Question 1

Is taking the HSR from Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel a good idea?

Accepted Answer

To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from downtown Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel, HSR is expensive and slow. From the earliest departure at 05:50 to the latest at 22:10, there are up to 87 high-speed rail from Zuoying to Nangang each day. Assuming you depart from Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City and head to the nearest Zuoying HSR station, a taxi ride would cost about NT$200 and take approximately 25 minutes. After arriving at the HSR station, the time to walk in, purchase tickets, and wait on the platform is about 20 minutes. Then, take a 105-145-minute (125 min on average) HSR ride from Zuoying Station to Nangang HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$1,530 per person, followed by a 10-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 290 minutes with a fare of NT$6,600, you will arrive at your destination at Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel (Guangfu Township, Hualien County). The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 7 hours and 46 minutes. Assuming 2 people traveling together, the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$4,930. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$4,240, and the journey takes 6 hours and 35 minutes. Choosing the HSR over a private charter will not only cost each person at least an extra NT$690 in fares but also waste an additional 71 minutes on transfers and waiting. Book with Tripool now! If you are traveling alone, 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 Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel?

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 about 25 rental car companies, such as 嘉鑫國際租賃, 永業人文交通, 假期汽車租賃, available in the Sanmin District, Kaohsiung 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 Kaohsiung (Sanmin District) and Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4100 or NT$7100 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi. However, if Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel has extensive indoor facilities or the attractions you want to visit are nearby, renting a car for the entire day seems wasteful. Moreover, the rental location may be some distance from your home/office/starting point, 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 Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Kaohsiung 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 taxi fleets, such as 大都會衛星車隊, 伍福交通, 有限責任高雄市大昌計程車 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$5,835 and 7,000. However, when considering the return trip, in Hualien County there are only about 1,010 licensed taxis. This is about 10% of the number of taxis in Kaohsiung City, and its density is just 0.5% of the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, making it 190 times more difficult to hail a cab there. Although a metered taxi from central Kaohsiung to central Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel might be cheaper, if your group has five people or more, taking two taxis will be more expensive; booking a 9-seater van with Tripool could save you up to NT$900. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel in terms of both price and service quality.

Question 4

How can I make sure the driver will pick me up? What if the driver doesn't show up?

Accepted Answer

Once the booking process is completed and getting an order ID, the reservation is confirmed. Tripool promises a private car will pick passengers up on time. All the essential information, such as the driver's name, mobile number, car model, and car plate number, will be sent via SMS and email. If the driver is not at the pick-up location, passengers can contact the driver via mobile phone. The driver may be away due to a lack of parking space and waiting nearby. Suppose there is some serious emergency or traffic jam to delay the trip. In that case, tripool will rearrange a driver to reduce passengers' waiting time.

Question 5

Does tripool really offer private car service at a lower price? What are the price ranges for other taxi companies? What is the cheapest option?

Accepted Answer

Customers are always looking for a lower price with better service. There are Taiwan Taxi, Metro Taxi, Line Taxi, and Uber for short-range service in the Taiwan taxi market. There are CallCarBar, JoinMe, Car Plus, Easy Rent for long-range private car services. And for charter day tour services, there are KKDAY and Klook. Tripool focuses on long-distance point-to-point transportation and hourly ride service. No matter where you're from or where you'll go (of course, including Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel), we guarantee there will be a vehicle available to take you there. Tripool uses AI algorithms to dispatch hundreds of cars around the island to increase efficiency and lower the price by 20~30%. Travelers can easily find that tripool is the best choice for private car service.

Question 6

Why does tripool charge cheaper than other taxis?

Accepted Answer

For regular long-distance travelers, they find Tripool's price may be too low to be good. On the contrary, Tripool has a high standard for selecting drivers and vehicles. Besides dropping drivers who are low rated, we also send mystery shoppers regularly to test drivers' service. Tripool's drivers are not allowed to smoke in the cars, and they have to wear masks all the time during the pandemic. We don't compromise our service for a low cost. Tripool can provide excellent service with 70~80% of the market price because of AI algorithms. We use these to dispatch vehicles to increase efficiency. Tripool can use fewer drivers to serve more travelers, especially in high seasons like Chinese New Year, Christmas, and summer vacation. Fewer drivers mean better quality control. The price on tripool's website and app are dynamic. Generally, the earlier a ride is booked, the lower price it is. Most of all, all booking are 100% refundable as long as the cancelation request is made one day before noon, no matter what the reason is. If you are preparing to go from Kaohsiung to Unique Hotel - Smile 73 Hotel, it's better to reserve it now to secure the best price.

Question 7

Do tripool and the drivers provide legal car-hiring services in Kaohsiung City and Hualien 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 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.

Item	tripool	HSR	Car Rental	Taxi
Travel Time	395 mins	465 mins	425-455 mins	400-410 mins
Price per Person	NT$4,240/person	NT$4,930/person	NT$2,050/person	NT$2,920-3,500/person
Pros	1–8 passengers Truly pickup anywhere Ride guaranteed No hidden fees	Comfortable seating	Low-cost Flexible schedule	Meets urgent needs No upfront payment Cheap for short trips
Cons	Pre-booking only No cash	Tickets often sold out in peak season Multiple transfers needed Takes time and costs more	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 Usually limited to 4 passengers

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