Singapore: Independent Tour

[karenbeanpole]

If you're referring to the HoHo bus, one loop of each route is plenty. It will take a few hours!

[TipsFromTheTrenches]

Hi! We dock in Singapore at 8am and fly out that night at 9pm. So we have a full day. I have two young children (ages 5 and 2).

I was thinking of just doing a private car since we will have luggage to contend with and the kids. Ordinarily I think the hop on bus would be great- but I am leery of this all day with the kids. PLus I need to deal with our luggage somehow!

 

Anyway- what are thoughts on this? Also- Does anyone have a good itinerary they can recommend that may be fun for kids?

 

I was thinking do the zoo in the morning, then maybe the SIngapore Flyer or Marina Sands.. then CHinatown for dinner?

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

Moondance75,

 

You can leave your luggage at the Harbourfront Cruise Terminal where your cruise will disembark (check http://www.singaporecruise.com.sg/index.php/terminals/sccharbourfront/left-baggage/ for rates) and pick it up later in the day, depending on where you go.

 

Have you been to Singapore before? If no, then I can understand wanting to do the zoo. If you have been and you've been to a zoo, I don't think it is worth the effort for a family with just one day to spend. If you love zoos, then by all means, but if you are just looking for something to keep the kids entertained, then you can easily walk from the cruise ship, through Harbourfront mall to Vivocity mall (which has a cinema and kids play center) and over the Boardwalk to Sentosa (total 25-30 minutes minutes, S$1 entry pp, with the Boardwalk providing pretty views of your ship and the marina area, even the rare turtle) and visit the new Maritime Experiential Museum (not that exciting but it will cool you down after the walk and is kid-friendly).

 

At Sentosa you could also go to Universal Studios (1 minute walk from the Museum) which may not be the typical way to spend a day in an exotic locale, but if you want to get a flavor for local culture without having to taxi everywhere, it actually provides it via the wide variety of people who go there. Kid-friendly, too!

 

There are a lot of activities at other parts of Sentosa, including animal and bird shows, a butterfly park, walking trails, and amenities.

 

If you get bored, you can always go somewhere else. Marina Bay Sands has great views as does the Flyer, but MBS isn't really kid-friendly and the Flyer doesn't have a whole lot around it. Chinatown is a great idea for dinner, but I am not sure what would work best with your luggage.

 

I imagine you'll be a bit tired after the cruise, so that's why I am suggesting something a little more easygoing.

 

Happy travels!

[katkell]

Hi! We dock in Singapore at 8am and fly out that night at 9pm. So we have a full day. I have two young children (ages 5 and 2).

I was thinking of just doing a private car since we will have luggage to contend with and the kids. Ordinarily I think the hop on bus would be great- but I am leery of this all day with the kids. PLus I need to deal with our luggage somehow!

 

Anyway- what are thoughts on this? Also- Does anyone have a good itinerary they can recommend that may be fun for kids?

 

I was thinking do the zoo in the morning, then maybe the SIngapore Flyer or Marina Sands.. then CHinatown for dinner?

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Try Porter Express if you want to do something without a private car. They will pick your luggage up and deliver it to the airport storage where it waits for you to check in. Sounds like a great service

[seasoned]

I second Porter Express. They gave us great service last January. The driver picked us up at the cruise terminal and took us to our overnight hotel, then picked us up for our early-morning flight home.

 

I also recommend the zoo—one of the best and cleanest we've seen. Your hotel concierge could probably arrange one of the special zoo programs: We loved our "Breakfast with Orangutans," and there's also a "night safari." There are komodo dragons, proboscis monkeys, and enclosed walkthroughs where you can get closeup views of sloths, lemurs and fruit bats. We enjoyed watching the elephants splashing in their pool too.

 

The HOHO bus would give a great overview and take you to the ever-fascinating areas of Little India and Chinatown.

 

There are some photos on my website:

http://www.planetsukey.com/PlanetSukey/My_Travels/Entries/2008/12/17_Singapore_to_Sydney_to_Auckland%2C_December_17%2C_2008.html

 

-Sukey-

[valjean]

What is the price of a taxi from the Fairmount Hotel to the zoo and also the bird park? Is the subway close to these attractions?

[Iluvcruising2]

http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/experience.html

 

This website may be useful.

[Iluvcruising2]

What is the price of a taxi from the Fairmount Hotel to the zoo and also the bird park? Is the subway close to these attractions?

 

Unfortunately, the subway (called MRT) is not very close to the zoo and bird park. You could take the MRT to the nearest station then take a taxi to the zoo.

 

http://www.zoo.com.sg/l2_t2.aspx?l2=11&l1=2&langid=1

 

----------

Here are the various options available by MRT:

 

• Alight at Ang Mo Kio station (NS16) and take bus service 138 from the bus interchange.
  
• Alight at Choa Chu Kang station (NS4-BP1) and take bus service 927 from the bus interchange.
  
• From Changi Airport station (EW29), board the train and alight at Tanah Merah station (EW4) to switch to the west-bound train to City Hall station (EW13-NS25), switch again to the north-bound train to Ang Mo Kio station (NS16) and take bus service 138 from the bus interchange.
  
• From Changi Airport station (EW29), board the train and alight at Tanah Merah station (EW4) to switch to the west-bound train to Jurong East station (EW24-NS1), switch again to the north-bound train to Choa Chu Kang station (NS4-BP1) and take bus service 927 from the bus interchange.
  

----------

 

 

Taxis are not expensive by Western standards. If you have a group of 4, I'd say just take a taxi from wherever you are.

[bobs145]

I saw someone mention RMG Tours. I was in Singapore last year on a business trip and took several of the tours with RMG. There was a station in our hotel to purchase the tours and the bus picked me up right from the hotel and dropped me back off after the tour. It was very convenient.

 

I did the City Tour, the NIght Safari tour and the Jurong Bird Park tour. I was planning to do the Sentosa tour, but I ran out of time. Everything was great, but the trip to the Night Safari and the Bird Park were a bit rushed. If you want to take your time, maybe arrange transportation separately.

 

I loved the Orchid Garden (you see it as part of the City Tour). I was on a business trip and the hosts purchased a ticket for the Singapore Flyer, but I didn't get to use it, which I regretted.

 

Have a great time in Singapore! This was one of my favorite destinations by far. Just make sure you have rain gear... It rained almost every day I was there. It wasn't long (just a few minutes usually), but it was some of the hardest rain I've ever seen in my life :).

[waggie]

Thank you for the link to http://www.yoursingapore.com!

The iventure card appears to offer a great deal if you want to see much of the area in a couple of days - has anyone any experience of this package?

We are in Singapore for a few days before our cruise next January - 2 days and then off for 3 days in Cambodia before returning to pick up the ship.

Also, can anyone offer a link to a website that shows which port area Celebrity Millennium departs - I believe the bigger ships have to use the container port - is this correct?

Many thanks,

[Iluvcruising2]

Thank you for the link to http://www.yoursingapore.com!

The iventure card appears to offer a great deal if you want to see much of the area in a couple of days - has anyone any experience of this package?

We are in Singapore for a few days before our cruise next January - 2 days and then off for 3 days in Cambodia before returning to pick up the ship.

Also, can anyone offer a link to a website that shows which port area Celebrity Millennium departs - I believe the bigger ships have to use the container port - is this correct?

Many thanks,

 

Your cruise will be in Jan 2013?

 

If yes, by that time the new international cruise terminal will be up and running. It is located downtown. Voyager OTS will use the new cruise terminal. Perhaps Celebrity will sail from there too. We will know closer to the date.

[Iluvcruising2]

Universal Studios Resorts World Sentosa is a great theme park, even for kids.

 

My family has been there close to ten times.

 

Obviously not very local, but still worth going if you have the time. Completely different from the park in Los Angeles.

 

Do try to avoid Saturdays due to massive crowds. Other days are ok.

[Iluvcruising2]

The Orchid gardens and the top of the Marina Bay Sands were highlights for me. Unlike anywhere else in the world!! Singapore is wonderful!

 

Yeah, the top floor of Marina Bay Sanda is breathtaking.

[jackiedanny]

Maggie, we've been to Singapore twice most recently this past March at the end of a cruise and will be there again early next year. It is a very safe place and so easy to get around. Personally, I would not get a guide and often I will recommend them but don't think it is necessary there.

 

You can reach so many places by foot and by their wonderful subway systems and the few you can't you can take a cab. Everyone is so polite and helpful.

 

Just get a map.

 

Places to see include.

 

Chinatown

Little India

Singapore Botanic Gardens (absolutely beautiful)

Raffles Hotel (it is famous and the lounge is where they invented the Singapore Sling.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark (this has the new casino, large hotel, and unbelievable shopping mall)

Singapore Zoo

Night Time Safari (if you can only do one do the Night Time Safari)

Orchid Street. (you will be amazed at the amount of shopping you will see. Also you'll pass all sorts of buildings including museums.

 

Keith

 

i've done the zoo and the night time safary and although interesting i would not do the night time safari again, the animals are hard to see and if you are into photography forget it, too dark and you cannot use flash, i would go to the zoo again, they are right next to each other and there is nothing but tiredness stopping you from going to both, the night safari did not open till 6 or 7 pm just have dinner there, as it is a fair way from the city, we took train and bus very easy to do and safe even at night, it took us 2 hours to walk around but there is shuttles that will take you around then you can walk if you want

 

the orchid and other gardens at the botanical gardens are a must unless you hate flowers, i would not bother with the raffles hotel unless you can afford the over inflated prices, china town and little india have the most amazing temples, everything in singapore is close to the MRT and you will find a lot of singapore is underground [especially the shopping malls] and located off the MRT, pay attention to the overhead signs to know what street you will exit on too or which shopping mall, orchid street is where all the super expensive designer shops are, by the way shopping is the same as anywhere else and no more cheaper

[Iluvcruising2]

Maggie, we've been to Singapore twice most recently this past March at the end of a cruise and will be there again early next year. It is a very safe place and so easy to get around. Personally, I would not get a guide and often I will recommend them but don't think it is necessary there.

 

You can reach so many places by foot and by their wonderful subway systems and the few you can't you can take a cab. Everyone is so polite and helpful.

 

Just get a map.

 

Places to see include.

 

Chinatown

Little India

Singapore Botanic Gardens (absolutely beautiful)

Raffles Hotel (it is famous and the lounge is where they invented the Singapore Sling.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark (this has the new casino, large hotel, and unbelievable shopping mall)

Singapore Zoo

Night Time Safari (if you can only do one do the Night Time Safari)

Orchid Street. (you will be amazed at the amount of shopping you will see. Also you'll pass all sorts of buildings including museums.

 

Keith

 

Just a small correction, the famous shopping street is called Orchard Road, and not Orchid Street.

 

http://www.orchardroad.org/

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchard_Road