81 Boats in Taiwan: The Ultimate Guide to Island Hopping Paradise
81 Boats in Taiwan: Island Hopping, Hilariously Honest Review (Plus, Why You NEED to Book NOW!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Taiwan and, let me tell you, 81 Boats is not just a hotel, it's an experience. And I'm here to spill the tea, the bubble tea, the stinky tofu, and everything else that makes this place tick (or sometimes, spectacularly fail).
First off, the name? 81 Boats?! I love it. It's goofy, it's memorable, and it sets the tone for a place that's aiming for island paradise vibes while actually being in Taiwan.
Accessibility… the Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way. They say they have facilities for disabled guests. Alrighty then. Accessibility is something they mention, which is a start. Elevator: YES, thank the heavens. Because, let me tell you, after a day of hiking AND eating, climbing stairs is not my idea of a party. Now, the devil is in the details, right? So, I can't vouch for wheelchair accessibility myself, but they seem to be making an effort. Gotta give 'em that.
On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: Well, you can certainly get to the restaurants (more on those delightful adventures later), but getting around the place… well, let's just say it's a work in progress.
Internet: The Digital Lifeline (and Sometimes a Flaky Friend)
Okay, crucial info. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Amen! Praise the digital gods! I need my internet. I need to keep those Insta stories flowing, you know? The Wi-Fi in public areas was generally okay, but the Internet access – LAN in the rooms? I tried it! It looked like a relic from the early 2000s. Let's just say I mostly stuck to the wireless. Speed was passable for the most part, but don't expect to livestream a blockbuster movie. Things to Do: Island Hopping Bliss (Mostly)
This is where 81 Boats really shines. They’re all about that island hopping lifestyle. And it's not just a slogan, it's woven into the whole experience. They help you book trips, give you advice, and even have… I think it was a "concierge" (I may have been too busy eating noodles to actually utilize it).
Ways to Relax: Spa Days and Sauna Sagas!
- Spa/sauna: Absolutely! The Spa was… well, let's say it was very Taiwanese. I’m talking a deep massage that actually made me yelp in surprise a few times because of how strong it was! But in a good way, eventually. The Sauna was clean and hot, just the way I like it. I went for a body wrap; it felt like being mummified in seaweed. Loved it. Pure bliss. If you're feeling brave, definitely go for it.
- Swimming pool: The swimming pool [outdoor] was gorgeous, overlooking the sea. Picture this: sipping a Mai Tai (or, you know, a local beer) poolside, watching the sunset paint the sky in fiery colors. Pure magic.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Alright, I tried the Fitness center. Don’t judge! After all that food, I knew I should’ve tried. The equipment looked, shall we say, vintage. I did a quick run and peaced out.
Cleanliness and Safety: COVID-era Reality Check
Alright, the pandemic stuff. They're trying. They really are. Hand sanitizer stations are everywhere. Masks are required. Daily disinfection in common areas, room sanitization between stays, and anti-viral cleaning products are all a thing. They have hygiene certification (supposedly). They offer Room sanitization opt-out available, too. The Staff trained in safety protocol, that’s good, you know? It made me feel a little better about getting close to people I don’t know. The doctor/nurse on call is a nice touch, too.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (with a few hiccups)
Okay, food. Let’s talk food, because, honestly, Taiwanese food is amazing.
- Restaurants: They have restaurants. Multiple, actually!
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Check!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Check!
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Check!
- Breakfast: This is where it gets interesting. They do Breakfast in room (super convenient), Asian breakfast, and Western breakfast. The Breakfast [buffet] was… ample. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent. They also had Coffee shop!
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes!
- Desserts in restaurant: YES!
- Bar: Definitely.
- Poolside bar: They DO.
- Happy hour: Praise the booze gods!
- Room service [24-hour]: THANK YOU, sweet baby Jesus.
My personal dining adventure? Okay, so there was this one night… I ended up ordering room service at 3 AM. Because jet lag. And the food? It was spectacular. Some of the best noodles I've ever had. Now, the imperfections I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Service can be a little slow at times. And the communication? Let's just say my Mandarin is a little rusty. But that's part of the charm, right? It's Taiwan. Things aren't always perfect.
Services and Conveniences: Mostly Spot-On, with a Sprinkling of Quirks
Here's the lowdown:
- Concierge: There's one. Did I mention I had a lot of noodles?
- Daily housekeeping: Yes!
- Laundry service: Fantastic.
- Gift/souvenir shop: handy
- Convenience store: Needed it.
- Elevator: Huge plus!
- Cash withdrawal: Nice.
- Doorman: Yes!
For the Kids: Family-Friendly (Mostly)
- Babysitting service: They have it.
- Family/child friendly: Yep.
- Kids meal: Available.
In-Room Amenities: Comfort, Convenience, and a Few Surprises
- Air conditioning: Essential!
- Alarm clock: Old school, but effective.
- Bathrobes: Cozy.
- Coffee/tea maker: Needed!
- Free bottled water: Genius!
- Hair dryer: Excellent.
- Mini bar: stocked.
- Satellite/cable channels: endless entertainment.
- Wi-Fi [free]: crucial.
- Additional toilet: Good!
- Bathroom phone: I even tried it.
- Bathtub: Yes, good!
- Blackout curtains: Necessary.
- Carpeting: Check
- Closet: You'll need it.
- Complimentary tea: Score!
- Desk: Yep.
- Extra long bed: YES!
- High floor: I wanted to be away from the road!
- In-room safe box: Yes!
- Internet access – LAN: Cries in 2003.
- Internet access – wireless: Yay!
- Ironing facilities: Essential.
- Laptop workspace: good
- Linens: Fine.
- Mirror: needed.
- Non-smoking: Yes! Even though I'm not a smoker.
- On-demand movies: awesome.
- Private bathroom: of course!
- Reading light: good.
- Refrigerator: Yes!
- Safety/security feature: Yay!
- Scale: Yes!
- Seating area: Needed!
- Separate shower/bathtub: Yes!
- Shower: Great!
- Slippers: Score!
- Smoke detector: Awesome.
- Socket near the bed: Great!
- Sofa: Yes!
- Soundproofing: Yes!
- Telephone: Good!
- Towels: YES!
- Visual alarm: Good!
- Wake-up service: Awesome.
- Window that opens: Yes!
Getting Around: Transportation Tango
- Airport transfer: They DO. Highly recommended!
- Taxi service: Easy.
- Car park [free of charge]: Always a good thing.
Room Decorations:
- Yes, they have those!
Getting Around and More:
- Car power charging station: Never used it
81 Boat Taiwan: An Itinerary That's Less "Tour Book" and More "Me Surviving the Tropics"
WARNING: May contain excessive enthusiasm, questionable eating habits, and a slight obsession with mangoes. Buckle up, buttercup!
Day 1: Arrival & Taipei Tango (Maybe Not Tango Literally)
- Morning (aka The Sun Already Beat Me): Arrived at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Holy humidity! Felt like I'd stepped into a giant, slightly fragrant, sponge. Finding the airport MRT was…an adventure. Let's just say my "sense of direction" is more "sense of general bewildered flailing." Finally, made it to Taipei Main Station, which is basically Grand Central Station on steroids. And slightly less air-conditioned.
- Afternoon: Hotel Hustle & Street Food Bliss: Checked into my hotel near Ximending. The room? Tiny. But hey, it has air conditioning! Crucial for survival. Immediately plunged headfirst into the Ximending street food scene. Okay, maybe not headfirst. More like, tentatively poking at things with chopsticks. Tried stinky tofu. The smell? Potent. The taste? Surprisingly addictive. Bought a bubble tea the size of my head. Regret immediately followed, then enjoyment.
- Evening: Taipei 101…and Existential Dread: Went up Taipei 101. Views were incredible, obviously. But being that high up made me feel…small. Like, really small. Suddenly, I was contemplating the vastness of the universe and the meaning of life, all while looking at a bunch of tiny buildings. Good times. Dinner at a night market. More food. More bubble tea. My stomach is already starting to feel like a pinball machine.
Day 2: Temples, Tea & Totally Lost (Again!)
- Morning: The Temple Tourist: Visited Longshan Temple. Beautiful, ornate, and packed with people burning incense. Took me a while to figure out the proper way to respectfully observe the rituals – dodging the smoke while not inadvertently offending any deities is a delicate dance. Definitely felt a sense of peace, even with the constant chatter.
- Afternoon: Tea Time & Geographical Confusion: Tea tasting in Maokong. The tea? Superb. The views of Taipei? Gorgeous. My sense of direction? COMPLETELY GONE. Got on the wrong gondola and ended up…somewhere. Eventually, stumbled upon a charming tea house and spent a blissful hour sipping oolong and pretending I wasn't about to throw my itinerary in the trash. Also, bought way too many tea cakes.
- Evening: Din Tai Fung Delights & Karaoke Catastrophe: Finally found my way to Din Tai Fung (after a minor internal meltdown). The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) were heavenly. Absolutely worth the wait. Afterwards, I foolishly volunteered for karaoke. Let's just say my rendition of a Mandarin power ballad cleared the room. Twice.
Day 3: Taroko Gorge & My Near-Death Experience (Kidding…Mostly)
- Morning: Train to Hualien & the Promise of Taroko: Early start! Train to Hualien. The scenery? Stunning. Mountains, coastlines, rice paddies…Taiwan is ridiculously beautiful. Got chatting to a local on the train who informed me that "eating the mangoes is mandatory." Noted.
- Afternoon: Taroko Gorge…and Feeling Like I Could Fall Off a Cliff Any Second: Explored Taroko Gorge. Jaw-dropping doesn't even begin to cover it. The sheer scale of the cliffs, the turquoise river… It's breathtaking, and also slightly terrifying. Hiked some of the trails. Okay, maybe "hiked" is a strong word. More like, "carefully shuffled along, clutching at rocks and praying I didn't trip." The air was a little thin, and there was a lot of very long and intimidating looking drops. And the humidity was even MORE aggressive. Definitely felt my fear of heights come out in full force.
- Evening: Hualien Night Market & Mango Mania: Hualien night market. More food. More mangoes (seriously, they're everywhere here, and I’m not complaining!). Found the BEST mango shaved ice. Pure, unadulterated bliss. Almost died from happiness.
Day 4: Coastal Cruising & Island Dreams (Almost)
- Morning: Coastal Drive & Ocean Views: Rented a scooter (a mistake I'm already second-guessing) and started driving down the east coast. The Pacific Ocean stretched out beside me, shimmering in the sun. Felt like I could drive forever. Until…the scooter sputtered and died. Guess I should have checked the gas. Sigh. Got it sorted out with the help of a very patient shop owner who didn't laugh too hard at me.
- Afternoon: Green Island…or Maybe Not: Planned to take a ferry to Green Island. But the seas were rough. REALLY rough. Decided to abort mission. Instead, I spent the afternoon nursing a mild case of seasickness and eating more mangoes. This island hopping thing is proving more difficult than I imagined. Perhaps I will have better luck in the future.
- Evening: Hualien Relaxation & The Unexpected Encounter: Spent the evening in Hualien, eating dinner and attempting to relax. Ended up at a local bar and unexpectedly ran into the same local I had met on the train. We spent hours drinking tea, talking, and laughing with each other.
Day 5: Sun Moon Lake & Lost in Translation (Again!)
- Morning: Bus to Sun Moon Lake & Scenic Strolls: Bus to Sun Moon Lake. The ride was long and winding, but the final destination was amazing. Took a boat across the lake. The scenery was beautiful, and the air was fresh (a welcome change from the perpetual Taipei smog). Wandered around the Wenwu Temple. The size of the temple, the intricate carvings and the sheer number of people was amazing
- Afternoon: The Bike's (Almost) Gone: Rented a bike for an afternoon. Started off well, and then I fell off. I decided to take a more leisurely pace, and the scenery was beautiful. Found myself hopelessly lost again. Needed help from a kind local to find my way back to the hotel.
- Evening: Decided to try and celebrate my triumphant return to the Hotel with food and drink and ended up at what turned into a very awkward karaoke session.
Day 6: Back to Taipei & Farewell Feasting
- Morning: Train back to Taipei: Spent most of the train ride sleeping. The journey was long, but I made it.
- Afternoon: Taipei Exploration: Found a museum and was instantly overwhelmed by the amount of art. The day continued with more food and an attempt to practice a language class.
- Evening: Farewell Feast & Airport Anticlimax: A final, celebratory dinner. More dumplings. More noodles. More mangoes. My stomach is a seasoned veteran at this point. Heading to the airport now. It's been an adventure!
Day 7: Headed Home
- Morning: Departure!: Time to fly home!
Random Thoughts/Observations:
- Mangoes: Seriously, the mangoes. I dream of them. I crave them. I may or may not have smuggled a few home in my luggage. Don't judge.
- The People: Taiwanese people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Even when I was utterly lost, they were patient and helpful.
- Lost in Translation: My Mandarin skills are about as good as my scooter handling skills. Basically, non-existent. But somehow, it all works out.
- Food Overload: My pants may not fit when I get home. But the food coma is worth it.
- Taiwan is magical, despite the humidity, the constant state of semi-lostness, and the questionable karaoke performances. I already want to go back.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change, spontaneous detours, and severe cravings for mango shaved ice. Be prepared for anything. Especially deliciousness.
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81 Boats in Taiwan: The Island Hopping Guide That (Maybe) Won't Lie to You
Okay, so...Island Hopping in Taiwan? Sounds idyllic. Is it actually?
Idyllic? Hmmm. Depends on your definition of "idyllic." Look, Taiwan is *amazing*, don't get me wrong. But the "island hopping paradise" hype? Let's just say reality is...a little more nuanced. I envisioned myself, wind in my hair, sun-kissed, effortlessly leaping from pristine beach to pristine beach. Mostly, it involved me sweating buckets, battling mosquito armies, and desperately searching for a decent coffee. So, yeah, idyllic... in *some* moments. The rest? Let's just call it "character-building." It’s a wild ride, folks.
81 Boats? Seriously? Are there *that many* ferry options?
Okay, okay, the "81 Boats" part is… well, it’s a *slight* exaggeration. I didn't *literally* count every single tiny sampan, every fishing vessel, and every rusted-out dinghy. But the point is, the ferry network is surprisingly extensive. You've got your big, comfy catamarans, your slightly-less-comfy speedboats, and the occasional frankly terrifying rickety vessel that makes you pray to Poseidon. The options are plentiful, the schedules…less so. Prepare to become intimately familiar with the term "delayed departure." I once waited six hours for a boat. Six. Hours. I think I aged a decade. Or maybe that was the sunburn.
Which islands are actually worth visiting? Give me the lowdown!
Alright, buckle up. Strap in. This is my *opinion*, and it's probably wrong...but here we go.
- Green Island (Lüdao): Absolutely stunning. Volcanic landscape, hot springs, diving opportunities galore. But, and this is a BIG but, super popular. Expect crowds, especially in peak season. I got stuck behind a tour group of approximately a billion people trying to take a selfie at the lighthouse. It was a nightmare. And the food? Surprisingly mediocre. Okay, maybe not *that* mediocre. But, it was not epic. The snorkeling was absolutely amazing. I actually SAW a turtle. Worth it. Just, go early. Like, sunrise early.
- Orchid Island (Lanyu): Culture shock alert! This island, inhabited by the Tao people, is a world away from the mainland. Beautiful scenery, unique culture. But, respecting cultural norms is vital. Be aware. And be prepared for limited English. Communication can be…challenging. I tried to order a drink and somehow ended up with a plate of fried something. I am still unsure what. It was edible, though! Definitely worth it, just do your research. And learn some basic Mandarin…or just mime really, really well.
- Xiao Liuqiu: The closest and easiest island to reach. Accessible from Kaohsiung, and great for first-timers. It's small, but full of charm. You can rent a scooter and zoom around the entire island in a couple of hours. It’s a bit more touristy than Lanyu, but still has its charm. I saw a massive sea turtle *underwater* with my snorkel. I almost choked on my own joy. It’s an easy win for a short trip but prepare to share the space with other travelers.
- The Matsu Islands: More remote, more windswept, and *way* more interesting than I thought. The blue tears phenomenon (bioluminescent plankton) is stunning...when it decides to show up. I went twice and missed it both times. I’m still bitter. Go if you can, if you don’t mind the potential disappointment. The food on Beigan Island was amazing. The local fishermen are amazing cooks!
- Penghu Islands: A series of islands, very popular with Taiwanese tourists. Famous for unique basalt formations and stunning sunsets. It’s the most accessible of the main islands, with regular flights and ferries. It's quite developed, and touristy. I got ripped off at a seafood restaurant there... or maybe I just suck at haggling. Either way, I still loved the scenery.
And there are many more! Each with its own quirks and charms. Do your research! And maybe bring a phrasebook. Or a really good translator app.
What about the actual *boats*? What should I expect?
Okay, here's the unvarnished truth about the boats themselves. They range from sleek to… well, let's just say "characterful."
- The Good: Modern catamarans. Generally comfortable. Air-conditioned (bliss!). Often have snack bars. Relatively on time (ish).
- The Not-So-Good: Speedboats. These can be a bit…bumpy. Prepare for potential seasickness. And cramped seating. Avoid the front row if you’re prone to motion sickness. It's a baptism by spray.
- The "What Was I Thinking?": Older ferries. Sometimes they smell of diesel and regret. They may or may not have functioning air conditioning. They almost always have delays. There's a certain adventure to them, but be prepared for anything. I once took a ferry that looked like it was from the 1970s. It took three times longer than advertised. I felt like I'd walked through a time warp. And I’m pretty sure the life jackets expired in the Jurassic era.
My top tip: Always bring motion sickness medication, even if you *think* you’re not prone to it. Trust me. You’ll thank me later. And a bottle of water. Hydration is key… especially when trying to stay sane during a three-hour delay.
Food! Tell me about the food! Fish? Seafood? What's the deal?
Oh, the food! This is where Taiwan really shines. Seafood is, naturally, a big deal. Fresh, delicious, and often cooked right on the spot. Expect mountains of grilled fish, steamed clams, and fried everything. Eat everything. Try everything. (Unless you have allergies, then be careful.)
My personal highlights (and lowlights):
- Amazing: Freshly grilled squid on Green Island. Spicy clam soup in Matsu. Seriously, the clam soup was the single best thing I ate on the trip. I would have gone back for more every night, honestly. I'm still dreaming of it!
- Good: The night markets. You can find almost anything there! From bubble tea to fried chicken, the island night markets are the best!
- Meh: The tourist trap restaurants. Overpriced. Under-seasoned. Avoid. If you see a restaurant with only English menus, run. Seriously.
- The "What *is* that?" The local fermented tofu. It's an acquired taste. Let’s just say that I did not acquire it. I nearly threw up. Twice. My friend, on the other hand, loved it. Go figure.
Don't be afraid to try new things. Embrace the culinary chaos. And always keep a pack of wipes handy.Scenic Stays
