Joanna James
Singapore is a small city-state that's popular with fun-loving travellers. On the surface, it seems like it has nothing more than a collection of modern buildings and high rises, but there's more.
The sovereign city-state is often cited as a playground for the rich. There's some truth in it as Singapore has a sheen of glamour and wealth. However, the country offers more than just ritzy hotels and high-end shopping malls. The accommodation sector of Singapore, with the likes of Grand Park City Hall, focuses on providing the best facilities for guests. The best luxury hotel in Singapore is usually found in the city centre.
Singapore is one of the safest destinations in the world. Walking down in a dark alleyway at 4 am may conjure up images of getting robbed, but in Singapore, it is a completely safe thing to do.
Holidaying here is not as expensive as it would be in Dubai or Doha, but Singapore isn't exactly an affordable destination. When compared to other destinations in Asia, Singapore might be the most expensive destination – accommodation is the highest cost you'll have here.
Food in Singapore is reasonably priced. Hawker centres are the favourite go-to place in Singapore. Locals often can be seen having their meals here. If you want to have a delicious local meal and have a chat with a local, hawker centres are your option.
This is something Singapore has in common with other Asian destinations. The city-state has a multi-cultural community. Several ethnicities make up the Singaporean community, and there are many expats living here too. Singapore takes pride in being an inclusive society; all cultural norms and differences are valued and respected here.
This is another aspect of Singapore that's not so expensive. Travelling by taxi is affordable; however, if you choose to travel during peak hours, an additional amount is charged.
When compared to a destination like Thailand, Singapore doesn't have a lot of beaches. However, the country offers a range of excellent swimming pools. This is not to say that Singapore doesn't have any beaches, it does, but they might not be as glorious as Thai beaches.
Singapore offers excellent nightlife; this is one of the many draws for tourists. With a collection of bars and clubs, Clarke Quay offers the best version of Singaporean nightlife.
Cocktails can cost you a fortune in Singapore. Alcohol is pretty expensive; in fact, it is one of the biggest costs you'll have to bear here. The solution would be to purchase what you need to at the Duty-Free; however, there's a limit to how much liquor you can buy at the airport.
Most Singaporeans speak perfect English, so you won't encounter any communication issues. English is taught at schools alongside one's mother tongue.
Due to the city being small, getting from point A to point B is not time-consuming. All the major attractions are linked by Singapore's comprehensive train network. It takes only 30 minutes to get to the city centre from the suburbs.
There's no need to worry about running out of data when in Singapore. Cafes, hotels and restaurants all offer free Wi-Fi. In addition, all public places like shopping malls and libraries offer free Wi-Fi. All you have to do is get the one time password and connect your phone to the network.
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