Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer - SIN-KUL-SIN same day trip - Is it worth it?

Hey guys:
I'll be in SIN from 11/17 'til 11/21 with my wife and we were wondering if a day trip to KUL was doable and worth it. So here are the questions:

1) Fly out early in the morning and come back late at night. Any cheap options? I guess the only 2 airlines flying this route are SQ and MH, right?
2) Shoul we get the shuttle tickets? How cheaper are they compared to full fare tickets? Is is too risky for what we are trying to do?
3) Any other recommendation for a same-day trip?

Thanks in advance for your help and/or recommendations!

Angel

1) Lots to do in/around SIN anyway, so this seems like a waste to me.

2) On arrival in KUL you're still an hour away from the City Centre

3) IMO, not too much to actually do/see in KUL

4) Fares are quite expensive owing to the MH/SQ stranglehold.

In summary - don't do it!

Hey guys:

1) Fly out early in the morning and come back late at night. Any cheap options? I guess the only 2 airlines flying this route are SQ and MH, right?
2) Shoul we get the shuttle tickets? How cheaper are they compared to full fare tickets? Is is too risky for what we are trying to do?
3) Any other recommendation for a same-day trip?


Kuala Lumpur is actually quite a nice town. Sure, KL International Airport is far from the city, but there are things to do in town. If you want to really experience the different cultures of the region then KL is the best place in Asia to do that (Chinatown, Little India, Malay Areas, etc.) The actual charm with Malaysia, though, are really other areas, including Borneo and all the little islands. Obviously, you won't be able to visit an island, but Borneo might be an option, it's not much further than KL flight-time wise. If you don't mind getting to Johor Bahru (the border town on the Malaysian side of the Sinagpore-Malaysia border, then yo can fly with Air Asia and you won't have to pay nearly as much. If you were to go to Borneo, you could either leave from Johor Bahru (Air Asia and MH), which would provide you many destinations, or from SIN (with MH or SilkAir), but then there are only BKI and KCH (I think). If you do decide to go for KUL, then you could always check the prices for EK and JL as well, since they also fly the route (but they don't have a lot of frequencies).

swede_swiss

Thanks guys for the replies. Now I need one more to make a decission :)
I'll check the Borneo option, sounds really interesting.
Thanks again,

Angel

Thanks guys for the replies. Now I need one more to make a decission :)
I'll check the Borneo option, sounds really interesting.
Thanks again,

Angel

Perhaps I better imform you that Borneo itself is made up of the 2 states of Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei and Indonesia. The latter having the bulk of the island. The 'island' is huge. Like the state of Texas.

There are other islands within state of Sabah which are really nice if you like to snorkel.

http://www.sabahtourism.com/


Then again, there's always Penang to the north western part of Malaysia.

Day trip from Singapore? You need a week to do Penang to really appreciate all that there is to do there. Just for the food alone ! ^

http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/

Just FYI, besides MH and SQ, JAL and Sri Lankan Air also flies SIN-KUL.

Just FYI, besides MH and SQ, JAL and Sri Lankan Air also flies SIN-KUL.

But with very limited schedules, so of no interest to the OP who is looking to make a day return.

Just revisiting the original post and Q3 is about other ideas for a day trip...

Pulau Ubin is a fun day (or half-day) out - take a small boat from Changi Village across the water. I was told this would give me an idea of Singapore 50 years ago but was skeptical. I shouldn't have been...

You can also get to some of the Indonesian islands easily in a day, but that's more appropriate if you just want to visit a beach resort.

Seriously though - 3 full days is nowhere near enough to do justice to what Singapore has to offer and the money you save on the air tickets will pay for quite a lot of extras...

But with very limited schedules, so of no interest to the OP who is looking to make a day return.


I don't know about Air Lanka, but SQ/MH tickets are endorsable to JAL so it's certainly pertinent information when considering options between those two cities.

Try asking the question differently:
During my trip to Singapore, I have one day to visit somewhere, perhaps in Malaysia. Where should I go? How should I get there?
You will get some intereting answers such as Malacca by coach, Bintan (Indonesia) by ferry, Pulau Ubin, KL, Penang, etc.
--
13F

Try asking the question differently:
During my trip to Singapore, I have one day to visit somewhere, perhaps in Malaysia. Where should I go? How should I get there?
You will get some intereting answers such as Malacca by coach, Bintan (Indonesia) by ferry, Pulau Ubin, KL, Penang, etc.
--
13F

Like noted before, Penang is just too much for a single day's visit. There's just so much to do there. On the other hand, Bintan is basically for golfers. I've only been there once, but I have no idea what else (worthwhile) there is to do there other than golf. KL isn't a bad choice, but like noted before too, there really isn't too much to do there. Maybe you'll visit the Petronas Twin Towers, but I'm not sure what else there is to do. If you're interested, you could go see Putrajaya, but some people may not be interested. I liked it simply because of the view at sunset. Quite nice I must say.

If you really want to go to KL (and I wouldn't for a day for the reasons given above), you could consider taking a coach for the following reasons:

1 there's really not much time difference when you factor in the hassle of getting to/from airports and checking in, e.g. the coach I took earlier this year left from central KL outside the old railway station, you have to get off/on for about 5 minutes twice (to clear Malaysian and Singaporean immigration) etc

2 an executive coach is pretty comfortable - reclining seats, a sandwich and drink served at your seat;

3 cost; and

4 the view.

Pulau Ubin is a fun day (or half-day) out - take a small boat from Changi Village across the water. I was told this would give me an idea of Singapore 50 years ago but was skeptical. I shouldn't have been...

This coul be an option.... ^

You can also get to some of the Indonesian islands easily in a day, but that's more appropriate if you just want to visit a beach resort.

I'm sure my wife would like this idea. Any more details?

Seriously though - 3 full days is nowhere near enough to do justice to what Singapore has to offer and the money you save on the air tickets will pay for quite a lot of extras...
Well... maybe you are right and we should stay in SIN and really enjoy it.
I appreciate everybody's comments and advice

Angel

Thanks guys for the replies. Now I need one more to make a decission :)
I'll check the Borneo option, sounds really interesting.
Thanks again,

Angel

No problem. If you do choose to go to Kuala Lumpur, I would really cross the border from SIN to Johor Bahru airport, they have special buses for this. The fares are incomparable! I even think Air Asia has special buses from one of the MRT stations in Singapore directly to their terminal in Johor Bahru. The fares are really low, eg. MYR 49 (USD about 13 USD) outbound and about 50 cents (yes, cents!) from KL to Johor Bahru. Also, the airport taxes aren't very high, especially now with the special Low-Cost Terminal in KL. Sometimes capacity is limited, so you might be forced to leave SIN in the morning, go to KL, spend one night, then leave KL at about 7am the next day. Is that an option?

swede_swiss

I'm sure my wife would like this idea. Any more details?



This post contains details of what I was offered earlier this year (May)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5738849&postcount=6

We didn't go in the end but if you haven't been to Singapore you're going to find more than enough to do there for your relatively short stay anyway.

Might be worth having a look in the Singapore forum too if you haven't already.

swede_swiss: thanks for the info. I don't think we want to spend a night on KUL since we already booked our hotel in SIN.

Swiss Tony: Thanks for that! It helps. I checked the Singapore forum but didn't see a lot of info (maybe I didn't look hard enough). I'll check it again today.

This post contains details of what I was offered earlier this year (May)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5738849&postcount=6

We didn't go in the end but if you haven't been to Singapore you're going to find more than enough to do there for your relatively short stay anyway.

Might be worth having a look in the Singapore forum too if you haven't already.
I contacted the resort and they still offer the same package and I'm 99% sure we'll do it. Now the question is whether to go on a Sunday or Monday. Which day is better based on Singapore's activity levels? Are shops closed on Sunday or something like that in Singapore? In other words: if you have to pick one day to stay in Singapore (Sunday or Monday) which one would you select?
TIA,
Angel

I like Singapore, partly because people like doing the two things I love doing in my free time: shopping and eating. So you don't have to worry about shops (or restaurants) being closed on a Sunday. :cool:

If you get a charge from moving with the crowds while shopping (or hunting for a place to eat), go on a Sunday. If, like me, you find shopping more relaxing if you're not having to push through crowds, go on a Monday.

I like Singapore, partly because people like doing the two things I love doing in my free time: shopping and eating. So you don't have to worry about shops (or restaurants) being closed on a Sunday. :cool:

If you get a charge from moving with the crowds while shopping (or hunting for a place to eat), go on a Sunday. If, like me, you find shopping more relaxing if you're not having to push through crowds, go on a Monday.
Good summary. ^ I personally prefer Mondays over the weekend.

Thanks a lot jjpb3 amd MovieMan. We are going to go on Sunday and do some shopping in SIN on Monday. If anyone has recommendations on shopping centers, outlet and/or attractions, please feel free to educate me :)
We are also thinking about the night safari. Anyone has any experience with it? If so, how did you like it?

Thanks a lot jjpb3 amd MovieMan. We are going to go on Sunday and do some shopping in SIN on Monday. If anyone has recommendations on shopping centers, outlet and/or attractions, please feel free to educate me :)
We are also thinking about the night safari. Anyone has any experience with it? If so, how did you like it?
I liked the night safari, but primarily because the breathless commentary was so entertaining. My guide did a good job panting her way through the wildlife on display. :p My niece loved the night safari for the spectacle that it is. It's good at the very least so you can compare it to other zoo experiences.

I believe you wanted to look at options for business casual clothing? The safe bets are the boutique stores on Orchard (Paragon, Takashimaya and Ngee Ann) -- Gucci, Prada, yadda yadda yadda. If you'd like to branch out beyond the Western name brands, I think Raoul makes pretty good, off-the-rack shirts (particularly the short-sleeved variety). The service is excellent (they don't hesitate to go to their storeroom, bring out the selection that might fit you, then ripping the package open just so you can try it before buying it). I visit the one in Suntec City Mall.

Because I typically stay in the Marina Bay area, my biases are reinforced by the excellent selection of malls in that area. Raffles City mall, Suntec City mall, and Marina Square mall are all within easy walking distance of each other and of the hotels in the area. The best benefit of the opening of the new VivoCity Mall, IMHO, was that it de-congested the Marina Bay malls. Enjoy the selection. sailaway75 swears by the green tea ice cream in a Japanese food stall in Marina Square, but I haven't personally tried it yet.

Best wishes for a good shopping, and Singapore, experience. I hope you'll have the kind of good experiences that those of us who like the city have had. :cool: :)

Thanks a lot jjpb3 ! This really helps. We'll do the night safari (I think is a good value and could be really interesting) for sure now that I read your comments.
We'll be staying at the Marriott in Orchard Rd. so I think that's good for checking out the boutiques and we'll check some of the malls that you described. I'll also try to check out the green tea ice cream ;)
Thanks again for your help and we hope that we can enjoy and have a good time in Singapore!

Angel

Thanks a lot jjpb3 ! This really helps. We'll do the night safari (I think is a good value and could be really interesting) for sure now that I read your comments.
We'll be staying at the Marriott in Orchard Rd. so I think that's good for checking out the boutiques and we'll check some of the malls that you described. I'll also try to check out the green tea ice cream ;)
Thanks again for your help and we hope that we can enjoy and have a good time in Singapore!

Angel
Just a note--since you are staying at the Marriott you are right on top of an MRT (subway) station. To get to the Marina Bay area that jjpb3 describes you need to travel south three stops and get off at City Hall station, which is right under Raffles City mall. The Marina Bay area is also walking distance (underground and air-conditioned) from there.

Enjoy your trip!

If you're staying at Mariott, then don't bother with hiking all the way to Marina Bay. The immediate area of Wheelock, Tangs, Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Paragon are more than plenty to keep you busy. No need to deal with traffic/public transport at all, everything is within sight and a 5 minute walk. And easy to drop off your shopping in between too. Personally, I much prefer this area over Marina/Suntec, which can be a transport nightmare on a bad day. Shops are better too, IMO.

Paragon and Ngee Ann City houses all the luxury labels, Wisma Atria has middle to upper end labels, next to Wheelock (which has a Borders) are Zara and Massimo Dutti. Tangs is a local department store with a mix of local/in-house/international goods. You can also stop by Lucky Plaza right next door for chintzy local souveniers. Stay away from the electronic goods though - scams galore. On Sundays, Lucky Plaza is the hangout for Filipino workers, and you'll find quite a number of small shops selling Filipino snacks and goods there too.

ps: There's a Raoul in Paragon.

One more thing - for fragrances, nothing beats Changi Airport DFS itself. For both value and range. :cool:

I yield to the recommendations of the local expert fimo. :cool: :) I myself have never found my shopping rhythm in the Orchard Street malls.

I remember Lucky Plaza for the excellent Filipino restaurant there -- sorry, I can't recall the name. It was perfect for getting home cooking when I didn't want to impose on my sister-in-law. (Plus, they gave me and my brother enthusiastic greetings of "Kabayan!" (compatriots) once they'd figured out we weren't Indonesian. :p )

If you really want to go to KL (and I wouldn't for a day for the reasons given above), you could consider taking a coach for the following reasons:

1 there's really not much time difference when you factor in the hassle of getting to/from airports and checking in, e.g. the coach I took earlier this year left from central KL outside the old railway station, you have to get off/on for about 5 minutes twice (to clear Malaysian and Singaporean immigration) etc

2 an executive coach is pretty comfortable - reclining seats, a sandwich and drink served at your seat;

3 cost; and

4 the view.

Where do you find the cost for this trip and how do I book it? Would it be a good idea to get the ticket from the hotel or the company? My wife and I will be in SIN next month and I would love to take a side trip like this. I like coach service because you do see the sights a lot better than driving.

Where do you find the cost for this trip and how do I book it? Would it be a good idea to get the ticket from the hotel or the company? My wife and I will be in SIN next month and I would love to take a side trip like this. I like coach service because you do see the sights a lot better than driving.

I took the coach from KL to Singapore but a friend bought the ticket in KL so I don't know where to buy the ticket in Singapore. I suggest asking your hotel for details.

I just Googled and it's the service described on this page:

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptasingapore.htm

The coaches are operated by a company called NiCE - from outside the Old Railway Station, KL (where before boarding the bus we sat at the tables and chairs in the waiting room and were each given a hot drink and a doughnut!) to outside the Copthorne Hotel in Singapore (from where you can hail a taxi to go where you want). That website says that the cost is 79 Ringgits each way (about US$20) - it'll probably cost more if bought in Singapore.

The bus is a single decker with perhaps 20-30 seats in total ? 2 on the left and 2 on the right.

I just found this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=436821

The above are my recollections but I'm sure a Singaporean/Malaysian can confirm!

Where do you find the cost for this trip and how do I book it? Would it be a good idea to get the ticket from the hotel or the company? My wife and I will be in SIN next month and I would love to take a side trip like this. I like coach service because you do see the sights a lot better than driving.

Try this:

http://www.transtar.com.sg/olcoachquery.php