We took the budget airline from the Jetstars which cost around S$425 per couple. The booking was done 3 months in advance via "sky scanner". What's the different is you direct book via Jetstars? It will be slightly cheaper as it doesn't include the food (S$20 additional), as it cost only S$12 for a set meal and S$4 for a canned drinks.
The upfront preparation was around 18,000 NTW for all the hotel stays and mini bus (around S$850) for 8 full days.
We are expecting to spend around S$1,500 on the remaining expenses. Lets see how it goes.
On the exact day we depart from Singapore Changi Terminal 1, Gate D46 around 7:00am and took around 4 hours 20 minutes to reach Tao Yuan, Taipei international Airport. Some tips on filling up the "entry permit" to Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia citizen can choose "visa exempted" or "others". If you did not prepare any, don't worry- it will be prepared on the plane during the beginning of the flight. And if you are flying before 12pm, try to get the seat on the left and slightly to the front to enjoy the flight scene. Vice versa for the flight after 12pm, because the sun will be hot in the morning from the right. It will be
When we reached, the weather is slightly hot in Taiwan compare to Singapore as it's coming to Summer, which also have frequent season raining. As my friend going 1 week before me, the 7 days she in Taiwan were having heavy rain daily.
We took a quick bite at the local convenient store took around 8 items of Boiled Spicy fish ball which cost around 83 NTW, my girl friend took a basic reload of her friend SIM card at the minimal of 300 NTW.
Our first destination is going to Xi Men Ting, Happy Hotel. The normal price to go from Airport to town will cost around 1000~1300 NTW by cab. However there is also shutter bus transporting every half and hour at the bus station near B2. It cost about 140 NTW per person that required minimal bus change that took around 1 hour 20 minutes journey.
While switching the bus, the friendly bus driver suggest 2 "mustn't" in the night gmarket.
1. Don't buy any fruits! It contains artificial flavoring and it's much more heexpensive than the super market.
2. Don't buy any "flour" related food like bubble tea and meat ball. It contains notpermitted.
3. Don't buy any "powder" related ingredient that might contained industry's used 3 chemical.
The bus driver are so funny and helpful to move the luggage out for us.
We get to the exchange station around 25 minutes time and waited for 20minutes for the bus. (Cause they want to bring more people in one go to Ximen hotels. The bus driver also group us to few dropping point and let us know which station to aboard. Conclusion, I assume they are the most good customer service bus drive in Asia.
Our first hotel called "Happiness Hotel", it was a 6 stories hotel 3 stars that listed in Agoda. We put our luggage and immediately went to the wedding photo shop. This time round, we took the transport using their MRT (Metro Railway station). The,Shuang Lian station is located at the 3 rd stops. We will also meeting my wife parents to select the wedding gown. It took around 20 minutes walk + 10 minutes ride. And it only cost 20~35 NTW per person.
When we reached the Vivi bridal. They serve us with tea and arranged a lady to guide us on what we need to do next day during the photo shoot. Our photographer was arranged with Alex (or Ah Lek they called) their pioneer (they have total 6 photographers, "Jun Nan" and "Ah Lek" the best. ) On the forum have mentioned "Jun Nan" (hansom guy in Chinese the best) and Second by Ah Lek (lose by temper slightly high). The Arrangement is first understand where to go during the actual day then choose the wedding gown follow by men's (priority for the bridal). The actual day makeup place is located at shop houses beside. It's also consider their indoor photo studio. The men's brazier is located 5 minutes walk at the end of the junction.
After understand the direction, we go up to the 5th floors to choose the bridal dresses. Our package included 1wedding gown, 3 night gown and one leisure wear (self prepared) - mean 5 make up style to choose. The time we arranged was around 3pm and we took 2 hours to choose for bridal and 30 mins for broom.
Selection for bridal is always a pain, normally they only provide used dress; however we get the "free upgrade" for our selection to get the new dress without extra charge (cost around 3000 NTW), some unique design even up to 80,000 NTW) . Suggestion is unless you prepare for it and mentioned to them, else they just stick with the standard selection. We also manage to Negotiate to take 2 wedding gowns instead. The dresses mostly come with 20 inches waist (for height 155), so suggest to go with semi full stomach.
