THE LOWDOWN

CURRENCY: the currency is the Taiwan New Dollar. The exchange rate at the time of press was £1= TWD$41

HOW TO GET AROUND: the Taipei Metro (MRT) is clean, fast and very reasonable ( english.metro.

taipei). Check out the Pinterest-worthy dusty pink and turquoise paintwork of the station bathrooms.

WHERE TO STAY: Alice stayed at W Taipei ( wtaipei.com); rooms from approx £170 per night.

HOW TO GET THERE: Cathay Pacific flies from London to Taipei, via Hong Kong, from £843.95 ( cathaypacific.com).