When you’re traveling abroad it’s sometimes hard to avoid spending a lot of money on entertainment. In most metropolitan cities there’s a plethora of ways to unload your hard-earned savings on all kinds of tourist traps. If you’re lucky enough to have some local friends who enjoy outdoor activities or if you’re a little creative there’s always some ways to enjoy the local culture without spending a great deal. Taipei fortunately has a great exchange rate at the moment, about $33 TWD per $1 USD. While that doesn’t directly translate into buying power, you can definitely find some great deals if you’re adventurous enough to head out of the more frequented downtown areas.

At $3 for the day, renting bikes and riding north through Guandu in Taipei county (home of Taiwan’s oldest temple) turned out to be one of the most action packed day-trips I’ve had. All other expenses for the day included another $10 for lunch and coffee on the way, and $5 for a delicious dinner, rounding out the whole day at only $18 USD.  Not bad for a full day’s entertainment!