Easy. I just did a 10D9N F&E last Dec and been to a great place sure to make any photographer ultra-happy! More on that magical place...
Forget about any package tour. They will bring you to the typical places which you can go anytime on your own.
Just book a ticket way in advance from zuji.com.sg, Jetstar return ticket around $550-$600 (I paid around $500 last Dec). From the airport, take the shutter bus to Taipei Train Station. Check into YMCA (Y-Hotel in Taipei) just opposite Taipei Train Station which is a short 5 minutes walk. Taipei Train Station is the best place as a base to branch out into various parts of Taipei or Taiwan because it is very central and it is the main terminal for MRT, bullet trains, buses, or whatever transportation. YMCA taipei is really good and affordable:
http://www.ymcataipei.org.tw/room_en.php?room_id=313 - Only S$119/- per room per night for all 3 of you!!!
Here comes my most recommended place to visit in Taiwan - Qing Jing Nong Chang 清境農場 in Nantou near Taichung. I hesitated to recommend because I don't really hope to see this gem swamped by tourists (not many people from Singapore knew about it yet) but oh well... Just google and you will see the images of that wonderful place. Every single building on this snow capped mountain (it will be snow capped between Dec-Feb) is built according to European theme. Castles, cottages, makes you instantly forget you are in Asia! The last time I was there, I stayed in a double floor Shangrila Music Villa - a castle-looking hotel with music all around.
Click this and take a look and be wowed:
http://www.google.com.sg/images?um=...sch:1&sa=1&q=清境農場&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
Many great to photograph hotels including this die die must photograph 'Shangrila Old England':
http://www.google.com.sg/images?hl=...e=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=862&bih=635
Weather is cool and you will be able to see all types of flowers including sakura (Spring) or red orange maple leaves (Autumn). Beautiful multi-layers of mountains - exactly what you see in great photos of mountains and valleys right in front of your doorstep. At any time of the day, the magnificient sea of cloud sweeps pass before your eyes. See:
http://www.google.com.sg/images?hl=...=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1419&bih=651
Spectacular sunrise and sunset. Sometimes, misty fog. see this:
http://www.google.com.sg/images?um=...h:1&sa=1&q=清境日出日落&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
青青草原、成群牛羊、山嵐雲海、瑰麗山峰、蔚藍穹蒼、璀璨星空、歐式庭園、空中城堡
清境農場位於南投縣中橫霧社支線,海拔1,700~2,000公尺,年均溫在15~23度,綠草如茵空氣清新,牛羊成群,具有濃厚的歐洲田園風光,素有「霧上桃源」之稱,是台灣最負盛名的避暑勝地。
農場內的高山花卉、高冷蔬果、牧場風光與全牛大餐等,均為其特色。每年3-10月滿山桃李花開,5月下旬開始則為桃、李、梨等水果盛產期,最適合前往休閒渡假。
At the same time, you also get good sunlight for beautiful 'New Zealand like scenery' of lambs gazing against marvellous mountainous backdrop. In fact, around Dec-Feb, you get very good 'sunset' type of low angle light for hours! Hard not to have good photos taken...no kidding! Weather is around 18C in the day, dipping to around 10C at night and when you move higher up into the mountain, it can dip to 2C or 0C! It ever snowed before!!!
I booked my hotel and tour bus from
http://www.eztravel.com.tw/package1/index.htm?fr=tb4
To be more precise, I booked the 3D2N here:
http://www.eztravel.com.tw/package1/index.htm?fr=tb4 (choose any hotel you want)
And I booked Shangila Music Villa inclusive of transport to and fro from Taipei Train Station, accommodation for 2N, most meals (fabulous!) plus wine at night, half day trip to the peak of the mountain!
http://www.eztravel.com.tw/ezec/pkgtw/grp_begdate.jsp?LINE_CD=103&prod_no=GRT0000001606
There are many different types of fabulous accommodations, I recommend any of the 3 hotels under Shangrila brand - 'Hanging Garden' (at the heart of Qing Jing and very country log wood style - low price with excellent food and view too), 'Music Villa' (Mid price - double storey castle style rooms) or the ultra luxuorious 'Old England' (Highest price - very expensive but must go and eat high tea or just take photo there). The price range for 'Hanging Garden' (inclusive of all things I mentioned above) can be as low as only S$250/- (3D2N) per person for the whole trip!
They have many different types of F&E or semi F&E. All other places mentioned by others in the forum can be booked from this website. If staying more than 2 nights, you can separately book hotel here:
http://www.eztravel.com.tw/ezec/htl...t=0&htl_htltw=&checkInDt=&checkOutDt=&htl=hpg
Take the bullet train from taipei Train Station and change to shutter:
http://www.cingjing.com.tw/traffic/04_high.asp
Or walk into ezTravel office at Taipei Train Station and book whatever you want after you arrive in Taipei...very easy if you aren't going during the Lunar New Year holidays. I much prefer to book everything online these days...fairly safe and easy without any worries.
Great food, great weather, great scenery, great lights, easy to reach - less than 4 hours max per trip from Taipei Train Station by coach. And so affordable! By the way, it is also situated just next to the beautiful Sun Moon Lake...so you can kill two birds in one stone.
I been to Alishan and I personally think 清境農場 is much better! With this in your 7D trip, I guarantee you and your pals won't be disappointed. You may add other places within Taipei like what others suggested above. :cheergal: