Singapore - Tips/Advice Needed

I will be staying at the St. Regis for three days and it will be my first time in an actual 5* hotel. The hotel was also booked with JetQuay services upon my arrival and departure to/from SIN. In general, this is my first time experiencing "luxury" so I would appreciate some advice and tips.

1. Do I have to tip EVERY JetQuay attendant that helps me and my mother? If so, how much do I have to tip each person?
ex. golf cart attendant, lounge attendant, security officer, etc.

2. How much do I tip the Bentley driver?

3. How much do I tip the person that will get my bags upon arrival at St. Regis? We will probably have one small sized suitcase and laptop backpack. I'm assuming it will be a bellperson doing this but wasn't sure if my butler will do this?

4. Is there anyone else that I have to tip at St. Regis other than the norm such as restaurant waiters/waitresses?

5. Any amazing/good restaurants that cost a decent amount? ($40 for 2 person meal is what I consider decent) Also, any good dimsum places?

6. What should I do during my 2 full days there? This would be my first time in Singapore so would appreciate recommendations along transportation advice.

7. Would the St. Regis allow me to leave my baggage in the hotel on the day I check out so I can explore the city? My flight is at 11:55 PM so I want to take advantage of the day along with the complimentary Bentley transportation.

Thanks like always.

I'd like to just respond to the tipping question (q 1-4, also question 7). You'll have lots of responses to questions 5 and 6 so I"ll defer to the others on this.

In principle Singapore is a no tipping country. It has been government policy to discourage it and for typical everyday transactions service people perform without expecting a tip (as it's you're first visit to Sing, you will see that 99% of cab drivers will charge per the meter and return the change to the nearest five or ten cents). Restaurants and hotels will impose a service charge on the bill. Having said that, there has been talk in the papers that maybe the tipping policy should be rethought as typical Singapore service can be indifferent and that a direct tip might improve things.

Given this background, you're going to have an exceptional experience between JetQuay and the St Regis - btw I'd consider St Regis 6 star as many of the hotels are at 5 star level but St Regis should be at even higher service levels than that. Other FT'ers should weigh in on this tipping question as there are exceptions to every policy (even in Singapore) and if ever there was a situation that deserve an exception, yours is it. My own thought on this is that the service people you run into won't be expecting a tip and will not behave badly if they don't get one but would take it if it's offered.

On question 7, the ability to leave luggage with the concierge is quite common and typical just about every place in Asia (if not everywhere, period). I see no reason why the St Regis wouldn't do this for you.

No tipping at all in Singapore.
Not required and not encouraged.

Highly recommend the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

Also lots to eat, especially local dishes and seafood.
Check out the food thread listed somewhere below.

Agreed - basically, don't tip.

I do find a very weird disconnect between staying at the St Regis with JetQuay and then trying to eat for US$(presumably)20 per head (which will probably just about get you a sandwich each on room service).

For the same amount of money in total I'd can the JetQuay and spend more on food.

I do find a very weird disconnect between staying at the St Regis with JetQuay and then trying to eat for US$(presumably)20 per head (which will probably just about get you a sandwich each on room service).
Well, this is Singapore we're talking about -- you can eat pretty darn well for under US$5. Just don't expect tablecloths and air-con ;)

There are a few (but rapidly increasing) good upmarket restaurants, but frankly, all the best food in Singapore is in hawker centres and very cheap. (You'd be very lucky to get a Club Sandwich at the St Regis for $20...add a beer and it will be $30)

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are good recommendations but as you are only there are couple of days I'd do the zoo during the day (good bus service available to get you there from Orchard Road area...ask at the hotel) and doing the hawker centres in the evening (Newton's circus is a good beginners one and not that far from your hotel...also Satay Club...Cab drivers will know where both are). MRT (Underground rail) is excellent but taxis are also relatively cheap and plentiful.

Advice on tipping from others is correct. It's not expected, don't do it.

No 5* hotel will have a problem with you leaving your luggage with them post-check-out.

Jimgotkp

Just wanted to wish you an enjoyable trip.

JetQuay service is a great start and end to your trip and it's something we quite pathetically look forward to. You'll be taken from the plan to the CIP Terminal (Commercially rather than Very Important Person!) and it sounds like you're doing everything needed to make your trip special.

If you are an early riser then your mum may enjoy the Botanic Gardens particularly the Orchid garden.

I'd urge you to eat more locally than in upmarket restaurants. It's a long way to go to to not to experieince some of the best food in the world. There's a few threads around on food halls and hawker stalls that might catch your interest. As other have said there's no tipping although many of the people you'll meet will behave as though they richly deserve a tip!

On the topic of amazing food, check out Iggy's. It's in the Regent right beside the St Regis. Excellent food and very reasonable prices in relation to the calibre of cooking.

There's another thread on Iggy's if you search this forum.

On the topic of amazing food, check out Iggy's. It's in the Regent right beside the St Regis. Excellent food and very reasonable prices in relation to the calibre of cooking.

There's another thread on Iggy's if you search this forum.

Iggy's is excellent...but add wine (expensive in Singapore...and Iggy's is not "beer food") and it certainly isn't cheap. I went as part of a group of 4 and we paid about $350 per head with mid-range wine...which is not a lot less than I last paid at Tetsuya's in Sydney.

Actually, I found the wine list to be priced "average". Meaning, it was what I expected and wasn't super inflated compared to other restos of that calibre.

Actually, I found the wine list to be priced "average". Meaning, it was what I expected and wasn't super inflated compared to other restos of that calibre.

I agree that Iggy's pricing is good for a restaurant that makes the San Pellegrino Top 50 restaurants in the World list.

again, from my other post, use this site for all food reviews.

www.hungrygowhere.com (available as an iphone app also) everyone in singapore uses it.

no tipping required. Caucasian usually gets better service, not because they tip, its because they are generally easily to serve and are more friendly to the staff.