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How to Travel by Bus in Taiwan

Jane Hung

       When traveling, you probably would like to take public transportation because it is usually cheap and convenient. In Taiwan, taking a bus is a common way for both short and long trips. Basically, you only need to take three steps when traveling by bus in Taiwan: buy tickets, use them, and reuse them. I recommend that you take the Ubus, a big bus company in Taiwan, because their bus fare is the lowest for long trips.

The first step you do is to buy a bus ticket before traveling. You can check the bus schedule along with the bus numbers on the Internet and make a phone call to the company or go there to buy a ticket. If you buy one in advance, the chance for you to get a seat will be much higher. It is usually difficult to get a ticket during special days, such as the week of Chinese New Year and national holidays. Hence, buying a ticket in advance is a safe way to make sure that your trip will not be delayed. You can also buy a ticket at a bus station and use it right away, but it works better only in the early morning and late evening. Do not worry that you cannot buy a ticket at a certain time. The ticket service of the Ubus is around the clock. In addition, I strongly recommend you to buy a set of three tickets because the bus fare for a set is 30 % off. You will usually use two of them in a trip, and then you can sell the third one to another person. If it is hard for you to sell the ticket, you can keep it and use it next time within six months.

Then it is time to use the bus ticket. If you buy it in advance, you need to go to the bus service counter first before using it. The clerks in the counter will give you a number on the ticket. The number is the order for you to get on the bus. You need to wait in line if you do not get number one. When a bus comes, a ticket inspector will call out the numbers and you need to show your number to him or her. After the ticket inspector checks your ticket with the right number, you can get on the bus and choose any seat you like. Sometimes, if there are too many people, you will need to wait for another bus. Because a bus has to stop at many places as it runs, it cannot take all the passengers who have tickets in one place. Traveling by bus usually takes more time than driving by yourself; however, it is more convenient. Besides, you do not need to spend time finding a space where you can park your car safely in Taiwan.

When arriving at your destination, do not immediately throw away your ticket receipt. You can reuse it when taking smaller local buses around a city or town. Exchange your ticket receipt on a local bus for a card and you can have a free ride. Give the card back to the bus driver when you reach your destination. By doing so you can save money for one ride. It is great, isn’t it? Yes! Just go for it. Taking a bus to travel in Taiwan is easy and cheap, especially when taking the Ubus.

If you are not in a hurry or you want to spend less in a trip, taking a bus to travel in Taiwan is an excellent way. The Ubus can be your best choice. Hope you enjoy your bus trips here.