Any tips or advice for travelling to Singapore welcome

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xlinknz

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#227466 8-Jan-2018 12:37

The family are flying outbound economy on AIRNZ and return on Fiji Air (transitting Nadi) for a couple of weeks

Advise on Singapore and Changi airport would be appreciated e.g. taxi's, lounges, roaming (althought it appears Singapore has free WiFi (wireless@SG) so we'll roam (2D and WHM) and use WiFi out and about assuming the coverage is like Spark phone boxes ?

We also plan to pop over to Johor for a few nights too

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#1932193 8-Jan-2018 12:37

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MadEngineer

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#1932271 8-Jan-2018 15:27

Allow for plenty of time at Changi AirPort - it's easy to waste a number of hours there as it's a tourist destination in its own right.

Pretty much this, https://forpureadventure.com/2015/05/03/singapore-stopover-holiday-package-review-specifically-for-nz-and-au-visitors/ but for a Singapore Stayover 3 days would be a bare minimum. Make use of the hop-on hop-off buses. Taxis are cheap enough. See if you can make use of the MRT which is awesome just for the experiance.

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Rikkitic

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#1932272 8-Jan-2018 15:35

As above. Changi is the greatest airport in the world. No need to go anywhere else at all. I haven't been there for a few years so someone with more recent experience can update you, but when I was there the facilities were fantastic. Swimming pools and Sedgeways for the kiddies and a free whirlwind tour of the city for transit passengers. It only takes two or three hours (don't remember exactly) but you get to see the sights along the way and spend some time in the small remaining bit of old Singapore exploring a temple. Seriously, the airport alone is worth the trip, but if you have time, definitely see what you can of the city. There is plenty of info on-line.

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DarthKermit

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#1932288 8-Jan-2018 16:51

Be aware that Singapore likely has had an alteration or three since I was last there in 1981.

BlinkyBill

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#1932294 8-Jan-2018 17:14

Singapore Zoo is really good. Restaurant André is superb, some good ‘hawker’ food also (the real hawker stalls are gone now). The rest of Singapore is, in my opinion, sanitized and anodyne, hence not worth visiting unless you are stopping over. Not worth a visit in and of itself.

k1w1k1d

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#1932324 8-Jan-2018 17:59

Singapore has some odd rules and laws that you should check up on, eg chewing gum, littering, jay walking, etc.

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#1932361 8-Jan-2018 19:42

Prepare yourself for nz$16 beers. Singapore is expensive!
Was there in July for a 4 day stopover, I do a stopover every couple of years on way back from the uk and treat it as a holiday. Catch the evening light shows around marina bay and take a walk along boat quay and Clark quay in the evening when it’s slightly cooler. If you got kids Sentosa is always worth a days visit.

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xlinknz

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#1932408 8-Jan-2018 21:00

Thank you all for your replies

Did anyone go over to Johor ?

BlinkyBill: Singapore Zoo is really good. Restaurant André is superb, some good ‘hawker’ food also (the real hawker stalls are gone now). The rest of Singapore is, in my opinion, sanitized and anodyne, hence not worth visiting unless you are stopping over. Not worth a visit in and of itself.

Restaurant Andre closes in Feb and now only has a fixed menu at SGD$550 per head (24 courses!) + SGD$250 for beverage pairing

Scott3

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#1932438 8-Jan-2018 21:38

Pick accommodation near a MRT station. Get the public transport smart-card, and daily / weekly passes.

I stayed for a week a few years ago, stayed at Hotel V lavender, which has a cheap 24hr footcourt under it, and was adjacent to the lavender MRT station. We loved that, went pretty much everywhere by public transport.

We stayed a week, and most people told us a week was to long for singapore, but we enjoyed it a lot.

Regarding roaming, unless you really need to be contactable on your normal number, for two weeks, just buy a local sim. We did, was cheap and had really fast data, and was way cheaper than hotel internet.

Regarding pricing, it's strange, Food is really cheap compared to NZ, but accommodation is expensive. Everything is superclean, so you can feel safe buying food at cheap places.

mrdodge

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#1932449 8-Jan-2018 22:01

I lived in Singapore for 10 years before coming here a couple of years ago, so feel I know it pretty well.

Changi Airport is one of the best in the world and if you are there for a layover there is lots to do for sure. And getting in and out of Changi is a dream compared to other airports I can think of.

Be prepared for the heat and humidity and, given it’s still wet season, the rain.

Getting around Singapore is pretty easy. Taxis are cheap and generally available, except when it rains when they are booked out and you might be waiting for anything up to an hour. Calling cabs requires a local phoneor queuing at a taxi rank. Depending where you are you might be able to hail them off the street. Buses and the MRT are cheap and easy to use, but I would avoid peak times unless you like crowds. While Singapore is small, it can take a surprisingly long time to get around, especially at peak.

Places to go, the Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, National Science Centre, Butterfly Park for the kids. Take the wife to Arab street and let her run wild at the trinket shops and get a custom made perfume. Katong and Joo Chiat for Peranakan architecture and museum. It’s a nice walk around there.

Food - there is really really high end, like Restuarant Andre ( which the wife did not like so much) or Waku Ghin, but that’s $$$$+++. If you can dump the kids ( most hotels have a child minding service) go the the bar on Level 70 of Raffles City for a Sundowner.
There are large number of kid friendly buffets in the hotels all exxy but quite nice. The Line in the Shangri-la was a favorite.
Try the local food though. Go to Lau Pa Sat in town or East Coast Village for a fairly easy intro to local food. The kids will like the satay. If you are more adventurous and want real local flavor go to Geylang, just avoid the even numbered lorongs! Cheap, flavorful and cheerful. If you are really brave, ask for a local HDB food court and fill up on the economic rice and give the kids some prata. Family of 4 and a few beers will set you back about 20 bucks. I should also say avoid Newton Circus as that’s a well known tourist trap ( like $45 per prawn).

As to Johor, umm why? It’s where Singaporeans go to shop cheap and always struck me as somewhat run down and seedy. North of Johor are some great places if you like golf, horse riding and that sort of thing. Some really lovely resorts on both the east and west coast of Malaysia as well. Bear in mind getting across the causeway can be tiresome at the wrong time of day.

Hope that helps!

Linux

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#1932450 8-Jan-2018 22:05

A singapore sling can cost a small fortune

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mrdodge

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#1932494 9-Jan-2018 07:01

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

t0ny

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#1932499 9-Jan-2018 07:19

Seafood buffet at the Ritz is highly recommended. Their service is on another level

Batman

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#1932518 9-Jan-2018 08:04

Infinity Pool at Marina Bay Sands.

Gardens by the Bay.

Satay by the Bay.

itxtme

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#1932586 9-Jan-2018 10:06

Gardens by the bay is definitely worth it, and fantastic on a baking hot day given its climate controlled. Also street vendor ice cream in rainbow bread, top notch!

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