How Do People from Southern Taiwan Get to Taoyuan Airport at Midnight? Skip the Taxi! Insiders Reveal 'One Trick' to Sleep Well and Save Money: High Cost-Performance

Many travelers aim to maximize their overseas trips while saving on airfare by booking early-morning 'red-eye flights.' For those in northern Taiwan, sharing taxi costs with companions makes the trip to Taoyuan International Airport relatively affordable. However, for residents in central and southern Taiwan, the lack of public transportation at night means relying on long-distance taxis, which can be so expensive that it negates the savings from budget airline tickets.

So how can travelers from southern Taiwan smoothly and affordably catch early flights? The answer lies in mastering insider strategies that combine transportation and accommodation, ensuring a refreshed start to their overseas journey.

Is it really difficult to reach Taoyuan Airport at night? Netizens highlight two core pain points

Reaching Taoyuan Airport early in the morning often conflicts with public transit schedules. Recently, a user posted on PTT seeking advice after purchasing a 6 a.m. flight, requiring arrival at the airport counter by around 4:30 a.m. However, checking bus and Taoyuan Airport MRT timetables revealed that the last services had already ended, leaving no viable connections.

The user initially considered renting an iRent shared car to drive north but discovered there are currently no suitable return stations near Taoyuan Airport. If renting a car, it would have to be parked in the Nankan area, requiring an additional taxi ride to the terminal—making the process time-consuming and cumbersome. With no practical alternatives, the user turned to online forums, wondering if booking an expensive long-distance taxi was the only solution.

A smart travel hack for southern travelers? Stay overnight at an airport hotel for high cost-performance

The post sparked heated discussion among travelers facing similar issues. Experienced netizens directly revealed a hidden solution: there is a hotel on the fifth floor of Terminal 2 at Taoyuan Airport, and they advised the poster to arrive a day early to rest. Currently, both the airport and its surroundings offer accommodation services, making this a highly practical option for those catching early or late flights.

A resident from southern Taiwan also shared their convenient experience traveling to Taoyuan Airport. They pointed out that when taking an early morning flight, there's no need to wake up in the middle of the night and rush north by car. A more comfortable approach is to take the high-speed rail to Taoyuan after work the day before and stay overnight at a hotel near the terminal. The next morning, they can walk directly to check in, eliminating the stress of finding night transport or transferring vehicles, while ensuring they start their trip well-rested.

They shared their experience with companions: 'For example, the EVA Air Novotel Taoyuan Hotel near the airport is a very convenient choice. The hotel frequently offers bundled deals with EVA Air tickets, and guests can enjoy a dedicated airport shuttle service, avoiding the hassle of navigating around the airport with heavy luggage.' They added that a double room costs around NT$2,000 per night, which is very affordable when split between two people. Compared to paying high taxi fares or driving overnight and arriving exhausted, this accommodation option clearly offers better value.

How to save even more? Use the THSR-Airline Combo Ticket for discounts

In addition to solving sleep and nighttime travel issues through accommodation, travelers from central and southern Taiwan can also save on high-speed rail fares. According to the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) official website, to serve passengers traveling to the airport via THSR, a special 'THSR-Airline Combo Ticket' discount is offered.

Travelers who purchase tickets from designated partner airlines can add THSR tickets through a dedicated channel. Weekday (Monday to Thursday) bookings enjoy a 78% discount, while weekend (Friday to Sunday and THSR-announced peak periods) bookings receive an 85% discount. For travelers from long-distance locations like Tainan and Kaohsiung, this can result in significant savings on round-trip transportation costs.