Thursday, March 29, 2012

Business dress for women?

I have heard mixed things about acceptable dress for women business travelers. I%26#39;ve heard that only long pants are appropriate, but would a knee length skirt be OK? I%26#39;ve also heard that only closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are alright. True?





Thanks!





Business dress for women?


Hi Flowergirl,





It depends more on the culture of your company.





I%26#39;ve seen business ladies who wore sexy business outfits to ladies who cover-up almost everything. As Singapore is a humid/hot weather most times, it is accepted that pple wear more airy outfits instead of being all covered-up. =)





Knee length skirt is definitely fine.





IMHO, confidence is more important than what you wear. =) Singapore has got no hard and fast rules on what you wear, except if there is a certain culture in your company.



Business dress for women?


Even lawyer in Singapore start to wear more sexy white blouse ^__^ ofcourse the signature black Jacket is still there ^__^.........





Just don%26#39;t wear Ur jacket to Hawker Centre or food court.





While on business travelling, try not to overpack ur business attire. The basis rule is: 2 Pant, 2 skirt, 3 Blouse, 1 Jacket %26amp; a Polo T with a Kaki Bermuda (Incase U need to go some team building trip).



This is enough for a 1 week trip ^__^





Not enuff or dun wanna bring too many? Just go Shop at Departmental Store at Robinson Departmental Store or OG Departmental store, where both got good quality office wear at reasonable price.





Have fun




agree with the two experts! Confidence in smart dress never fails. may it be pants or skirt.




SIN is one city that when traveling for biz, I never have to worry about the dress code (HK and other Asian cities are not so).





It is not a Muslim state so u dont have to worry about showing your legs or arms. It is HOT and HUMID so comfort is important but be warned, some offices (actually it is the whole building, central air) are blasting their a/c so it can be chilly.





Best is to bring any of your summer semi-formal tops and skirts for this trip.





As for shoes, anything that doesnt make ur perspire is best (i never wear closed heel/toes shoes in SIN unless it is my runners, even in formal gatherings). Dressy sandals are more than acceptable in the office, just make sure you get your pedicure done before the trip !

Factory outlet

Is there any brand name factory outlet for handbags in Singapore?





Thanks



Factory outlet


Not that I am aware of but there are secondhand designer bag stores. There%26#39;s Bagzaar (a Google search will give you the store%26#39;s info %26amp; location) in the Orchard Road shopping belt.

Taxi Fare From Airport

Could anyone please tell me how much the taxi fare would be from Changi airport to the Hangout Hostel@ mt. Emily .It is at Upper Wilkie Road, I have read from this forum that taxi drivers find this hostel difficult to find. Would it be cheaper for me to take the airport transer bus instead? Thanks for your help...

Taxi Fare From Airport

$20-$25. If fact if you assume it is this price to any hotel in town outside the the ones the near the airport, you wont be far wrong.

I dont know if the shuttle bus goes to Hostels. You could always print out a map, or bring the full postal address as most cabs seem to have satnav.

Taxi Fare From Airport

Thanks for your promt reply $20-$25 does not sound too bad...


Hi Dpp3,

Singapore taxi fares can vary quite a few good dollars between peak hours and non peak hours as there is peak hour surcharge of 35%.

calculating peak hour at 19:34

The Estimated Fare is as follows:

Distance: 19.88 km. | Duration: 25 min.

first km S$2.80

10.0 km. x S$0.52 per km S$5.19

8.88 km. x S$0.61 per km S$5.38

waiting in traffic (~11 min.) S$3.01

peak hour surcharge S$5.74

Central Business District (CBD) surcharge S$3.00

Changi Airport %26amp; Changi Air Freight Centre S$5.00

Total S$30.13

on a Sunday or Public Holiday it would be S$21.39

you could check it out from this website with more accurate time on when you will take the taxi.

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/singapore

As there are quite a number of new taxi drivers lately, who may not be familiar with directions, if you are worried you might want to print out the location from the singaproe street directory and show it to the taxi uncle. That will solve your worries. The link to your hostel is as follows:

streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/…

I love the hangout hostel personally. It%26#39;s a serene cozy hostel. And the Wildrocket Restaurant is one of my favourite dining venue.

Hope these helps you.

Cheers,

Suying


Thanks Suying for the links. I%26#39;m travelling on a budget so need to keep costs down on transport.The Hangout hostel has got good reviews on here, more like a hotel and the rates are good too!!!! DPP3.


HI dpp3. how were you able to book hangout hostel @mt. emily?


You Can also calculate Your taxi fare here:

www.efxsoft.com/tripsum/taxifare.asp…

It would calculate according to the day, public holiday, time etc.

To book hangout, check this link:

http://www.hangouthotels.com/

  • rimmel
  • dynamic editing
  • hotels and transfer to hotel from airport

    We,2 of us, arrive in singapore on monday 6th april..does anyone know a good 4 star with pool ..is it better to go half board or dine out..what is the best way to get from changi airport to the hotel..thanks



    hotels and transfer to hotel from airport


    I say Dine Out. SIngapore is so convenient %26amp; eating is apart of our favourite past time.



    At any corner there will be a food corner.





    Best way to Hotel from Airport is via the Public Taxi Queue. (Not the shuttle counter).



    For 2 person, Taxi works out to be a better option.





    U can calculate Ur taxi fare here:



    www.efxsoft.com/tripsum/taxifare.asp鈥?/a>





    As for hotel, u can check out:



    visitsingapore.com/publish/鈥?009reasons.html



    www.asiatravel.com



    www.wotif.com.sg







    Have a good trip

    ';Mens' Tailors'; Thread Dated 2006?

    Sorry for this thread... but something caught my eye... the thread on Mens%26#39; Tailors is dated 2006!



    How did it get dragged out again? Hummmmm....



    ';Mens' Tailors'; Thread Dated 2006?


    WHen someone feels that it is cheaper to get their suit or dress tailor made in a foreign country ^__^.





    Or when someone post a Question via the same thread (after they found it while searching).......



    ';Mens' Tailors'; Thread Dated 2006?


    Oooh. Thanks Me^Only!





    Cheers,



    Suying

    hotel new year 09

    staying for 3 nights in dec %26amp; initially struggling to choose a hotel - prices seem to have risen a lot in 3 years.





    on a long trip so trying not to be too extravagant





    last time stayed at bay view bencoolen %26amp; liked the location





    this trip 2 adults %26amp; 13 yr old = 3 adults





    the ibis looked promising but only 2 allowed per room





    any sharp ideas welcomed



    hotel new year 09


    Hi David,





    December is peak tourist season in Singapore so you will most probably expect the prices to be higher than other months.





    You could consider places like Royal at Newton, Hotel 81 Bugis, Summerview Hotel, Golden Landmark Hotel etc.





    Cheers,



    Suying

    Currencies in Singapore and Kualu lumpur

    Thank you all so much for helping out with my enquiries, one more question





    Can you use Singapore Dollars in Malaysia ?





    Malaysia MYR in Singapore ?





    As I%26#39;m going to both countries it would be handy to know





    Thank you :)



    Currencies in Singapore and Kualu lumpur


    Most larger stores will take any major currency but exchange rate will be poor and change will be in local currency. Smaller stores will be local currency only usually. Smaller store in Johor will take Singapore dollars but again the exchange rate will be again be poor.



    Currencies in Singapore and Kualu lumpur


    When in SIngapore, U use SingDollar





    WHen in Malaysia, U use M Ringgit





    Where to change? You can change at any Currency Exchange Counter in Town (Avoid the Airport counter).





    Let me know where U staying %26amp; I can direct U to the nearest exchange. But if you are not changing much, there won%26#39;t be any differences.





    As for the SingDollar when U arrive, U can change about S$50.00 at the airport; for ur Taxi ride%26#39; if U did not change any Sing$$ in Ur own country before coming.




    Thank you both :)





    Will have enough for a taxi , and then will exchange in Singapore .





    Cheers

    day spas and massages in singapore

    my husband and I are travelling to Singapore for 8 days in late april and staying at Raffles Town Club.

    Can anyone suggest any good day spa%26#39;s for both facials and massages. Value for money would be great but any suggestions for more luxurious spas if worth it would be welcome.

    day spas and massages in singapore

    Hi Roralism,

    The more luxurious massage and spa you can find is the Botanica Spa Garden in Sentosa Island. It%26#39;s spacious, nestled among the greens, and there is a spa garden for your complimentary usage when you are there. Quite a pamper.

    An alternative is to try out the famed Saint Gregory Spa Singapore. http://www.stgregoryspa.com/location.html

    Since you are here for 8 days, you could take a 1 or 2 nights trip to Bintan (45mins ferry ride from Sg). It will be a nice beach holiday there for relaxation and getaway from the bustling singapore life... and in my humble opinion, the massager there is better. =)

    There are many other small boutique spas in Singapore... however, I%26#39;ve yet to try them out as I prefer services from Hotels. Perhaps others here will be able to help you more.

    Cheers,

    Suying

    day spas and massages in singapore

    You can also try this:

    http://www.dempseyhouse.com/

    Not far from Raffles Town Club (Short Taxi Ride via Evan Road onto Botanical Garden (Cluny Rd) %26amp; U are at Dempsey in under 10min.

    Never try before, cos I prefer my massage %26amp; spa in Bangkok ^__^......40min Foot massage for S$4.00 (199 Baht).....And about S$10 for a full body 1hr massage


    I could not open Dempsey house link...it just kept giving me numbers with music, wouldn%26#39;t open anything i clicked on.

    So a 1 hour massage is S$10 ?

    Is this just a spa salon or can you explain to me more please?

    Thanks.


    I manage to click on the menu, here%26#39;s the Link:

    dempseyhouse.com/pop-up/spaEspritMenu.html

    That 1hr S$10 massage happen in Bangkok ^__^...

    The most expensive SPa in bangkok is about S$100.

    In SG, a SPA session is atleast more than S$150 or more (depending on treatment, package etc)


    I tried a S$120 in Intercontinental Bangkok... =p


    Oh yes, I have had in Thailand and in Bali, can get as cheap as $5 for an hour.

    I thought you meant in Singapore....thats why i was so confused.LOL.


    Appreciate all your help. TY


    Suying

    Jetstar Bangkok Airfare is cheap now ^__^.

    ABout S$180 return (Incl. Tax, no Fuel surcharge promotion - THis for day before Good Friday Departure.)


    Wow! SGD180 is good price!

    Hummmm... got to go bug my ';master';. =D


    Hi Roralism,

    Aramsa Spas

    check this out:

    http://www.aramsaspas.com/promotions.html

    Although I have not been there but heard that is good!

    Cheers,

    Shawn

  • vb
  • Advice where to stay for single female

    HI,



    I am wondering if you can help. I am trying to find a hotel for July that is suitable for a single female that is close to mrt station for 2nights. I am looking for something around S$160 a night.



    Any adivce would be welcome as I am unsure what part of the city would be best for me for sightseeing.



    Thanks



    Advice where to stay for single female


    Singapore is pretty safe everywhere. Perhaps the only place to avoid will be the red light district, Geylang. But that will be the place where you can find cheaper accomodation. If you want to be near sightseeing attractions, then you should stay in the city, along Orchard Rd. But the hotel here will be expensive. You can also try some of the hotels just outside the city, like in Little India. There are hotels which are near MRT stations in all the areas mentioned above. But the actual distances you will have to check out the hotel%26#39;s location map. $160 budget will not give you much choices of hotels in Singapore.



    Advice where to stay for single female


    Adding on to the previous post, you may wish to check out the some of the following hotels (local website Asiatravel.com) which meet your criteria:





    Carlton Hotel (near City Hall MRT station);



    Concorde Hotel (formerly the Meridien, along Orchard Road, between Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations);



    Hotel Rendezvous (near Dhoby Gaut MRT station);



    Park Hotel Orchard (formerly Crown Prince Hotel, along Orchard Road near Somerset MRT);



    YMCA Orchard (near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station).





    Good luck.




    hi smurfette,





    For budget hotels you may check Hotel81 and Fragrance Hotels, e.g.:



    Hotel81 Chinatown



    Hotel81 Bugis



    ...



    www.hotel81.com.sg



    www.fragrancehotel.com





    Avoid those are located in Geylang area: it%26#39;s a red light district.




    try the new Ibis Bencoolen or the Link ($138 all in).





    Btw, is $160 including taxes and SC ?





    good luck





    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8205-Singapore…




    Hello,





    What about the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge. Has dorm rooms, plus hotel rooms. Near Dhoby Ghaut MRT.




    Hi Smurfette,





    IMHO, if you have the intention to stay up late at night (after 10pm) I will not recommend a young single lady to stay in streets of Little India, and certain less touristy or dimmer parts of Bugis and even Chinatown.





    Singapore%26#39;s red light districts is not just restricted to Geylang, even though that is the so-called ';official'; areas.





    Some singaporeans may think i%26#39;m too cautious, but after having some bad experiences as a local myself, I wouldnt want to recommend otherwise to travellers.





    Stick to the more ';light-up'; areas and you%26#39;ll do fine in Sg.





    Cheers,



    Suying




    You may wish to visit the Gallery Hotel in the Quay area:



    Internet Promotional Rate *Room Only.



    Daily Rate/Room Approximate Cost of Stay



    Gallery Room with 2 Single Beds *Uniquely



    minimalist in d cor, these trendy designed rooms set a standard in modern



    Rate Details 170.00 per night.





    http://www.galleryhotel.com.sg/html/stay.html





    Regards,



    Suying




    We ladies have booked the South east Asia hotel and i believe it is run by 2 women.





    It is in a great location.





    I also know a single woman that travels to Singapore quite a bit and she always stays at The Merchant court hotel.




    Yes, Merchant Court is a good area to stay. =)




    Elizabeth Hotel is fine for accommodation. Eating there I would not do. Breakfast is o.k.



    A friend of mine phoned them and got a price of 138 S$ without breakfast. This was last week. It is very central and not far from Orchard MRT.


  • rimmel
  • Bids for Ibis hotel

    I tried to bid for a room at the Ibis Hotel in Singapore this morning having waited 12 hours to do so and there didn%26#39;t seem to be anywhere to make the bid on the website, does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this and has anyone been successful or is it just a scam. The bid time seemed to last maximum of 4 minutes but I just could not see how to do it.



    Bids for Ibis hotel


    after you log in, you need to click on the %26#39;Go to memberpage%26#39; link below your name and then click on the top right Room booking link. This will open a calendar with dates available for bidding, good luck!



    I got one for $30



    Bids for Ibis hotel


    Ah another 17hr before the next bidding start.





    How nice to have someone who actually got the successful bid.....%26amp; let us know it is real........




    Thank you for the help, I assume you click on Members Menu and then book a room. I cannot see via the website when the next bidding is can anyone let me know what time English time today 10th Feb.





    Thanks again




    Noodle





    (1) Log in with ur email %26amp; password



    After you have Login; U will automatically be direct to a Page where;





    (2) U will see 6 rectangular with different topic as below:





    Member Profile / My Hotel / Invite Friends / Great prized win Top hotel Highscores / Room Booking Pay waht you want / Time until next promotion ';Time in Hr %26amp; min here';





    As U look at the Square with the red Shirt Man holding a stop watch, the time until the next bidding start is right below it.





    IF after login in, the page does NOT auto direct u to the Member page, just click on member menu.





    Anyway, the next Bidding will start in Approx. 6hr 13min




    So when the time is up %26amp; bidding start, u click on the word ';GO'; at the Rectangular box with the Red Shirt man holding a stop watch %26amp; which the topic read '; Room Booking Pay What You want';





    U start bidding from here.





    Good Luck




    Thank you so much you have all been so helpful. I will give it another go and let you know how I get on.




    Noodles, What is this %26#39;%26#39;Bid%26#39;%26#39; lark ? I%26#39;ve never come across it. Are they selling holidays/rooms in an auction type thing ? Alan.




    Meonly, I have successfully bid for two nights at the Ibis, I have one other to bid for, tonight when I tried it was showing Green and not red, do you know whether this particular night will be available to bid on or once it turns green does that mean there are no more offers on this date.





    I really appreciate your help with this. I will look again tomorrow but don%26#39;t want to waste my time if it is never going to be available.





    Thanks again




    I had a date I was wanting change from green to red after about 5 sessions, so it happens but you just have to keep checking!




    Noodle





    According to the Hotel, when it is showing Green, it is Not available. As to whether it will be available again tonite; that you have to try ^__^.



    If it not available dun be dispair, maybe you can give Another New Hotel: Park Hotel @ Clarke Quay a try ^__^. (Schedule to open March 2009)





    Details here:



    asiatraveltips.com/news08/1510-ParkHotelClar鈥?/a>





    Hotel own website:



    www.parkhotelgroup.com/phcq/





    Offer should start soon.





    CONGRATULATION on getting the 2 nite at Ibis Singapore. Do let us know your review after your stay.





    Cheers

    weather in June

    Hi. How%26#39;s the weather on the first half of June? Should I expect rainfall?





    Thanks in advance:)



    weather in June




    June is one of the dryer months, though it will still rain, as for the temperature, it%26#39;s hot. Hope this helps. Alan





    bbc.co.uk/weather/鈥?/a>



    weather in June


    Thanks Alan :)

    Wedding Anniversary

    We%26#39;re travelling to Singapore en-route to Thailand and will be there for a weekend in April.





    The Sunday is our 12th wedding anniversary. Any ideas for a nice romantic day? We want to eat well and sample some local flavours.





    Wedding Anniversary


    visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home…





    but if u want some names :







    Saint Pierre - French restaurant in Central Mall offers authentic French cuisine.





    Indochine Waterfront - Classy restaurant with a grand view of the Raffles Place skyline.





    Da Paolo e Judie - Flagship restaurant of the Da Paolo chain, located near Chinatown.





    San Marco (fullerton, great view)





    The Cliff (Sentosa Spa %26amp; Resort, great view)





    Au Jardin (Botanic Garden)





    Jewel Box offers a few restaurants with views and romantic setting





    Desire (Scarlet hotel)





    Good Luck



    Wedding Anniversary


    local flavors :





    Glutton Bay (although a hawker center setting but it is by the water and food is good)





    East Coast Seafood Center (dine by the water)







    visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home…

    hotel and itenerary ?

    Hi. I%26#39;m a mom and I plan to go to Singapore with my 11 year old son. Can someone please advice a clean and convenient (near subway) accomodation? My budget is 100usd. I also need it to be near shopping and hawker food area as we both love eating. Can someone also suggest where are the best and must go to places to visit where my kid will enjoy as we will only be there for 3 to 4 days.

    Thanks in advance :)

    hotel and itenerary ?

    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8282-Suggested鈥?/a>

    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8205-Singapore鈥?/a>

    hotel and itenerary ?

    Thanks de last one :)


    hi bulilit,

    for your kid I have in mind

    - Animal attractions: jurong bird park, zoo, butterfly park, night safari, underwater world (great shark tunnel), dolphin lagoon, swimming with the dolphin also at dolphin lagoon.

    visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home鈥?/a>

    - Sentosa (some animal attractions above are on Sentosa):

    sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/i鈥?/a>

    - Snow city:

    visitsingapore.com/publish/鈥now_city.html

    http://www.snowcity.com.sg/

    You may pick other ideas here: singaporeforkids.com/singaporeforkidshome.htm


    Thanks huow :)

  • hosting services
  • Malaysian food in Singapore

    We are going in April to Singa been before a few times but wanted decent recommendation of air cond Malay type food - satay - roti - mid price or even less, good atmosphere and ok for kids + must sell beer! any ideas and suggestions - staying at boat Quay but can travel!





    cheers,



    Andy



    Malaysian food in Singapore


    Have you ever tried Rendezvous Restaurant Hock Lock Kee at Hotel Rendezvous? Been around for ages, and the food is pretty aunthentic. It%26#39;s at Bras Basah Road. The restaurant is kind of behind the hotel, just ask any hotel staff. Can%26#39;t confirm the beer though.



    Malaysian food in Singapore


    errr...????





    Rendezvous Restaurant Hock Lock Kee isn%26#39;t a Malaysian Food restaurant. They serve Indonesian Nasi Padang.




    You can try the ';Penang Hawker%26#39;s Fare'; at White Rose Cafe at York Hotel. The have a thrice-yearly Penang Hawker’s Fare in March, September and December with authentic Penang hawkers dishing out their delicious fare.





    Check with them whether are they still having them when you come in April. They might just extend the promotion.





    White Rose Cafe at (65) 6737 0511 ext 1156




    I may be wrong but I think Roti is more Indian than Malay.





    Anyway, if you want close to traditional Malay food, a good place to go is Haji Maimunah resturant. One location is very near the Geylang Serai Malay Village. Basically just go down a bit on Joo Chiat Road from Geylang Road.




    thank you for this info -very helpful. cheers,Andy

    Advice for accomodation..

    Please help me choose!!



    We are a couple with a 3 years old child. We want something clean and convience for 1st time in Singapore, but not too expensive. A quick list



    - Grand Mercure Roxy hotel



    -Hotel Re



    - Holiday Inn Atrium



    - Parkroyal on Kitchenet Road



    - Amara



    - Parkroyal on Beach Road.



    What is your opinion or any other suggestions?



    Advice for accomodation..


    Hi, They are reasonably good hotel to stay in.





    Recommends ParkRoyal at Beach Road - good location, walking distance to City Hall - Suntec City - Esplanade - Malay Heritage Museum - GOOD restaurants near this hotel Blu Jaz and Coral Village plus other local food like Bak Kut Teh and Duck rice.





    Have fun in Singapore.



    Shawn



    Advice for accomodation..


    Will anyone be working in the CDB (central business district) area ? If not, as much as I like Amara (for work, it is a great hotel !), the location is not ideal for tourists.





    Hotel Re%26#39;s rooms r quite small (esp. with there is 3 of u).





    Grand Mercure is a good choice if u wish to spend some time at the beach and in a local area. If u wish to explore the city on foot or use the MRT, it is not as convenient.





    HIA is not as convenient either unless u dont mind taking the cab, buses or the shuttle (which takes u to the nearest MRT but it is not as dependable).





    So that leaves only PK or PB, both r good tourist hotels. Depending on which area u prefer to be in, these two hotels r pretty good (quality).





    I would also consider York (they have a baby/kids pool).





    Good Luck




    Thanks a lot for the help!!



    I send an e-mail in York,so I;m waiting for the answer. Between These two P.R which is a better option? Kitchener has a better rate!




    The Kitchener is located in the midst of Serangoon road and is near Little India. It can be a little rowdy at night in the weekends to me and the traffic could be a little heavy in that region.





    Parkroyal Beach seems a wiser choice.





    If you could let us know what price Parkroyal is offering you, perhaps we could give you more suggestions on where else you could stay given the budget.





    Cheers,



    Suying




    Parkroyal on Kitchenet Road 293 euro for 3 nights.



    Parkroyal on Beach Road 342 euro for 3 nights also



    and Grand Mercure Roxy hotel 274. But I think this is too far from the centre. All the prices without breacfast.




    check asiabesthotel.com coz their prices include breakfast and all taxes (with the price u were quoted, did it include the service charge and local taxes ?)




    Yes,the prices are with taxes.



    I did check,but it doesnt have these hotels...



    In the price I want it has



    Albert Court



    Allson



    Amara Singapore



    Bayview Hotel Singapore



    Changi Village Hotel



    Gallery



    Golden Landmark



    Now I am confused....




  • rimmel
  • supermarkets

    Is there a supermarket near to South east Asia hotel which is near pargo bugis junction (am thinking there might be one in there)?





    Also I love wandering the supermarkets in other countries picking up nice greeting cards, shower gels and balms and coffee etc, is the price of such goods very cheap in Singapore like in Thailand or Bali or are they similar to Australia price?





    Thanks



    supermarkets


    Singapore prices will be about the prices in Australia. We import about like 95% of all our goods sold supermarkets.





    From SEA Hotel, you can visit Cold Storage at Bugis Junction or Fairprice supermarket at Rochor Centre.





    Thailand has a more interesting array of personal care products like shower gels and shampoo as most major personal care manufacturers have factories in Thailand.



    supermarkets


    Hi Perthlovetotravel,





    As per mentioned by Kevin, yes Singapore imports most of our goods and we have very very few local manufacturers... hence things like greeting cards, shower gels, balms and coffee etc are mostly imported. Prices will not be as cheap as it is in Thailand.





    However, you would be able to find some imported brands which you will not find in Indonesia/thailand/australia... as different countries import different kinds/brands of goods. Singapore main chains of supermarkets are the Cold Storage, Shop %26amp; Save and NTUC.





    Other interesting ones are the Jasons Market Place (raffles city shopping mall), Liang Court Shopping Centre is a little japan with japanese products supermarket (located within Clarke Quay Zone along River Valley Road) and a Japanese supermarket in the Shaw House Shopping Mall in Orchard.





    Cheers,



    Suying




    I love to wander thru supermarkets in other countries too.....



    prices in Singapore are similar to Australia...no great bargains.





    You may want to check out Carrefour, which is a French-owned superstore. (food, health %26amp; beauty, liquor, household goods, etc) Two locations in Singapore: BIG store at Suntec (fairly close to Bugis) or Plaza Singapura. They carry many european products and house brands that are reasonably priced.



    Both shopping centers have a wide variety of other stores to check out, too.




    hello, Cold Storage supermarket is at the basement of Bugis Junction. probably the most convenient for you. alternatively you can go to NTUC Supermarket which is opposite SIM TOWER. NTUC Supermarket are visited by most locals. for a big Supermarket. you can visit Carrefour at Suntec city!





    Enjoy shopping,Shawn




    Hi,





    I think the supermarkets where the locals shop seem to have the best and the cheapest range.





    I might try the one opposite sim tower and also as we are close, cold storage.



    We also plan to visit suntec so might pop in there too for a browse at carrefor....I have been to the carrefor in Bali.





    Thanks everyone.




    If it%26#39;s a cheaper (reasonable) range you want, then avoid Jasons%26#39;s OR The Marketplace. It is VERY expensive. I ONLY go there when I cannot get things that I want from the other supermarkets. When I was more naive, I once bought an orange capsicum (pepper) there for $5.00+ and you can get it much, much cheaper elsewhere. Of course, my money also went to their rental in Orchard the cling wrap that was round each capsicum!




    Cold Storage at basement of Bugis junction charges more for most of the items. Of course, they do carry certain brands, especially western brands more than most other stores.





    I am afraid you won%26#39;t find any better bargain at these places unless you venture outside the city area into the heardland area. Else, NTUC Rochor would be your best choice.




    so the herdland area is the suburbs? We will be in Bishan and Tao paho.



    When you say Rochur, do you mean opposite sim tower which is about on queens street and not far from sim lim tower?



    Looking at my map here.....




    Yes, in fact, near to Sim Lim, if ask around, you may even walk over to the old Tekka Mall, I think now it had changed name already. You will find another supermart there - ';Sheng Siong'; at the basement.





    Bishan: there is a Junction 8 Shopping mall, sorry, not familiar with that place, but don%26#39;t see much over there.





    Toa Payoh: also with shops, but so sure about pricing in that area.





    Can try Bedok central - at Bedok MRT or bus interchange. No main mall, but variety of local shops, Sheng Siong %26amp; NTUC fairprice supermart. I think something like Toa Payoh.





    Acutally, you can try walking towards Rochor area via BUgis shopping street. Around here, you can find local shops, chinese/indian temple, internet cafe, korean shop, no need to buy anything, just watch and see for yourself. Over at Rochor side, there are more local shops, but not sure suit your taste.




    Hi,





    I think there is a Fairprice in Toa Payoh at the Hub.



    In Bishan, right next to the subway(MRT), there is a shopping mall called Junction 8 and there is also a Fairprice there. The products are OK, range is OK. I have been there a couple of times, but as long as you%26#39;re not really getting fresh produce (mainly western style vegetables, it should be OK). I dont; go there that often because I find that, for me, their vegetables are more local and the few times that I have been there, I haven%26#39;t been able to buy something as simple as parsley, so I gave up on them! ;-P but other stuff are OK.





    I think the Fairprice at Toa Payoh is slightly bigger. It%26#39;s not just round the corner from one of the underground exits of the subway - there are a few exits.

    blind masseuses

    can someone tell me where they are - price and is this a great massage? i have heard good reports. Does the money go to them to support them?



    blind masseuses


    This should be a good legal site to check:



    www.savh.org.sg/help_employers.html#massage





    There is a phone# to call for mobile massage.

    Singapore to Tioman Islands

    Can anyone tell me if the catamaran from Singapore to Tioman Islands is still in service. I%26#39;ve some old posts - some say yes and some say no.

    If so, where does it leave, what time and how much?

    Thanks all!

    Singapore to Tioman Islands

    Hi Nick

    www.sinisini.com/malaysia/island/tioman.htm

    Check this out but do not know still valid or not???

    Cheerrs

    Singapore to Tioman Islands

    The last time i checked a few months ago, it was discontinued.

    The only way to get there now is by air.

    There are some good promotions from Berjaya Group lately priced at about S$400 (include air and hotel)... you could check with them.

    Cheers,

    Suying


    By the way, Star Cruise do ply the Tioman route... and I think it starts in April... =)

  • started my birth control
  • Charles and Keith

    Hi. Where can I find this store in Singapore?





    Thanks in advance :)



    Charles and Keith


    You can find them in Philippines too and here%26#39;s the location of their store worldwide:



    www.charleskeith.com/ourstores.php#singapore





    Those C %26amp; K in town area are:



    (1) City Link Mall, 1 Raffles Link #B1-30/32 City Link Mall





    (2) Marina Square (Signature Label) 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-108





    You can also check out similiar budget shoes brand (better Quality too) at Departmental store like Isetan, Robinson %26amp; Ck Tang.





    Have a good time.



    Charles and Keith


    Thanks Me Only :)




    Np. I just answer Ur other Question too

    From Chicago on United

    Has anyone flown United from Chicago to Singapore? How cramped will we be all way back in coach? Do we get a hot meal?





    Here%26#39;s to hoping the 17hour flight isn%26#39;t completely miserable!





    Thanks!



    From Chicago on United


    Have never flown United before but you can check out the plane%26#39;s seating configuration on www.seatguru.com.



    Alternatively, you can also check out the forum on flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-504/ where a lively and more in-dept discussion on all things United goes on.



    From Chicago on United


    I have been on one of the planes that United flies to SIN from USA after connecting elsewhere (I flew from SIN to Hong Kong, with passengers coming from USA on same plane - not sure if ORD though).





    It seems a bit cramp - especially econ - - there is their econ-plus (or whatever they call it) with a bit more space....but even then I would find that cramped on long flights.





    The plane had no individual entertainment systems; only the out-dated drop-down TVs with screened feautures (with requisite bad sound)....this can make the flight longer versus individual VOD choices.





    The crew between SIN and Hong Kong was mainly Asian; therefore, the service was loads better than a typical United crew - but still below that by Asian carriers in general.





    Being from the USA and living in Asia, I would choose an Asian carrier over an American one every single time - better service, usually better entertainment system, etc.





    However, if saving money is key, then you might trade comfort and service for bucks.

    digital camera cheaper in mohammed mustafa or duty free

    Hi,





    I live in Mumbai. Can someone pls tell me whether digital cameras are cheaper at Mohammed Mustafa in Singapore or at the Airport Duty Free. I am of the opinion that Duty Free is not cheaper than the street price in most cities. Correct me if I am wrong.





    Also, any idea on which of the foll cities duty free would be the cheapest for a slim light weight digital camera : Dubai / Bahrain / Muscat / Doha or Singapore Duty Free





    Thanks,



    Gery



    digital camera cheaper in mohammed mustafa or duty free


    I can only speak for SIngapore- MUSTAFA. But mind warranty issues. I cant say for sure MUSTAFA is the cheapest but you can probably get good buys there. Please just dont go during mid day it is so crowded...



    digital camera cheaper in mohammed mustafa or duty free


    Mustafa is still cheaper for most electronic goods.




    Another place that you can source for cheap digital camera is in Sim Lim Square.





    However, do try to compare prices and go into the shop where there are a lot locals. They have the best deals.





    Usually the bigger shops do not have the best deals.




    I can only compare Muscat with London but with the exchange rate at the moment Muscat is far more expensive plus the Duty Free in Muscat is really small.




    There is no duty on electronic goods in Singapore. So no advantage buying in the airport (yes you dont have to pay the 7% general sales tax but you get most of this back if you buy outside the airport when you leave anyway)


  • rimmel
  • goodwood park hotel - accommodation and high tea

    I usually stay at Rendezvous for $200 Sing per night but I am coming with my husband and thought something a bit more luxurious approx $375 incl bfast which is what Goodwood Park Hotel charges - is it worth it? Thought it would be nice to stay in old hotel rather than modern one where you may be in any city in the world - Goodwood Park ooks like the Singapore of yesteryear - what is high tea there like? Any idea of price



    goodwood park hotel - accommodation and high tea


    Hello Mingalabar,





    I love the hightea at both Goodwoodpark and Shangrila. A good variety and with quality. And both of them had just renovated their place not long ago. =) The price is around S$30++... cant remember the exact price.





    www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/dining-coffee.htm



    shangri-la.com/en/…roseveranda





    The price of S$375 looks reasonable. Another hotel with colonial architecture would be The Fullerton Hotel located near the Boat/Clarke Quay area... where you would be nearer to the ';Early Days'; of Singapore.





    Cheers,



    Suying



    goodwood park hotel - accommodation and high tea


    Something newer %26amp; right behind Goodwood park would be:



    www.quincy.com.sg/home/index.aspx…





    Check here for any promotion:



    http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore.html




    Goodwood is a great hotel (they should update the WHOLE property but this is too big a place to do it all at once, they did do a good job updating the tower wing last year). The public areas also look good with the new additions.





    Btw, how long will u be staying and will it be a weekend ? Coz I know that Goodwood offers a better package (with breakfast) during weekends. Otherwise, what u r paying is the norm for weekdays.





    Good Luck




    i am staying one night Thursday on way to Langkawi and two nights Wed and thursday on way home

    Hotels with balconies???

    Hi. Staying for 5 nights in April, will have a 16 month old us, so we want somewhere to escape to where we can still talk and have a drink or two while she%26#39;s sleeping during the day. We cant afford to step up from a studio room to a suite. Want to do the tourist things (probably via the monorail) - Zoo, Sentosa Island, Wild wild wet, East coast park, Orchard Road shopping etc

    Heres the only hotels I could find (in Australian brochures) that have balconies in basic (not suite)room types-

    Novotel Clarke Quay

    Swissotel The Stamford

    Pan Pacfic Singapore

    Fairmont Singapore

    Thats all I could find, obviously prices, quality and location all vary.

    Know of any others? Just trying to get a list for my travel agent to get prices/deals for me. Any other suggestions or a suggested/prefered area to stay for what we want to do would be appreciated (first time to Singapore).

    Thanks, Nathan

    Hotels with balconies???

    The novotel balcanies are really small and some doors do not open on to them. The Sheraton Towers and Goodwood Hotel have poolside rooms which are great as you can sit right outside your room around the pool area.

    Hotels with balconies???

    Hi Nathan

    Of the List U have, Swissotel The stamford have balcony with great view of the far %26amp; Near. (Ask for a room with CBD view ^__^.)

    At the same time, U might want to compare price %26amp; check for promotion here:

    http://www.wotif.com/?country=SG

    visitsingapore.com/publish/…2009reasons.html

    http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore.html

    Nowaday, booking via online can be so much cheaper than booking thru Agent.

    Marina Mandarin, The Oriental (mandarin oriental) %26amp; Shangri-La have room that have balcony too.

    As a first time visitor to Singapore, U can check this TA Thread for some idea %26amp; Website:

    tripadvisor.com/…14508821

    Have a fun time


    another hotel that offer a balcony is the Regent but it overlooks the neighborhood (residential). One more to that list is the Copthorne King (chinatown area, this one has small balconies in their deluxe room category and it again overlooks the streets and neighborhood).

    Even with a balcony, u will not be spending much time on it as the humidity and heat will get to you. At the Shang, we even had bugs (could %26#39;coz of the bougainvillea and it being damp close to the garden and pool area) so it wasnt as pleasant as one would have imagined. This applies to the Garden Wing (shorter low rise building among the 3).

    With the tall city hotels, besides the heat and humidity (stickiness), u will also experience noise from the streets below. It might be better to experience the view from your bed or sofa if u book a room that has floor to ceiling bay windows.

    Good Luck

    PS. sorry didnt mean to sound so negative about balcony rooms


    I have to agree with de_last_one... I only go for balcony rooms at hotels while on holiday at an island resort with an ocean view. ;-)

    however, having said that... the only hotel that I would recommend if you want a balcony is to book Swissotel the Stamford. Request a room on the higher floors, like upwards of Level 40, for a nicer view.


    Thanks everyone for your replies. Really appreciate them. Probably right about the humidity etc on balcony, I was just imagining a nice shady balcony, catching the breeze, having a cool drink and looking over the city (sounds perfect). But I can imagine how they are in real life, some would be tiny, full sun, overlooking neighbourhoods or construction sights and noisy. Balcony probably not essential I guess. Hotel with good location, pool and big rooms is the priority.

    From our list of things we want to do, where should we be trying to stay, budget is around S$250-300 per night. We were going to stay in Penang but now like the look of Singapore better, already paid for flights and accomodation deposit with agent (have 2 nights in KL on way home), but can swap Penang acoomodation for Singapore without penalty within the next.

    Thanks so much for all your advice. This website is so helpful.

    Cheers, Nathan


    hope this list can help u with some choices (i did add the room size to make decisions easier)

    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8205-Singapore…

    I would seriously consider any of the Marina hotels starting with Mandarin Oriental, Marina Mandarin and Pan Pacific.

    If u prefer a different location (Bugis is a fun area to be in), try InterContinental. If u like Orchard, try Grand Hyatt, Royal Plaza on Scotts (rooms r not particularly big but decor and location is ideal, directly across from Grand Hyatt).

    Good Luck


    I almost always stay at the Fairmont nee Raffles the Plaza or the Stamford for the location. The balconies are great in the morning and evenings when its cooler and if your on a higher floor there is usually a pleasent breeze so can be used throughout the day. They both have great locations above a shopping centre with a supermarket and an MRT station. Also walking distance to plenty of museums/cutural sites. The Grand rooms at the Fairmount are particularly good value if you have kids that want to run around - the living area is twice as large as the standard rooms with a sitting area and has 2 balconies, for usually not much more than the std room.

  • mobile phone viruses
  • Laundry Service near SunTec City

    Hi everyone! We%26#39;re staying at the Marina Mandarin (which is excellent- we%26#39;re very happy with the room and hotel). However, the cost for laundry service is very high. Does anyone know of an alterative laundry service near the Marina Mandarin/ Suntec City? Many thanks in advance. Cheers, Max.



    Laundry Service near SunTec City


    U can try Suntec City Mall (Across the road from MM):





    Presto Drycleaners



    #B1-046



    68363477



    Where:Fountain Terrace





    C + C Drycleaners



    #B1-001



    63379077



    Where:Fountain Terrace





    DEtails here'; suntecreit.com/sunteccitymall/…





    Fountain Terrace is the area surrounding the Fountain with food outlet around it.



    Laundry Service near SunTec City


    Will you let me know how you get on i.e. will they wash and dry a bag (rather than dry clean) and the cost and turnaround time? We shall be doing exactly the same thing as you next month!



    cheers




    I%26#39;d be happy to know the same info as I will be in Singapore in mid-March also. Lewis




    Okay. After the suggestions, we walked over to SunTec and checked out the prices of the suggested laundries. Now, walking over to SunTec isn%26#39;t as easy as it seems, as there is a major road between the hotel and SunTec. You can get there either 1) via Marina Square, which is a pleasent plaza to stroll through with a reasonable food hall, or 2) backtrack up the block (outside) and use the underground walkway and walk a bit to SunTec.





    Once we found the two suggested laundries, we were a bit surprised by the pricing there, too. One place charges $8/kg up to three kgs, while the other charges $9/kg. One of the places (can%26#39;t remember which but I seem to think it was C+C Dry cleaners) charges an additional 50% of you want your clothes the next day. The other place would have the clothes ready on two days. I should add that these prices are still cheaper than what the hotel charges.





    We eventually took our laundry to ';Wasy Washy'; just near Somerset MRT. It%26#39;s two MRT stations away and cost $10 for 3kgs- ready the same day. Nice. As it turned out, we used the same cleaners 6 years ago. If you are shopping in the Orchard area, then Washy Washy can be convienent. We made a point of making it convienent for our second wash load.





    Their address is #01-18 Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Road. It%26#39;s a block of Orchard Road, and there is a great wonton cafe in the plaza, charges only $3.00 for a wonton dish that makes a great beakfast.





    Places like Washy Washy do exist, however they can be difficult to find. Given our first wash load was 2.5kgs, I didn%26#39;t really want to pay $20/30 and have to wait for two days for our clothes (we packed light on this trip, so needed the clothes back sooner rather than later).





    Hope this all helps. Wow. This is a long reply. We think the cost/distance to Washy Washy is worth it.




    Wow! That was a great response and how kind of you to do the footwork. Yes -- sometimes it just makes sense to pack the laundry in a roller suitcase and take it on the MRT.





    It is possibly that the shop may be called ';Wishy Washy'; as that was listed in the Yellow Pages -- a funny pun on the laundry business I suppose.





    Thank you all for your diligence and kindnesses. Lewis

    Santa Grand hotel Little India promotional rates ...

    Just thought for those looking for a new and unique boutique hotel in Little India, try this property that is just opened. At these prices, u cant go wrong !





    Standard Room Single Bed - S$ 70



    Superior Room Twin Bed - S$ 98



    Deluxe Room Queen Bed - S$ 95



    Executive Room Queen Bed - S$ 112





    Above rates nett inclusive of taxes, service charge and set breakfast.





    santa.com.sg/santabeta/MainPage.aspx?branch=2





    Good Luck !





    PS. definitely worth a look if u want a clean and new budget hotel.



    Santa Grand hotel Little India promotional rates ...


    forgot to mention, to get the rates above, u have to contact the hotel directly and these special rates end on 15th march (u can book and stay anytime). This is a prepaid rate.





    This property had only 20 rooms so good luck !





    PS. reservation email : littleindiahotel@santa.com.sg



    Santa Grand hotel Little India promotional rates ...


    Have you stayed in this hotel, that you can recommend so enthusiastically ? Alan.

    Best Hawker areas in Singa

    Can anybody suggest best Hawker food area in Singa - Am staying at Boat Quay but can get MRT or taxi - a - Cheers,



    Best Hawker areas in Singa


    %26#39;%26#39;Best%26#39;%26#39; as has been suggested before is a relative term. Here are a list of the most popular, I%26#39;ve been to Singapore on many occasions and I%26#39;ve yet to eat at a %26#39;%26#39;bad%26#39;%26#39; hawker, though some are better than others. It%26#39;s all a matter of personal choice. Hope this helps. Alan.





    visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home…



    Best Hawker areas in Singa


    Normally when we talk about Hawker, it not much about the area but more of the food ^__^. Here%26#39;s a few thread that mention them:





    tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294265-i1748-k154…





    tripadvisor.com/…15986617





    tripadvisor.com/…14230423





    tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294265-i1748-k245…





    If you need more, just use the magic word like: Hawker, food, best etc to search here.




    I just did this Google Maps on best Hawker Food in Toa Payoh. I believe TP has the best in cheap and good local food. All within easy proximity.





    maps.google.com/maps/ms…




    Chase788, that pretty good, thanks!



    Now someone with local knowledge should do a map for eats in the central area. Sometimes its difficult to figure out how far away places are and where they are relative to each outher from just an address or location.




    based on your location at Boat Quay. I will recommend you to visit Maxwell Food Centre.



    lifestylewiki.com/Maxwell_Road_Food_Centre





    which you can reach by bus no 145,80 near boat quay.



    reach within 10 min.





    With great variety of tasty food! Try Tian Tian Chicken rice and Porridge!





    Enjoy.Shawn




    There is alway the professional Setup Map to help those really trying to check out the map:



    (remember, TA Expert are volunteer - %26amp; I dare say, TA expert provide the best advise FOC = Free of Charge).





    www.streetdb.com





    Like we have a saying ';No matter how far a good food place is, as long as U can find it on a map; all U need is a time to visit';





    Singapore is such a small island, hard to go lost %26amp; left with no help.




    Many tourists who visit will go to Newton Circus Food Centre but the prices have been jet up real high.





    For cheap and good food, you can visit Chomp Chomp at Serangoon Gardens where most Singaporeans go for dinner and supper. Most of the stalls will be opened at night after 6pm. Do go early to get seats as the crowd starts swarming in after 7pm.





    Popular food stalls: Sambal stingray and hokkien mee (well, it%26#39;s my favourite :P)





    You can also visit Geylang for good food (not hawker centre). It is famous for frog leg porridge, beef hor fun and beancurd. However, be warned not to wander into the forbidden area (red light district).

    best place for shopping for men

    Hi I%26#39;ll be going to Singapore end of this month and I would appreciate any advice on which is the best place to shop for men%26#39;s casual and formal wear in Singapore, the special consideration here is that there must be a huge range as I always have trouble finding the right stuff given that my size is very very large!!!!





    Thanks!





    Andrews




  • rimmel
  • Mustafa

    Hi. Is it safe for a girl to shop in Mustafa alone in the wee hours of the morning? And can I get taxi during wee hours?

    Thanks in advance :)

    Mustafa

    Yes, no problem. Have passed that area around 3 plus in the morning (sorry, not shopping though, just showing people around after a late night out) and it%26#39;s still very animated!!! So taxis a plenty. I also think it%26#39;s quite safe, especially when you compare it to other cities in the world. I mean, this is Singapore! ;-P But of course, always use your common sense!

    Mustafa

    Thanks jade_du :)


    Very safe area. In fact the late/wee hours are the best for shopping at Mustafa; that is when it is least crowded.

    Go around 10 pm, nearest MRT station is Farrer Park station on the NorthEast Line and 5 mins walk to Mustafa. Lots of Indian food eateries around; have dinner, then around 11 pm start to explore Mustafa - it is an emporium where prices are usually cheaper then elsewhere.


    If U are hungry after the shopping, Walk ALL the way from Mustafa Front (Towards Jalan Besar Road from Syed Alwi Road). Facing the main Jalan Besar Road is Swee Choon Dim Sum that open from 6pm to 10am next day....

    They have indoor %26amp; outdoor sitting.

    Map for U to check:

    www.streetdb.com

    if U stay at G4 station, can prolly walk back to hostel too ^__^ (About 15min slow stroll)


    Gets very crowded Friday and Weekends in evening and it can be tough getting a Taxi from 10pm to 1pm.


    generally safe. i normally head off to mustafa after 11pm when i still feel like shopping (mostly for indian food at their grocery). just try to avoid the weekends. it%26#39;s fairly easy to get a taxi, never had a problem.

    mustafa is an interesting big mall to explore and its good really good prices.

  • Rat toys
  • Arriving Singapore at Midnight

    Hi guys! I will be arriving at Singapore with my 12 year old son at midnight of April 12. Check -in time for my hotel at orchard road is still at 2 pm. Can anyone please help me on accommodations near the airport where we could sleep and freshen up. We are on a budget so I am looking at affordable but clean hostels. Thank you.



    Arriving Singapore at Midnight


    Well, U can try this place:



    http://www.g4station.com/





    it is about 3min walk to Little India MRT station, where in the morning, easier for U to move to Ur Orchard Road Hotel. So before U move the next day, U can check out Little India before U go back Hostel to collect Ur luggage to move.......Very convenient





    Have a good time



    Arriving Singapore at Midnight


    Hello Msphils,





    Welcome to Singapore. =)





    You could just check into the Airport Hotel for a quick relieve. http://athmg.com/roomrates.htm





    However, if you were to check into the airport hotel, when you awake in the morning you will be bored about what to do...





    You could try Hotel 81 Bugis where you could explore the area a bit in the morning when you awake. =)



    http://www.hotel81.com.sg/hotels_bugis.shtml





    Others you can consider Royal at Newton, Summerview Hotel, Golden Landmark Hotel...





    Hostel which is clean, good with less rowdy environement I would have hangout Hotel, Mount Emily, in mind... However, it is located up on a hill... so if you are travelling downwards in the morning it could be quite cumbersome.





    Cheers,



    Suying




    thanks me*only and suying. actually my plan is to check-in a hostel near the airport and leave around 8 to go to orchard road, leave my luggage and go to Snow City. I will come back in the afternoon to check-in then go around the area.




    ACtually it would be better if U head to a hostel in Town %26amp; which will be nearer to orchard.





    But if U insist, u can try this Hostel about 20min away from Airport:



    http://www.betelbox.com/





    As Budget Terminal (If U coming with Tiger) is not connected to the Main Terminal, so the Transit Hotel would be out of Question for U.




    i suggest u go with the suggestion to stay in town insteaad of going back to the airport then checking in at ur hotel in orchard.





    there are many budget hotels as has been suggested by some TA members here




    Why not just book into your hotel for the day you arrive, surely that would save a lot of messing about, any savings you may make, is hardly worth all the messing about, is it ? imho. Alan

    Geylang Serai Malay village

    Can anybody tell me if this particualr place or surrounding area is worth visiting.





    Thanks





    Geylang Serai Malay village


    I generally think that the Village itself is not worth a separate visit.





    The area around it has quite a bit of street food to sample.





    It is worth a visit to eat some good Malay food at the resturant that I mentioned in your previous thread. :)



    Geylang Serai Malay village


    I totally agree.



    The Malay Village is dead as a dodo now. The surrounding area has some Malay food eateries, a hawker centre, 2 run-of-the-mill shopping centres.





    Expect a boring time.





    The only time that area comes alive with a huge street bazaar is during the Muslim fasting month - around Sept.




    Speaking as an outsider, I visited the Malay Village when I was in Singapore last year and I found that area quite interesting. As already stated the village itself is not impressive and you can see it all in half an hour but I found the area around it a little different from other parts of Sing.

    barbecues

    any advice about where to find the best grilled and barbecued food in singapore and go completely carnivorous??!!





    Thanks



    barbecues


    i replied to ur other post and suggested carnivore. i guess that suggestion should have been here! :) there%26#39;s a carnivore at chijmes.



    barbecues


    thank you so much! i thought there was a restaurant by that name in Jo%26#39;burg!! there%26#39;s one in Sing. as well!!

    Ibis on Bencoolen

    We are going on our first trip to Singapore on 14/3/09 on the way to Kota kinabalu!



    we are staying at the new Ibis on Bencoolen 14-18/3/09 but at this stage there are no reviews posted.



    Has anyone stayed there? Any comments?



    Thanks,



    Allison



    Ibis on Bencoolen


    It is a Brand new Budget hotel that just open early this Feb 09.





    Maybe U can take some pic %26amp; post Ur review after



    Ibis on Bencoolen


    Previous post on the Ibis hotel in this forum indicates that there is no refrigerator in the rooms... so if you arent bothered about it... it should be fine. Best for you to really check out the room details of the hotel website as this hotel is still very new.





    Cleanliness wise I suppose it should be sparkling clean for this new period? =p





    Cheers,



    Suying




    I have done a independent review of Ibis on Bencoolen Singapore and took pictures when I was given a tour of the hotel pre-opening. However, tripadvisor.com has ';rejected'; my review to be posted withhout giving any reasons.





    Anyone, who wants a general overview of this hotel just send me a private message.




    Hi Kevin,





    That%26#39;s strange!



    But how would TA know you didnt stay there? Don%26#39;t let them know the next time. =p





    Cheers,



    Suying




    Touring %26amp; staying at a hotel, is a different story ^__^





    Kevin, can post on a blog to talk about it ^__^




    ';tripadvisor'; says that their filters were tripped, and my review was rejected. I posted 2 batches of photos. The Jan pictures I took of the building were put up, however the 2nd lot of pictures which I took of the interior + my review were rejected and deleted. I had to ';demand'; for my review to be returned as I did not keep a copy for myself as I wrote it online on the website. Susequently, the 1st lot of pictures were also deleted by them.





    Maybe they think I am working for Ibis and trying to promote the hotel here....





    Oh well... anyway it doesn%26#39;t matter




    Kevin, why don%26#39;t you put up a night there so you have every reason to write a review ;).




    where is ibis exactly on bencoolen? i have stayed a couple of times at bayview and love the location/area. it%26#39;s good to check out other options in this vicinity




    RioJ... ahhh... don%26#39;t need to do that... I could have just created a new user-id on tripadvisor.com and post the review... this time I would make sure that I would write something which sounded like I%26#39;ve stayed there... easy...





    tambalyn... Ibis on Bencoolen is along the same stretch of road as Bayview... the hotel is about 100m before Bayview...




    thanks kevin!

    late check out

    we fly out of singapore at 7.45pm..do the hotels allow late check out, probably about 4pm

    late check out

    Most if they are not full will give you a few extra hours usually till 2 or 3pm. You%26#39;ll need to enquire when you arrive. They will all store your suitecases if you have to check out early and return to pick them up before you set out for the airport. Some rooms come with garranteed late check out, usually to 6pm, but at a higher price per night.

    If you planning on leaving at 4pm I wouldn%26#39;t bother hunting down a late check out deal,just ask for a few hours extension when you arrive. As long as you are staying outside a busy convention time, the hotel will probably not be full.

    late check out

    If you want to stay a little longer in your room, I%26#39;ve always found a smile, ask politely and a$10-$20.00 tip to the duty manager works wonders, at least it%26#39;s always worked for moi. Alan.

  • rimmel
  • channel
  • concorde hotel.

    Has anyone got any opinions about the Concorde Hotel, or the Meritus Mandarin...Does anyone know a good quality 3 or 4 star hotel with pool.



    thanks



    concorde hotel.


    Try the City Bayview, Carlton Hotel or the New Quincy Hotel. YMCA @ 1 Orchard is a nice hotel with a rooftop pool too.





    http://www.bayviewhotels.com/singapore/





    http://www.hotel-rv.com/ms/25167.html





    www.ymcaih.com.sg/web/main.aspx…





    Or this link for more Hotel offer:





    http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore.html

    Parkroyal on Kitchener Road or on Beach road?

    Which of these two is better for sightseeing?



    Also they had an offer of one-way transfer from airport. Do you know how much will it cost a taxi from airport to kitcener road?



    Parkroyal on Kitchener Road or on Beach road?


    cab fares wont cost more than S$20 during the day to get to and from airport.





    As for which is better located, Beach road will be more convenient as u can walk to the Raffles hotel, Raffles City Mall as well as Marina Square Mall. It will be hot and humid but since u r from Greece, it wouldnt be too bad :)





    Enjoy SIN !





    PS. How I miss a good Gyro ! The ones here r just too dry !



    Parkroyal on Kitchener Road or on Beach road?


    Thanks!! I wish I could send you a special juicy gyro!!!




    U can try to calculate an estimate taxi fare here:



    www.efxsoft.com/tripsum/taxifare.asp…




    haven%26#39;t stayed in any of the two, but passed by these hotels. i should the one on beach road is better located.




    We are already booked into the Parkroyal on Beach Road for three nights in April this year. I think it sounds a good hotel and convenient for many things, however we have just been warned by our travel company that there is building work going on next door. This means whilst you cannot hear anything once you are in the hotel, apparently it is noisy around the pool area.



    You may want to take this into consideration when making your choice - Unfortunately it is too late for us!!



    Good luck - enjoy Singapore!




    Thanks a lot all of you with the answers!



    We are planning of going Singapure next January,maybe the building work gonna be finished until then. I hope... Anyway we will go after 10 days in Langkawi,so we are not planning of using the swimming pool..



    How did you book? By the web page of the hotel? Because I had tried but it has a problem,so I couldnt proceed with the booking. I am waiting now for an answer of the hotel,as I send an e-mail...




    Not stayed at Beach but have at Park Royal





    Hotel not overly special. Food OK, rooms clean, pool good, fitness centre great.





    Location brill. MRT (Farriers Road) 150 yds away, good connections to Orchard Road, the Quays, Chinatown all direct lines. Next door is Serragon shopping plaza - IT NEVER SHUTS! 5 floors of bargains!





    Nearby curry places tops.





    Trevor




    Is not the same hotel? I cant find another Park Royal...




    My spelling error. Its Parkroyal, used to be called New Park Hotel





    The noise is likely to be the opposite the front of the hotel. They were building a new complex opposite the hotel frontage June 08 (last visit). Noise didn%26#39;t bother me then but it looked a big construction site.

    Ten days in December - what to do?

    I will be in Singapore in December for a meeting, and then will be free to travel around for 10 days before returning to San Francisco. I would like to get away from the city and get ';off the beaten track'; a bit - try to experience a bit of local culture(s), get out in nature, maybe some snorkeling if possible. I have never been to Asia before, so it%26#39;s all exciting and new.



    I would welcome any suggestions - should I stay in Singapore? travel to Malaysia? What might be a realistic plan, given time, budget (about $100/day), and December weather?



    Ten days in December - what to do?


    You can only find snorkelling activities in say Phuket, Thailand. So you may want o divide your 10 days out. Singapore can give you a good tour of the several Asian cultures. See website for tour: http://www.ducktours.com.sg



    or do it yourself by visiting Chinatown, Little India and Kampomg Glam, etc.



    Nature places include Bukit Timah Hill nature reserve, Pulau (Island) Ubin, Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve, etc.



    Off the beaten track places will include some of the southern islands, some of the parks and reservoirs, such as Labrador Park, Marina Barrage, MacRitchie Reservoir, Seletar Reservoirs, etc.



    For Malaysia, the East coast is out of bound as it is Monsoon period. You can visit Malacca for culture, KL for city tour, Penang for history, and Langkawi for beach resort. These places can be reached by coaches or flights from Singapore. If you have never taken a SIA (Singapore airlines)flight, you should. I think you will never want to take other airlines after that.



    My suggestions based on your likes will be 5 days in Singapore, 1 in Malacca, 1 in KL, 2 in Phuket, then back to Singapore for your return flight to SF.



    For your 5 days in Singapore, do give some consideration to some of the main attractions, because though they may be touristy, they are good, especially if you haven%26#39;t tried them. You know, it is like Singaporean going first time to Disneyland or first time seeing Redwood trees. It is touristy, but worth every penny (speaking from experience). Give the zoo and night safari, and Sentosa some consideration.



    Enjoy your stay in Singapore.



    Ten days in December - what to do?


    I couldn%26#39;t agree more with %26#39;%26#39;Woodlands%26#39;%26#39; spend a few days in Singapore, then head north to one or two of the Islands in Thailand, Langkawi, Phuket, etc. The water round Singapore don%26#39;t lend themselves to snorkeling, but further north there are some excellent opportunities for water sports. Enjoy. Alan.




    I personally wouldn%26#39;t try to do 4 locations in 10 days. We usually do two in two weeks and could probably fit one more in but any kind of travelling is tiring and if you are arriving from the States you will be very jetlagged for the first couple of days. I would do Singapore and Malaysia or Singapore and Thailand but would not attempt all of it unless you are a seasoned traveller but as you say you have never been to that area I wouldn%26#39;t try to do too much because days can be used up just getting from A to B.




    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8282-Suggested…





    Going in Dec, it is the beginning of the monsoon season. Tioman would be a great place to visit (esp. for snorkeling) but it will rain too much that month.





    What can be considered an unforgettable nature side trip from SIN is a trip to Taman Negara or Endau Rompin (u can join an organized adventure group from SIN). One of the world%26#39;s oldest rainforest (E.R is and is closer and easier to get to), what a great place for a hike, camp, etc





    T. Negara has a canopy walk that is a must, white water rafting as well as a cave visit. Of course, if u r lucky, u can get to see some amazing animals. All these r done with guides (coz wild life includes wild elephants, tigers, rhino, etc !!!)





    Coz of the time u r traveling, wouldnt advise u to spend too much time and expenses on snorkeling destinations (u got to travel further) so why not do something we dont have back home ? I highly recommend a trip to the rainforest.





    Or if u like a cultural experience, try Malacca. In SIN, there is always Pulau Ubin (esp. Chek Jewa) or a swamp visit to Sungei Buloh





    It is nothing like hiking in our National Parks coz of the different climate so enjoy the difference. Only thing is, u will have to prepare lots of liquid as it is HOT and HUMID. Bring along wicking athletic wear.





    Good luck !




    PS. also bring along some bug spray (their range is not as wide as ours), mosquitoes and other bugs can be bad




    Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. Thanks especially to de last one for the link to the 5-day suggestions.



    So, given travel costs and time, maybe I should leave Thailand/Phuket for another trip? I can forego the snorkeling and instead concentrate on rainforest and cultural experiences closer to Singapore.



    Does it make sense to go to Malacca? What is the best way to get there from Singapore? How long does it take?



    Thanks.




    Hello ageprof,



    did you consider spending 3-4 days to visit Angkor?



    It is only a 2h fly from Singapore. You%26#39;ll enjoy both nature and khmer culture at the same same :p




    sorry, forgot to give you this link to a Singapore Tour operator: http://rmgtours.com/index.php?current=tours



    You%26#39;ll find some rates on daily trip to Malaysia and Malacca.

    seafood and sights in singapore..help!

    Hi



    I%26#39;m going to singapore on Holiday between the 27th feb and 4th march and would love some advice about



    1) some interesting places to see



    2) some great yet affordable ( some pricier suggestions also welcome, anything between 10-40 sing. dollars per head for a great meal) food places. The stuff I%26#39;m really looking for is great seafood and places where they roast whole duck and pigs and slice them like they show on discovery channel!!!





    I%26#39;ve been there once before and already visited - cafe iguana, arab street, night safari, sentosa, thai express, swiss vilage and newton food court..so please leave these out!!





    thanks a ton



    andrews



    seafood and sights in singapore..help!


    maybe u can try jumbo seafood and no signboard for the famous chili crab. (alhtough i found it too sweetish, i still have to try the pepper crab though).





    try carnivore for brazilian barbeque. but be ready to go there on an empty stomach and be fully stuffed! :)



    seafood and sights in singapore..help!


    tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i8282-Suggested…





    There are quite a few choices if u r looking for a Peking Duck meal. As for a whole roast pig, well, that is something usually done at a celebration (u have to order the whole pig which can add up in terms of dining cost if it is only a few people !)





    In the hawker center or food court, u can enjoy the roast pig as well (usually this stall sells char siew whih is chinese roast pork, duck, chicken, etc). This may be an easier way to enjoy the flavor of a Chinese roast pig





    As for seafood, love the East Coast Park Seafood center. Again, u have lots of choices here but I usually go to Long Beach.





    For nasi padang, try :







    www.singaporemirror.com.sg/co_rendezvous.htm




    thanks guys!! looking forward to it!!




    Try the NO Signboard at Geylang for the crab and others.





    The atmosphere is good as its lively part of town with with a vibrant crowd.





    I had brought a german couple to eat. We did not order the crabs and total cost was around 50 euros.





    They said its their best meal in Singapore!




    Hi Andrews,





    If you wanna have good Peking Duck, you have to stretch your budget a little bit. =) If it%26#39;s just two persons to a meal, you could request for half duck.





    Restaurants which IMHO serve delicious Peking Duck are the Tung Lok Restaurants http://www.tunglok.com/





    Or the Prima Revolving Tower. This is a unique place to have dinner as the tower rotates 360degrees allowing you to have a good city/harbour view. Or you could have lunch dim sum there.



    www.pfs.com.sg/restaurants/prima_tower/





    As for your roasted pig, there are some restaurants which serve small portions of it at about S$20 a dish... chances are that you can find them in Imperial Treasure Restaurants in Takashimaya Orchard, or any of the Crystal Jade Restaurants.





    Hope this helps.





    Cheers,



    Suying

    Singapore Tourism Board Free Day Tours???

    Are there still free day tours conducted by the Singapore Tourism Board. My family and I are visiting Singapore in May

    Singapore Tourism Board Free Day Tours???

    Hi Ozgirl83,

    To be sure you could well send the STB an email and check with them.

    Cheers,

    Suying

    Singapore Tourism Board Free Day Tours???

    Thank you will do

  • AJAX in .net
  • 5 nights stay in Singapore - City or Sentosa?

    Hi. Will have 18 month old with us. Looking for suggestions on whether to stay at Sentosa Island (Shangri La Rasa) or in City (Park Royal Beach Road, Hotel Rendevous or similar priced - S$250-300 per night with b%26#39;fast).





    Want to hang around the pool a bit (therefore city hotel must have one) but mainly spend time doing the touristy stuff like Zoo, Orchard Road, East Coast Park, Wild wild wet, Escape theme park, Dolphin Lagoon, ';Song of the Sea';, Underwater world etc. (I think most of this stuff is on Sentosa, is that right?).





    For what we want to do is it better to stay on the island or stay in the city and just day trip a couple of times to the island? Once on the island are you limited to eating mainly at the resort/s or is it easy to move around the island to the various other eateries (are they open at night??) and is it easy/cheap to head back over to the city (for example just for dinner, 1-2 hours), then return back to resort?





    Going late April (had booked to Penang but changed mind and like the look of Singapore better. Also have 2 nights in KL on way home).





    Really appreciate everyones time and replies.



    (first timers to Singapore)



    Cheers, Nathan



    5 nights stay in Singapore - City or Sentosa?


    with a babe that age, I would go with Sentosa. Dont worry about food, u can easily travel around the island for it. If not, take the free shuttle to Vivocity and enjoy LOTS (movie theatres, restaurants, shopping etc), Vivocity had a huge playground, kids love it.





    And with the complimentary shuttle from the Shang, u can travel to their sister property on the main island. If not, u can also take the Senotsa shuttle to Vivocity to the MRT and go wherever u wish.





    With Vivocity, u really dont need to go to town area. Besides, there are also food court and other dining establishment on Sentosa.





    Good Luck



    5 nights stay in Singapore - City or Sentosa?


    I%26#39;d definately stay in the City. All the sites on sentosa you mentioned can be done in half a day. With a 18month old to push around you are probably not going to be interested in the other attractions. I wouldn%26#39;t really call Sentosa a resort in the same way your would term Resorts in other parts of the world. Staying on sentosa is no different to staying anywhere else. Singapore is pretty small and well connected, the only real differance is there is little else accessible by foot in Sentosa- 15min in a taxi and your in the middle of the city.



    That budget will get you into quite a few 5* hotels in Singapore these days.




    The city without a doubt. As our friend Manster says, Sentosa is not an Island paradise, as nice as it it to visit, and with all the construction that%26#39;s happening at the moment, it%26#39;s even less appealing. Yes it so easy, cheap and quick to get there, but I would choose a lot of beaches in the world before Sentosa as a place for a %26#39;%26#39;beach%26#39;%26#39; holiday.





    Most of what is worth visiting, imho, is NOT on the Island, it%26#39;s well worth a visit, a %26#39;%26#39;must do%26#39;%26#39; really, but I think the city is the better choice.





    Enjoy your first visit, I%26#39;m a great place. Alan




    mankster and ddiggs are spot on. sentosa is good for a half day. or maybe one full day. thats it. its hardly a ';beach paradise';, more man made really!! but its a must-see if u havent already. In fact I%26#39;ll be visiting singapore again on the 27th this month but skip sentosa this time! have fun




    IMO, stay in Sentosa for a night either in the beginning of the trip or at the end. Sentosa is good for one night%26#39;s stay and no more.




    It depends on what you want really. City hotels will give you the location convenience. (Actually places like zoo, night safari, bird park are no nearer to city than Sentosa) Sentosa hotels will give you a feeling of relax and slower pace mood. So are you here in Singapore to escape the bustling city pace, then Sentosa is more likely than city to attain that. If you want to see more by cutting down the travelling time, then city will be more centralized. So you have to be clear what you want, and the choice is then obvious.



    If they are still using the system, I think sentosa hotels will give you free passes to come out and back to Sentosa free during your entire stay there. If you are staying at Rasa Sentosa, you can either take their shuttle or take the Sentosa Express to Vivocity (3 mins), your eating and shopping paradise (one of the top malls in S%26#39;pore). The Sentosa Express (monorail) is connected to Rasa by a beach tram route (easy to use, just hop on and off at stations).



    5 days is plenty of time to cover the major attractions. Perhaps, 2 days leisurely in Sentosa, 1 for zoo and night safari, 1 for city tour, 1 for escape theme park, etc. Hope you have a good holiday with your family.




    Hi Nathan,





    I believe you have already somehow gathered the pros and cons of Sentosa from the above posts. =)





    IF i have an 18month old with me, and I%26#39;ve got a budget to stretch, I won%26#39;t be worried staying in any parts of SIngapore since I would be travelling via taxis everywhere I go... and taxis in Singapore arent expensive (not in the off-peak hours).





    It will also depend how many days you have for Singapore to do all that you listed... The zoo is in the west, the east coast park near the central, Wild Wild Wet and Escape is in the East, and the Song of the Sea/Underwater world/Dolphins are in the Island of Sentosa. This would mean you are travelling almost all of Singapore. =)





    If all you wanted of Sentosa is just the above 3 activities, then Sentosa might not be your best bet. Most probably you would be better off staying in the central areas such as the Pan Pacific/Marina Mandarin/Stamford Swissotel for greater accessibility/central location. And I would prefer these hotels compared to Park Royal/Rendevous.





    If you stay in Sentosa, you will not just be restricted to the hotel restaurants, there are many other restaurants on the island. If you take a peep at the Sentosa website, you will see a whole list of food selections. However, if you are looking forward to try good local food, Sentosa doesnt have it. Nearest to sentosa, one tram ride away, is the Vivocity Shopping Mall where there are shopping and more restaurants.





    For good and cheap local food you would have to visit the hawker centres/food courts/small restaurants along the shophouses....





    You can find the list of recommended hawker centres easily by a search in this forum.





    Cheers,



    Suying


  • rimmel