Tez

Hi Peeps
Were due to fly out soon to adelaide for the start of our new life.Can anyone suggest if Singapore is worth a few days stopover.any hotel that people have used thats nice but not to expensive.
Is the airport far from the city centre??,is there any places you can recommend visiting whilst there??
We have two children aged 11 & 6yrs,are there any attractions for them to see..Weve decided to have a break in singapore rather than endure the long flights all the way to Adelaide
From what ive learnt on this site the standard of service and hotels are very high.....
Thanks for any info.......Tez
(remember we are all human beings-----Keep the Faith)

walaj

stayed there on honeymoon, so was in nice posh (expensive) hotel, so can not help you on the cheaper places.

If you want materials (silk/cottons) then Arab street is full of shops overflowing with materials

sushi (incl veggi) good from the supermarkets in center at main cross roads, where there is also a M&S there for your last brit goods!

The night safari is also a good thing to do for both you and the children.

Of course Raffles, might be of more interest to you to do for afternoon tea and yummy cakes

All the best for the move

mashiraz

Good luck in Adelide Tez. Let us know how you get on...we won't be far behind you
Mash...

kevmitch

You might laugh, but we stopped in the Metropolitan YMCA on Stevens Road (off Orchard Road) for two nights on the way back in January. It was very good value (they do suites as well as just rooms - so you can get 2 adults and 2 children in 1) - and about 1/2 the price of the big 'names', food was good and they've got a great outdoor pool - and right on a number of bus routes (although taxis are cheap). We booked it through expedia.

The airport is close to the centre - takes approx 35-40 mins (max) - I think it cost us about £5.00!. The taxis are well regulated - our driver kept asking us if we minded him taking a slightly alternative route to avoid the traffic!

Would recommend:

the night zoo (but get there early, before dark- it gets very busy). We went independently, which was something of an adventure, but you can do organised trips from the centre.
Raffles hotel - expensive, but interesting. Do the 'Gin Sling' bit in the gardens. If you want to go into the hotel, dress appropriately (I got asked to leave because I had shorts and sandals on)
The fountain of wealth
The Battle Box - a recreation of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese (if you like exploring old bunkers, etc)
If you're looking for electrical goods, then Sim Lin Square (near a couple of incredible, colourful temples) is great - store upon store selling every conceivable gadget - and much much cheaper than Hong Kong
The Harbour area is great for 'people watching' and a drink - however, its a bit of a tourist trap- the boat trip is a bit of a rip off

Hope this helps, but let me know if you need any further info

Kev

Tez

Thanks for the info everyone,got to start booking hotels i guess
ps.mash,well have to meet up in Adelaide some day,what you say......

mashiraz

Yep, that'll be good...See you there, that's if we sell our house!!

cinderella

Hi there,

We had 4 days in Singapore (each way) when we went to OZ & NZ last August. We have 3 children 2, 5 & 7. We stayed on Sentosa Island, at Shangri-la's Rasa Sentosa. We had a Cabana room which is larger than the rest and we could all fit in there. It was on the ground floor, perfect for the children as they could go straight out onto the grass and to the pools. There were 2 large pools and then one for the children with 2 water slides. A large games room for the older children & a smaller one for younger children. Also a creche / activity centre type service. As the hotel is on a private beach you can rent those little peddle boats. There are also bikes to rent. Could not fault the food either - great breakfast. The hotel has a bus service that runs on the half hour that takes you over to the main part of Singapore and does a route around the main tourist stops and best shopping areas. It is free.

You can look at the hotel and room layouts and on the shangri-la web site.
www.shangri-la.com

We did the usual things while we were there, shopping etc. We went to the zoo, which is very nice. But mainly we rested and recharged the bateries for the next long haul. But the children did not mind, they were more than happy playing in the swimming pools.

Would diffinately stay there again. Hope this is some help.


Good luck and have a good trip.


Cinderella

Ceri

Hi,
I lived in Sing for five years, prior to coming to Aus, and can recommend Sentosa especially for the kids, and big kids alike . If you are not staying on Sentosa itself, put aside a whole day for it and still you will not get to do everything. The kids will enjoy it there. Besides the beaches, there is "underwater world" an aquarium (sharks and stuff) , a wet and wild water park, water slides etc, there was an Asian village (don't know if it's still there) - where there's a small fun fair and Asian stalls etc. A hawker centre near the ferry terminal - where you eat and drink. A mono rail runs around the island.

some other places:

Pulau ubin - an unspoilt island off Changi, and you can imagine what Singapore used to be like before the British - a bit like Pulau Ubin (that's unless they have developed this too in recent years, it be a pity if they have, it's one of the last unspoilt places in Sing) You can reach it by going into Changi, and crossing in a bum boat (an experience in itself! ). If you like nature/unspoilt - this is the place for you - you can hire some bicycles to get around, or take a battered taxi (it's like a taxi graveyard over there )


Another alternative - St Johns island - you catch the ferry from the World trade centre (same place as the Sentosa ferry) - it's not commercialised, and it's quite peaceful over there, with the walks and beaches - but if you go here, take some food with you.

For eating out, forget Raffles, which in my opinion is pretty mundane, go there , buy the T-shirt etc , not a lot to see, most of my guests were always a bit disappointed in Raffles - try the Western Stamford, the tallest hotel/building in Sing. The restaurant is on the top surrounded by glass and you have a terrific view of Singapore from there, as you go up in the lift - you ears actually pop because of the height - well mine used to anyway. " the compass rose" restaurant it's called. I used to take all my visitors there. They serve a buffet in the afternoon where the food is gorgeous and pretty reasonable priced, small pastries and cakes, and you can buy a sing sling in a little merlion holder which you get to keep


For shopping for materials - Seragoon road "little India" , a lot cheaper than Arab st, where it's "tourist prices" and you really do need to haggle to get a fair price - for real silk clothes - the department stores are you best bet, like OG's (you have to watch your not buying "satin" - a lot of things are labelled silk - but they are copies - the feel and price usually is the indicator of this)

For so- called culture, try Tang Dynasty, or there's the crocodile park near Jurong.


If you have a couple of hous in the evening free and like "nature" in the wild and not zoo's- go to MacRitchie reservoir around 4, 4.30 , 5pm - close to dusk, at dusk you'll be surrounded by Macaques (monkeys) if you just sit down somewhere on a bench etc and wait - they descend around dusk, but watch your food! I had one rummaging in my bag which I left on the ground - cheeky!! - your not supposed to feed them, but I always used to give them some of my sandwiches.

But for the kids, and for an enjoyable day which will suit adults and kids - I would highly recommend Sentosa - it will probably be the best, you can get there either by bus , Ferry or cable car (Ferry, or cable car would be the most fun for the kids)


cheers

Tez

Hi Ceri & Cinderella,
Thanks very much for that info,i really appreciate it,so much info,great thanks.Sounds like Sentosa island resort would be ideal,espeically for the kids.Ive looked at the website Ceri,thanks,but couldt find any prices(any ideas)
Would it be cheaper to book in advance or to turn up at the resort and book(therby bypassing those nasty travel agents)
Also how do you get there from the airport,how long is the journey....Once again thanks to you both....we will definetly be staying there before heading on to aus
Tez

cinderella

Dear Tez,

We booked direct with the hotel. I emailed them first and asked for a room rate. Then confirmed via email. But when we got there we renogiated and got a better rate which included the buffet breakfast. If you don't ask you don't get as the saying goes. I think our room was about £100.00 per night.
We took a tax from the airport. This was pre-arranged from the UK. A friend of ours works for Singapore Airlines and uses this man all the time. So he met us at the airport and took us to the hotel. We prebooked him for the return trip as well. He has a big MPV, great when you have loads of luggage. That cost about £30.00, the journey takes about 35 mins. I have his fax number, so if you want to contact him, please PM me.


Regards,

Cinderella.

Nicstids

Cinderella,

We're stopping off in Singapore on the way home from our trip in April. Staying somewhere along Orchard Road. Would be grateful if you could let me have the number so that we can book him.

Thanks
Nicola

cinderella

Nicola, I will send you a PM.

Have a good trip.

Regards,

Cinderella

Stoney

Hi Tez
Definately Sentosa Island for the kids however a little expensive, there are lots of excellent cheaper hotels in the city and sentosa is just a short cab/bus/monorail away (10mins)
Good Luck

Stoney

renth

We got a good deal booking the Holiday Inn Parkview on the web, we got the room for $122 sin. You have to book it 21 days in advance though.

You might get a good deal with your airline on hotels, only the Holiday Inn was the only hotel that would let the 5 of us share a room.

Go to Sentosa Island and the Zoo and the Nght Safari.

The zoo closes at 6.30 and the night safari starts at 7.00 so do the zoo first, go over to the night safari where you can get a great buffet meal or a burger, wait for it to get dark then do the safari. The zoo only has a KFC.

Dan