Singapore (SIN) Stopover Tips

[dajop]

Taxi queues can vary by time of day and terminal, there’s a couple of times I’ve seen long queues this year - usually after a long weekend (in SG) , but I can’t say how long as usually I will take a Grab (SE Asia’s Uber) from the airport. Strong correlation between taxi queue length and Grab wait times.

Having said that if arriving in T2 or T3 the MRT is still a reasonably quick way of getting to central areas, it certainly wouldn’t add an hour to the journey time, maybe 20-30mins depending on how far the destination is from MRT stop. If arriving in T1 you have to add 5-10 mins to take the sky train and walk to the MRT station and from T4 l, well unless you know what you’re doing Taxi or Grab us certainly much quicker.

 

[Maki]

Capri By Fraser China Square. (Chinatown)
5 min walk to Hong Lim
5 min walk to Chinatown MRT this is part of the Downtown line (Blue Line) which takes you to Fort Canning Park, National museum Singapore, Little India, marina Gardens by the Bay . And it also takes you to Changi (SIN) via a platform change at Expo MRT station to the Green East West line. Additionally the opposite direction on the same line to Newton Food Centre
15 min walk to Merlion

Thank you all very much, very helpful resources! I look forward to my Singapore visit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any hotel recommendations? Let's try and stick to under $300 for the night, Mrs Maki not joining this time so all I need is a clean bed and bathroom, ideally not a long trek from the train station as I'll be catching the train from Changi. Bonus points for good hawker stalls recommendation.

We stayed at the Mercure Roxy, Huge hotel, cookie cutter. But clean. About half way between the airport and city, although they were building an underground station when we were there a year ago. Might be open?

Located around a three-minute walk from the hotel in either direction were local food courts. Not a tourist in sight. Good food too!

 

[AIRwin]

About half way between the airport and city, although they were building an underground station when we were there a year ago. Might be open?

Still under construction last month

 

[Quickstatus]

@Maki

While Singapore's "Hawker food centres" will remain iconic, increasingly it is building an upmarket vibe.
So if you would like something slightly less "downtown", I can also recommend:

CHIJMES - try and get a booking at Whitegrass
Alternatively an upmarket booking at Odettes at the National Gallery (not the National Museum)

If I recall correctly @drron reviewed CHIJMES in one of his many trip reviews.

 

[drron]

I certainly did . We loved Whitegrass so it will be reviewed again in my current TR. We have a booking for early November.

 

[jcwhizz]

@Maki check out Long Beach at Robertson Quay for crab and other totally awesome seafood!

 

[Buzzard]

@Maki check out Long Beach at Robertson Quay for crab and other totally awesome seafood!

Hopefully it's not over $1,000

 

[hachoo]

Hi team,

I have a ~24hrs layover in Singapore in early November. While one of the options is to head into town, I'd like to stay in or around Changi apt. For my dates of tevael all the airport hotels are north of $400 at the moment. I am not familiar with accommodation close to Changi airport. Has anyone had any recent layover experience in Singapore with accommodation close to Changi hey can recommend? Also, is it easy to get to?
Thank you.
Cheers, M.

Stayed at Carlton Hotel in Bras Basah recently. Rooms can get down to near $300 depending on the day. <5 minute walk to Bras Basah MRT and across the road from Chijmes and Raffle City. MRT can take you to any of the hawker centres easily and personally would recommend the trip to Newton on the NS/DT line and get the stingray and oyster omelette.

 

[Stewey]

Has anyone stayed at Mercure Singapore on Stevens?

I'm planning on staying there next weekend and looking for any feedback.

 

[leadman]

I've recently been staying at Changi Cove out in Changi. Easy Grab ride and far from the madding crowd. I just refuse to pay some of the prices the hotels are charging in the city now. It really is "old-world" Singapore with local restaurants and bars at normal prices. The other benefit is it next to Changi ferry terminal and I often get the ferry across to Pulau Ubin to do some birdwatching and walking through the jungle there. $4 is not a bad price for the ride and i want to enjoy it as rumours are they will start building on it in the near future.

Having a beer at Changi wharf watching the Hornbill's jostle through the trees seems to be very un-downtown Singapore.

 

[Cynicor]

I've recently been staying at Changi Cove out in Changi. Easy Grab ride and far from the madding crowd. I just refuse to pay some of the prices the hotels are charging in the city now. It really is "old-world" Singapore with local restaurants and bars at normal prices. The other benefit is it next to Changi ferry terminal and I often get the ferry across to Pulau Ubin to do some birdwatching and walking through the jungle there. $4 is not a bad price for the ride and i want to enjoy it as rumours are they will start building on it in the near future.

Having a beer at Changi wharf watching the Hornbill's jostle through the trees seems to be very un-downtown Singapore.

In all my trips I’ve been so keen to go to Pulau Ubin but never managed to make it. Any tips on it (esp with toddlers) would be appreciated as I will make it there next trip (sadly no time til June)

 

[leadman]

A lot of the paths are easy to walk, typical of Singapore, so if you have a good-wheeled pram, it should not be an issue. Some of the areas might be a bit hard, but they do sort of have a taxi service there, from memory a minivan-type arrangement so they can drive you around to the main parts. I didn't use it. Carry plenty of water as whilst there are shops there, once you get into the island, nothing but trees. The ferries are a first come - first full and then they are off. No real issue but get in early.

Only problem I had was running into a Black spitting cobra. No issue we just ignored each other at distance, but didn't realise the type until I got back to the hotel. Surprisingly they are quite common in Singapore, saw another one up in Sungei Wetlands.

 

[Maki]

Has anyone stayed at Mercure Singapore on Stevens?

I'm planning on staying there next weekend and looking for any feedback.

Please let me know how it was. I've ended up booking the same place for my November layover.

 

[OZDUCK]

I've recently been staying at Changi Cove out in Changi. Easy Grab ride and far from the madding crowd. I just refuse to pay some of the prices the hotels are charging in the city now. It really is "old-world" Singapore with local restaurants and bars at normal prices. The other benefit is it next to Changi ferry terminal and I often get the ferry across to Pulau Ubin to do some birdwatching and walking through the jungle there. $4 is not a bad price for the ride and i want to enjoy it as rumours are they will start building on it in the near future.

Having a beer at Changi wharf watching the Hornbill's jostle through the trees seems to be very un-downtown Singapore.

We will be stopping there, in the Village Hotel, for an overnight transfer in a little over a month for all the reasons you mentioned. I am looking forward to some nice food from Changi Village. We will be able to have in an evening meal and breakfast/brunch.

 

[ayebee]

back in the early 2000's when I was visiting Singapore 5 or 6 times per year for work, a trip out to Changi village was a welcome change for lunch on a weekend.
Maybe changed in 15 years, but I suspect it will still be a good spot to visit.

 

[Stewey]

Please let me know how it was. I've ended up booking the same place for my November layover.

Will do @Maki
I arrive there on Friday evening.

 

[Stewey]

Please let me know how it was. I've ended up booking the same place for my November layover.

Hi @Maki
I can say it was a good hotel and great value for money
The Novotel and Mercure share the same location and facilities
There is a shuttle bus which drops you off at Wheelock Place on Orchard Road and you can get access to Orchard MRT from there or just enjoy the shopping experience

The shuttle bus also goes to Stevens MRT

Nice infinity pool on level 2 as well which was a Godsend after a long walk around town in the hot humid weather

I'll add some photos of my room and the hotel in general
Service was good as well

I recommend you download the Grab app which is the local equivalent to Uber and excellent value
I went all over the place using this when I either didn't have enough time to use shuttle bus and MRT

MRT is so easy to use and just tap your credit or debit card as you go through the turnstiles

Some little eateries adjacent to the hotel as well as 711

 

[Stewey]

Hi @Maki
I can say it was a good hotel and great value for money
The Novotel and Mercure share the same location and facilities
There is a shuttle bus which drops you off at Wheelock Place on Orchard Road and you can get access to Orchard MRT from there or just enjoy the shopping experience

The shuttle bus also goes to Stevens MRT

Nice infinity pool on level 2 as well which was a Godsend after a long walk around town in the hot humid weather

I'll add some photos of my room and the hotel in general
Service was good as well

I recommend you download the Grab app which is the local equivalent to Uber and excellent value
I went all over the place using this when I either didn't have enough time to use shuttle bus and MRT

MRT is so easy to use and just tap your credit or debit card as you go through the turnstiles

Some little eateries adjacent to the hotel as well as 711

View of the infinity pool from my room

 

[Maki]

Thank you for the update and all the tips, I look forward to my stay there next week and some chicken rice. The weather change is going to be a shock for the system after freezing European temperatures 🌡.