If you are a fan of southeast Asia or are looking to plan a trip there, then one of the most fascinating and diverse destinations that you can visit is Singapore. It is an island country that has a lot of offer all different travelers from families, to couples, and solo trippers. It is a pretty high-tech city too, so you will see travelers and business people alike. Plus, with it being a city (and a great travel hub), it can be a good place to visit if you have only a few days or something like a 24-hour layover to spare.
If this pretty futuristic city that really is one of a kind sounds like somewhere that you would like to visit, then here are some tips to help you to make the most of your time there; especially if your time there is limited. Make the most of it with these stellar tips.
Download the Grab App
There are a lot of local laws in many southeast Asian countries that mean that Uber can’t operate there. But there is a local app called ‘Grab’ which is basically their answer to Uber. It is a busy city that is spread out, so walking isn’t always going to the best option. Public transport is good (which I will go into), but the app is handy to have as it can be downloaded in advance and then it is ready should you need it. It really is a must-have app.
Use Public Transport
The MRT, or mass rapid transit, in Singapore really is a dream. Like most countries in eastern Asia, the public transport really is second to none and you can get around to everywhere that you want to go. You can just look up the prices of property near Boon Keng MRT station, for example, and see that being around the stations really is a great choice. It isn’t particularly that expensive in the first place, but if you want to save time when you are there, as well as a little cash, then getting a Singapore pass for tourists in advance, can be a really good idea. This will give you unlimited travel around the city for however long you specify.
Eat Like Locals
There is no point in flying all of that way to end up just eating at places that you would eat at anyway, like places like McDonald’s. But if you’re not sure where to go to eat, then follow the example of the local people. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat well in Singapore either, so that really is a bonus. There are food centers and food stalls all over where you will find local people dining, but they do tend to be around Marina Bay and Chinatown. The local specialities to try when you are there are things like spicy Laksa, chilli crab, and chicken rice.
Visit Tourist Spots Early
There are a few places in the city that are really popular with tourists. So as a result, if you want to make the most of your time in the city and make the most of it, then it is a good idea to get there early. One of the main attractions in the city of Singapore is the Gardens by the Bay, and it is one of the places that can get pretty busy. If you get there early then you can enjoy the place without having to feel rushed on, and you can even enjoy it at a reduced priced. So that is definitely something to consider if you want to beat the tourist rush on your trip to Singapore.
Get Travel Insurance
This one is pretty obvious, and isn’t just exclusive to being in Singapore. But when you are far from home, you never know what might happen, so it is best to be covered. Getting insurance should be bought as soon as you have booked the flights, just in case of things like cancellations. Nothing like a bit of peace of mind when you are traveling abroad.
Drink the Water
It can be tricky to know what is safe to eat and what isn’t when you are away on vacation. And drinking water is one of those things that can be tricky to know about. There are plenty of countries in Asia where drinking the water won’t be good for you, but there are also some where it is absolutely fine. And one of those countries is Singapore; the tap water is safe to drink there. So make sure that you pack a reusable water bottle so you can fill up on the go.
Know When to Tip
It can be tricky to know what to do in some countries when it comes to tipping. In some places it can be rude to tip, and in others it can be rude not to. So what do you do in Singapore? The good news is that it isn’t expected to tip, so there is no need to feel obligated to do so (especially if you are from North America and it is normal to do so). Of course, if you are really happy to tip and you have received some exceptional service, then it is going to go down well and be much appreciated.
Prepare For The Weather
To make the most of your time away in Singapore then you need to make sure that you are packing for the trip accordingly. So looking at the climate in Singapore is really important. What is it like? The weather can be pretty warm and rather humid all year round. Even in the winter it rarely dips below seventy-five degrees, at that is at night time. As a result, you can feel pretty hot and sticky if you aren’t packing the right things for the trip. Pack clothes that are lightweight, but it is a good idea to pack a light raincoat too. Because of the humidity it can rain quite suddenly and quite heavily, but it is warm. It is best to pack proper shoes or sneakers to wear rather than flip flops, just in case the rain does come down; you don’t want to be wearing wet shoes and have your feel flapping around all over the place.
Use a Travel Credit Card
Singapore is a hustling and bustling city, and while there are some quieter things that you can do, as well as some things to get you back to nature a little, the city is becoming more and more popular for shopping. And it is going to be difficult to know how much cash you are going to need before you travel. So look out for a travel credit card that you can use when you are out there. When it is a travel specific credit card it means that you can use the card abroad and there are no extra charges (a normal checking card would charge a fee for transactions abroad). So look out for one before you go, and it can be an easier thing to do than have to get lots of foreign exchange before you go (and eliminates the chance of you running out or even having too much left over that you’d need to change back later).
Have the best time in Singapore, it really is a city unlike any other.
Check out my stories in Singapore here!