(1) Nothing need to do. Just use passport to check-in. You can also check-in on-line 24 hours beforehand. For safety sake, you can print the e-ticket, the one with e-ticket number NOT the itinerary.
(2) Yes, Hotels.com is reliable. Your friend is a special case because his Visa has problem. Of course no room will be reserved for him.
(3) Taiwan visa is done.
You are ready for the holidays. No worry.
When you arrive Taipei, buy your 3G card at the airport, take a taxi from airport to hotel (or your can book a car to pick you up at the airport).
For air ticket, you have absolutely nothing to do now. Just wait one day before departure and go to check-in on-line.
The printing is just for backup. Sometimes it is just an email, what you need is actually the 3 e-ticket numbers not the whole email. You can take a photo or just copy the 3 numbers down just in case.
而家幾乎都可以網上做check in,我試過坐華航/國泰/港龍都可以網上check in ,即時有埋電子登機證(寄去email),入閘同上機時直接開手機電子登機證畫面,就咁do就可上機。
不過今年去就坐長榮,有網上check in,但就冇得做埋電子登機證,好似可以網上print,我就去到check in 先櫃檯拎實體機票