Missing flights and making memories in Taipei

Day 73 started with the usual travel chaos. We checked out of our cozy Taipei apartment, waved goodbye to the night markets and bubble‑tea vendors, and hustled to catch our flight from Taoyuan. Delay’s out of Taipei meant we missed our connection to Las Vegas, so we had to improvise.

While sorting out tickets, I kept thinking about everything we had experienced: climbing Elephant Mountain for a sunrise view of Taipei 101, wandering through Ximending and Lungshan Temple, and slurping beef noodle soup in Shilin Night Market. Food like bubble tea and Taiwanese fried chicken have become global favourites and the kids still giggle about sticky rice rolls from the convenience store.

Eventually the airline got us onto a later flight. We napped on backpacks, ate our last pineapple cakes, and watched travellers race past. When we finally landed in Las Vegas, the bright lights were jarring after Taipei’s charm. The mishaps only make the stories richer.

Family travel tip: Build in buffer time for international connections, pack snacks and games for unexpected delays, and embrace the adventure when plans change.

Have you ever turned a travel mishap into a memory? If you’re looking for help navigating Asia with kids, my travel guide offers sample itineraries and practical advice for unplanned parenting on the road. Altogether, we spent about $68 for the day. Highlights: Our stay was $15, a solid deal for the comfort we got., Lunch was $42, offering great value., Transport ran us $11, cheaper than many cities.