Fiona
I had noticed that hotel prices had gone up when I was looking at possibilities for a stopover on my next trip but hadn't realised that everything else had increased as well, I guess prices have been creeping up, what a shame, it used to be so reasonable.
Shopping along Orchard Road can be totally draining for anyone in the best of health so for someone not feeling 100% it must have been really exhausting.
I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip.
Judith

If I ate at hawker stalls all the time I might not notice such a price increase. I also don't drink much when in a city as I usually have too much to do the next day But I don't really want to have to pay a fortune for a drink if I want one. The main gripe though was the actual hotel cost and also the daily costs there. For instance, we had a coke and a small beer by the pool side and THAT was almost £10( only realised the cost after we had ordered by the way). Laundry- I swear its gone up by 50% in 2 years- but in all fairness the hotel actually had its own launderette, and a iron and board in the room.
When looking at a stopover, Bangkok is probably the most economical. KL is also cheap but a bit of a scutter to get there for the airport, particularly if you are only looking for a one night stay.
But I do have a soft spot for Singapore.....

On our return to Singapore we again landed late afternoon. We then we found they had given us an "upgrade" which actually means a pool view. Funny thing is, the pool view rooms are even smaller!
We had decided that we would eat at the hotels Ah Hoi's restaurant. It is an award winning one- local cuisine. I would recommend this one to everyone- its well worth a visit. We had a taster of crocodile satays- which actually were really melt in the mouth. We then shared 3 dishes and I particularly liked the kway teow ( a stir fried fish and noodles). It actually reminded me of eating at Jalan Alor in KL which I thought was fabulous.
We then decided to blow the bank and went to Rumpoles bar in the hotel for a couple of drinks( think £20 here) Rumpoles has been done up recently and was a lot nicer. I remember it as being dominated with sports screens and full of smoke. Now it has a smoking area in a through room and only one sports screen which had football on but no sound.
The next day we took the Singapore Airlines hop on, hop off bus. The bus stops just opposite the hotel. If you show your boarding ticket for SA and it is within the last 3 days( I think) then you can buy a ticket for 6 dollars- fantastic value. However, it was great for us as we knew Singapore. I would tell anyone new to Singapore to take the other hop on, hop off bus as the SIA one does not have commentary beyond listing you what you can visit at each stop. I had liked the idea of the bus as, if I wasn't feeling too well I could just do my sight seeing sitting down The other hop on bus cost around 42 dollars for 2 days, although Uniquely Singapore quote it at $S29.70. More info [here
The Singapore Airlines one has info here.

Some of the things we did that day-
A visit to Bencoolen Street and to Sim Lim Square where OH bought one of the latest memory sticks at a bout half the UK price. This place is definitely where you go if you want electrical bargains.
Singapore Flyer- this was new to us and is actually the world's largest observation wheel. I enjoyed that but what a palavar before you got on- tickets searched several times, security checks and finally the compulsory photo.
Clarke Quay for a cooling drink at Brewerkz and then a bumboat ride. This was the hottest river cruise I've ever done. Anywhere else and you get a cooling breeze- not that day We have done the river cruise before but it was worth another go.

That night we went to Boat Quay and to our favourite restaurant there- The Forum. Brilliant food and I can particularly recommend the crispy chicken and the Beef Rendang( this is actually where I had my first Rendang, and now its one of my favourite recipes at home)
We had a bit of laugh as the table next to us was a pre meeting dinner. The reps job was obviously to take the clients out and get them to eat chilli crab. If you've ever had this before you will know how messy this is. When we tried it we had been given plastic bibs to wear. These poor souls were not even encouraged to cover the front of their shirts with their napkins. The inevitable happened and the bigwig was clarted in sauce and started fretting over the state he was in. We went on to Black Penny( I think that was the name- it is next to Harry's Bar) and then to Iguanas, back at Clarke Quay.

Our last day we went to revisit China Town- this is something we will always do. The Sri Mariammam Temple had another celebration going on, this one was all women. We have been here before but it is well worth revisiting- it is fascinating. Right in the middle of China town is a museum which shows the history of Chinatown and the immigrants who settled here. We had been there on our first visit to Singapore but wanted to go back. There are reconconstructions of living conditions and it is very interesting.
I bought a bed runner and cushion covers at my favourite shop there. We spend a while at a roadside cafe just watching the world go by.
On our way back to our hotel we stopped off at Clarke Quay to have a look at the Novotel. We would prefer in future to stay beside the Quay. Novotel used to be the New Otani, which we had stayed at before. I asked to see one of the rooms and was more than happy with it. We may end up there sometime.
We spent the afternoon by the pool, relaxing. Great pool area and loads of loungers. We had a free 6pm checkout and then went to the Club Lounge till 7.30 when we made our way to the airport.
The added bonus to the end of our holiday was that our plane was the brand new 380. We got a fleeting look at the suites before taking our own economy seats. Def a great plane and I can even say that the economy seats were comfy and easy to sleep in.

I love Singapore- I just wish I hadn't gone up so much in price. It is enough to make us a think before rebooking - but we probably won't be able to resist it.

Thank you for your very interesting review. I am going to Singapore in November before flying on to Auckland. I am a little concerned about travelling alone there although I have been in Singapore about 14 years ago.
I am staying at the Ritz so will be in the Marina area? I am wondering about doing China Town? Would it be safe for me to just wander around?
Last time I did a half day tour and some other events but I would just like to soak up the atmosphere. I have a room only booking for my hotel which is booked as package with SIA. I am wondering whether I should have breakfast in the hotel or go out to eat. I don't eat a great deal in the morning in any case. Coffee fruit and yogurt normally.
I will use the Sia hop on off bus I think but I am also happy to wander around and just do thinks in a haphard sort of way.
Should I make a plan of how to use my time there. I arrive at 06.00hrs on the Tuesday am and leave at 21.00 hrs Thursday night so I have almost 2 full days there.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Sue

China Town is def safe to walk around( and I'm talking about day time) The hop on bus would be ideal for you but if you want to learn a bit more about Singapore I would recommend trying the Hippo one.
Off the route there is the Zoo which is really interesting. I also have enjoyed the Bird Park which we took a taxi too. If you are interested in history then there is Changi Chapel and Museum and the Battle Box. Uniquely Singapore is the great tourist info site. Have a look at it. Everything you need is there

Thanks Fiona will do. I won't be out in the evening at least not in late evening. For one I will be tired the first night so will no doubt need a fairly early night. Will have a look at the web site.
Again Thanks

Sue

Singapore sounds fab Fiona - shame about the prices though!
It's going to at least 2010 before we can get back to the Far East (we've got our 10th anniversary SF & LV trip next year) and this was one of the places on our list but I'm not so sure now - we'll have to see what our budget is like at the time I think.

Singapore is great and if you can find decent priced flights and accomodation ok then I wouldnt worry too much about day costs - esp if its a stopover. Its a must see place. Getting from place to place is cheap- bus, taxi and MRT. I think I wouldn't sign for things at my hotel as that is what tends to creep up without you noticing.Who would have thought that a small beer and a soft drink at the poolside would amount to almost £10- my fault for not checking first of course. I haven't really bothered with costs before this time so perhaps the big increase was more of a shock. You can eat cheaply at hawker stalls and not worry at all about hygeine as they are tightly monitored. But I didn't want to eat at hawker stalls every night. There again- reading through the forums everyone seems to be noticing increases where ever they have gone.....

Hi,

We found flights that weren't too badly priced for Sept / Oct this year - and a Singapore stopover deal can work wonders in reducing hotel prices and with offers of either low cost or free trips and attraction tickets.

Last year we noticed that prices (especially for food and drinks) were on the increase. There are places in Little India that still represent exceptional value and are as near to an Indian experience as you are likely to get, outside of India. Unfortunately to me Clarke Quay (and similar areas) seem to have little to do with Singapore / SE Asia and more to do with the 'trendy' areas, to be found around the UK and other parts of the world. IMO this also applies to the shopping area of Orchard Road (but there again I am a bloke ). If that is what turns people on, then fine, but I feel that you could be in almost any part of the world (except, possibly, for the different percentage ethnic mix of the patrons).

I totally agree that Singapore is best suited to just a few days stopover. It is also an excellent introduction for first time visitors to SE Asia - Chinatown, Little India and the area of Kampong Glam are great for eating and the area of the old colonial administration is well worth a good look.

I think you comments are spot on Fiona.

Peter

Pete
have you eaten in China town at night?
Have to say that I like Clarke Quay as its central to most things but the area itself at night has definitely changed not for the best at night. Too clinical if that makes sense. I like Boat Quay for eating though- although you do get a lot of hassle to go in to each restaurant.

I found Singapore expensive (and not because i live in India).We ate at Boat Quay the 3 nights we were there,only because we liked the atmosphere down there.The problem we found,was that they charged you for everything,from the small plate of nibbles to the refresher towels at then end of the meal.Which for me put a real dampener on the place.

John

goodness John - I never noticed that. OH didn't show me the bill, just told me the total. I must ask him if he noticed if we were charged for those.

Fiona really enjoyed your report

I love Singapore too, there is just something about it I love, even though I usually hate 'clinical' places.
I hadn't realised how expensive it has become as it is 6 years since I was there.

Hi Fiona,

Yes we have eaten a few times in Chinatown at night. The last visit (Sept/Oct?) last year was excellent. http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=108251

Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the restaurant, but will try to look at my Card statement (I think I paid on Nationwide card as I didn't want to change too much cash into S$). I can remember thinking, though, that prices had risen since our last visit. Even so, it certainly didn't break the bank (I am highly allergic to high prices - they bring me out in a cold sweat and tremors! )

For keela1eva2, Singapore seems to be one of the safest of SE Asia destinations. Janet, my wife, says she feels comfortable there - even when we have been 'off the beaten track'.

I'm sure you will enjoy.

Peter

We going to do a stopover in Singapore next June- on our way to Vietnam

How was the A380 Fiona???

really good I wrote a bit about it here

Thanks Fiona for the link to that particular website and I am wading my way through it. A lot of interesting information for me.
Wondering about changing money into S$ as opposed to using £ or US$ or OZ$ or NZ$. If I change money how much would I need for the 2 day stopover. APPROX. If I were buy something of high value I would use my CC.

I am setting off 2 weeks today for Venice to join my Summit. I keep getting the 2 cruise confused and have a cross over mixing up sometimes. Venice staying at the Westin Regina Europa B&B booked with Travel Republic and feel we got a decent price.

Keep all that info coming. Thanks also to others who are adding to the information.

Sue

Def taking singapore dollars. Not sure how much to take but we probably spent £100 a day for the two of us- not including any shopping and also we had breakfast and drinks and nibbles included early evening.

Once again many thanks Fiona. I have been toying with the idea of upgrading my hotel when I check in to include breakfast etc. Staying at the Ritz Carlton.
What do you think? Many thanks again

Sue