B i t s . n . C h i p s . P o c k e t t o u r

Flight: Scoot - ScootPlus

Hotel: Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei & Caesar Park Banqiao

Date: 31 July - 6 August 2023

This would be my 3rd time to Taiwan and my third time with Scoot to Taipei.

Flight

I've taken my flight with Scoot for a few trips and it is either their economy seats or the quiet zone of economy seats. But I've decide to give myself a birthday gift of taking the ScootPlus which is the business class of the budget airline itself.

Since this is my first time taking ScootPlus, I will be trying my best to share my experience and updating of my Instagram account on my trip. I am taking an early morning outbound flight at 1AM and touchdown Taoyuan International Airport at 5:45AM.

The flight that I am taking will be the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. ScootPlus has leather seats with extra leg space with almost double of those in the Economy class. 38" (96cm) of legroom, 22" (56cm) of width, 6" (15cm) of recline and full adjustable headrest and legrest. Not forgetting that they have the in-seat power for you to do charging. Not to mentioned that they have their seats with 2 on each side and 3 in the middle and 5 rows in total for their ScootPlus.

Scoot check-in counters open 3 hours before scheduled departure for Boeing 787 flights. The gates will close 60mins before the scheduled departure time and no exception. So passengers at least has to arrive 120 mins prior to scheduled departure time.

There is counter check-in and kiosk check-in available at Changi Airport. Not forgetting that there is also web check-in to skip the queue but this will only benefit the ones who are without check-in baggage (airfare: Fly).

(Credits: Scoot)

Scoot has 4 type of fare bundles for their flights.

Fly: No check-in luggage. With 2 cabin bags less than 10kg
FlyBag: 20kg check-in luggage and 2 cabin bags less than 10kg
FlyBagEat: With meal, 20kg check-in luggage, and 2 cabin bags less than 10kg
ScootPlus: Priority check-in, complimentary seat selection, BoardMeFirst, Welcome drink and meal, 30MB in-flight WiFi, 30kg check-in luggage and 2 cabin bags less than 15kg

(Credits: Scoot)

ScootPlus though is the business class of the Scoot, it does not have a their own business lounge as they are a budget airline. But who does not secretly wish that they have one of their own business lounge. But let's say when they do and the prices of their ScootPlus goes higher, will anyone be willing to pay for it. I bet some would, because you get what you pay for.

Since Scoot doesn't offer business lounges, you may still purchase for other available lounges in Changi Airport.

For more information, please do visit Changi Airport website: https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/pay-per-use-lounges.html

Not forgetting that these options are also available to get from Klook: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/5267-airport-lounge-singapore/

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Hotel

I've booked Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei for 3 nights and Caesar Park Banqiao for the other 3 nights.

(I will dedicate 2 separate post on introduction of the 2 hotels after I am back from my Taiwan trip)

For Shangri-La Far Eastern, I will be staying from 31 Jul - 3 Aug 2023. I've booked the Superior room with Twin beds. This room is at 36sqm with city views. Not to mentioned that their bathroom is equipped with separate bathtub and standing shower.

(Credits: Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei)

Placed a request to have room away from lift, on high floor and with unrestricted view. And also placed a comment that this is my birthday trip. Hotel then sent an email to me that they will arrange a birthday cake on my birthday and to ensure that I do not put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on.

This hotel is within a 10 - 15 minutes walking distance from the nearest train station - LiuZhangLi Station. Though the location of the hotel may be a little not at the common train station however, Linjiang Night Market was within walking distance from the hotel (Yes, I do my mapping).

After checking out from the Shangri-La, I will be making my way from LiuZhangLi Station to Banqiao Station for the rest of my 3 nights stay.

For Caesar Park Banqiao, I will be staying from 3 - 6 August 2023. I madd my booking via Agoda and booked the Deluxe Twin room (with 2 x Twin beds). The room is located between level 6 - 16 and is of 40sqm. The bathroom has a separate shower and bathtub, not forgetting that they have 2 separate basin which you do not have to fight for space with whoever you are staying with. And even if you stay alone, one can be the main basin and the other can be used to wash or soak clothes.

I've emailed the hotel to ask some questions and the handling staff is very nice and efficient and patiently answering the questions I have.

Without me asking for it, the staff - Leah Tsao, after I wrote that the last time I was in Taiwan was 6 years ago, she provided me with the train map and the directions to the hotel, not to mentioned that she even went to the extend to make the effort to circle out the location that I need to know where to board and drop off and how and which direction to walk to the hotel.

Below are the photos of the room and the bathroom to show how it looks like.