Singapore: Travel Tips, Trends? Ideas & Insights?

[SusieKIslandGirl]

I already have the Grab app on my phone and have a couple of Tours by Locals planned. I know the heat and humidity won’t be kind to me.

[Arubamoose]

On 8/11/2024 at 12:13 PM, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Quite a few of us from our cruise are staying at the Clarke Quay Holiday Inn Express. The location looks fairly good and the price is good. Hope we made a good choice.

 

 

We are arriving late on Feb 28th and are staying at the Crown Plaza Changi (thank you IHG credit card free night).

We will tour the Jewel the next morning and head over to the Clarke Quay Holiday Inn (thank you IHG credit card points) to spend two nights.  

I think it is a great location.  I have set up two self-walking tours for those days from the hotel.  One heading towards Kampong Glam and Little India - about 4 miles.  The second heading through Chinatown to the Merlion and the Marina Bay Sands area - again about 4 miles.  We will do UBER back!

We think the IHG credit card with an annual fee of $49 is a big bargain since it gives you a free night.  We mostly use it when we cruise out of FLL.

 

Edited August 18 by Arubamoose
addition

[TLCOhio]

3 hours ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

I already have the Grab app on my phone and have a couple of Tours by Locals planned. I know the heat and humidity won’t be kind to me.

 

Appreciate your quick follow-up and glad that you mentioned having some options with Tours by Local being planned.  As mentioned earlier, we used Danny T. with Tours by Longs and he was super wonderful.  Great, super knowledgeable guide who knew and shared so much of the Singapore history/context.  

 

Great that you made mention of "HEAT and HUMIDITY". It can be warm there in Singapore, plus the humidity.  We sensed and experienced it in late February and early March.  See the chart below.  Through the year, the high temperatures are averaging in the upper 80'sF.  That warm for us.  

 

Prepare and plan accordingly.  Especially during most days to be walking long distances, unless your body is used to these warm conditions.   

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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From Wikipedia, here is their month-by-month weather chart showing the average high's, rainfall, humidity, etc.  Interesting data, including having it in both C and F.:

(Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

[terry&mike]

18 hours ago, Arubamoose said:

 

We are arriving late on Feb 28th and are staying at the Crown Plaza Changi (thank you IHG credit card free night).

We will tour the Jewel the next morning and head over to the Clarke Quay Holiday Inn (thank you IHG credit card points) to spend two nights.  

I think it is a great location.  I have set up two self-walking tours for those days from the hotel.  One heading towards Kampong Glam and Little India - about 4 miles.  The second heading through Chinatown to the Merlion and the Marina Bay Sands area - again about 4 miles.  We will do UBER back!

We think the IHG credit card with an annual fee of $49 is a big bargain since it gives you a free night.  We mostly use it when we cruise out of FLL.

 

Sounds like you have a good plan. We have stayed in the Crown Plaza Changi when having overnight layovers in Singapore (on the way to Bali), and found it to be a very nice stay. Their breakfast is also wonderful.

  Like you, we are big walkers, and have taken ourselves on walks for many miles through Singapore, both above ground and in their underground system. Enjoy!

[Donsyb]

On 8/11/2024 at 5:13 PM, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Quite a few of us from our cruise are staying at the Clarke Quay Holiday Inn Express. The location looks fairly good and the price is good. Hope we made a good choice.

 

We stayed here a number of years back.  Location was close to public transport and had a small but functional rooftop pool.  It's a decent choice.

[TLCOhio]

From CNBC cable and MSN News this past week, they had this headline: “Planning a luxury trip to Singapore? Here's where to stay, shop and eat” with these highlights: “For many, Singapore — the city that inspired 'Crazy Rich Asians' — is synonymous with luxury, with top-tier accommodations, high-end shopping and restaurants.  But where to stay, shop and eat in a city that has so many options?  CNBC's 'First Class' series takes viewers into the city's top hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, with an insider's look into The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, home to an underwater tunnel that connects the main building to a floating Louis Vuitton store.”

 

Featured is a 15-minute video that includes interviews with the General Manager of the famed Raffles Hotel and the Head Chef at the highly-rated Odette dining location.  This report focuses on the high-end, luxury, more costly options.  Here are a few visuals from this report, including about sights to see and shopping options: 

 

 

 

 

For our interests in late February and early March, shopping was not our priority.  But, this video news segment brought back nice memories and added background from our time at the Marina Bay Sands and the Raffles Hotel.  Many great options in Singapore.  BUT, bring your wallet and credit cards.  Luxury is there, but is priced accordingly.  

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/planning-a-luxury-trip-to-singapore-heres-what-to-do-and-where-to-stay/ar-AA1p0WkN?ocid=BingNewsVerp

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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[TLCOhio]

From MSN News and Travel+Leisure magazine two days ago, they had this headline: “Here's What It's Like To Stay In Singapore's Most Iconic Hotel” with these highlights: “Marina Bay Sands is a dizzying playground.  Whether it looks like a boat, three decks of cards, or is simply an ingenious design by architect Moshe Safdie, the building has become synonymous with the Singapore skyline since it opened in 2010 — and now, it’s recently undergone a billion-dollar renovation, majorly upgrading more than 1,000 rooms in Towers 1 and 2.  There is so much going on at the Marina Bay Sands that it often feels like more than a hotel. It is its own microcosm of Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub, a cocktail bar haven, and the poshest place in Asia."

 

Many interesting details for this complex are detailed in this story.  This also includes: "With close to 50 food and beverage options spread around Marina Bay Sands, 11 of which are in the actual hotel, even the pickiest eaters will find something.  There’s fine dining by celebrity chefs like Daniel Boulud, Gordon Ramsey, and Wolfgang Puck.  The SkyPark is undoubtedly a major draw for guests. This rooftop area spans nearly three acres and is large enough to park four-and-a-half jumbo jets."

 

As mentioned earlier, from our visit there earlier this year, this Marina Bay Sands is fascinating to see from different angles outside and we super enjoyed the sights and view on and from its top level.  Not sure I would stay here as it is so large, vast and overwhelming.  The charm of an airport terminal?  But, it is well worth sampling and visiting briefly.  

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/heres-what-its-like-to-stay-in-singapores-most-iconic-hotel/ar-AA1ppcVL?ocid=BingNewsVerp

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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[TLCOhio]

From the London/UK Independent and MSN News this morning, they had this headline: “Pope Francis wraps up 12-day historic Asia visit” with these highlights related to Singapore: “Pope Francis wrapped up his12-day Southeast Asia tour on Friday by praising Singapore’s tradition of interfaith harmony and with the same message of tolerance that he delivered at the start.  He visited the country with the world’s largest Muslim population – Indonesia, with about 242 million – and the country with the highest percentage of Catholics outside the Vatican itself – East Timor, with some 98 per cent.  Francis, 87, presided over a gathering of young people from some of the religious traditions that are present in Singapore, where mosques, Buddhist temples and Christian churches.  He expressed concern for the country’s rapidly aging population, and its migrant workforce.”

 

As to Singapore, this background was detailed and shared: "Francis was in Singapore to encourage its Catholics, who make up about 3.5 per cent of the population of just under 6 million, while highlighting Singapore’s tradition of interfaith coexistence. According to a 2020 census, Buddhists make up about 31 per cent of the population, Christians 19 per cent and Muslims 15 per cent, while about a fifth of the population claimed no religious belief whatsoever."

 

The Pope also "offered an overwhelmingly positive message in one of the world’s wealthiest countries, praising Singapore's economic development and making only one public appeal: that it treat its immigrant workers with dignity and a fair wage."

 

Full story at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/pope-francis-wraps-up-12-day-historic-asia-visit-with-message-of-tolerance/ar-AA1qvq39?ocid=BingNewsVerp

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

 

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[suzyed]

Have you heard anything about the "newish" 21 Carpenter Hotel near Clarke Quay?I love the history and concept of the building. 
Looking forward to staying there and trying the restaurant, Kees.

[TLCOhio]

11 hours ago, suzyed said:

Have you heard anything about the "newish" 21 Carpenter Hotel near Clarke Quay?I love the history and concept of the building. Looking forward to staying there and trying the restaurant, Kees.

 

Appreciate you follow-up for this lodging/dining option.  In checking TripAdvisor on 21 Carpenter, this hotel gets high marks and they summarize its very interesting background/history: "Amongst the bustling streets where historic Chinatown meets the vibrant bustle of Clarke Quay, stands a notable remittance house, Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee. Founded in 1936 by prominent local philanthropist, Mr Lee Wee Nam and his brothers, this establishment was a place of special significance for the first generation of Singaporean immigrants."

 

I also saw that it is tied in with Marriott for booking and potential discount purposes.  On the map, it looks like an interesting location near lots of the "action".   With so very, very many excellent hotel options in Singapore, it is vital to start early in searching, checking and re-checking back to maximize your choice for the best location and value pricing.  

 

Keep it coming!!  Great sharing, questions, comments.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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[seeriteR]

Terry, you are just a wealth of information!

Just curious if you can walk from the Singapore cruise port to anything nearby, like the Gardens By The Bay? We are on a B2B (HAL) out of Singapore and will have a whole day in port.

We are staying pre-cruise at The Quay Hotel and it seems there are a few places nearby that we can get a good view of the Sands Hotel and walk to the Helix Bridge, Merlion and Raffles.

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, seeriteR said:

Terry, you are just a wealth of information!  Just curious if you can walk from the Singapore cruise port to anything nearby, like the Gardens By The Bay? We are on a B2B (HAL) out of Singapore and will have a whole day in port.  We are staying pre-cruise at The Quay Hotel and it seems there are a few places nearby that we can get a good view of the Sands Hotel and walk to the Helix Bridge, Merlion and Raffles.

 

Is is possible to walk from Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore to Gardens by the Bay?  Yes, but, if and maybe, with several "qualifiers" to consider.  How warm and humid is it that day?  From our three days there in late February and early March, most visitors need to adjust and plan accordingly for these "weather realities".    Also, how good of a walker are you along a path a little limited in its shops, options, history, architecture and scenery.  By my rough, approximate estimate, it would be a distance of about 9,000 feet, each direction.  Or, about 1.75 to two miles each for going there and then coming back.  Too far each way to walk without interesting stop-over points?  

 

What will you see enroute?  Below is a Google Maps air view from near the cruise terminal to the Gardens by the Bay and the little farther away Marina Bay Sands.  It's mostly undeveloped landfill That will be your sights and sites enroute.  Worth it?  In my view, this route would not be interesting like walking the streets of Paris or London. 

 

Given ALL of the many and great options in Singapore, I would spend just a little for a cab (maybe share with another couple) or use public transit to connect there quicker and in greater comfort. Your time has value and for what can be walked from this cruise location, I might suggest considering other options.  Your choice!

 

Caution:  When there in late February 2024, we were docked at another cruise ship location.  Maybe by this time, all ships will be at this newer, closer location.  Double check as to your actual ship docking site.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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[seeriteR]

15 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Given ALL of the many and great options in Singapore, I would spend just a little for a cab (maybe share with another couple) or use public transit to connect there quicker and in greater comfort. Your time has value and for what can be walked from this cruise location, I might suggest considering other options.  Your choice!

 

While the walk itself would not be a problem physically, after reading your comments, I agree that our time is worth more that whatever pleasure, if any, that this walk would bring. That's one reason I asked! Thank you for the information.

 

Any suggested day excursions from the cruise port? Time in port is 7am-4pm on a Saturday.

[TLCOhio]

2 hours ago, seeriteR said:

While the walk itself would not be a problem physically, after reading your comments, I agree that our time is worth more that whatever pleasure, if any, that this walk would bring. That's one reason I asked! Thank you for the information.  Any suggested day excursions from the cruise port? Time in port is 7am-4pm on a Saturday.

 

Glad that our Michigan neighbors to the north get "it" well for carefully considering the many options for Singapore.  Good follow-up question.  But, for me and others who might know Singapore better, here are some of our follow-up questions before we could respond.  

 

First, is this your first visit to Singapore?  Tell us more!  What do you most like to do and explore?  History?  Shopping?  Culture?  Nature?  Food?  Arts?  Architecture?  Music?  Wildlife?   Scenic countrysides?  Being more "aggressive" in doing more?  Or, more relaxed and laid-back?  How flexible is your budget?  Spending more sometimes does allow you to see and experience more and in very "special" locations.  

 

As mentioned earlier, we used Danny L., a private guide with Tours by Locals, that worked so super well during our first in Singapore.  We did not just "see" a variety of locations and things.  BUT, we had a series of "conversations" to learn more as to how Singapore developed and evolved, what's important and why, etc.  Knowing the context for the history, diversity and culture, etc., are important for our personal interests and travel curiosity.  

 

After hearing more info back, we might be able to make some added suggestions.  Or, others can share their experiences and ideas.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

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