One of my clients has recently returned from a stopover in Singapore, and I thought you’d be interested in what she had to say. Anna has summed up Singapore and Sentosa Island to a tee, and she has great feedback to share. Singapore is definitely on my hit list for next year, as everyone is saying the same thing… Singapore has really ‘come of age’ and is now a great destination in it’s own right.
Here is what Anna has to say! Enjoy…… and thanks Anna for sharing with us!!
“Well Singapore is a definitely ‘not to be missed’ these days. It ticks all of the boxes. I have been there 4 or 5 forgettable times over the last 20 years and have tried to avoid using it as a stopover on at least another 4 or 5 times over that period. I could never really work it out – yes it was (and still is) just about the cleanest place in the world and there is Orchard Road for shopping – and the weather is warm, but that was it for me. Now, not sure if I have grown up or if it is Singapore that has come of age but either way – Singapore has got it going on!
You could easily spend a week or two there – I would suggest half the time in the city and the other half on Sentosa Island, especially if you have kids of any age, or if you are young at heart yourself. Sentosa is an island about 2 kilometres off the mainland – accessible by cable car or road. It is about a 10 – 15 minute taxi ride from the centre of town which will cost you only about $A10 dollars.
Sentosa is full of fun – we thought the old side of the island was tired and the beaches nothing special but the second you enter – “Resorts World” on the harbour side of the island, you will be impressed. Resorts World is a collection of smart, brand new hotels, that were really well priced and with so much to offer. As a guest of one of the hotels you can travel between the others and use any of the facilities including some pretty amazing pools. Each of the resorts have different things to offer, including a great water park, loads of great shops and eateries, and Universal Studios which is a full day of adventure. According to the kids, and an adult or two in our group, the transformer ride was the “best ride in the world”. Resort World is one very big, very cool complex. And it you are thinking this all sounds a bit hectic – it’s not, if you just want some peace and the company of a good book, or a snooze on a cabana there are great spots for that too.
On the mainland there are also days of things to do – there are markets, the new harbour, with hotels and shopping centres, the likes of which we had not laid eyes on before. There is Raffles Hotel, it is really for those with fuller wallets, but worth a visit. We had a drink and played some cards one afternoon with the kids in the Long Bar – an experience not to forget. There is China Town and Little India – both full of quirky things to buy, cheap yummy things to eat and some really interesting culture and architecture. Take a tour to the Singapore Zoo – we ate breakfast with the orangutans – which was amazing! The half day trip was well worth it. Check out the Singapore Botanical Gardens – it opens at 5am and closes at midnight so perfect if you land too early for your hotel or if you have a late flight out.
The shopping in Singapore is good – I would say a little cheaper that Australia but there are not the bargain buys like in Thailand or Vietnam. Alcohol is expensive – but what the heck if you are on holidays that might not really matter – take a bottle or two of something special into the country with you maybe.
No need for a car – the taxis are super cheap and on Sentosa there is a free shuttle but that runs between all of the Reports World Hotels. If you are up for a walk – it is flat and really easy to get around.
Singapore is safe, everyone speaks English – and good old fashioned customer service is everywhere you go. So start researching, buy a Singapore pocketbook and plan your trip. Singapore is great for a stopover but great enough as a holiday destination on its own. If you don’t want to plan your next visit as soon as you get back, I would be surprised.”