Visiting Taiwan on points, especially from the West Coast of the United States, is not too difficult to do. By using points, you can save quite a bit of money on airfare and hotels to then use for other parts of your vacation, like Taipei’s night markets.
Table of Contents
How to Get Taiwan on Points
Booking flights is the most complex part of the process of booking Taiwan on points, but Taipei is served by three world-class carriers: China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux Airlines, plus major US carriers like Delta. For the best value, look for Partner Awards rather than booking directly through the airline’s own site.
Taiwan Airfare
To get to Taiwan directly from the United States, you have several options. There are three major Taiwanese airlines that fly to Taipei, the capital city. China Airlines, Eva Airlines, and Starlux Airlines. These airlines have flights from many US cities, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, Houston, and Chicago. Delta Airlines also has a flight from Seattle. All of these points costs are approximate.
China Airlines (SkyTeam)
Book through FlyingBlue or Virgin Atlantic
- Economy: 30,000–45,000 miles
- Premium Economy: 60,000–75,000 miles
- Business: 85,000–100,000 miles
EVA Airlines (Star Alliance)
Book through Aeroplan, Avianca, United, or ANA
- Economy: 35,000–50,000 miles
- Premium Economy: 60,000–80,000 miles
- Business: 75,000–110,000 miles
Starlux Airlines
Book through Alaska
- Economy: 30,000 miles
- Premium Economy: 50,000 miles
- Business: 75,000 miles
Delta Airlines
Bookable through Delta. Note these prices are starting points
- Economy: 35,000+ miles
- Premium Economy: 80,000+ miles
- Business: 150,000+ miles
Note that all of these award tickets will also have fees associated with them. They can range anywhere from $6 to $300, depending on the airline and class of service. When we flew to Taipei, I booked premium economy flights through Alaska Airlines on Starlux for 50,000 points plus $18.
Taiwan Hotels
Most major chains have hotels centrally located in Taipei, making Taiwan on points easy to do. We opted to stay at the Grand Hyatt Taipei as I wanted a central location and had heard good things about it. The following are some of the major hotels in Taipei you can book on points.
These point prices are approximate and can change depending on the state. This is around the minimum they will be.
- Grand Hyatt Taipei: 12,000 Hyatt points/night
- EPISODE Daan Taipei: 12,000 Hyatt points/night
- Courtyard Taipei Downtown: 42,000 Marriott points/night
- Sheraton Grand Hotel Taipei: 41,000 Marriott points/night
- Hotel Resonance Taipei: 65,000 Hilton points/night
- Double Tree Taipei Zhongshan: 65,000 Hilton points/night
- Regent Taipei: 37,000 IHG points/night
- Kimpton Da An Hotel: 37,000 IHG points/night
Other Expenses to Keep in Mind
For all other expenses, I recommend using the Atmos Summit card to get 3X the points on foreign transactions. If you do not have that card, The Capital One Venture X is another good option for 2X the points.
Transportation
Transportation around Taipei is relatively inexpensive. The Taipei Metro (MRT) is the best way to get around the city. It operates from 6am until midnight with fares based on the distance traveled. You can buy a day pass (NT $150) or purchase an Easy Card where you can pay per ride for the metro and buses.
Alternatively, there is an extensive bus network, bike rentals, taxis, rideshares, and the high speed railway that connects you with other cities across Taiwan. Taipei is a great option to use the $100 Blacklane credit that comes with the Citi Strate Elite card.
Tours and Admission Tickets
You will have to pay to get into some of the Taipei attractions or you may want to take one of the guided tours. These are some of the options that you may want to choose from. For more information on things to do in Taipei, check out this post.
Food
Food in Taipei is relatively inexpensive. Many places take credit cards, so it is a great way to maximize some points earnings. Note that if you buy anything at the night markets, you will most likely need cash.
Total Costs for Taiwan Using Points
Airfare
LAX to TPE: 50,000 Alaska Points +$18 for premium economy on Starlux
TPE to MNL: 8,000 Aeroplan Points +$45 for economy on EVA
Hotel
Grand Hyatt Taipei: I used Amex Fine Hotel and Resort credits, so I paid $312 out of pocket after the $300 credit. We also received free breakfast in the restaurant, access to the club, and $100 to spend. If not, this would have been 12,000 Hyatt points a night.
Total Value of Points Used
Airfare
LAX to TPE: $2000 for premium economy
TPE to MNL: $125 for an economy ticket
Hotel
Grand Hyatt Taipei: $612 for 2 nights plus $250+ worth of extras (breakfast $30/person, club access, $100 credit).
Final Thoughts of Taiwan On Points
Taiwan is an easy vacation to maximize your points options. Visiting Taiwan on points may take some advanced planning, but you can find decent flights almost any time of the year. As you can see, there are also many options for hotels on points.
Looking for other vacations to take on points? Check out these posts!
