Specifically catered to women and those with plus-size bodies, but this list WILL work for anyone. 

Make sure to check out my Taiwan Packing Tips Checklist PDF at the bottom of the post 

Taiwan Packing Tips

Trying to decide what to bring and what not to bring when moving to a foreign country can trigger anxiety and a big headache. I know because I was that person sitting in the living room surrounded by space bags, toiletries, and every shoe and article of clothing I owned. It looked like an episode of Hoarders, but I was just trying to condense my entire life into 2 suitcases and a carry-on backpack.

If you can resonate with my experience then this post is going to be for you. I asked the local community and came up with this list of how to pack, and what to pack for someone moving to Taiwan.

What to Pack and Wear in Taiwan

Clothes

Taiwan is a hot -humid- tropical climate. Think peak of summer in the southern US but for months. The humidity here is hot, wet, and heavy. Make sure your fabric is breathable. Maxi dresses, skirts, and palazzo pants, ladies.

Sun protective clothing is also a great investment. You will be surprised how brutal the sun can be here and having SPF protective jackets will save your skin, especially if you choose to ride a scooter. You will blend in, I promise.

Bike shorts- bike shorts is a must, especially if you are teaching little ones. Between being up and down off the floor and the kids running and crawling everywhere having bike shorts made me feel comfortable so that I wouldn’t flash anyone. They are also great for walking and not getting that horrid thigh chafing.

Between October- and early March, you will need a thick-ish jacket. It does get cold, and if you are preparing to rent or ride a scooter, you will be thankful you have something to protect you from the frigid wind. These months it gets more relaxed, so jeans are perfectly acceptable. You will want a few cold weather items.

Bras and undies ladies, THIS is what I must stock up on. For larger chests it is hard to find good bras and I have been told that finding cotton crotch undies are difficult to come by as well. This also goes for sports bras and bralettes.

Shoes

Leave your boots behind. Taiwan doesn’t experience snow and unless you really must have your pair of boots, then save the suitcase space. You could bring tennis shoes, comfortable flats, flip-flops or other must have shoes. I do suggest finding shoes with support as you could potentially be on your feet a lot depending on your job.

The only reason I would tell you to bring boots is if you are an avid hiker. Taiwan has beautiful hiking trails and it would benefit you to bring your own pair of hiking boots with you. (There are stores you can buy them at here if you opt to leave them) 

Hales Hot Taiwan Packing Tip

Space saver bags are going to be your best friend. Invest in them. Here is one I can recommend.

Medicine

If you need to, bring tums or other anti-acid, cold and flu, allergy, or pain medicine. The health care system here is excellent, but it will take a few weeks to get it set up once you get a job. If you have prescriptions, then make sure to bring a copy of each prescription and a letter from your doctor with you. It helps when trying to get your first refill here.

Toiletries

This is a Taiwan packing tip that is going to differ for every person. When thinking about lotion, shampoo, body wash and conditioner, unless you have a serious skin allergy and need a special type of item, or you are married to a specific brand- then leave it. Bring what you will need in a travel size bottle to last you a week or two.

Deodorant is one thing I can say I always stock up on. I do not like the brands provided here (usually Dove, Ban, Secret, and a few other well known brands).  You can find some other brands at Costco but it is a hit or miss thing.

We do have brands like LUSH (which just recently came back and is currently in Taipei), The Body Shop, and Poya has other well known brands. Don’t waste the space in your suitcase trying to stuff bottles of toiletries. If there is a specific brand you are looking for- comment below and I can tell you if it is possible to find- I gotchu. 

Period Products

When it’s time for your period, Taiwan is mostly a pad using country but they do offer tampons (mostly ones without an applicator like these from OB) , just not the array of choices you are used to. My personal suggestion is if it is possible start using a menstrual disk. If that is not an option for you, then put a couple boxes of tampons on your Taiwan packing list just to get you started. You will be able to find something here to suit your needs. Check out Health Bestowing Hands, they offer a lot of menstruation products and local to Taiwan.

Kitchen

When it comes to Taiwan packing tips, you might be surprised that I mentioned kitchen items. The biggest thing foreigners search for is spices. Bring the spices you love if you want to cook, and keep in mind that not all apartments come with a kitchen.

I personally bring chili seasoning, everything but the bagel (or other Trader Joe’s spices). They do offer options here but if you love something, bring it, and if you need it then Sunny Buy is a great resource for food.

Shopping Tips in Taiwan

Taiwan is a very advanced country but not so plus-size friendly. So if you are a plus-size person (usually over a US size 12), my packing tip is bring enough to get you through. Finding clothes is hard and few and far between and shipping is expensive.

Fashion here is usually Asian style with a lot of basic colors, prints, and cuts. H&M even has stuff labeled “Asian fit” which does not fit for someone with a bust, hips, and curves. I find a lot of items here in the stores do not fit my shape as a western woman.

If you are on the taller side, some items might be shorter than expected once you try them on. Some ladies here comment that the dresses are more like shirts, so keep that in mind for items.

Shoes here are usually hard to come by if you have wide feet or are about a 37CM. I recommend bringing a couple good pair of tennis shoes because that’s usually what people wear here since walking is popular.

When in Doubt-Leave It.

When thinking about moving to a foreign country it is easy to become overwhelmed with packing. You end up bringing much more than you need and items you won’t even touch. Make sure to download my Taiwan packing tips PDF below and comment if you have any specific questions or concerns about what to bring or what not to bring when moving to Taiwan.

My Travel Packing Checklist/Taiwan Packing Tips PDF