Can I get around easily in Taiwan with just English?

I'm going to Taiwan (Taipei) for the first time next month. I don't know any chinese so I'll have to rely on just english. Will it be simple or do I need to buy one of those books with simple phrases and learn them to:

1) Order food at restaurants
2) Hotel/etc
3) Bars

Also I look Korean but I'm from the states so if I try to say hello to a random person on the street will it cause problems?

I also need to know where the hot spots to hangout / bars/ clubs in Taipei area that are foreigner friendly.

Helpers would be appreciated.

We toured Taiwan for a couple of weeks last year, catching trains and buses and using hotels, hostels and restaurants.

I can say "hello", "thank you" and "cheers" in Mandarin and that's it and we got around just fine with English. Pretty much everywhere is 'foreigner friendly'.

Enjoy Taiwan.

So you were able to reserve train tickets and look up bus routes using just English? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm a very paranoid traveler lol.

Don't worry about it
It's a friendly country
I think most of people can speak a little English
Just try to ask kindly
I believe lots of people will help you even they
Don't speak English

Quoting beefyazn

So you were able to reserve train tickets and look up bus routes using just English? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm a very paranoid traveler lol.

The man in seat 61 gives links to sites that have train info in English .. https://www.seat61.com/Taiwan.htm

Steve

For any foreign country you visit it is good manners to learn how to say hello, thank you and good bye.

If you come across to a local as bit of an ass then some of them may conveniently "forget" their English skills. Being polite and friendly will elicit more help In a situation where you are asking questions in English, some locals may drag over someone to help translate if the person you are talking to can't help. I believe English is a compulsory subject in their school system.

Bring a small English to Chinese dictionary with you. When you are in a situation where you need something specific look up the word in English and point to the Chinese translation

Hotel clerks, airline representatives and many people you come into contact with should be able to understand what you want or grab someone to help you. You won't starve even if you must choose a McDonalds.

If you use your computer and do a simple Google type search you will come up with bus and train schedules you can read. Same for bars - do a search on your computer. (Man in Seat 61 is a good suggestion.)

Sample search below:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=nightlife+taipei+&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=nightlife+taipei+&sc=7-17&sk=&cvid=A22FF43B6E62467A85ACF7DA912C7642

In the US visit a local library and choose a travel guide for Taiwan. Or buy one. Good old fashioned printed travel guides are still useful.

Over the years I have been through the airport at Taipei several times with no problems on the way to Thailand and the Philippines. When I was last in Taipei was over 20 years ago and I can't remember having a difficult time getting around. Should be better now. (Had my first Mongolian Barbecue on that Taiwan visit. Booked a tour and flew to Taroko Gorge. Visited Sun Yat-sen Museum too. )

Most of the Taiwanese I met when I was in Thailand or even on the plane had no problem speaking and understanding English.

Lonely Planet Travel Guide can be helpful!

[ Edit: Edited on 06-Jul-2017, at 04:45 by karazyal ]

English is compulsory in Taiwan schools. Proficiency varies, even in the U.S. You're resourceful enough to communicate effectively in Taiwan and elsewhere.

Wow great answers. Big help.

Quoting beefyazn

So you were able to reserve train tickets and look up bus routes using just English? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm a very paranoid traveler lol.

It's possible to book train tickets in advance before you arrive in Taiwan using their website which is in English although it's definitely possible to make yourself understood in Taiwan. There are so many people who love to help foreigners and to practise their English - just smile a lot and shake their hand and most of them can't do enough for you.

Quoting Borisborough

Quoting beefyazn

So you were able to reserve train tickets and look up bus routes using just English? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm a very paranoid traveler lol.

It's possible to book train tickets in advance before you arrive in Taiwan using their website which is in English although it's definitely possible to make yourself understood in Taiwan. There are so many people who love to help foreigners and to practise their English - just smile a lot and shake their hand and most of them can't do enough for you.

That site was exactly the site I was looking for. Thanks.