What a fantastic place to visit, this must be the place to go if you want to see a society where respect still exists. Singapore is one of the cleanest and safest countries we have ever visited, the MRT (underground) is not only a very efficient and cheap way of seeing Singapore City, it is a pleasure to be able to move about in a foreign city without fear of crime. Their is plenty to do and see with Raffles Hotel for afternoon tea, Boat Quay for eveing meals on the waterside, night time safari at the zoo and not forgetting a visit to San Tosa Island where you can relax on the beach or view the magnificent Lion with a superb view back over Singapore Island. You can visit San Tosa by Cable Car or monorail, both ways being extemely good value. For electronics buffs Sim City has five floors of Cameras, electronics and computer equipment (this one centre can take a half day to see it all). Food is available everywhere from street vendors to good resturants (one revolves through 360 degrees whislt eating your meal to give a panoramic of this great city). The architecture is magnificant from the very old to the ultra modern, both sitting side by side and a photographers dream.

I recently spent a week in Singapore for Business. I would return happily for more business trips, but not for a vacation. I would recommend it as a long layover for people flying through the area.
The airport itself has showers, massage services, free movie theater (old B movies from the 50s), and more.
Singapore is beautiful, because everything that could detract from it's beauty carries a penalty; chewing gum $500 fine, litter $500 fine, picking the flowers $500 fine and so on.
Everybody speaks perfect English. Humidity permitting great place to go walking.
Watch out for the tourist restaurants that will nickel-and-dime you; charge for nuts etc. And the popular two beers for one, but if you do not ask the second beer never comes!
People are warm, friendly and very proud of their little oasis in this part of the world. There appears to be political and religious harmony with the President being Chinese and the Prime Minster Indian (or was it the other way around)?
For a tourist there is not just that much to do, you could do all the tourist attractions in two days, 3 max if you pace yourself - i know because i did most of it in 36 hours.
I can speak to the Singapore Flyer, China Town, Little India, the Arab area, Raffles hotel, Shopping strip..
If you have to go, engineer yourself a long layover at Tokyo airport and get into Tokyo, but you will need a long layover of 9 hours or more, see my separate review.

Well first day in Singapore was probably all it was expected to be. The transport system (MRT's) are awesome and very easy to use.
The hostel we are staying in is...... well..... cheap and clean. It is close to Little India, so is near the scummier end of town.

Singapore is overall however quite clean.

The traditional food stalls are extremely cheap and very nice. Don't expect to pay more than S$4 for a main meal, and a large one at that. I'm usually having to finish of Suz's meal as well as mine.

Sentosa Island is scenic. Probably wouldn't bother with Underwater world, but it is good to get in there just to escape the heat and travelator along in the aircon. The beaches aren't much chop. Nowhere near Australias standards. The cable ride over there is recommended however. As is Fable Mountains Fable Point for a scenic 360 degree view over the city with plenty of kodak moments.

Well just about to head to China town for some dinner so let you know what its like sometime soon.

Yours in world travel

Numes....

Singapore is a wonderful, first-world oasis in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia has many exotic charms. There are a myriad of devleping countries filled with ancient temples which rise from steamy jungles, exotic warm-water dive locales, and many diverse cultures and peoples and everything is extremely affordable by western standards. It's an adventurers paradise. But those exotic locales come with a price... traffic, pollution, tainted food and water, humid hotel rooms with damp sheets, beggars and the never ending parade of hawkers to name but a few. And then there is Singapore.

Having lived in Indonesia for a few years and having travelled a lot around southern Asia , my wife and I found a weekend Singapore to be a rejuvinating respite away from all of the things listed above. In Singapore, daily life is safe, clean and orderly. The tap water is potable. There is little traffic and the public tranportation is excellent. The medical facilities are top notch by any standards. The air is clean and sitting in a sidewalk cafe sipping a latte from Starbucks feels pretty normal there. There are abundant first-rate shopping malls, hotels and restaraunts. The locals are stylish, affluent and friendly. One can find great nightlife, especially down by the quay and several pubs selling local micro-brews. Add the world-famous Singapore Zoo, sightseeing boat trips and some great hiking opportuniies and the Singapore package is complete. Granted, everything in Singapore is much more expensive that most of Asia but the quality comes with the price.

If you're looking for an adventurous back-packers, youth-hostel, on-the-cheap type of trip. This isn't it. If you're looking to see Southeast Asia but still want the first-world comforts of home, with great shopping and dining, featherbeds, Mercerdes and coffee shops... Singapore is just the place!