Mrs. PLTHOO and I are planning a trip to Phuket in March for some beach time and diving. Originally we assumed we would travel to BKK, spend a couple of days, and then fly Thai down to Phuket, however fares are about the same into SIN with a LCC providing cheap airfare to Phuket. I know the two cities will offer two different experiences---which one is recommended for a short stay, unique sightseeing, etc?

We have traveled a couple of times in Asia (mostly Japan) therefore we are not new to the region, but maybe thinking BKK might be too intense for the first visit.

The reviews all seem to indicate BKK is hard to get around in due to traffic, is very cheap, and is a good experience, however SIN impresses with cleanliness and the friendly people.

I don't think we know enough about your tastes to make a recommendation.

I've been to both cities. They are antipodes.

M8

The main objective is to get to the beach, however if we are stopping somewhere we would like to see the main sites, have a dinner or two, and get an idea of what the city is like. We are not into a big nightlife scene, and would not want to get to somewhere and realize nice restaurants cost 70/pp USD (like in Kyoto).

It is hard to decribe anyone's likes/dislikes therefore what are the main differences in the two cities?

Singapore is sophisticated in an exotic kind of way, and Bangkok is seedy in an exotic kind of way.

For Singapore, think modern, glass, steel, concrete, organized, and very clean. For Bangkok think charming, unique, dirty, traffic, throbbing & thriving, exciting. Both cities have great dining venues. A lot of us who work in the region like to stop in Singapore to get back to "civilization" after spending prolonged periods in places like Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, etc. However, that doesn't mean we don't love the other places too.

I had a similar decision to make my first time in. I simply picked Singapore because I knew it to be the epicenter of SE Asia from a business standpoint, but Bangkok is really wild. And yes Bangkok does make a hard man humble, or is it "mumble"

M8

You may perhaps consider having an open jaw:

North America-BKK-HKT

HKT-SIN-North America

Therefore, you can have a chance to visit both BKK and SIN.

However, if I had to choose between either BKK or SIN, I would definitely go for BKK. Yes, getting around can be difficult, especially during rush hour. But hiring a driver and car is fairly inexpensive in BKK.

Yes.

SIN is Los Angeles.

BKK is San Francisco.

Take your pick.

Or for an East Coast comparison:

SIN = IAD/BWI/DCA
BKK = MSY

It's your first trip to SE Asia: do Phuket first, and try to include some excursions away from the beach. Then visit SIN for 2-3 days and you'll be blown away by the contrasts.

You can eat for $5 in SIN, but you can also pay well above $70. There is an amazing range of cuisines available. Beer/wine is expensive. Other than working, Singapore's official national pastime is shopping.
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13F

Don't believe the stuff about BKK being hard to get around in -- it's fast, easy and cheap if you stick to the Skytrain, subway, and river/canal boats, which will get you to most places of touristy importance. But do try to avoid taxis across town at rush hour

Most people say Singapore's two official pastimes are shopping and eating.

Just thinking back to the original post... "unique sightseeing"...

I am trying to think of unique sightseeing opportunities in
Singapore... certainly if one went to Geylang, there are
sights that one cannot see in a major North American city.
But, apart from something like that, I am hard pressed to
think of unique sightseeing in Singapore - sure, the new
arts center (or whatever the "durian building" is) is nice to
see, and the tourist areas of the Quays are nice. But if the
OP is looking for something to talk about when home (and
is looking for a "first visit" to continental Asia), I gotta believe
that BKK gives more experience.

Just the Grand Palace and a short ride on the river taxi would
make me think that "unique sightseeing" opportunities in BKK
would far outweigh Singapore. (And apologies to the Singapore
Tourist Board...)

IMO, both cities are equally charming and can be exciting if one makes it out to be. BKK has a reputation for being edgy and seedy but SIN can be too, them being illegal in SIN notwithstanding. Misconceptions abound about SIN being business-like and BKK being wild. In my mind, BKK is like New York City and SIN is like Toronto; far more exotic versions of course. They can both be business-like or wild.

Phuket is equidistant between BKK and SIN so it's a toss-up. SIN is far more civilized than Bangkok but I believe the hotels in Bangkok are a step above. I think there are more things to see in BKK but to each his/her own. Both SIN/BKK can be either cheap or expensive if you so choose. But in general, things will cost more in SIN. While it's not hard to navigate around BKK what with the new transit options, SIN is abnormally easy to get around. Zero traffic, amazing subway system, cheap taxis.. the city just works. And it's better at it than almost every other city on the planet. As for cleanliness, well, BKK is not so much dirty as SIN is just abnormally clean for a city of 4mn.

If I had to choose, I'd pick SIN if I only had a couple of days and BKK if I had more time. It's easy to hit the ground running in SIN. BKK is more of an immersion process but once you're in, you're hooked

You're right. Guess I've been away for too long. Singaporeans eat all day long: breakfast (Delifrance, McD or kopitiam), lunch (food centre near the office), tea (I miss the Marco Polo, maybe Raffles?), dinner (Little India or East Coast Seafood Centre), supper (satay, roti?).
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13F

Very well put, blueDC! I like--and agree with--your summary. ^

Yep. me too. Very clear and succint.

M8

I do a Mileage run every year to either SIN/BKK. My prefrerence, by far, is BKK. Much more to see, do, SHOP, etc. The Skytrain and the new Subway takes most of the pain out of getting around.
I came back last week from 5 days there, and still have fun wandering around the Pratunam Market, the Chatuchak Market, the Lumphini Market (Did I mention SHOPPING), and even went back to the river to see the Grand Palace for the first time in 4 visits.

This is always a personal choice issue. As the other posts say, going to SIN is like visiting a squaky clean, modern metropolis. BKK is just more exotic and more faceted (just one man's opinion)