Budget Travel - Sleeping on the floor in SIN -ok?

Hi Everyone,

Later this month myself and 2 friends will be arriving in SIN at around 2000 off flights from Australia - on Qantas to be exact. We have an Air Asia to KUL flight leaving at 0745 the next morning, i presume from the SIN equivalent of the LCCT. We were hoping simply to hang out at the airport between these two flights; would this be possible in either the Qantas arrivals or Air Asia departure terminal? Or anywhere else for that matter?

Thanks!

Yes, sleep anywhere. Did it twice last week (arriving and departing). At least 30 people were camped out on the chairs on each floor.

On the lowest level there are some power plugs if you look hard enough...

If you want some comfort there is a transit hotel http://athmg.com/
Located within the Transit Mall of Singapore Changi Airport, the Ambassador Transit Hotels are equipped with a host of facilities that provide passengers with everything they need to have a comfortable stay, and more, without leaving the airport or clearing Immigration.

If you want some comfort there is a transit hotel http://athmg.com/
Located within the Transit Mall of Singapore Changi Airport, the Ambassador Transit Hotels are equipped with a host of facilities that provide passengers with everything they need to have a comfortable stay, and more, without leaving the airport or clearing Immigration.

For budget travelers, the SIN transit hotels aren't exactly cheap. Cheaper than a full night at most nearby hotels (anything above the Hotel81s and the Fragrance Hotels).

From Wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/en/Singapore):

Terminals T1, T2 and T3 all have airside (i.e., accessible without passing through immigration) transit hotels - tel. +65-65419106 or book online via the Ambassador Transit Hotel [18] website. A six-hour "block" for a single/double/triple costs $73.56/82.39/110.35, budget singles (shared bathroom) $51.50, extensions $17.65 per hour. You can rent a shower (without a room) to freshen up for $8.40. The Plaza Premier Lounges [19] also offer a basic but functional gym with shower for $8.40 with a Singapore Airlines boarding pass.

If you're going to throw that kind of money down the drain, you might as well splurge at the (very nice!) Crowne Plaza attached to Terminal 3 for S$160. ;) (At least that's what I paid for a night.)

Also, AirAsia ironically operates out of Terminal 1, not the Budget Terminal, so you don't need to transfer to the Budget Terminal. In fact, Qantas arrives in T1 (although I think all the terminals are connected airside), so it may be possible to stay in the airport for your entire layover without passing through immigration.

I didn't get a chance to check out the swimming pool, movie theater, or other fancy amenities, but those can occupy some of your time. A full read of the Changi Airport Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Changi_Airport) article might be worthwhile--you could probably spend your entire layover exploring the place and completely forget about napping! :D

(The article does mention something about 24-hour napping areas, but it doesn't clarify whether these cost any money. That might be an option, though.)

Thanks for the help :-) I definately think we will need to go landside upon arrival because QF wont be able to check our bags onto Air Asia, and Air Asia wont have a airside transfer desk (they couldn't, right?, LCC and all).

I was pretty much clarifying if the airport authorities are happy to have three unshaven dishevelled young men lying on the floor for 8 hours. All signs point to yes so im happy :-D

Thanks again!

Oh, and the info on the transit pay-facilities was most valuable. However as budget travellers in every sense of the term we would value the opportunity to wash ourselves at less than S$8.40 :p

I definately think we will need to go landside upon arrival because QF wont be able to check our bags onto Air Asia, and Air Asia wont have a airside transfer desk (they couldn't, right?, LCC and all).

Ah, yes, of course. No, the only way you'd be able to stay completely airside is by going carry-on only.

That said, in the few times I went through SIN's immigration and security lines, I never had much more than a few minutes of waiting, so it'd be a quick in-and-out.

AirAsia's baggage check desks don't open until a couple of hours before the flight (I don't recall the exact amount of time). Keep this in mind: I wouldn't plan on leaving the air side until you're ready to check your bags in with AirAsia. Otherwise, you'll be stuck outside security (where it's still nice, but not nearly as nice) for most of your transit period, since you'll have collected your bags and can't re-enter security until you've re-checked them (unless you're willing to part with your liquids or find a place to store your bags while you re-enter immigration/security). I've never done this internationally, so I'm not sure if it works (given clearing customs and all), but when traveling domestically, I've just left my bags on the carousel, and when nobody claims them, the airline will put them in the lost and found office--free day storage! Retrieve them from the lost and found office right before checking in for your AirAsia flight. (You might want to get confirmation from someone else here before planning on that, though...)

SIN has to be the most traveler friendly airport anywhere. When in doubt just ask an airport employee for help. During most of the day there is shopping and a variety of foods in all price ranges. Has to have the cleanest airport toilets in the world!

You couldn't wish for a better airport in which to spend the night! You'll be fine.

Alternatively, the Fragrance hotels in Kalang are about S$60 and you could take the subway from the airport return.

You couldn't wish for a better airport in which to spend the night! You'll be fine.

Alternatively, the Fragrance hotels in Kalang are about S$60 and you could take the subway from the airport return.
Mildly OT, but what would you say about the Fragrance (and the Hotel81) hotels?

My thoughts were that they were priced so low as to have something wrong with them--hourly rates or some such (though whether that kind of activity would go on in SIN is in itself questionable). Are they actually decent budget places?

The Fragrance on Selegie hotel is perfectly fine for sleeping. It's nothing special but has a great location and can be had for 57USD via agoda.com currently. Haven't had the pleasure of the Geylang locations yet but may try them next time.

To the OP, as noted SIN is the best airport to sleep at overnight. I would really rethink checking luggage if you are on a budget trip. Having to go land side before needed really will ruin your overnight at SIN.

Most of the hotel81's/Fragrance hotels, etc do have "hourly rates". Singapore does have it's seedy side, however they are still perfectly fine for staying the night.

while the 81's, etc are fine for a night (alto maybe not so cheap for 3) you won't be able to take the mrt back to the ap b/c it doesn't start early enough.

The cheapest/best is to find the quiet sleeping areas in the terminal - go through immigration at about 5:30 go to lost and found to get bags - check in at AA, return to inside terminal;)

To the OP, as noted SIN is the best airport to sleep at overnight. I would really rethink checking luggage if you are on a budget trip. Having to go land side before needed really will ruin your overnight at SIN.

Oh :-( I'm traveling for two months however and dont really have a choice of checking in bags - i cant travel THAT light :-)

Oh :-( I'm traveling for two months however and dont really have a choice of checking in bags - i cant travel THAT light :-)
Then I'd go with the leave-it-at-lost-and-found option. :)

Being Singapore, intrusive law enforcement may screw up a good thing, re: overnighting at the airport. Security guards roam and nag people to show them tickets in the middle of the night. Like you'd still be there in the airport if you didn't...

I gotta say, this place is MUUUUUCH nicer than HKG for spending the night!