Ideal length of stay while in Singapore?
#16
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Escapee from Chicago
Programs: Amex,Citi
Posts: 48
Consensus seems to be 3-4 days is good
I've visited Singapore twice, both times I stayed for 3-4 days, and both visits I managed to see all that I'd planned on, and a few unplanned side-trips, but I still haven't done everything there is to do. For example, I still haven't made it out to the zoo.
Nah, that would be too logical.
Once you've gone to all the trouble to fly out from the USA, I think it just makes sense to visit another country in the area. My first trip out was 5 weeks, and Singapore was really just a side trip to fill in the week between a conference in KL and the next conference.
Once you've gone to all the trouble to fly out from the USA, I think it just makes sense to visit another country in the area. My first trip out was 5 weeks, and Singapore was really just a side trip to fill in the week between a conference in KL and the next conference.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
Programs: UA GS/1K, SQ SilverKris, DL MM-Silver
Posts: 2,099
Start in SIN for maybe 3 days, to get acclimated, eat good food (stick to hawker centres/food courts), do some sightseeing, and, if desired, start some tailored clothing purchases.
Move on to one or more other sights that as an American are hard to reach.
My suggestions:
- Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Can do in 2-3 days hitting highlights
- Bali. Need 3-5 days, if you plan to experience both beach and mountain areas. I personally prefer mountain, and fave resort is Ubud Hanging Gardens. Magical.
- Bangkok. What can I say, it is an over the top experience. Wonderful sights in terms of history, temples, river market, etc., as well as "Hangover-esque" weirdness that will have you shaking your head.
Return to SIN for another 2-3 days, finish fittings for tailoring if you went that route, eat more good food, go home.
Move on to one or more other sights that as an American are hard to reach.
My suggestions:
- Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Can do in 2-3 days hitting highlights
- Bali. Need 3-5 days, if you plan to experience both beach and mountain areas. I personally prefer mountain, and fave resort is Ubud Hanging Gardens. Magical.
- Bangkok. What can I say, it is an over the top experience. Wonderful sights in terms of history, temples, river market, etc., as well as "Hangover-esque" weirdness that will have you shaking your head.
Return to SIN for another 2-3 days, finish fittings for tailoring if you went that route, eat more good food, go home.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Singapore
Posts: 324
Food? Stay a few weeks and you will have barely scratched the surface!
To be honest, I always tell people that 3 days in Singapore is sufficient if you want to just have been there and done that, but there are quite a number of things that are best enjoyed slowly even in such a compact city. You can have a picnic or take a hike around one of the parks (Botanic Gardens, Treetop Walk/MacRitchie Reservoir, Hort Park, East Coast Park, etc.) to burn off the food that you have eaten.
To be honest, I always tell people that 3 days in Singapore is sufficient if you want to just have been there and done that, but there are quite a number of things that are best enjoyed slowly even in such a compact city. You can have a picnic or take a hike around one of the parks (Botanic Gardens, Treetop Walk/MacRitchie Reservoir, Hort Park, East Coast Park, etc.) to burn off the food that you have eaten.
#20
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO, OAK, SJC
Posts: 242
I agree that Singapore is an (Asian) food lover's paradise, and while I don't have the most extensive knowledge of the city-state having only spent around 10 days there over two trips, I agree with a few previous posters. That is, it's just a city, albeit with great food; but, if you look hard enough in other cosmopolitan cities around the world, you'll find similar dishes, just not in such a concentrated area.
If you're in the region, I feel like you need to get out of Singapore and see something that you can't just see elsewhere, as previously stated. Go to Siem Reap, Bagan, or central Java (to see Borobudur and Prambanan). Just an idea.
If you're in the region, I feel like you need to get out of Singapore and see something that you can't just see elsewhere, as previously stated. Go to Siem Reap, Bagan, or central Java (to see Borobudur and Prambanan). Just an idea.
Last edited by calbear2005; Jan 31, 2017 at 9:13 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 93
Well, it really depends on what you want to do in Singapore apart from food. And where all have you narrowed the food down to? Im assuming Newton is one of them? If youre travelling all the way from USA to Singapore, and ONLY Singapore, you would already be jet lagged 2 days, so I would spend at least 8 nights there, but Im not certain if you would have enough to do for 8 nights. Have you thought about visiting other countries in S.E. Asia? Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia?
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,050
Start in SIN for maybe 3 days, to get acclimated, eat good food (stick to hawker centres/food courts), do some sightseeing, and, if desired, start some tailored clothing purchases.
Move on to one or more other sights that as an American are hard to reach.
My suggestions:
- Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Can do in 2-3 days hitting highlights
- Bali. Need 3-5 days, if you plan to experience both beach and mountain areas. I personally prefer mountain, and fave resort is Ubud Hanging Gardens. Magical.
- Bangkok. What can I say, it is an over the top experience. Wonderful sights in terms of history, temples, river market, etc., as well as "Hangover-esque" weirdness that will have you shaking your head.
Return to SIN for another 2-3 days, finish fittings for tailoring if you went that route, eat more good food, go home.
Move on to one or more other sights that as an American are hard to reach.
My suggestions:
- Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Can do in 2-3 days hitting highlights
- Bali. Need 3-5 days, if you plan to experience both beach and mountain areas. I personally prefer mountain, and fave resort is Ubud Hanging Gardens. Magical.
- Bangkok. What can I say, it is an over the top experience. Wonderful sights in terms of history, temples, river market, etc., as well as "Hangover-esque" weirdness that will have you shaking your head.
Return to SIN for another 2-3 days, finish fittings for tailoring if you went that route, eat more good food, go home.
JHattery, you've answered some of my questions. Thanks.
Are the above about 2 hours flight time?
dh
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,949
It's a great transit stop. Easy, oddly familiar and pretty much unchallenging.
It's also comfortingly expensive.
There are pockets of grittiness, but you probably won't see them. There's also quirkiness, but you won't see much of that on the circuit of night-zoo (yawn), Newton Circle, Chinatown and Orchard Road shopping.
It's got to be done, but don't waste too much time on it - there's so much more to see in the region.
It's also comfortingly expensive.
There are pockets of grittiness, but you probably won't see them. There's also quirkiness, but you won't see much of that on the circuit of night-zoo (yawn), Newton Circle, Chinatown and Orchard Road shopping.
It's got to be done, but don't waste too much time on it - there's so much more to see in the region.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Singapore
Posts: 324
#25
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Singapore
Posts: 324
#26
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Tennessee
Programs: SPG, Marriott, United, SWA, AA
Posts: 693
This has been helpful to me as well. Just booked of first trip to Asia and we will start in SIN before headed to BKK-CNX-HKT so I will be looking through the forum for info on wear to eat and what to see. Singapore will be our first stop on this trip and we are trying to figure out how many days in each place.
Slightly OT but...As far as buying air from SIN to say BKK, CNX, HKT how far out does one need to buy those short hops? I have already purchased the long legs to and from the USA. Starting in SIN and ending in HKT.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
Buying a mid week, non-holiday period flight 3 weeks in advance will still give you a fairly cheap fare.
Obviously more flights daily to BKK than CNX or HKT as you are flying between two capitals, and that would keep prices low. But I suggest to just check the flights now and if you feel the prices to be good, go ahead and book.
Just a heads up: Recently saw on IG a somewhat famous personality fume about the fact that she had to pay for luggage at the airport for her Air Asia flight. She claimed the flies "so much" and this was the first time a budget airline made her pay for a suitcase at the airport and that the Air Asia website had no mention of the need to pay for luggage
Anyway, don't forget to pre-purchase luggage on the LCC.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,050
#29
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN/CLE
Programs: UA GS/1K, SQ SilverKris, DL MM-Silver
Posts: 2,099
Direct flights to any are around 2-3 hours. Getting to Siem Reap may require a connection in either BKK, HAN, or DAD. As I recall, my last visit to Siem Reap out of SIN routed TO through HAN and FROM via DAD.
Stayed in a rustic but serviceable local hotel - The Siem Reap River Side. Cheap, rooftop pool, easy cyclo to Pub street. Hired driver through the hotel for touring during Angkor Wat. Take lots of $1USD bills. Everything, and I do mean everything is $1USD. ATMs even dispense $1USD.
Stayed in a rustic but serviceable local hotel - The Siem Reap River Side. Cheap, rooftop pool, easy cyclo to Pub street. Hired driver through the hotel for touring during Angkor Wat. Take lots of $1USD bills. Everything, and I do mean everything is $1USD. ATMs even dispense $1USD.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887