by Johnna
(Singapore)
Hello, I just want to confirm if bringing food like bakkwa (BBQ meats) to the Philippines - any restrictions?
Hi Johnna
You'll be better off checking directly with your destination airport in the Philippines.
Gabriel
by Johnna
(Singapore)
Hello, I just want to confirm if bringing food like bakkwa (BBQ meats) to the Philippines - any restrictions?
Hi Johnna
You'll be better off checking directly with your destination airport in the Philippines.
Gabriel
by Jen
(Reader's Question)
A 5-day-5-night itinerary for a large-family vacation in Singapore!
Hi! We'll be a family of 5 adults and 5 young children (ranging from 3-10 years old) visiting Singapore for the first time during the Holy Week. We need your help to fine-tune our itinerary below.
Day 1: Arrive at 11am. Check in at hotel. Visit Singapore Flyer, Merlion Park, Helix Bridge. Cruise?
Day 2: Universal Studios Singapore
Day 3: Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Day 4: Jurong Bird Park and Science Centre
Day 5: Sentosa Island
We'd also like to see Chinatown, Little India and some of the colonial buildings. When should we squeeze it in?
Thanks so much for your time and attention.
Jen
Hi Jen
Here are some suggested refinements for your family vacation in Singapore:
Day 1 - Marina Bay and Singapore River
After checking into your hotel, start with the Singapore Flyer, the Helix Bridge and Merlion Park. From Merlion Park, you could embark on a Singapore River Cruise.
Day 2 - Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios opens at 10am - so arrive accordingly. Allow 6 hours here. You could end the day at Resorts World Sentosa or proceed to Vivo City Mall for shopping.
Day 3 - Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Start the day with something light - such as the Duck Tour from Suntec City Galleria - or just laze by the hotel pool in the morning.
After lunch, leave for Singapore Zoo. This is followed by the Singapore Night Safari in the evening.
(Avoid starting at the Zoo too early Otherwise, the kids to be tired out.)
Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park, Science Centre & Chinatown
Morning: Jurong Bird Park
Afternoon: Singapore Science Centre
Evening: Chinatown
Day 5 - Little India & Sentosa Island
You could spend the morning in Little India Singapore, and leave for Sentosa after lunch.
Important Note
With young children, consider taking it easy. Be prepared to cut down on movements and see "less". This way, the entire group is more likely to enjoy the vacation in Singapore.
Travelling Together During Your Vacation in Singapore
If your budget allows it, consider hiring a licensed Singapore tour guide - who could pre-arrange your tours and take you around in a mini-bus during your Singapore vacation.
This way, your family could travel together and cut down on time waiting for each other. Here's an enquiry form for a customised Singapore travel package.
Have an enjoyable family vacation in Singapore.
Gabriel Tan
by Lacie
(Philippines)
Hi, my fiance and i will be visiting Singapore this January.
We will be arriving wednesday late night and will be leaving Sunday evening (7pm).
I have the following itinerary in mind.
day 1 (Thur)
Universal Studios (am)
Sentosa (mid-pm)
day 2 (Fri)
Jurong Bird Park (am)
Singapore Zoo (pm)
Night Safari (pm)
day 3 (Sat)
Malacca day trip (is it advisable?)
Shop?
day 4 (Sun)
need advise
I would appreciate it if you could pitch an idea for day 3 and 4.
I have the following in mind...merlion, haw par villa.
Hi Lacie
Your plan looks do-able for Day 1 and Day 2.
However, it can be quite tiring to visit the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari in one day - lots of walking. So if you are planning on doing that, I suggest you use the taxi for transport, and as a way to let your legs rest.
Given the short duration of your holiday, I recommend that you sight-see just Singapore and leave Malacca for another trip.
So here's a suggested Singapore Tour itinerary Days 1-4:
Day 1 - Universal Studios & Sentosa Attractions
Universal Studios (am)
Sentosa (mid-pm)
Day 2 - Animal Parks
Jurong Bird Park (am)
Singapore Zoo (pm)
Night Safari (pm)
Day 3 - Singapore River & Clarke Quay
Singapore River (Day)
Clarke Quay Singapore (Evening)
Day 4 - Shopping in Orchard Road or Bugis
a) Shop in Orchard Road
OR
b) Check out Bugis / Kampong Glam
Check out the shops at Bugis Junction, Bugis Street Bazaar and the Waterloo Street area. If time allows, walk down the road to Kampong Glam.
Enjoy your Singapore tour.
Gabriel Tan
Both are walk-able to the F1 circuit.If you are on a tight budget, consider staying in one of the budget hotels
At first glance, the Bugis/Waterloo Street area is just a busy place - full of buying and selling. But look carefully and you'll realise this: it's a great place to understand ordinary Singaporeans.
It's true - the shopping here is good. But you see that some things are sold more than others. Why? You see a frail old woman donating generously at the temple's donation box. Why? You see folks run their hands all over The Laughing Buddha. Again, why?
On this guided Bugis Street Walking Tour, the guides from Summer Footprints take you to a place that is often called the 'Real Chinatown'. They tell juicy stories from the area's past; and they de-mystify everything you see in the present.
The Dark Past of Bugis Street. Transvestites used to ply their trade on Bugis Street. As did Japanese prostitutes before World War 2. Theirs were not just money-for-sex transactions. On this Bugis Street Walking Tour, allow your guide to re-live their stories of loyalty, betrayal and heart-aches.
The Largest Street Bazaar in Singapore. Do not hit the stalls and shop like mad straight-away. First, let your guide point you to a few oddities in this maze of 600+ stalls. Then armed with the necessary knowledge, return at the end of the tour to snag the bargains.
Sure, you'll find the odd handphone cover here and there. But many shoppers have got their hands on one-of-a-kind, home-made creations - stuff which you can't find elsewhere...
One of the '1000 Places to See Before You Die'. Patricia Schultz listed this as one of 1000 places you must see before you die. Yet Singaporeans are so lucky that they can go there everyday! Find out what this place is on this Bugis Street Walking Tour.
The Street of Faiths. Within 250m on this little street, you'll find:
Singapore's Most Powerful Chinese Temple? The Japanese WW2 pilots didn't dare to bomb this temple, even as they ravaged everything else around it. Childless couples come to pray for breakthrough here. Terminally ill people come to plead for healing. Why is there such a buzz in this place? Find out for yourself. Not-Just-Any Hindu Temple. But a Hindu temple that houses a Buddhist deity and accepts joss-sticks offerings from Chinese devotees. Religious harmony or what? You need to see it. The Malay Church. Self-explanatory. A Jewish Synagogue. Yes, Singapore is more diverse than you think.Temple Rituals De-mystified. Why is the lotus flower a best-seller outside the temples? Why do some devotees offer only red lotus flowers? What does it mean when a believer runs her hands over the belly, or the lips, or the ears of The Laughing Buddha? After a devotee has finished praying, how does she get answers from the gods? Get explanations from your guide.
Visit this authentic part of Singapore. See the real Singapore on this Bugis Street Walking Tour.
Your Guide for Bugis Street Walking Tour:
Chiep Ping or Sharon, from Summer Footprints Pte Ltd.
Day/Time:
Tours run on Wednesday, departing at 9.30am and ending about 12.30pm.
(A booking is essential for the tour to run. Use the form below.)
Meeting Point: Bugis MRT Station (Exit C)
Online Price: S$30 per adult.
For the tour to run, a booking is essential (minimum of 2 adult participants).Please book at the latest 3pm on the day before the tour date.Children below 12 years of age join for free with paying adults.Inclusions:
1) The guidance and commentary of a STB-certified tour guide.
2) Complimentary local coffee and local snacks to sample.
Exclusions:
All personal purchases along the route of the walking tour.
To register your interest in this Bugis Street Walking Tour, fill in the form below:
Guided Little India Walking Tour
Guided Singapore Chinatown Walking Tour
Bugis Street Walking Tour as Part of Travel Package