When in Taiwan: How to Get to the City from Taoyuan Airport without Breaking the Budget

I love to explore different places as much as eating. And last January, I had a grand time in Taiwan, stuffing myself with delectable yummy finds and being immersed in its interesting history and culture. I always smile whenever I tell my friends the things I've done and places I've visited while I was there. But one of the common concerns I hear whenever we talk about Taiwan is airport transportation. True, there's the subway to bring us to places but it's a totally different story when your flight arrives past 12 midnight. Several blogs and forums say that it leaves you no choice but to hail a cab to bring you to wherever you have to go to. But that's not right. There's a cheaper way to get to your destination. 

Hello, Taoyuan International Airport.

It is not unusual to see rent-a-car placards and cab drivers near the airport's exit points whenever a flock of tourists arrive. I even heard a fellow Filipino who now works in Taiwan as a cab driver tell tourists to either get a cab or wait till the subway opens. I would have ended up paying a lot more just to get to Ximending if R and I didn't explore the airport to look for a convenience store.