Tips on how to spend 7 hours at Changi

[AnnaB]

Even though Changi is one of my favourite airports, we have a 7 hour stopover in June and it might stretch even my patience a bit.

We do have lounge access, both to Silverkris Lounge and others through Priority Pass if needed... but how do we spend almost 7 hours? Anyone has any other tips? We did contemplate going into Singapore, but we land at 8pm and our flight out is at 2.30 am. There is only so much shopping that can be done.

Any tips welcome!

 

[JohnK]

Lounge for the rest of the time?

Qantas lounge closing in ~40 minutes and think I'll go for leisurely walk to Terminal 3 then Terminal 2 and back to Terminal 1. Should eat up an hour or so and get step count up.

 

[boomy]

Book a room at Aerotel for six hours.

 

[dajop]

If you are so inclined, bring your swimming gear and go for a swim. There is a modest cost, but not too many airports have a swimming pool in their transit area.

Otherwise if you do leave airport, at that time of the evening it's more about eating and drinking than shopping (except for Mustafa'S 24 hr department store - and even that is more about exploring and finding all sorts of things from all over the place rather than shop on per se). One potential excursion could be the East Coast Lagoon hawker centre - about 10-15 mins via taxi - good seafood, satay and various other local dishes. But it is outdoors so might need a shower after

 

[cove]

7 hours is a bit tricky but a little bit more and we get a room at Crowne Plaza as you can walk to it without getting a dose of Singapore heat and humidity. This Sunday we will be there for a bit longer so it works out really well.

 

[AnnaB]

Yes, its a weird time... as dajop said, unless we go for food and shopping, there is no reason to hit Singapore. We have an added stopover on the way back, and shopping is not really interesting as we are going away and dont want to have to buy things to take with us for the coming 5 weeks.

Not sure if it is worth to get an airport transit hotel... still only for a (hopefully), 4 hour rest in the end.
Anyone tried out any of the spa's? Perhaps go for a coffee and drink, send him off to a spa and I go for a swim or something before meeting up at the lounge again.

Otherwise, would there be a decent hotel airside? Just wondering as I would prefer not to go through customs and immigration's. Last time it took about an hour to get out, but I understand that was a bad day. But still, it would be a bit of wast of time if we, in the end after getting off only would have about 5 hours before having to get back.

Thanks for all the tips so far, btw Greatly appreciated.

 

[Tiki]

If it's too late for the free Singapore tour, I would check out the cinema and butterfly garden, hit the shops then relax and use the free internet.

 

[get me outta here]

The free tours are great if they fit in w' your timings. You can check them out on the SIN Airport website as it tells you times req'd. I did the evening one and saw the Gardens by the Sea 8 pm show, and a few other things. Even if you are familiar w' SIN, this beats sitting around the airport.

 

[yohy?!]

i'd be leaving the airport for a 7 hour layover i think +1 to dajop's suggestion - hit a hawker market for a nice dinner and a stroll then pop back to Silverkris lounge for an aperitif before boarding. Changi becomes very monotonous after a couple of hours, if on a long layover I try to make it an overnight so I can just sleep at the transit hotel.

 

[Isochronous]

Race go-karts in the Changi basement!

 

[awkwardpaws]

agree with some comments - while Changi is great, 7 hours is a long time. you'll have the a number of places still open for a few hours, so i would head into town and once you are done there, spend the rest of your time in SKL.

 

[AnnaB]

Looks like we might book a transit hotel. Bit of a rest before a long-haul flight, can put our feet up, have a shower, go for a swim and just relax before going to SKL for a drink and bite to eat. Might also be the best option if he cant sleep on the plane and we have a loooong flight ahead of us.

Tour of the city is not really on the cards as we have been to Singapore before and we are staying in Singapore on the way back.

Thank you for all the tips They are very welcome for the next stopover

 

[Austman]

7 hours at that time is an absolute doddle!

Time flies past.

In the airport: Go for a walk, do a bit of shopping. Go to the lounge for some food, drinks, relaxation. Have a shower. Read something.

I'd never ever contemplate a hotel at those hours (20:00 to 02.00). Nor going out of the airport unless you have never been to Singapore.

 

[cove]

We are staying tonight at the Crowne Plaza Changi for about 10 hours. Lovely room and bonus IHG points.

 

[Austman]

We are staying tonight at the Crowne Plaza Changi for about 10 hours. Lovely room and bonus IHG points.

I've stayed there many times too. But between 20:00 and 02:00? In reality, 20:30 to 01:00. I would not bother.

 

[N860CR]

I've got a similar layover coming up (in from SYD at 5 and out to JNB at about 1). I'm lucky in that I have friends there who I can catch up with. Even without that though, I'd leave the airport and go to one of the nearby hawker markets and grab some dinner and Tigers.

 

[cove]

Last night was our eleventh stay at Crowne Plaza Changi and our flight thru Narita to LAX goes around 9 am. We will walk over to the SQ Private Room for breakfast and catch up on some news before we go.

 

[Singlemalt72]

Time in Changi flies - twice I have almost missed flights!
Most of my experience has been budget travelling, no access to lounges, but it is still a great airport to kill time.
Take a walk through the terminals, check out the gardens (butterfly, sunflower, cactus, enchanted, orchid, fish ponds)
Browse some shops
Free movies in the theaters
Grab a massage at one of the spas
Go for a swim
Great food options - find the staff canteen and eat with the locals or look for the (faux) hawker stalls that sell a great range of delicious food.
Use the free computer gaming area id you have kids
Kick back in one of the snooze lounges
Play on the zoom slide

 

[JohnK]

Go for a leisurely walk around the terminals at any time of the night.

 

[Straubs]

Wish I'd known about the pool when I took the kids through there last ...