Is anyone else dreaming about escaping the pandemic and going on a blissful vacation? It may seem like futile thinking, but it will be worth planning your next travel. Your dream holiday is on the cards sooner or later.
While I am planning my next travel destination, I am also reminiscing my fond travel memories.
My last holiday destination before the pandemic hit was to Singapore & Thailand.
It was a fun-filled holiday with my family in December 2019.
Why GO TO Singapore?
Singapore is a vibrant country with a rich and diverse heritage. Despite being the smallest country in south-east Asia, this place has so many things to do
It is such an immaculate, charming, and colorful destination with magnificent architecture, rich cultural heritage, and delectable cuisines.
My excitement to visit Singapore quadrupled after watching Crazy Rich Asians thrice!! Turns out it wasn’t just me, the tourism increased by 22% after people watched the movie. Singapore Tourism marketing on point, right?!!
If you have read my scuba diving experience from my Australia vacation, you would know by now how I get inspired by movies. Haha.
There is something to do for everyone. From shopping tirelessly, enjoying the theme parks and nightlife, seeing the diverse wildlife, to eating to your heartโs content. This lovely place has it all.
Singapore is safe to travel, especially for worried solo travelers. The laws are stringent, so the crime rate is very low.
The Best time to visit Singapore
Since Singapore is near the equator, there is high humidity and abundant rainfall throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is between February-April as you wonโt experience downpours as much as in other months.
Languages Spoken
English, Tamil, Mandarin, Malay.
Malay is the national language.
Tourist attractions in Singapore
- The Changi Airport
This airport is a tourist attraction in itself. Unlike otherwise, you wouldnโt mind long layovers at this airport. It has the worldโs tallest indoor waterfall, a slide, butterfly garden, cactus garden, sunflower garden, and other gardens. This countyโs love for gardens begins right from the airport.
- Marina Bay Sands
It is the most iconic and opulent hotel In Singapore. We stayed at this hotel to enjoy the worldโs largest infinity pool, accessible only if you are a guest. The feeling of being in the gorgeous pool and jacuzzi while enjoying the spectacular Singapore skyline is blissful.
However, if a stay at this luxury hotel doesnโt fit your budget, you can use the Observation Deck for S$23 to enjoy the city views.
This hotel has a mall โ The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, which houses top luxury brands.
If you like museums, you should check out the various exhibitions at the Art Science Museum.
Check out the nightly Spectra- A Light & Water show in front of the hotel. Timings could change, so enquire.
- Gardens By The Bay
This place is so unique! I was impressed by this human-made marvel of natureโthe mesmerizing Supertree Grove. You can get atop these majestic trees and enjoy panoramic views by paying S$8 for OCBC Skyway, an aerial walkway connecting the trees.
Besides this, there are two air-conditioned observatories. Cloud Forest– Refreshing larger than life waterfall and lush greenery. The second one is Flower Dome, with countless plants and exotic flowers.
Pay S$2 per day for wheelchair rental at the Gardens by the Bay.
- The Singapore Skyline can be observed from various locations. The giant observation wheel- Singapore Flyer is also famous amongst tourists for views. We decided to skip this as we had enjoyed the cityscape from other spots already.
- Since Singapore is known for its wildlife, I was excited to greet some! We decided to visit the Singapore Zoo ( S$41), which was humongous. There are plenty of other options too. There is Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, and River Safari.
- Singapore is a good blend of cultures. Explore this by visiting Little India, Haji Lane– a narrow lane filled with colorful shops & boutiques and China Town. We visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown. It is so quiet and peaceful inside!
- Sentosa Island is a fun one-two days trip via Cable Car which offers stunning birds-eye views of the city and island. I like to book my travel activities and sightseeing on klook.com. We bought the return cable car tickets from Klook as well.
View from Cable Car in Sentosa Island
If you are up for some adventure and thrill, visit the Universal Studios on Sentosa Island. We skipped this (S$81).
Lots of fun activities to do here besides Universal Studios. Few to name would be Fort Siloso Skywalk, the few beaches there – Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso. There is also an Adventure Cove Waterpark and S.E.A Aquarium.
- Go to Merlion Park to pose with the iconic half-lion, half-fish statue. You can walk along the park, enjoying the landscape of Singapore. We walked to Raffles avenue to have dinner at one of the many restaurants.
You can also go to Clarke Quay, another landmark of Singapore, to dine and drink at their lovely waterfront restaurants & bars. I liked the high-spirited vibes here with live music and good food.
The transportation in Singapore is quite well connected. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is easy to use and affordable. Buy the EZ-Link card to travel by bus or train. I used Uber and mostly Grab to book a taxi.
I donโt prefer to shop for numerous days while traveling. Half a day suffices my shopping desires usually. I went to Orchard Road in Singapore, a retail district of Singapore.
Facts of Singapore
- You could face a penalty for many uncommon laws in Singapore. The most common ones are chewing gum and forgetting to flush the toilet.
- Majority population- Chinese Singaporeans
- Dining out can seem expensive In Singapore. Eat local ,try hawker centers.
- Singaporeans Chope seats- an act of placing any personal belonging, usually tissue packet, to reserve tables at eateries. So next time you spot an umbrella or a pack of tissues, do not take a seat.
- Power plugs- Type G; 230 V; 50HZ
- Safe to drink tap water- Yes
- Safe to travel alone- yes
- Tipping culture in Singapore- Not compulsory.
- Illegal to drink in public after 10:30 pm
- You may be eligible to get a 7% GST refund if you spend more than S$100 shopping. Read the details on their website.
VISITING THAILAND
Besides exploring and enjoying the city life and being amazed by the architecture and lush nature, I wanted to bask in the sun relaxing on a beautiful beach.
Singapore is not known for its beaches, so I chose to visit Phuket in Thailand, from Singapore. This is a good and viable option to do so if you love beaches and spas as much as I do!
The flight duration is less than 2 hours.
Thailand offers visas on arrival for 19 countries. Check visa requirements.
Holidaying here is inexpensive, convenient, and so blissful! The beaches are heavenly, and spas are rejuvenating!
WHAT TO DO IN PHUKET
Stay at Amari Phuket in Patong. The resort is luxurious, has picturesque views and a private beach to relax at! You can even book water sports here. Book the spa in advance; we couldnโt get any appointments.
Thailand is all about massages and spas, so if you fail to find availability at one, hop on to the next one.
We also stayed at Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Nai Yang– another beautiful property with a private beach!
We took a private small group speed boat tour for Island Hopping. This was priced relatively more than the other boat options available. I was with family, so I wanted a more private tour with less crowd and better service.
I booked The V Marine Sunrise Tour and was not disappointed at all.
Beautiful sunrise at the beach, island hopping, and snorkeling, experiencing the wonders of marine life! A day to remember!
Amongst the various options island hopping options available, I chose the Phi Phi Islands tour. This was my second time seeing Phi Phi Islands and it was worth it!
My mom, who has aquaphobia, also returned satisfied and happy.
Thailand is always fun because it is everything I love- Beaches, Spa, Shopping, Thai Curry, and the best Mango Sticky Rice!! YUM!!
This was my second holiday in Thailand, and I am looking forward to returning!
KNOW More ABOUT Phuket
- Currency- Thai Baht
- Best weather to visit – November- April
- Power Plugs- Type A, B, and C; 230 V; 50 HZ
- It is forbidden to speak ill or joke about the royal family
- Ride in a tuk-tuk when in Thailand, a 3-wheeled vehicle carrying 2-3 passengers
- You can bargain in Thailand and shop for things at least 20-30% lesser cost
You donโt need to spare many days to vacation in Singapore or Thailand. If you got less time to travel, choose either destination instead of clubbing both.
So what do you fancy?
Wildlife or Marine life? Cityscape or Beachscape?
