I’ve said that there’s a time and a place for different kinds of trips before. While others may fill theirs with shopping and sun-tanning, I prefer to fill mine with enriching and exciting things (like driving Mario karts on public roads). Sometimes it involves getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, so here are five ideas for activities to consider trying when you travel.
I bet you’ve heard that Singapore is expensive, right? It’s true and some of the prices may come as a shock after you’ve toured the rest of Southeast Asia. While you won’t find US$5 beds or US$1 beers, there are ways to keep your spending down. If you’re willing to rough it out, some things can be enjoyed in Singapore for free. You don’t have to do that, though, to spend less than US$50 over two days.
This post is going to lay out a cunning plan for a cheap-and-rough overnight stay; if you want to spend more time in Singapore, you may want to look at my two-week itinerary for ideas.
(As of 1 May 2018, US$1.00 = S$1.33)
There are several ways one might visit Singapore for a short time. For instance, you may want to have a look around the city on a layover without staying overnight, in which case I hope you’re reading this before you book your flights. Changi Airport offers transiting passengers free city tours if they have at least six hours to spare. If you want to do this, check the tour schedule on the website and book your flights accordingly.
If you can’t join the tour and have at least four hours, take a ride on the public bus. Take No. 36 from Terminal 2 or Terminal 4 and sit on the left-hand side. It will take you through the Marine Parade neighbourhood, the city and Orchard Road before looping back to Terminals 3 and 1. Note that it runs only from 6 a.m. to 10.50 p.m.
Exploring on your own or staying overnight? Or taking a one-way flight and a coach to/from Malaysia? Read on.
Given that a dorm bed is available from as little as S$12 a night in Singapore (yes, I know it’s still more than wherever you stayed on Khao San Road), you have to be really desperate to resort to sleeping rough. You won’t even have to read the next section on public shower facilities.
If you really don’t want to pay for a bed, your options are limited to naps in 24-hour laundromats, McDonald’s and Starbucks outlets and you won’t be lying flat in these places. Order a drink and the staff will be unlikely to make a fuss. You can try Couchsurfing but, in Singapore, your chances of crashing at a stranger’s place are slim.
Willing to take your chances with the weather? While camping on Sentosa is not permitted, if there’s a beach party on a Saturday, it’s not uncommon for people to sleep on the sand until public transport starts running again. You can try blending in – just remember to use insect repellent.
That said, if you have no baggage to claim or check-in and your flight arrives after 11 p.m. or departs before 8 a.m., you can sleep there. The transit side is preferable and there are plenty of rest areas. You can also rest on the land side but you’re more likely to be woken up by security officers on their rounds. They will ask to see a boarding pass too but they’ll be polite about it.
Unlike in Europe, the public toilets in our malls and MRT stations are mostly free, and even the paid ones in some markets ask for only 20 cents at most. I’m not aware of any hostels or hotels that let non-guests use a shower for a fee; however, there is one place close to the city where you can freshen up for nothing.
You can visit the Singapore Sports Hub (nearest MRT station: Stadium) which has changing rooms that are free, even if you’re not using the facilities. It would be a shame to not go for a swim in the Aquatic Centre (from S$2.60) or float on the lazy river on the roof of Kallang Wave Mall (S$2) when you made the journey, though. While you’ll need only your own towel and toiletries, here’s the catch: the shower stalls are too small to take your bags in without getting wet, and there’s nothing to dry your wet stuff with.
There are free changing rooms and shower stalls on the beaches of Sentosa and East Coast Park too but trust me when I say you don’t want to deal with wet sand.
If you can’t store your luggage at a local friend’s place or wherever you came from, there is only one place in downtown Singapore where you can do so. The InnCrowd hostel (nearest MRT station: Rochor) has a limited number of paid lockers for checked and cabin baggage and they are accessible between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. If it’s full or you’re miserly, you will be taking your stuff everywhere you go in the heat, so pack light. (Note: This is not an advertisement for the said hostel)
This tip is useful only if you’re not staying overnight. Beyond that, a dorm bed becomes more economical.
Did you really think I would advise you to buy something before sleeping in Starbucks, then tell you where to eat for free? Meals from hawker stalls are cheap (a couple even have Michelin stars and are still as little as $2.50) but if you’re desperate, it’s easy to find these places on the Internet. The one thing I’ll endorse is drinking the tap water – it’s safe and it’s greener than buying bottled water.
Public transport gets you from the airport to downtown Singapore in as little as 35 minutes but you will need some kind of fare card. You can get either a standard ticket from any MRT station (pay-as-you-use and good for six trips) or a Singapore Tourist Pass from some of them (check the link for locations; unlimited rides for one to three days).
If you arrive via coach, you will probably alight at Golden Mile Tower. Check out this Google Map for walking directions to Nicoll Highway MRT station (five minutes) and Kampung Glam (a further ten minutes). Walks around that neighbourhood, the city, Marina Bay, Chinatown and Little India are free and there are plenty of air-conditioned shops and malls to cool off in. Thinking of that roof-top pool at the Marina Bay Sands? You can’t swim in it without being a guest, though you can share the view by splurging at Spago. Otherwise, there’s the aforementioned Lazy River if you’re skint.
To access the Internet through a free Wireless@SG hotspot, read this page. Make sure you have roaming activated so that you can receive the password via text message. You may even want to download the Wireless@SG app before you arrive.
The cheapest alcoholic drinks are in the convenience stores and supermarkets but sales end at 10.30 p.m. daily – the same time that drinking in places that aren’t pubs becomes illegal. It’s worth remembering when you’re sleeping rough.
There, that’s how you take US$50 to Singapore for two days and have change left over!
Is it better to be a traveller than to be a tourist? I don’t buy that nonsense. There’s a place and there’s a personality for every kind of travel, whether it’s going solo, a trip with friends or a package tour. How do you figure out the right style of travel for your trip? I have a few pointers:
This year (2017) saw the addition of low-cost routes from Singapore to Athens, London and Tehran (via Kuala Lumpur). That’s in addition to the existing flights to places beyond tropical Southeast Asia like Australia, Japan and China. A big part of what makes budget flights cheap is the ‘pay for what you need’ model. If you don’t pay for checked baggage, you’re restricted to just a 7kg cabin bag and a small item.
It’s easy to fit everything you need for a weekend getaway to Bali in a cabin bag. What about a two-week trip to a colder destination in winter, though? Surely there can’t be enough space for all the thick jackets, boots and thermals? [Read on]
I had a close call with a food allergy abroad recently. I was craving a pork chop bun in Macau and managed to get hold of one in a neighbourhood shop. V, who was with me, saw how much I enjoyed it and got one for herself too.
I didn’t think about the eggs that could have been in the batter, and V was allergic to eggs. By the time I realised my mistake, she had already taken three bites. She spotted the look of horror on my face.
‘Don’t worry; I’ve already taken a pill for that.’ I breathed a sigh of relief.
I penned this post with that episode in mind. Asian cities are great for their street food, but the ingredients that go into these delicacies and their condiments may contain allergens that diners aren’t aware of. For visitors with food allergies, staying satiated, comfortable and alive requires extra research and planning. I’m focusing on Singaporean dishes since I’m familiar with them. Hopefully, the knowledge translates into a less painful experience in the city-state for you and your guests. [Read on]
Have you seen anyone write about how they spent two weeks in Singapore?
Two weeks in Singapore without leaving the country? You mad, bruh? I’d die of boredom there.
Perhaps I am. The average visitor stays in the country for 3.5 days. The Lonely Planet guidebook provides only a one-day itinerary. Even the Tourism Board doesn’t have a plan that lasts more than seven days. What are people to do if they’re staying with their friends or loved ones in Singapore for a few weeks, though? It’s tempting to spend a significant number of days in Penang, Bali, Bangkok or some nearby city, but that needn’t be the case.
So here’s the brief I set myself: Create a two-week itinerary for slow travellers that takes in the major sights and more. Give them a glimpse of everyday life and introduce them to the history of the country from more than one perspective.
Challenge accepted.
(Updated: March 2018)