Singapore Changi to City Center
#46
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: united mileage plus
Posts: 145
I'll be coming back to the airport in the early morning hours (flight to NRT @ 7am) and hotel is near the dhoby ghaut mtr. What should I expect to pay for the trip to Changi? I assume there are no shuttles or public buses at that hour. Last time I stayed out near the airport (Joo Chiat road) and was pleasantly surprised by the low fare back to the airport. My hotel told me $35 and I think I paid $17. Had a really nice driver, to boot.
#47
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,907
I'll be coming back to the airport in the early morning hours (flight to NRT @ 7am) and hotel is near the dhoby ghaut mtr. What should I expect to pay for the trip to Changi? I assume there are no shuttles or public buses at that hour. Last time I stayed out near the airport (Joo Chiat road) and was pleasantly surprised by the low fare back to the airport. My hotel told me $35 and I think I paid $17. Had a really nice driver, to boot.
At the end you should not pay more than $25-$28. Also do not use Chisler (big black) taxi otherwise it wil cost you $15 more.
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I'll be coming back to the airport in the early morning hours (flight to NRT @ 7am) and hotel is near the dhoby ghaut mtr. What should I expect to pay for the trip to Changi? I assume there are no shuttles or public buses at that hour. Last time I stayed out near the airport (Joo Chiat road) and was pleasantly surprised by the low fare back to the airport. My hotel told me $35 and I think I paid $17. Had a really nice driver, to boot.
If you will be there before me please post back if in fact the shuttle does pick-ups all hrs TIA
#49
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 203
Just a quick update. The taxi from Changi to Clementi/Ngee Ann cost was around $ 33.50 both ways ( 12:40 am arrival and 6:50 am departure). Although taxi line at Changi was about 20-30 people long it did not take more than 10 minutes. Followed F/T advice and declined black taxi and took yellow- Comfort cab instead. Great driver! Going home used online app.for comfort /city cab to order taxi- took maybe 4-5 minutes to arrive. Thanks again!
#50
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,342
I used the Changi Shuttle for 8SGD to a citycentre hotel and was very pleased. Cheap and efficient.
For the way back to the airport, am I bound by MRT or taxi or are there other options to consider?
For the way back to the airport, am I bound by MRT or taxi or are there other options to consider?
#51
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: sometimes SIN, sometimes JFK/LGA
Programs: UA 1K, 1.6MM bis
Posts: 767
There's bus 36, however this might not be workable depending on when you board (it stops running around 11PM, only restarts around 6AM), and if your hotel is within reasonable walking distance of Orchard/Bras Basah Roads.
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Most likely you want to be at Changi before 6AM, so you need to leave even earlier. In this case 50% surcharge applies for night time departure. Plus you might have to pay $3 surcharge for departure from the city center.
At the end you should not pay more than $25-$28. Also do not use Chisler (big black) taxi otherwise it wil cost you $15 more.
At the end you should not pay more than $25-$28. Also do not use Chisler (big black) taxi otherwise it wil cost you $15 more.
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,694
There is a CC surcharge; I think it is 10%. On the way in fare was around 19 and bumped up to about 21 for payment by non-SG credit card.
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Gonna be in town 2 nights (1 day) so was hoping not to get any SGD, since all I need to cover is the transport to/from SIN and my hotel near Clarke Quay.Although 10% is steep in the end it may be the cheaper option since there wont be any left over currency that wont get used
#55
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
Gonna be in town 2 nights (1 day) so was hoping not to get any SGD, since all I need to cover is the transport to/from SIN and my hotel near Clarke Quay.Although 10% is steep in the end it may be the cheaper option since there wont be any left over currency that wont get used
Its wise to tell the cabbie before entering that you intend to pay by CC.
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
I took this to mean they dont accept any CC, but they do take them MC or Amex (I think) just they had a falling out with VISA. The FD at my Hotel said all the cabs will take a MC. Anyway I took the shuttle here yesterday $9 waited 10 mis for it to leave only passenger, I have the FD calling them at 1am to see if they will have ashuttle running back to the airport tomorrow morn, if not I;ll cab it
#57
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ASIA
Programs: TK Elite, ALL Plus Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,530
I took this to mean they dont accept any CC, but they do take them MC or Amex (I think) just they had a falling out with VISA. The FD at my Hotel said all the cabs will take a MC. Anyway I took the shuttle here yesterday $9 waited 10 mis for it to leave only passenger, I have the FD calling them at 1am to see if they will have ashuttle running back to the airport tomorrow morn, if not I;ll cab it
Reasons behind this: Cash is king. Even more so for some taxi drivers. If you pay by cc they dont get the money straight away.
Some taxi drivers (especially the evening relief drivers) dont know how to operate the system.
CityCab/Comfort (blue or the yellow taxis) all dont accept VISA. Some of the drivers here too will tell you their cc system doesnt work.
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Not really. Not all taxis take credit card is correct. Some of the black taxis with yellow top dont. Some taxi drivers from other companies will tell you their system doesnt work. Dont depend on it.
Reasons behind this: Cash is king. Even more so for some taxi drivers. If you pay by cc they dont get the money straight away.
Some taxi drivers (especially the evening relief drivers) dont know how to operate the system.
CityCab/Comfort (blue or the yellow taxis) all dont accept VISA. Some of the drivers here too will tell you their cc system doesnt work.
Reasons behind this: Cash is king. Even more so for some taxi drivers. If you pay by cc they dont get the money straight away.
Some taxi drivers (especially the evening relief drivers) dont know how to operate the system.
CityCab/Comfort (blue or the yellow taxis) all dont accept VISA. Some of the drivers here too will tell you their cc system doesnt work.
It seemed as if he was heading the very long way, in the end that guy was great apx 12 mins to SIN total amount with the extra 10% for the CC and 50% night fee was 25.85 SGD. Had i gotten 40 SGD if thats even possible from an ATM I would have had to exchange $14+ at SIN and been left with some in my pocket. Im OK with using the CC and not having any SGD , not sure how much it would have cost to change back to USD so part of the $2.50 SGD i pd for using a CC is less then that in the end
#59
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,907
If I get "can, can" in response - I get in. The same I do when call taxi via Grabtaxi - noting that I will pay with Ezlink.