Singapore Trip in September

[flyhigher]

This is going to be my first out of the country! It's a 5-day trip with my boyfriend and our newly-wed friends. We already bought our plane tickets and have a where-to-go-in-Singapore list but haven't booked our hotels yet. We plan to book our hotel rooms mid-August. I'm excited but quite nervous at the same time. But I know it's gonna be fun! Any advice or tips for this first time international traveler? Thank you!

 

[Denali]

Welcome to AFF and how exciting for you.

Whats your hotel budget (as you havent booked yet) and what airline are you booked with (tips on seats).

As for being nervous, Singapore is a great place and Changi airport, a joy to visit so for your flight home visit T3 to see the butterfly garden.

 

[craven morehead]

This is going to be my first out of the country! It's a 5-day trip with my boyfriend and our newly-wed friends. We already bought our plane tickets and have a where-to-go-in-Singapore list but haven't booked our hotels yet. We plan to book our hotel rooms mid-August. I'm excited but quite nervous at the same time. But I know it's gonna be fun! Any advice or tips for this first time international traveler? Thank you!

Congratulations on your first trip abroad. You have picked a great place to start your World travels. 5 days will give you a half decent look at the place. As Denali has mentioned give us an indication of budget for hotels and AFFers will have plenty of recommendations. Cheers CM

 

[leadman]

Well done and it must be exciting, and SIN is a good place to start life's international journeys. I can remember my first time arriving HKG and the adrenaline was pumping. First lesson I would suggest is don't panic when you hit the airport, everything is laid out for the many that pass through there; just read the signs. Sounds simple, but when adrenaline is pumping you can make funny decisions. Many here will give their favourite hotels which there are many, but if you want to stay at Clarke Quay there, and depending on budget, is the Novotel and the Swiss hotel. Then around Orchard you have all the big names, Hilton, Marriott, etc. But my favourite is the little Chic hotel is The Scarlet near Chinatown. wonderful little hotel and easy walk to CQ

 

[wazza888]

Visit the hawker centres for the yummy foods and find the ones with long queues.

 

[vetrade]

Get the train from Changi into the CBD - fast, easy & cheap.

Don't know your budget but it's well worth even 1 night at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Cheapest rates if you book direct with a cost of $400 -500 / n. Get a room (facing east) overlooking the Gardens by the Bay (also good for a walk especially at night when they're lit up) and Singapore Straight with many ships lined up waiting to dock. And of course there is the huge rooftop infinity pool at the MBS that only guests can get in to.

Suggest you just do a lot of wandering around to get a good feel for the city. Ultra safe and distances aren't high. Shopping tends to be more expensive than most would expect for an Asian city - clothes (especially) and electronics can be above Aussie prices.

Raffles is famous and worth a walk-through but it's horribly over rated - and don't be conned into their $34 Singapore Sling - everywhere else is half the price if you really want to try one (we recently got some free in the upstairs bar at Changi Airport just for buying some grog in the DF store).

 

[Denali]

My advise for when around Singapore, carry an umbrella or a very wide brim hat - their sun is brutal and I usually use an umbrella when walking around.

I think MBS has to be done at least once, for the pool.

Can someone confirm if they still give free Singapore Slings samples at the T3 Raffles Long Bar?

 

[leadman]

Get the train from Changi into the CBD - fast, easy & cheap.

Raffles is famous and worth a walk-through but it's horribly over rated - and don't be conned into their $34 Singapore Sling - everywhere else is half the price if you really want to try one (we recently got some free in the upstairs bar at Changi Airport just for buying some grog in the DF store).

Try blowing $3,200 on them, shouting a few people after a conference!!!!! Never again

 

[Cynicor]

I wouldn't take the train/MRT unless you have a lot of time and not much money.
It's maybe $15-20 for a taxi into the cbd, compared with around $3 a person for the train, and it's slow and you need to transfer at least one.
Taxis are reliable, honest and clean in Singapore.

Hotel wise my favourite area is around city hall/marina. It's got a tonne of MRT stops nearby so you don't have to change lines as much, but if you want any hotel advice we'll need a budget to work to.

I reckon Orchard is overrated as a place to stay, lots of older folk mention it as it used to be the centre of town, but it's generally better to be elsewhere now!

 

[vetrade]

I wouldn't take the train/MRT unless you have a lot of time and not much money.
It's maybe $15-20 for a taxi into the cbd, compared with around $3 a person for the train, and it's slow and you need to transfer at least one..................

Taxi 20 min; train 30 min.

 

[Denali]

Taxi 20 min; train 30 min.

OP is a first timer outside of the country. Yes, the train might be easy to use and cheaper but Im hoping between the 4 of them, they can afford a maxi taxi to a hotel.

I would consider myself well traveled - I cant remember the last time I used public transport in a foreign country (maybe 2013). Not going to happen. OP is excited and nervous, taxi to a hotel isnt the wrong choice.

 

[vetrade]

OP is a first timer outside of the country. Yes, the train might be easy to use and cheaper but Im hoping between the 4 of them, they can afford a maxi taxi to a hotel.

I would consider myself well traveled - I cant remember the last time I used public transport in a foreign country (maybe 2013). Not going to happen. OP is excited and nervous, taxi to a hotel isnt the wrong choice.

There is no right or wrong choice, just a personal choice. I'm sure the OP will decide what is right for her. My post alluded to the fact that it is disingenuous to refer to the train as "slow" when it only takes 10 minutes more than a taxi. You stated you are not a public transport user whereas I rarely use anything else in big cities when OS because we enjoy the exposure it gives us to the locals - once again, all just personal choice. Haven't used PT in Australia for > 30 years though.

 

[get me outta here]

You could look at something like this 'Luxury Escapes' deal for a JW Marriott hotel. It says it is an opening special, and it comes with some valuable extras, just as a comparison. Whichever hotel you go with, if there is a free membership program be sure to join up first and quote yr member number. Marriott has a free m'ship.

3 NIGHTS - STANDARD ROOM (31sqm): Includes Executive Lounge Benefits such as hot buffet breakfasts, midday snacks, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the day, afternoon tea, evening hors d'oeuvres, four hours of nightly coughtails, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi plus two welcome coughtails at Tonic bar for two adults.

$999


​

https://luxuryescapes.com/jw-marriott-hotel-singapore-south-beach

 

[Cynicor]

30min to where? It's slower than that if you need to change lines, Lewiston for a train, get to the mrt itself which is further from the taxi queue. Close to 15 min vs 40

 

[love_the_life]

The OP said she wants to book hotels during August and said they will be travelling in September. I hope they are not going to be in Singapore during the GP (15 - 17 September). Hotels will be a)expensive and b) sold out for the period and probably a couple of days either side.
If it is going to be around this time she had better book something quickly.

 

[flyhigher]

THANK YOU GUYS! I am so overwhelmed with your responses and need to go through them again. I just want to thank you first! The trip will be on September 7-11. We already have several options on where to stay and it's gonna be where most of the tourist destinations are.

 

[flyhigher]

The OP said she wants to book hotels during August and said they will be travelling in September. I hope they are not going to be in Singapore during the GP (15 - 17 September). Hotels will be a)expensive and b) sold out for the period and probably a couple of days either side.
If it is going to be around this time she had better book something quickly.

The trip will be on September 7-11, and we already have a travel agency that's taking care of our hotels.
P.S. What does OP mean please?

 

[flyhigher]

Get the train from Changi into the CBD - fast, easy & cheap.

Don't know your budget but it's well worth even 1 night at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Cheapest rates if you book direct with a cost of $400 -500 / n. Get a room (facing east) overlooking the Gardens by the Bay (also good for a walk especially at night when they're lit up) and Singapore Straight with many ships lined up waiting to dock. And of course there is the huge rooftop infinity pool at the MBS that only guests can get in to.

Suggest you just do a lot of wandering around to get a good feel for the city. Ultra safe and distances aren't high. Shopping tends to be more expensive than most would expect for an Asian city - clothes (especially) and electronics can be above Aussie prices.

Raffles is famous and worth a walk-through but it's horribly over rated - and don't be conned into their $34 Singapore Sling - everywhere else is half the price if you really want to try one (we recently got some free in the upstairs bar at Changi Airport just for buying some grog in the DF store).

Thank you!!! It's great to know that it's ultra safe and the distances aren't high. We really want to explore the city and will use both - taxi and train, whenever appropriate. I personally want to experience their public transport for more fun and to get a little closer to the locals. Are the foods expensive too?

 

[dajop]

Welcome to AFF and welcome to Singapore! Hope you enjoy your first trip beyond the shores of Australia, Singapore is probably a good place to start.

THANK YOU GUYS! I am so overwhelmed with your responses and need to go through them again. I just want to thank you first! The trip will be on September 7-11. We already have several options on where to stay and it's gonna be where most of the tourist destinations are.

What are the options you have for accommodation? It does depend on both the options and your interests as to the best place stay. Rule of thumb for staying somewhere interesting is generally to avoid Orchard Road area - it has a tendency to be very sterile (will with a couple of exceptions late in the evening) and a tad boring unless you are an avid shopper of luxury brands. Although having said that it really doesn't matter that much. Wherever you stay, my advice would stay close to an MRT station so you can get around very easily.

It also may be worth taking the time to browse several threads on here discussing what to do in Singapore. Give a slightly different view to the usual travel sites, from some AFF'ers who visit often and some of us who have moved here.

Are the foods expensive too?

The food can be as cheap or as expensive as you desire! You can get a meal from local Hawker centre for $3-5 or go to a top end restaurant for whatever you want to pay. Alcohol on the other hand is very expensive. Note all food outlets (including local stalls) are regulated and are all graded for hygiene standards A, B & C. Those with A & B ratings display them prominently, C not so much, but even C rated places still have passed inspection criteria.

 

[craven morehead]

The trip will be on September 7-11, and we already have a travel agency that's taking care of our hotels.
P.S. What does OP mean please?

Other person