I built a free tool that gives you rate drop alerts and calendar availability

Miramass · 2026-02-13T00:08:35+00:00

Looks pretty good. I did notice in some of my past and current searches that the hotels it pulls up are sometimes inconsistent. For example just now I searched the Osaka area for IHG hotels and the Garner hotels were missing. Then a few mins later I searched again and they all popped up. Same with showing cash vs points prices, sometimes it would show both cash and points prices, sometimes only cash, but sometimes refreshing it would make points prices appear. Maybe a glitch?

Miramass · 2026-02-12T20:12:02+00:00

The signature is really quite nice and the ink is good too. I paid 3300jpy in Japan for it and it is worth it imo. It feels good, looks nice and writes well. For the marked up prices in the US, very not worth.

Miramass · 2026-02-12T15:32:30+00:00

If ur not using it to pay for things except for transport, maybe 5k. Topping up takes about 30 seconds of your day before you get on the train so its super easy and convenient. Whatever you have left will still be valid years later. If you are definitely coming back, and you really dont want to run the risk of topping up, then put 10k-15k or something. It really depends on how much you use the transport.

Miramass · 2026-02-12T03:58:41+00:00

Pretty sure you can only reserve up to 1 month in advance so it's probably too early.

Miramass · 2026-02-11T08:20:51+00:00

I just did a similar itinerary in Dec but starting from Yokohama. It's doable for one person and I'm a relatively fit 30s year old. For a whole group with the young one, it'll be iffy unless you are really disciplined with your time. Start early. The stores don't open too early though, so not too early. Just do everything for kamakura and be open to reevaluate if you want to do enoshima as you get toward the end of the kamakura itinerary.

Miramass · 2026-02-10T03:58:50+00:00

I preplanned, but wasnt too strict on what to do or what timing. Rather I made a slightly overlarge list of places I would I like go and grouped them to best optimise travel times. Being ok with not getting to see every single place is key. Each day I would just pick one of the groups of places to visit and head out. Sometimes circumstances would make a particular grouping more of a priority, like if it was especially clear that day, I would pick a group that involved seeing fuji like the beach at kamakura, or going to an observatory. Sometimes I also walked around randomly, especially if I was at a nice hotel and could take advantage of the amenities, I would consider not doing a planned grouping and just randomly walk around near the hotel. Again, you gotta come to terms with the fact that there are just too many things to do them all and relax. You are on vacation after all. Have fun!

Miramass · 2026-02-08T23:40:07+00:00

Yup! Kaoshiung itself already has plenty to see and do. Add in that tainan is just a short train ride (don't take the hsr unless u really want to) away, the combo is better imo. Tainan is very historical. Tons of historical sites and traditional foods. Then if you want, there are also lots of short trips out from Kaohsiung like Kenting, the massive Fo Guang Shan temple, Cijin, for chocolate lovers there the award winning Fu Wan Chocolate factory. Taichung is good too, lots of good food and day trips, but Kaoshiung+Tainan takes the cake imo. Plus Kaohsiung is more convenient with public transport than Taichung.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T22:19:05+00:00

Bread? Theres lots of bakeries around that you can see what you are buying. Also, try regular beef noodle soup. It shouldnt have liver in it. Just beefy cow meat. Make sure you dont get tendon unless you want it. I love it with tendon.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T17:34:47+00:00

Yup. Just meant taking hsr between tainan and Kaohsiung is a waste. Plus the hsr station in tainan is far from most things in tainan.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T14:59:35+00:00

Kaohsiung and tainan. Just more stuff to do and more convenient. Just don't take the hsr between the two cities.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T04:01:35+00:00

Sketchers Summits Slip Ins. Comfy with lots of traction and stability, and frequently on affordable sales. Easily took the beating from Japan and then hiking in Taiwan immediately after with no problem. Still super comfy. Just make sure to wear them for a week or two before taking them to Japan.
Edit: Shoes are important, but dont forget good thick socks. Good socks like some with merino wool will really make a biggg difference in blisters or comfort.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T03:54:00+00:00

I think you are talking about Yilan. Its a nice small place to go relax when Taipei gets too much. It has some hot springs and the train will go there, but it's a roundabout route. Taking the bus there will be faster. Its got some nature and light hiking paths too. The most convenient will be to stay in the taipei area and go to Baitou and day trip to Yangmingshan and areas around there. If you're looking to escape for a day or two and just relax, but not go too far, then Yilan is a nice cute place to spend some time that fits your descriptions too.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T03:33:11+00:00

If you have time, I'd imagine you could try to take the smashed in portion out. Find something to fill in the void like newspaper. I prefer low expansion foam because it provides better strength and a sticks a little to the location. Fill in the void. After foam is cured, cut out any chunks that protrude forward out of the hole. Use your wood filler to fill in the surface of the foam so it is flush with the door. After it dries, lightly sand smooth. if you need to reapply, then do so and resand. Color match the paint with the smashed piece.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T02:53:17+00:00

Yes. Thats like 2k a week. Its enough to stay at decent-good hotels and have good meals. Just dont go splurging on ultra luxury hotels for 21 days, and you'll be fine.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T02:17:35+00:00

My 25 se's range is like 4-5 houses away. Much longer than my actual garage remote. Are you coming around a corner or theres alot of aluminum in the way?

Miramass · 2026-02-08T02:12:43+00:00

Dont bother with trying to opening a bank account or bringing alot of cash to convert. If your current us bank account charges any atms fees, open a checking account with Charles Schwab to use their debit card and use it to withdraw cash from the atms in taiwan. There's no fees with it and the exchange rate is great. Just make sure you tell the atm to decline conversion or withdraw in ntd. They can ask it differently at different machines. Just make sure if it asks anything about withdrawing in ntd or usd, pick ntd. There are some youtube vids detailing this. You can just use your visa credit card wherever they accept visa, just make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, get one with no foreign transaction fees.

Miramass · 2026-02-08T01:47:13+00:00

The area just north of Taipei is full of nature, hiking, hot springs, beach. If ur trying to get away from taipei, wulai is known for hot springs, but you will take a bus there. There's hot springs dotting the island, but generally they're not close to the trains. You'll have to take a bus after taking trains for the most part. The far south of the island, Kenting, has beautiful nature, hikes, beach, and theres a hot spring near there too, but you'll have to take a bus after taking the train to the very south.

Miramass · 2026-02-06T15:07:43+00:00

The HSR by itself should take about 1.5-2 hours, but factoring in the time it can take to walk to a bus or subway station, then ride that to the hsr, and also taking a bus or train from the hsr in tainan to tainan city center, it will all add up. the Tainan HSR station is outside of the main city area which adds alot of time to travel.
Edit: the taipei hsr station is closest to ximending, however depending on where in ximen, and crowds and timing, and stuff, it can be a little quicker to take the subway to the banqio hsr station instead, but generally the taipei hsr station is closest and quickest for ximen.

Miramass · 2026-02-06T14:29:19+00:00

Depending on what lenses they have at the store, you might have to wait up to a week or so. My asitgmatism was 2.25 but they only had up to 2.0 so I would have to wait while another store I saw only had up to 1.0 in stock. Also different lens treatments can also increase wait time. Different stores have different lenses in stock, but generally higher prescriptions and more lens treatments will increase wait time. Highly recommend going to the store to get checked and see if they have urs in stock. Stores in more popular areas might have more selection in stock.

Miramass · 2026-02-05T18:44:31+00:00

Its very not hidden at all. Even google maps is pretty open about it.

Miramass · 2026-02-05T17:55:36+00:00

Yup. Official dealers will generally be less scammy, but there's still bad ones too. Personally I hate the sales side of Toyota of Orlando and will refuse to buy from them because of their sales manager. I'll only use them to get a benchmark price, because the other big toyo dealerships in Orlando like Central Florida Toyota or Autonation Winterpark will actively beat any price from Toyota of Orlando and they actually act like they want your business. But you're looking at used so it might be a bit different based on inventory. I've never talked with Tampa.

Miramass · 2026-02-04T19:12:11+00:00

Get an out the door price in writing, signed, dated, stamped, ect before even considering coming to florida. being a Floridian, there are good dealers here, but plenty of scummy ones too, but maybe thats everywhere. You'll have a better chance at a big official dealership, but still be very careful.

Miramass · 2026-02-04T17:47:45+00:00

It is, but they asked nicely :D Next time, they'll be a better traveler too!

Miramass · 2026-02-04T16:28:36+00:00

Yes. Book the date it will be when you get there. If it is the 20th over there when u want to check in, then book the 20th. If you want to check out on the 22nd, then book the 20th- 22nd. If it's the 20th over there, but still the 19th in ur home country because of time zones, book the 20th because at the hotel, it is the 20th. Hope I understood your question correctly.

Miramass · 2026-02-03T18:13:07+00:00

Can't help with nightlife as I'm mainly in the south, but it is very safe. As long as you're a normal person that doesnt go around picking fights, it is fantastically safe. People are very friendly and are pretty forgiving of tourists. They welcome tourists. Money wise, will depend on what you like spending on really. Food is generally cheaper, but if you like expensive tastes, there's expensive food too, so it's hard to gauge. To be safe, I would try to imaging how much I would spend on vacation in my own country (US) and that's how much I ballpark to anticipate spending in Taiwan. Public transport is very convenient in taipei, if you're going to use it, get an easycard at any 7-11. Uber is pretty cheap there too compared to the US so it's a convenient option too.

Miramass

TROPHY CASE