Singapore is definitely the city of the future. A perfect place not only to visit for vacations but to live as well. Actually I am quite sure that after a couple of days in the city you will for sure check what open positions are available in your profession :-). Do not hesitate to put Singapore in your bucket list and go either with your family or with your other half.
- General Information for Singapore
- What Singapore is famous for
- Entering the country
- Transportation around the city
- Where to stay in Singapore
- The strict laws of Singapore!
We visited Singapore at New Year’s Eve 2018 after our trip in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. We stayed for 5 days but and we wish that we had stayed for much more.
General Information for Singapore
Singapore or the Republic of Singapore name means “lion city” in Malay. The country won its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 and has the rumor of the “Switzerland of Asia” due to its neutrality on international matters.
Singapore is the only Southeast Asian country with drinkable water. If you are not getting impressed by that, we may have to mention that it is rated as “the most technology-ready nation”, “the smartest city” and is the third least corrupted country in the world!
What Singapore is famous for
Infrastructure and technology achievements
The highlight of Singapore, or maybe we should say, the most impressive area is the Marine. A huge area with skyscrapers, impressive buildings and of course a walking area to enjoy the view either by walk or by electric scooters and bicycles.
The infrastructure in Singapore is highly developed. There is not a centimeter in this area of the world that hasn’t been structured with high-quality standards. The pedestrian areas, the malls, the buildings, almost everything is perfect and in harmony with the environment.
Have in mind that everything that you are going to see in Singapore, has been achieved in only 50 years!
Social Achievements
Singapore is not only famous for the infrastructure but also for the social achievements in only 6 decades.
Indian, Malay, Chinese and Eurasians despite their past conflicts and the different religions they work, leave and prosper together. The governments through the years promoted tolerance and acceptance among Singapore’s citizens and this actually worked on their benefit.
It became a country example, which turned from developing countries into developed in only one generation. Responsible for that fast change was Lee Kuan Yew who served as a prime minister for several years.
Entering the country
Before you enter the country it would be perfect to have already booked the way that you will leave the country. Train, bus or airplane ticket. This advice is especially for travelers who are legible only for a single month visa, even if it is “on arrival visa”.
By bus from Malaysia
We made the big mistake to travel from Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by bus. The google maps will show you that is just a five-hour trip, the bus companies will confirm it and the average price of 12€ will make you think.. why not?
Well, the bus came at 10.30 am instead of 7.30 am and we arrived in our hotel, which was pretty much in the center of the city, at 8.30 pm. Even without the bus delay, you will make 10 hours!! Guys just book a plane for the amazing airport in Singapore which will cost you some time as low as 20€ on early bookings.
The bus station in the borders with Malaysia was the only “black page” of the city. The queue lines are huge, the transportation to the city not that frequent and there is no ATM. Moreover, they didn’t accept any card for buying bus tickets! We got lucky that someone local accepted to exchange our Malaysian ringgits to Singaporean dollars.
By airplane
As much the bus station disappointed us, that much we were impressed by Singaporean’s airport. It is not a coincidence Singapore’s airport has been voted for 7 years in a row “world’s best airport” by Skytrax. Simply amazing!
There are available among the luxury lounges, cinema, video games room, sleeping areas with comfortable couches, smoking area, gym, and feet massage every 20 meters without the need to insert any coin! The check-in is taking place in the departure gate making the queue lines only one and only for your flight. What to say? That we wish to have more time inside the airport to visit the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3 where you can find more than 1000 butterflies from 40 pieces? The people gave to the phrase “take-off”, a totally different definition!
Transportation around the city
Singapore has an excellent transportation system. It is fast, accurate with many stops around the city and with frequent itineraries. In every subway station, there are ticketing machines and personnel in case you want some additional help.
The procedure is pretty easy. You chose in the ticketing machine the trip that you wish to make (From-To) the system calculates the total and you just have to load in the card the total amount. You may download a map in your smart device through the official website.
We from the other side chose to be as much as we could over the ground. We used electronic scooters and bicycles to the maximum. Especially for the short distances are perfect, plus you get to know the city as well.
Where to stay in Singapore
In Singapore, in 2018 there ware no options of Airbnb. At least not in the center. The closest apartment that we could find was 2 hours away. 5 months later, by the time that we syntax this post, we discovered some options offered through the popular platform.
The accommodation quality in Singapore is high. If we exclude the really cheap hostels with prices 16 to 30€ per night with the expected amenities the rest options can be characterized as decent. The 2-star hotels are costing more or less 50 – 60 € the 3-star 80 – 100 € and so on with limit the sky.
Probably the best hotel in Singapore is the iconic Marine Bay Sands, a 5-star hotel hosted in 3 skyscrapers. On the last floor, you can find the infinity pool, the biggest rooftop pool worldwide with exclusive entrance to the hotel’s customers.
As the Marina Bay Sands was fully booked :-), we chose Days Hotel by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park. A decent 3-star hotel, 4.1 kilometers from the center but with a frequent shelter to the nearest subway station. The only complaint was the lack of Western options on breakfast but this is something that you probably will not avoid in Asia.
Even if the shuttle was a nice solution we strongly advise you to book a hotel as close to the center as possible. On trips, it is worth it to invest some extra money to save some time from transportations.
Booking.comThe strict laws of Singapore!
Singapore became what it is today not because they have laws but actually because they are respecting them. Well, it cannot be on the other way cause the penalties for some of the violations are really big!
- Throw your trash into the bins!
- Do not chew gum!
- Smoking is permitted only in those yellow painted boxes!
- Do not drink or eat in the public transports
- Respect the cultural diversity
To say the truth it is not good that we have to highlight the above rules. We shouldn’t smoke everywhere, throwing the gums and litters on the floor or disrespect our fellowmen in any country in the world.
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