New high-tech wealth and a flurry of upscale shops, clubs, and restaurants that have opened in the capital city are sparking a “Taipei is the next Shanghai” buzz. It’s not quite there—yet—but visitors will appreciate a more reliable transportation system as well as friendly locals who speak better English than their mainland counterparts. After winter’s chill and before summer’s monsoons is the best time to go. Plan on a five-day stay, after which it’s an easy jump to other Asian hot spots.
1. Bring some Ambien for the eighteen-hour flight to Taipei. China Airlines flies direct from JFK (with a refueling stopover in Anchorage -reindeer jerky makes an excellent snack) or fly from London with EVA air direct.
2. The most stylish of the megahotels is the 856-room Grand Hyatt Taipei (from $172; 886-2-2720-1234) in trendy Xinyi. For less bustle, try the chic 84-room Les Suites Taipei Ching-Cheng (from $210; 886-2-8712-7688), with flat-screen TVs and a lovely garden.
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It’s harder than you might think, finding a really good weekend bag. It’s not that there aren’t lots on the market. On the contrary, every designer and high street whore tries to cash in on the men’s bag market with cheap nylon duffles, tacky sports bags emblazoned with logos, and cheap leatherette carry-ons. Avoid all those, obviously. The problem isn’t finding a bag, it’s finding a really good one that will look sharp this season, and all seasons to come.
Ever in the service of style, we’ve gone ahead and done some of the legwork for you and can happily recommend any of the following classics. Most fit nicely in the overhead if your weekend away requires air travel, but one or two are best tossed in the back seat of a car. Here they are, our favourites, in no particular order:
The Sandstorm Bag by Johnson’s Cashmere – this cozy tweed and leather weekend bag is just the thing for cool autumn weekends. It has a whiff of peaty whisky and hint of tobacco about it. Grouse optional.
The Leather Weekender by Pickett – they don’t come more classic than this, and the colour is a reassuringly pleasing brown (it’s not easy to get brown right, actually), with a sumptuous but sturdy leather that will look stunning by the time it becomes an heirloom. Invest now for future generations.
Calfskin Leather Tote by Bamford and Sons – you can get this in brown, but the black is so much more chic and would look great in the hotel room of a foreign city, perhaps particularly Paris, maybe Milan. Bamford and Sons cashmere (in gray, please) fits nicely inside, too.
Canvas Web Stripe Duffle Bag by Brooks Brothers (see above) – a snappy weekender for the sportier among us. It’s true, canvas works best in spring/summer, but we think the colour is dark enough and the bag attractive enough to squeak through if we have a mild autumn. It’ll come into its own by the sea.
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