car. In that case, our driver can fold down the rear seats. There will be more space for oversized objects, such as surfboards, golf clubs, instruments, foldable bikes, desktop computers, etc. As long as these objects won't block the driver's sight and do no damage to the car body, passengers can put as many luggage and items as they like. But extra charge may be needed. You can find the details in the FAQ section. We suggest measuring the size, telling how many items to our online service first, and making the order afterward.

Item	tripool	HSR	Car Rental	Taxi
Travel Time	355 mins	-	385-415 mins	370-385 mins
Price per Person	NT$1,930/person	NT$2,130/person	NT$1,180/person	NT$2,260-3,380/person
Pros	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
Cons	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 Risk of no return service Higher price

Jiufen→Alishan: high-speed rail is the fastest, and car rental is the cheapest

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