Any tips or advice for travelling to Singapore welcome

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Any tips or advice for travelling to Singapore welcome

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nolanz

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#1932594 9-Jan-2018 10:16

We only had a three day stopover, and were a bit jetlagged. If you intend visiting the Garden on the bay, might I suggest you first get the $5 or $8, not sure, shuttle to give you a good insight of what is there. It is good for video and photos, and gives you an idea of what you might want to spend more time doing.
SIM Lim Square is several floors of shops selling electronics and gadgets, so something for all. From memory, it might be better to start at the top and work down.

Batman

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#1932611 9-Jan-2018 10:29

if you're into local cuisine, you must try a few things

- spicy: laksa, chilli crab, roti prata (can also be non spicy), satay (can also be no spicy), grilled stingray

- not spicy - "chicken rice" choose roast chicken option, fried carrot (actually turnip) cake - take black and white so as not to be racist, char kway teow (well there is usually some chilli in it)

- drinks - teh tarik iced

ok i need to stop typing I'm dying

Linux

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#1932614 9-Jan-2018 10:35

mrdodge:
Linux:

A singapore sling can cost a small fortune

Linux

And not really worth it, in my opinion. While Raffles is nice, nearly 30 bucks for a gin cocktail is a bit too much

I stayed in the fairmont across the road from Raffles and purchased 3 of these drinks and a small Coke (the legal stuff you drink) and it came to about $130 NZ

OUCH!

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xlinknz

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#1932736 9-Jan-2018 12:27

Thank you for all again for your contributions :)

I just realised the following - spending

If I spend my credit card I get charged 1.75% on all transactions

If I get a loaded for travel card from Kiwibank @ $20 that waivers that so I am better off after spending $1200

However if I do that I then don't get my airpoints dollars at Airpoint $1 per $75 spend - my calculations show loaded for travel has an approx advantge of $40 for every thousand spent after the $1200 after taking into account airports

Thoughts ?

networkn

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#1932746 9-Jan-2018 12:42

Rikkitic:

As above. Changi is the greatest airport in the world. No need to go anywhere else at all.

That's terrible advice! Changi is an interesting place and likely in the top 3 airports in the world, but pales in comparison to almost any other part of Singapore.

Such an amazing place.

mrdodge

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#1932750 9-Jan-2018 12:45

nolanz:
SIM Lim Square is several floors of shops selling electronics and gadgets, so something for all. From memory, it might be better to start at the top and work down.

Yeah watch put for Sim Lim - well known for ripping off tourists especially in the lower levels so you really have to know what you are after.

Now Sim Lim Tower, across the road is a great place to go if you are looking for cheap, reasonable quality electronic components and tools.

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Batman

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#1932755 9-Jan-2018 12:47

xlinknz:
Thank you for all again for your contributions :)

I just realised the following - spending

If I spend my credit card I get charged 1.75% on all transactions

If I get a loaded for travel card from Kiwibank @ $20 that waivers that so I am better off after spending $1200

However if I do that I then don't get my airpoints dollars at Airpoint $1 per $75 spend - my calculations show loaded for travel has an approx advantge of $40 for every thousand spent after the $1200 after taking into account airports

Thoughts ?

2% of 2000 is $40.

$40 of your $5,000-10,000 travel budget ... depends if you think it's worth your hassle saving or not. Only you can decide.

MadEngineer

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#1932896 9-Jan-2018 14:52

When buying something expensive in Singapore you should get a receipt with a barcode at the bottom that you can scan along with your passport and credit card at the airport upon departure upon which you'll be credited the tax. Not sure what the requirement is to get this receipt aside from perhaps so much as looking like a tourist or if it's automatically supplied.

Also, everything is in English and is left hand drive making the island feel rather non-foreign. No matter your ethnicity/skin colour/religion you won't stand out and attract stares

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

MadEngineer

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#1932903 9-Jan-2018 14:59

networkn:

Rikkitic:

As above. Changi is the greatest airport in the world. No need to go anywhere else at all.

That's terrible advice! Changi is an interesting place and likely in the top 3 airports in the world, but pales in comparison to almost any other part of Singapore.

Such an amazing place.

I would like to think his point wasn't that he was suggesting one doesn't leave the airport and visit the greater Singapore, rather reinforcing the fact that there's plenty to do in the airport itself.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

floydbloke

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#1933368 10-Jan-2018 09:14

If you're still hungry for more there is a large thread on Singapore here:

https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2373432

(Australian travel forum on Whirlpool)

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

Geektastic

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#1943215 19-Jan-2018 01:03

Boon Tat Street in the evening. Great Satay for around $25 plus whatever you're drinking. Only turns into a restaurant street at night though.

Fun fact - the adjacent Telok Ayer Market was built in Glasgow and shipped out when Singapore was British, and is a listed building. It's a very interesting design.

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GGJohnstone

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#1943274 19-Jan-2018 09:43

Use EZ Link cards and local transport just for the challenge. During the day a restaurant meal might cost you $15 and the same at night with the Touts outside will cost you $50 each so eat at your apartment and don't be a victim.

English is spoken by young and old. Help with almost anything is spontaneously offered. In a bus or train carriage you might be the only one with fair hair or bald and not using a mobile phone.

Stop over there is the poor man's business class to Europe.

lissie

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#1962406 22-Feb-2018 18:37

With that length of time skip Johor - but there is far to Mallaysia than that. Check out Tioman Island - for the beach or Malaka for history, food, shopping. Even KL is only an hour away by plane.

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

shakedown14

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#1963923 25-Feb-2018 16:24

Where will be a good spot in Singapore to grab a Xiaomi phone and a Mi Box?

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