Hyatt Gold Passport - Singapore transportation

We have a 19 hour layover in Singapore and would like to visit the Grand Hyatt Singapore. We are arriving at noon and flying out 7am the next morning. Does anyone have any suggestions for transportation?

I have not been to Singapore in 3 years but I recall cabs being very reasonable and usually Mercedes Benz. They are prevalent at Changi. Enjoy!

We have a 19 hour layover in Singapore and would like to visit the Grand Hyatt Singapore. We are arriving at noon and flying out 7am the next morning. Does anyone have any suggestions for transportation?

Cabs are plentiful in Singapore - between Changi and GH should be around 25 SGD (or about $20 USD) - most cabs in Singapore are Toyota Crowns (there are a few Mercedes around). If you don't have much luggage and want to save some money - you can try the MRT (train) from the airport to Orchard Station which is about 1 block away - I've never taken the MRT in from the airport though.

Cab would be the best!

The MRT leaves Terminal 2 and you will need to swap trains twice (the Airport line will stop somewhere and you need to change to another train to continue west, and another time at to change from the green line to the red line) to get to Orchard road station.

PS: Hello from the Grand Hyatt Singapore

Just want to conclude here:
Cab will be the friendliest but it is not cheap compare to MRT.

Cab is far more convenient than MRT though.:D

I'll split the difference, personally I'd take MRT to the hotel to save some money & cab in the morning back to SIN as at that time in the morning I'm willing to pay for the 'premium' of taking a cab (plus you probably have to be at SIN early if you have a 7am flight out and the MRT won't work for you).

I'll split the difference, personally I'd take MRT to the hotel to save some money & cab in the morning back to SIN as at that time in the morning I'm willing to pay for the 'premium' of taking a cab (plus you probably have to be at SIN early if you have a 7am flight out and the MRT won't work for you).

I did exactly this last year. But, the morning cab will be closer to SGD40 as there is a "night" service charge of 50% which ends at 6AM.

There's also a shared minibus service from SIN that seems to leave from every terminal for IIRC SG$10 door-to-door to your hotel. Departures are every 30 minutes in the middle of the night and more frequently during the day. There's a counter where they sell tickets after you exit customs.

For a 7am departure, you need to leave the hotel no later than 5am and there is no MRT service to the airport then. So you will likely be taking a cab back -- and they do charge some sort of premium on the regular fare at that time in the morning.

I've taken the MRT to the airport and while you do have to transfer, it's not a big deal. The Orchard station is about a 3 minute walk from the hotel but not entirely sheltered if it is raining.

Departures are every 30 minutes in the middle of the night.....can I catch one of these at 1am? (or after)

For a 7am departure, you need to leave the hotel no later than 5am and there is no MRT service to the airport then. So you will likely be taking a cab back -- and they do charge some sort of premium on the regular fare at that time in the morning.


Yup, 50%. If you pre-book there is also a charge but I don't think you should have a problem just walking out and getting one at the GH. They have a queue that is limited to GH guests, which is good for the afternoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_Singapore#fares

The Singapore MRT is one of my favorite rail systems. It is cheap, immaculately clean, and easy to understand. As pointed out above, there are 2 transfers when travelling from Changi to the GH. However, the transfers are painless "walk across the platform" type transfers. The trains are frequent enough that you'll never be waiting for more than a few minutes. The entire journey is about 50 minutes.

The Orchard station is located about a block away from the GH. If you arrive from the airport, make sure you exit via the Scotts Rd. exit which puts you closest to the GH.

I did exactly this last year. But, the morning cab will be closer to SGD40 as there is a "night" service charge of 50% which ends at 6AM.

Just did the airport run (@ 6 +), which I paid S$17 for. Taking into consideration that with a 50% surcharge it should be about S$26, I find it unlikely for you to pay $40.

Unless you pre-booked the cab ($6.5 extra / $10 during morning peak) or got the black cab.

Cab would be the best!

The MRT leaves Terminal 2 and you will need to swap trains twice (the Airport line will stop somewhere and you need to change to another train to continue west, and another time at to change from the green line to the red line) to get to Orchard road station.

PS: Hello from the Grand Hyatt Singapore

If the OP does decide to go with the train option, the connections are very easy - in both cases, just walking across a platform. From Changi Airport, go to Tanah Merah (there is only one way to go from the airport, and Tanah Merah will be the last stop on this train), and walk across the platform to the left, to catch a green, east-west line train towards Joo Koon. (The doors on the airport train will open on both sides upon arrival at Tanah Merah, so exiting in the correct direction is important - go out the wrong side, and you will be on the platform for trains headed away from town, not towards it.) Then this second train should be taken to City Hall, where walking across the platform puts one on a red, north-south line train to Jurong East (oddly enough, it would be easier to get to Jurong East by staying on the green line train, but since that's not where you're going, no matter). This train will go to Orchard - should be only three stops, about 5-6 minutes once on the red train. The green part will take quite a bit longer. Note that the airport to Tanah Merah train is also marked green, it seems to be considered a spur line from the east-west line, rather than a separate line.

Same deal on the way back, except you don't even have to decide which way to get off the train at Tanah Merah - there is only one way :) But for a 7 AM flight, I don't think you want to take the train - I think you'll get to the airport too late. So I would taxi on the way back.

There is direct access to the MRT from either Terminal 2 or 3 at Changi. From Terminal 1, it would be necessary to take airport transportation (train almost all the time, bus in the early hours of the morning) to one of the other terminals. You can also walk from Terminal 1 to 2, through the car park.

The train is very much a public-transit style system, no upgraded airport train like in Hong Kong, but at noon, the trains shouldn't be too too crowded.

For a 7am departure, you need to leave the hotel no later than 5am and there is no MRT service to the airport then. So you will likely be taking a cab back -- and they do charge some sort of premium on the regular fare at that time in the morning.


No need to leave two hours before. It is entirely dependent of the airline and class of service. I would check what is the minimum check in time for the airline + 25 minutes from the hotel.

I once woke up an hour before of my flight @ GH SIN and made it. I was flying paid SQ F and was at the airport 25 minutes before scheduled departure time. Absolutely no problems checking in. Even got the invite to the Private Room, but didn't have time to check it out.

If the OP does decide to go with the train option, the connections are very easy - in both cases, just walking across a platform. From Changi Airport, go to Tanah Merah (there is only one way to go from the airport, and Tanah Merah will be the last stop on this train), and walk across the platform to the left, to catch a green, east-west line train towards Joo Koon. (The doors on the airport train will open on both sides upon arrival at Tanah Merah, so exiting in the correct direction is important - go out the wrong side, and you will be on the platform for trains headed away from town, not towards it.) Then this second train should be taken to City Hall, where walking across the platform puts one on a red, north-south line train to Jurong East (oddly enough, it would be easier to get to Jurong East by staying on the green line train, but since that's not where you're going, no matter). This train will go to Orchard - should be only three stops, about 5-6 minutes once on the red train. The green part will take quite a bit longer. Note that the airport to Tanah Merah train is also marked green, it seems to be considered a spur line from the east-west line, rather than a separate line.

Same deal on the way back, except you don't even have to decide which way to get off the train at Tanah Merah - there is only one way :) But for a 7 AM flight, I don't think you want to take the train - I think you'll get to the airport too late. So I would taxi on the way back.

There is direct access to the MRT from either Terminal 2 or 3 at Changi. From Terminal 1, it would be necessary to take airport transportation (train almost all the time, bus in the early hours of the morning) to one of the other terminals. You can also walk from Terminal 1 to 2, through the car park.

The train is very much a public-transit style system, no upgraded airport train like in Hong Kong, but at noon, the trains shouldn't be too too crowded.

I have a difference of opinion based on my experience:
1) I usually need to wait 4-7 mins at Tanah Merah, which made me sweat heaps (since it is an outdoor station). Plus, I believe the OP will probably reach the station at 1:00-1:30 pm, which is mid day heat and can be unbearable for me.
2) My experience for lunch hour 12-2pm is the MRT is pretty packed - but this is once you get closer into the city.

The other thing is if he is carrying a big bag with him/her, I would not take the MRT as dragging a bag along orchard MRT (which can be a maze for those who don't know) isn't fun. On the other hand, if it is just a small roll aboard hand carry, taking the MRT is realistic feasible.

No need to leave two hours before. It is entirely dependent of the airline and class of service. I would check what is the minimum check in time for the airline + 25 minutes from the hotel.

I once woke up an hour before of my flight @ GH SIN and made it. I was flying paid SQ F and was at the airport 25 minutes before scheduled departure time. Absolutely no problems checking in. Even got the invite to the Private Room, but didn't have time to check it out.

For early morning flights, I usually wake up 130 minutes before the flight and wash up abit, grab my stuff and get a cab 110 minutes before my flight and reach the airport between 90-80 minutes before the flight. This also works on economy.

The only problem with this is certain flights have heavy loads during the early morning flights. Especially going to KUL & CGK on mondays.

Just did the airport run (@ 6 +), which I paid S$17 for. Taking into consideration that with a 50% surcharge it should be about S$26, I find it unlikely for you to pay $40.

Unless you pre-booked the cab ($6.5 extra / $10 during morning peak) or got the black cab.

I did not reserve a cab but might have been a black cab and at 5am you cannot be very picky. With tip it was S$40.

I did the same trip back in February in a non-black cab during the day at it was over S$20 and he took the same route.

I did not reserve a cab but might have been a black cab and at 5am you cannot be very picky. With tip it was S$40.

I did the same trip back in February in a non-black cab during the day at it was over S$20 and he took the same route.

I guess now we know reason why you overpaid!

That said, it doesn't hurt to ask the hotel door man about another cab. Usually a few taxis line up outside the hotel even in the wee hours of the morning.

Another note, you gave a 10+% tip didn't you? :p I usually either round it up to the nearest dollar or give a 1-2 dollar tip.

I've left the hotel at that early hour a few times - usually there is just one cab waiting. In my experience, they were regular cabs though. The only time that I've been in a "black cab" (a Chrysler 300) was from the airport around 2 AM - which of course was rather expensive.

I've left the hotel at that early hour a few times - usually there is just one cab waiting. In my experience, they were regular cabs though. The only time that I've been in a "black cab" (a Chrysler 300) was from the airport around 2 AM - which of course was rather expensive.

Just FYI, you can tell the person assigning taxis that you want a regular one instead of the black one. :cool:

I've seen the black cabs hog 3 of the 10+ taxi bays before because nobody was willing take those cabs. :p

I've left the hotel at that early hour a few times - usually there is just one cab waiting. In my experience, they were regular cabs though. The only time that I've been in a "black cab" (a Chrysler 300) was from the airport around 2 AM - which of course was rather expensive.

No doubt it is more expensive but at least it is way cheaper for US Standard. So it is quiet a good deal... :D

No doubt it is more expensive but at least it is way cheaper for US Standard. So it is quiet a good deal... :D

Well because SGD is now so strong against the USD it may not be the case.

A taxi from MDW - Downtown is about 30 US (38 SGD) which is about the same price as Orchard Road to Changi in the Black cab.

Use this http://gothere.sg/maps

Type in departure and arrival point, once at the result page, change the departure time and date and you will get the exact taxi fare (considering there is no heavy traffic of course, which almost never happens in Singapore anyway...).

MRT is very easy if you don't have a big bag to drag with you.

Just did a check and your incoming cab ride would be:

S$14.80

Way back to SIN:

S$29.58 (due to the talked about 50% surcharge for riding before 6AM).

Use this http://gothere.sg/maps

Type in departure and arrival point, once at the result page, change the departure time and date and you will get the exact taxi fare (considering there is no heavy traffic of course, which almost never happens in Singapore anyway...).
Very handy. Thanks for sharing.

I don't believe the taxi fare from the airport to Orchard Road would ever be as low as S$15!

I live in the building next door to the Hyatt and here are my recommendations:
- Small bag - MRT from airport to Orchard station and walk
- Small or large bag - To get to the airport, I would recommend the #36 bus from the bus stop in front of the Tang (Marriott) dept store on Orchard Rd. No change of bus is required and takes the same amount of time as the MRT. The bus does a small loop when coming from the airport (extra 8 mins I'd say), so I generally take the MRT.

Taxi - the lowest I pay during off-hours is $16-17 to the airport and $19-20 from the airport. Since the recent fare increases, there is a very small window when you don't get hit with the surcharges, so expect to pay around $20-23 on the way to the airport and $24-26 from the airport. Add $2 on Fri-Sun evenings when coming from the airport.

I don't believe the taxi fare from the airport to Orchard Road would ever be as low as S$15!

That is true, but $16-$17 isn't very far off. In addition, I have seen it @ $15-$16 before the 2 cent hike (per tick).

I live in the building next door to the Hyatt

Nice building and location. I personally preferred it's character before it got torn down and rebuilt.

can I catch one of these at 1am? (or after)
Yes, I have done it, even between 2 and 3 am. At least once, I was the only passenger. At that time, there is no traffic so the scenic route to other people's hotels first is almost fun as a bit of an odd tour of the city.

Yup, 50%. If you pre-book there is also a charge but I don't think you should have a problem just walking out and getting one at the GH. They have a queue that is limited to GH guests, which is good for the afternoon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_Singapore#fares
Even using the queue for GH guests only, I have experienced waits of over an hour to get a cab there on weekend nights. Be careful!

I don't believe the taxi fare from the airport to Orchard Road would ever be as low as S$15!

Of course that quoted price is in the perfect scenario. But I actually never end up that far off the quoted fares on GoThere... ^
And I used the OP's original landing time and gave him around 1hr to clear immigration and luggage, so no surcharges at that time.

I live in the building next door to the Hyatt and here are my recommendations:
- Small bag - MRT from airport to Orchard station and walk
- Small or large bag - To get to the airport, I would recommend the #36 bus from the bus stop in front of the Tang (Marriott) dept store on Orchard Rd. No change of bus is required and takes the same amount of time as the MRT. The bus does a small loop when coming from the airport (extra 8 mins I'd say), so I generally take the MRT.

Taxi - the lowest I pay during off-hours is $16-17 to the airport and $19-20 from the airport. Since the recent fare increases, there is a very small window when you don't get hit with the surcharges, so expect to pay around $20-23 on the way to the airport and $24-26 from the airport. Add $2 on Fri-Sun evenings when coming from the airport.

How much is the bus? Is there storage on the bus? Thanks!

#36 bus is $2, you need exact change.

http://www.changiairport.com/getting-around/to-and-from-the-airport

There's also an airport shuttle, $9, IIRC it's only for airport to the city. I tried it once, of course I was the last stop.

-David