Planning a Trip to Singapore

July to August is the best time to visit Singapore. There's the Great Singapore Sale, the Singapore Food Festival, alots to see and do during this period. We celebrate our National Day on 9th August, go and watch the fireworks at the Marina Bay area. It's fantastic!

Interacting with Locals, Even though locals do add the word "la" to a lot of words- it might be best to refrain from doing so yourself. It is a bit condescending. Also remember to avoid discussions on their local political situation. Its a lenient police state. Singaporeans are not allowed to disagree with their gov't so its best to not get them in trouble. Remember technically it is illegal to have gatherings of more than three people in public if it is political in nature. , Danger Annoyances, Its best to not even try to bring chewing gum into the country because it is a banned item. Also avoid packing anything in your suitcase like a recent issue of Playboy because it will be considered as a banned item. Above all! Pack your own bags before coming to Singapore. There have been numerous occurances where an Austrailian visiting Thailand had a girlfriend slip some drugs into his suitcase without his knowledge. Singapore executes those caught with Drugs. No joke!, Deals / Saving Money, There may be times when you are trying to bargain for a camera and the shopkeeper says to compare prices across the street. Be careful because that shop is most likely owned by the same person who has just given that shop a different name., Health, Singapore has more of advanced society than most places on earth. They have some of the world's best hospitals. So no worries there. Prepare yourself for dressing up often., Transportation, Public transportation is very convenient and very affordable. If you decide to rent a car at the airport it could be very expensive because driving is restricted on most parts of the island and is very complicated.

Well seeing that I live here now..... Best places to visit when you're short on time; Night Safari, finally something in the evening for tourists that isn't a pub! If you don't mind man made beaches head down to Rasa Sentosa and check out the soft sands and the Songs of The Sea show. Shopping in Orchard is fun but try out Vivo City down at Harbour Front. China Town is a must see, try the Dim sum it's excellent! Hmm....for the adverturous take a trip down to Geyland, I'm sure you'll be surprised/offended/intrigued/disgusted ;)

You have not travelled until you have visited Singapore! Easily one of my favorite countries. It is called the Garden City and is one of the most beautiful places you can visit. It is also the city of rules, which makes it the cleaniest and one of the safest places you can travel. Singapore is right on the mouth of the Straits of Malacca(the busiest straits on the planet) which makes it extremely diverse. English, or Chinese only speakers will get by with no problems. No trip to Singapore is complete without visits to, Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, Sentosa Island, The Singapore Zoological Gardens and Night Safari, Raffles Hotel, and of course The Merlion. The Singapore Zoo is easily one of the best Zoos I have ever seen. With a no fence open pen layout it is amazing to see. It also has plenty of hands on activites. My personal favorite was hand feeding the largest freshwater fish in the world. Just next door you have the Night Safari which opens at 10:00PM (2200) It offers you the chance to see the nocturnal wildlife. The highlight of my visit there was the Fruit Bat Avaiary. Orchard Road is the main drag in Singapore and you can find just about any chain restaurant you want there. Whether you are American and are craving some of the California Pizza Company, or you are coming out of Japan and really want a Beef Bowl you will be set here. Great shopping and things to see you do not want to miss Orchard Road. Clarke Quay is a beautiful little quay filled with restaurants and a pretty neat arcade. :) Go there for some good quality and diverse ethnic food from just about all over. This place really lights up at night and is absolutely beautiful. Sentosa Island! What can I say, its a waterpark, Waster Slides wave pools. Best one in Southeast Asia in my humble opinion. Raffles Hotel! The Birthplace of the Singapore Sling, I celebrated my 21st birthday here and ever since I get myself as Singapore Sling on my birthday. Its a tradition now. :) Go see it and don't forget to order that Sling. Finally the MERLION, Singapores icon. Go and learn the story, its actually pretty neat. Like I said, no travelling resume is complete without an extended visit to Singapore. I have been there several times and would not have any qualms with going back again and again.

Perhaps the best way to tackle Singaporean sightseeing is to take one neighborhood at a time. The city is rather spread out, but individual neighborhoods are well defined and fun to explore on foot. Katong is the Peranakan area (MRT Paya Lebar Station). Peranakans are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who began intermarrying with Malays in the 1500's. They are also referred to as Baba-Nonyas. Lots of interesting lunch places are huddled around East Coast Rd and Joo Chiat Rd. The main attraction in the neighborhood is a Hindu temple called Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple on Ceylon Rd just north of East Coast Rd. Check out the painted scenes and text on the ceiling. Hindu temples are covered with intense colors, scenes from their religious history and depictions of deities.

You'll find very spicy food which is delicious but be sure there are toilets nearby lol !!!

Singapore is really modern and polite. The only problem is that there is a fine for everything, from not flushing a public toilet to chewing gum. Lots of laws and very well maintained. Since I don't chew gum and hate stepping on other people's gum, I don't mind that. Singapore is only independent from 1965, and have come so far and done so much. For shopping, food, accommodations and more Singapore will not disappoint.

Singapore is a really interesting place. I first went there 24 years ago. The streets were lined with food stalls and most of the women wore traditional dress. There were very few modern hotels or high rise buildings and it really felt like an old bustling Asian country. Now its totally different. High rises dominate the skyline and most of the 4 million population live in them. Its turned into an Asian replica of a western city but its still a great place to visit. The shopping, of course, is wonderful although I didn't find many things that were cheaper. Orchard Rd has all the designer shops you could want and there are lots of shopping malls selling everything. Shoes were great but I found that clothes were mostly in very small sizes, like most other Asian shops. Bugis Junction has been cleaned up from being a red light district to a cute little shopping centre with the best pedicure salon I've ever been to. I had a mostly city experience but I did get to the zoo which was wonderful. Definately go to the toilets when you go! They are so well designed. You walk in and along one entire side is a water fall wall with rocks and ferns behind it. It provides a totally unique and enjoyable experience. The animal enclosures were ok, humane but I've seen bigger and more interesting for the animals. The tigers enclosure had 5 tigers squeezed into a very small space that was all closed in and confined. The great feature was all the monkeys and orangatangs roaming freely around the grounds. You could really see them in a state that seemed close to their natural habitat. The food at the cafeteria was quite good and well priced and you can have lunch and watch the orangatangs swing from ropes and hammocks and play together. They were so cute and loving with each other. I recommend going to Raffles, the old hotel where Singapore slings were invented. They, of course, make the best Singapore slings I've ever tasted and the atmosphere and service is good. Clark Key is the best place to eat. Its a restaurant and club development on the waterways with so many different open air restaurants right on the water. Great Tapas, several different Asian places and others but I can't remember them all. Its so lovely sitting there in the evening with the lights reflecting on the water and so many interesting people passing by. Little India was interesting with cheap Indian stalls and good palce to eat. It was very hot and full of petrol fumes. Its a really good place to get a really inexpensive silk sari or dress made and the Indian tailors make beautiful made to measure men's suits and business shirts for less than 1/4 of what you'd normally pay. The city areas are very clean and ordered and the roads area good. Taxi cabs are so cheap and a lot of the cab drivers are in the armed forces or police force as well so they are really safe and honest.

Singapore is home to most cleanlinest airports around. I like these airports cos I can surf the internet anytime I wanted to.

If you're not a good bargainer, stay away from places like Sim-Lim square or other shops with no price-list shown. The locals may be able to get the best prices there, but chances are that you will get fooled. Make sure you check in advance on the Internet for the value of one specific item before making a purchase. Also make sure that when you buy, that you don't get a second hand item or there are some pieces missing.

If you should get a bad deal in Singapore, you can complain to the authorities, who will thoroughly investigate your complaint. Never buy on the last day, so you are able to leave a complaint if something is wrong with the item.

My best buy for electronics was in Carrefour on Orchard Road.

check out free internet at the international airport!

hi people you will see the merlion there in singapore almost everywhere!!you might wanna go there so search it on the internet to see more descriptions

Too late if you're not here in '08... The New 7th Storey Hotel was built in 1953 and it is a budget hotel for backpackers. It is located in the heart of the town close to Bugis Street, Little India, Arab Street and Suntec City.
The New 7th Storey Hotel is not what its name suggests because it actually has nine storeys with 38 rooms.
The hotel was renovated in 1997 and all the rooms are completely refurbished with TV sets, local telephone lines, controlled air-conditioning and carpeting.
There is a choice of ensuite or shared bathroom. I opted for inter-connecting family rooms, one with a private bathroom.
Many VTers have recommended this budget hotel because of its excellent location and budget but sadly it is due to be demolished in 2008 to make way for yet another MRT Station.
Unique Qualities: Two unique features include an outside spiral staircase and a cage lift that still needs to be operated manually. I believe this is the last operating cage lift in Singapore.
A nostalgic relic from a bygone era and it's a shame that the next time I'm in Singapore it will be gone.

Read more: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/827ac/16d27f/3/#ixzz1GQtwPDJj

If you really want to experience the varied gastronomic culture of Singapore, there are a few places you MUST visit, and a few dishes you MUST try. You must visit Chinatown where you can find the wet market, and many strange and unusual foods. Turtle foot soup, anyone? A visit to Little India will leave you thinking you have stepped into a different country. Make sure to try the curries, preferrably at a Southern Indian establishment.
Here is a list of foods that are easily enjoyed by nearly everyone and reflect the fusion cuisine of Singapore.
Satay with peanut sauce - the street vendors in hawkers centers do it best.
Roti Prata , with or without the curry to dip it in.
Chilli crab - spicy, but not too hot, and very flavorful.
Nasi Lemak - make sure to be careful of the chilli sauce in this Malay staple if you can't take the heat.
Laksa - this coconut creamy noodle dish is like no other
Chicken Rice - the quintessential dish of simplicity, chicken and rice.
Char Kway Teow - flat rice noodles stir fried with garlic, soy sauce, and egg. Everyone can eat this...

The list goes on and on.... for photos and locations of the best food stuffs, visit
www.makansutra.com

Trip to singapore starts and concludes with one great thing - the Changi International airport. The newly built terminal has got great contours for the art lovers. Do not miss exploring this airport - has got stupendous features like the garden, meditation hall, showers, broadband PC's, cafe parlours and shopping centres. Assistance is top class. MRT and BRT cards for tourists are available at the airport. For nightlife, check Butter Factory at Robertson Quay or RAV at Circular Road. These r good options. A day at Sentosa can be fun with the cable car, sky and luge ride, 4d movie and lots of sea food. Fort siloso is worth exploring as well. Its very cheap. Vivo City is nearby and good for shopping but don't miss out on Little India if u r an indian. If u r into Yoga, go for a couple of pure yoga sessions at Orchard Road. Singapore is normally very safe for tourists. Mustafa at Little India is good option to shop. For art lovers, visit the esplanade at Boat quay. It's also good for boating and photography. Don't miss to visit the Art and history museum on the other side of the river. Give the restaurants at boat quay a miss and try the ones at Clarke quay instead. I found the Science centre very interesting - it's worth one full day out there including the science movie. Try to see the movie on Alps if available. Night Safari at the Zoo is good but there aren't any komodos as I had read once. Jurong bird park is good but one has to walk a lot. For budget shopping, try bugis street. It's street shopping there. For quality shopping, I liked Paragon though there are many options at Orchard. Mustafa is one stop shop though do not expect the best range of apparel here. Currency conversion and travel office is also there at Mustafa. For moving around, one can use a cab which charges reasonably. Bus (SRT) and Tube (MRT) cards are available every corner. Climate is hot and humid. Bring your cottons. Great place in the morning and evening. There aren't any dangers in Singapore as I could see - it's safe and hospitable. Yet. check the credentials of the hotel u r booking into, carry a map and try to avoid roaming around late night in remote places. English is understood by all. Singapore mainly comprises of Chinese, Malay and Tamils.

Singapore Zoo is one of the best open concept to be found anywhere and the world's first night safari is right next door.
It does make for a long day to do both of these attractions but it's well worth the effort.
Tip: It's more economical to buy yourself a 3 park pass which will get you to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park.
Read more: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/827ac/16d27f/4/#1257391#ixzz1Flo0vr8i Situated right next to Singapore Zoo and covering an area of about 40 hectares, Night Safari is the worlds only nocturnal wildlife park.
More than 130 nocturnal species live here and can be seen going about their nocturnal activities while you take a ride in open trams that take you around the park.
There are several well marked walking trails that you can take to explore the park.
Flash photography is strictly forbidden so as not to disturb the animals.

Read more: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/827ac/16d27f/4/#1257391#ixzz1FloQVzS0

Ride in a converted Vietnam War amphibious craft from Suntec City and drive into the water for a scenic harbour tour.
You get great views of the Merlion with the Fullerton Hotel in the background and of the very impressive city skyline.
For a small extra fee you could also have your photo taken on postage stamps to stick on your postcard cards to send to family and friends.
Imagine their surprise when they see your mug stamped and dated in exotic Singapore.

Read more: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/827ac/16d27f/4/#1257391#ixzz1Flq6eAA4

Don’t miss the Titanic Exhibition, one of the world’s most celebrated exhibitions. Find out the reason(s) and facts about what happened on the night of Arpil 14, 1912, how the ‘unsinkable’ ship met its poignant fate. Explore detailed reconstructions of the ship’s interior including the Grand Staircase, Firs Class corridor and cabins and connect the facts with the personal stories of passengers as you view the artefacts (jewels, letters, cloths, photos …) recovered from the ocean. There is also a gift shop if you feel like to take a piece of Titanic home.

Try to speak Singlish (Singaporean English) :)

When in transit at Singapore airport, take the monorail to the other terminal - which you can do in transit without going through customs, visit the hotel and pay a fee to use the pool - you get a towel and some toiletries so you can shower afterwards. This is the best way to refresh yourself if you've been travelling longhaul. On last visit it cost me about $14 singapore dollars. 

deals for electronis are great but be aware that customs and duties can be high

One thing not to miss in Singapore is the Singapore Zoo. It is probably the best in the world and you cannot miss it.

Nice shopping center/ mall and some places with good food.

Holland Village is a great neighborhood in Singapore where are lots o shops,f nice restaurants, Michelangelo's is one of my favorite's.. A nice review? http://www.crave.com.sg/content/view/27
If you want to do your nails, there is the best nail spa in Singapore, Serendipity nail spa won several awards and really is a nice place with great atmosphere and professional staff. www.serendipity.com.sg

If you wanna go dancing, the better party's are at Zouk and next door Velvet. Better dress superb otherwise you will take a cab to a bar after the long Q..
Q Bar is a nice near the business district and Double O bar in the Mohamed Sultan is great to drink and dance.

Si vous avez un peu de temps libre lors de votre escale, profitez du bus gratuit mis a disposition par l'aeroport pour visiter la ville. Par contre vous ne pourrez pas sortir du bus.