Singapore Trip Tips
I'm dedicating this post to all the travellers to Singapore. Singapore is a small country but very vibrant! It is safe, have a good transportation system, it's summer all year long (with a bit of rain only when you leave your umbrella at home)!! For sure this city is baby friendly, with all the baby room in almost every mall (except Chinatown area), wheelchair friendly with the ramp everywhere, even friendly enough for the blind to travel by themselves. For the first timer to Singapore, there are some tips that u need to know.Few tips to visit Singapore:
1. On the plane make sure u get the white arrival card and fill it up even for the departure section so there'll be no delay in the immigration later on.
2. In Changi Airport, once you go out from the plane, there are a lot of drinking fountain where u can drink to ur heart content. All the public phone are FREE to make a local Singapore call. If you need to buy any stuff, it's cheaper to buy in this airport than outside in the city. Make sure you get your alcohol supply or new make up kit in Changi Airport, one of the cheapest duty free shop in the world.
3. If u bring a lot of luggage or happen to have a cranky and tired baby, maybe u wanna grab TAXI directly to your hotel. Please go to the taxi stand and not to the lobby. Do take note that Singapore taxi only usually allows 4 adult passenger per car (2 adults = 3 children). And occasionally they allow 4 adult + 1 baby.
There are a few types of taxi in Singapore:
- the black Chrysler taxi is the choice if u want to travel in style, with the very polite, friendly and knowledgeable driver. They charge a bit higher than normal but usually everything still will be under $50 SGD.
- the 2nd one is the exclusive white Mercedes taxi, the rate is a bit lower than Chrysler taxi, but still with very good driver.
- the rest are normal taxi, where you can find some friendly and some sour-faced driver.
- If u travel in group, u might want to consider taking the MaxiCab (7 seater), you can ask from the taxi stand as well. This taxi charge flat rate of $60 sgd for one way trip.
4. And if u travel only with minimum luggage, and you're not overly tired from your flight, you can choose to go to town by bus or MRT train. I suggest the latter, coz u dont need to lift-up ur luggage or baby stroller at all. U can buy single trip card that can be used for one way trip, or u can buy EZLINK card from the Changi MRT passenger service. (can be used for any bus and train)
This EZLINK card costs $12 each with around $7 balance. The other $5 is the cost of the card which is not refundable. U can top up this card value in multiples of $10 in any MRT station. It's convenient and save u from all the hassle to look for coins whenever u take bus (bus don't give change) and also cheaper to travel with because they give u "transfer" period within 1 hour limit. For example u take MRT ($1.7), then change to bus ($1.1), then eat ice cream somewhere, then take bus again ($1.1). Total is $3.9 per person. With ezlink maybe it'll cost u only $2 per person. U can save around SGD1.9 per person for this trip using ezlink card. Also consider to use taxi for short distance trip if u have 3 or 4 person travelling.
5. Bring umbrella and water bottle everywhere u go especially with kids.
6. In the food court or any eating place, empty table with pocket tissue on it, means its taken.
7. Always stand in the left side of the escalator. Coz the right side is for those people who rushed and need to run.
8. Bus riding, always board from the front door and alight from the back door.
Don't forget to tap in and out ur Ezlink card, otherwise they will deduct your balance the furthest distance price. In every bus stop, they have information board about bus number, its stopping point and the distance. So do check them out before you board the bus. Make sure you go to the correct direction.
9. Do not buy any electronics from Sim Lim Square or Lucky Plaza!!
Hope u enjoy your stay. And I will share a few places of interest in my next post.
