T A I W A N
Visa
No visa is required for Taiwan. Visa-exempt entry permitted into Taiwan for up to 90 days.
Money Matters
For local currency, ATMs are ubiquitous including at Taoyuan International Airport but please carry US currency for backup. Money exchanges are also located at the airport and finer hotels will also have exchange, though  at a poorer rate. The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The exchange rate is around NT$27 to US$1, but has fluctuated greatly in recent years. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels (note that receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure).
Major credit cards are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at some tourist-oriented businesses and by room guests at most international tourist hotels. American Express travelers checks can be cashed at the American Express office, 214 Tunhua N. Rd., Taipei, tel: (02) 7151581. Standard tip is NT$30 (US$1) per piece of luggage. A 10% service charge and a 5% value added tax (VAT) are automatically added to room rates and meals. A range for guides is $30-60 per day for smaller parties, with about half for a driver. All other tipping is optional.
Climate
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 22°C (72°F) in the north and 24°C (75°F) in the south. Summers, which last from May through September, are usually hot and humid with average daytime highs from 27° to 35°C (81° to 95°F) Winters, from December through February, are short and mild, with average lows from 12° to 16°C (54° to 61°F.); snow falls only on the higher mountains.
Language
The national language of the Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, though other dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English (the most widely studied foreign language), but taxi drivers generally speak only Chinese.
Telecommunications and Internet
All major carriers have presence in Taiwan, but please check roaming rates. Coverage is excellent except on the Central Range. Internet is ubiquitous with Wifi at hotels and recently the government became one of the first countries in the world to offer free Wi-Fi on a mass scale, to citizens and to foreign tourists. The Taiwan government-backed free “iTaiwan” wireless network launched in 2011, and now has about 4,400 hotspots in major tourist spots, transportation hubs, cultural establishments and government offices all over the island country. You may register an account at visitor information centers at the airport.
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