Hi, I've just found this forum and have been reading through quite a few entries ... wondering if anyone could give me a few answers re the "touristy" things to see and do in Singapore ?

I'll be there for a little over 24 hours and am trying to find out if I would be better off with an organised tour or getting around on my own - I have trouble walking very far for medical reasons !

Looking through your posts, it also seems that staying on Orchard Rd is a good choice and catching cabs from the airport is easy - no need to pre-book tranfers - is there any other tips or advice anyone has to pass on ?

Cheers !

Hi jeklah, if you only have 24hours, my suggestion is for you to do a organised tour. They come in morning and afternoon formats. The evening zoo tour is fantastic. The hotel will book this for you, it will not cost anymore. Try to book a hotel in a busy area as against out of the way. Preferable to pay an exrtra $100 and be right in the action if the legs aren't working like they used to. It's so pleasant to walk out of the hotel and prop at a coffee shop and watch the world go by, you can spend an enjoyable couple of hours in Singapore doing just that, you have a good time!, you are only here once. What is the name of the hotel on the corner, is it the Marriott, you cannot possibly get anymore central in Singapore and the coffee shop on the corner is not cheap as I recall, but who cares!
The taxis from the airport are easy, no need for a transfer, unless you like the idea of someone meeting you at the exit. The train/ subway sytem is easy to master also, and there are stops along Orchard Road. Take the underground to CityHall, upstairs are shops and hotels. My call for you would be an Orchard Road hotel, pick your favourite hotel brand, it's sure to be there, regards bkkrop

Thanks for that ... I'll check out the Marriott and appreciate your help ! I was just looking some more and I reckon the 1/2 day tour with the Singapore Flyer might be the way to go for me ... looks like fun !

jeklah, lots of things to do.

First, let's keep the limits on your walking in mind.

There's a tour bus (Hippo) that makes a circuit around Singapore (and I think this is the one that's run by the Flyer people). It's a double deck where the top is cut off the top; should be one of these hop on hop off types of things. So if you want to be driven around, that's one option. If you are arriving in Singapore on SIA, they have their own version called the Hop On - looks like an old trolley. Just have your boarding pass handy.

BKKROP is indeed talking about the Marriott Hotel. It's on the corner of Scotts and Orchard Road. Directly across from the Marriott is the brand new ION Orchard shopping mall - as far as shopping is concerned the entire length of Orchard Road is wall to wall shopping centers. On the other hand not sure which coffeeshop BKKROP is referring to. I will say that there's an open air McDonalds on Scotts Road across from the Marriott where you can see the world go by. However, if you want the local coffee experience, try any of the following: Killiney Kopitiam, Ya Kun (pronounced Ya Koon) or Toast Box. Singapore style coffee is roasted until it's slightly burnt - maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't but it's local color. Last thought: you might want to try foot reflexology (ie foot massage). Note, it's based on shiatsu pressure point techniques so you might find it painful.

Other stuff - Lonely Planet or Fodors will help, but these are the things that come to mind. BTW be aware that the climate here can be like a blast furnace especially if you are coming from someplace temperate. You may want to be inside a shopping center at 2PM.

Hi dsgtc, after a while we do tend to forget about the "blast furnace" heat, don't we?
Same with Indonesia and Thailand, I don't see the poverty, beggars, rubbish anymore, and I don't smell the wet markets like I remember I did. With my country in drought, I now see the flowers and the greenery, much more than I ever did, and I love the afternoon thunderstorms, and minor flooding, whereas once they were a nuisance, maybe I am getting older, regards bkkrop