[s4ch]

Originally Posted by hardilip

Do any one have information if Singapore has an arrival lounge? If that can be prebooked from here? Any information around this will be off great help and thanks in advance.

Yes, Jewel Changi (the mall attached to the airport) has a paid lounge where you can eat and take a shower. No need to book, you can walk in. I believe they take priority pass etc for a reduced entrance fee.

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

Anyone taveled to Singapore from India recently (March-April). Are there any requirement of PCR test or registration on any Singapore govt app? I am traveling with family - me and my wife are fully vaccinated but kids aged 12 are not vaccinated. Hence looking for information about any travel requirements.

Yes just traveled last week. There are no requirements for vaccination anymore. But it is mandatory to fill out an arrival card online. You can do this on their website or through the mobile app up to 3 days in advance. You can check the Singapore immigration website for all the details.

[Aviator_guy]

Hi Folks - I'm traveling to Singapore for a week and wondering whether buying a local Sim card would be better (price and data) vs activating international roaming on my Airtel mobile (Inr 3000 with 5gb data for a 10 days pack). Do we get incoming sms for a postpaid connection without activating international roaming?

How much does a local Sim cost, data offered and where to buy it from - are there shops at airport or should I buy from outside shops or Is it recommended to pre-book via Klook online for pick up at airport?

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

Hi Folks - I'm traveling to Singapore for a week
?

1. If international roaming or local SIM - For smaller duration of stay, its just a matter of convivence. No much difference, though a local SIM will be cheaper.
2. Airtel - Yes, you will get call and SMS. SMS delivery if free, call if you attend, it will cost you in the default international incoming rate (if you have not taken the country specific pack). However, you will have to enable international roaming in your SIM, you can do that now itself, there is no charge for that (not the pack, the enabling of international roaming). This is a one time activity.
3. You can pick up from hotel or outside. Ideally, from any supermarket in town can be done. Or pre-pay and pick from kiosks in airport, based on the time you are reaching.

When I checked, I didn't find much advantage in going for SIM vs using IR pack in my wife's prepaid Airtel for a 5 day stay. We ended up going for the airtel option finally.

However, you can check out the plans from Singtel here.

https://www.singtel.com/personal/pro...ans/hi-tourist

[srikanthmadhava]

Originally Posted by hardilip

Do any one have information if Singapore has an arrival lounge?

Jewel at Changi has arrival lounge, but it opens at 8AM Singapore time only.

You can walk in, it has great facilities (including shower, but no toilet hand spray).
Priority pass is accepted and provides Premium Package (Used our pass that came with credit card, without any additional charges). We liked the snacks, but the main food was not to our liking (for the record, most of the food we had in Singapore was not to our liking)

Most of the attractions in Jewel opens around 10-11AM, so we used the lounge from 8 to around 10/11AM.

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

How much does a local Sim cost, data offered and where to buy it from - are there shops at airport or should I buy from outside shops or Is it recommended to pre-book via Klook online for pick up at airport?

I had pre-booked Singtel sim via klook for Rs 589 and collected it from the airport. If you do not pre-book, they sell you much costlier sim options at the airport counters. You get cheaper options outside airport.

You can also pick up metro/bus cards from airport, if needed, but those counters accept only cash.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by srikanthmadhava

I had pre-booked Singtel sim via klook for Rs 589 and collected it from the airport. If you do not pre-book, they sell you much costlier sim options at the airport counters. You get cheaper options outside airport.

You can also pick up metro/bus cards from airport, if needed, but those counters accept only cash.

Thank you. I'm also considering Klook. Singtel option is showing pickup from terminal 3 but I am not sure of my terminal yet so have to figure out.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

Thank you. I'm also considering Klook. Singtel option is showing pickup from terminal 3 but I am not sure of my terminal yet so have to figure out.

You will be able to pick-up a prepaid SIM card from any of the convenience stores around e.g., 7-Eleven.

[srikanthmadhava]

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

I am not sure of my terminal yet so have to figure out.

All terminals are interconnected - by free monorail, buses or pathways. So, it wont be an issue to move around irrespective of where you land.

[Aviator_guy]

Is it ok/allowed to carry some common medicines with us to Singapore? I'm traveling with kids so want to carry in case of emergency. Also, should I keep it in check-in baggage or carry-on?

[Aviator_guy]

Just came back from a 6 days SG trip with family. Sharing my experience below.

1. Advance booking of Singtel Sim card via Klook was a very good decision. Purchased 2 Sim cards for total ~1100 INR on Klook and collected them from terminal 3 at the arrival lounge. As many folks have already shared - Very easy to locate the shop which was just outside the arrival belt after the custom clearance. I was handed over 2 sims (the pack had SGD 12 printed on it with 7 days validity) but after inserting the Sims and activating on the App, it showed 14 days validity. They sell SGD 30 and 50 packs at the airport and this SGD 12 Sim is only available via pre-booking on Klook. Good money saving and convenient option. Would advise to carry a Sim tray release pin for quick sim installation.

2. Purchased ezlink /NETS card from the same shop at the airport for SGD 12.5 which gave 7.5 worth value to travel in public transport like MRT /bus and card could be used for purchase just like a credit card at most places including 7-Eleven stores. Would highly recommend this. Airport shop only accepted cash.

2. Pre-booked attractions tickets on Klook like Universal studio, Gardens by the Bay, Cable Car, Adventure Cove Waterpark etc. Found it convenient and time saving vs standing for buying ticket at the counters. Cable car ticket was discounted so saved some money as well. Other tickets were more or less same price as the ticket counter.

Adventure Cove Waterpark at Sentosa was a good discovery and fun for the whole family.

Cable car ticket from Klook covered round trip on both Mt Faber as well as Sentosa lines. Highly recommended to book via Klook to save money.

3. Stayed at Hotel Boss which is one of the popular and bigger hotels with very close proximity to Lavender MRT, Little India and Bugis. Bus stop was right outside the hotel which made it very convenient to commute. We booked a family room which had 2 queen beds which was perfect for our family of four (2 adults + 2 kids).

There was a convenience store located in the hotel building and also couple of 7-Eleven stores at walkable distance from the hotel.

4. Food options - This is one area where we Indians tend to struggle specially vegetarian options. Except Little India area, choice of Indian food or for that matter finding any pure veg option is a hard work. Even finding any pizza place is difficult. During site seeing, it needs some planning to keep the family well fed if anyone is strict vegetarian.

[PPS]

Planning a trip to Singapore in mid-August. How's the weather likely to be during that time of the year? This will be my 4th visit to Singapore while my Wife & In-laws will be travelling there for the first time. I've seen most of the places except Universal Studios & Sea Aquarium, don't think they were around back in 2011 or may have just opened up. Back when I first visited 1SG$ was Rs 26 & right now its 61 ! Also hotels have become very expensive & jet spray/bidet in the toilet seems to have disappeared in most hotels.

[vinodvayyat]

One query to everyone: Klook bookings are all date/date-time based. Isn't it risky to book attractions well in advance? None of the Singapore attractions bookings through Klook are refund-eligible upon cancellation. Also, will attractions like Universal Studios be sold out for a given day? What if we just pre-book the attractions a day before the visit?

[Dieseltuned]

Originally Posted by PPS

Planning a trip to Singapore in mid-August. How's the weather likely to be during that time of the year? Also hotels have become very expensive & jet spray/bidet in the toilet seems to have disappeared in most hotels.

August might be rainy for SG, so please check the weather on your day of trips. We faced a thunder storm on the day of our Singapore zoo visit (early November) but thankfully it was in the later half of the day when we had covered almost the entire zoo. On a positive note caught those red rear ended baboons on to some real monkey antics during the rains

The spray/bidet has vanished even from a bit (relatively speaking) high end hotels (like IBIS).

Originally Posted by vinodvayyat

One query to everyone: Klook bookings are all date/date-time based. Isn't it risky to book attractions well in advance? None of the Singapore attractions bookings through Klook are refund-eligible upon cancellation. Also, will attractions like Universal Studios be sold out for a given day? What if we just pre-book the attractions a day before the visit?

All online tickets are non refundable and non transferable even if you book them directly from the website of the respective attractions. Please do check the weather updates on the days you plan to visit before booking any attractions.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by PPS

Back when I first visited 1SG$ was Rs 26 & right now its 61 !

Was this around 1997-98 when 1 SGD = 26 INR?
If I remember correctly, it was the same sometime in 1998 when I visited the first time

When I visited with family in 2013, we stayed at Park Royal near Mustafa, Little India and it was a very convenient location for the MRT as well as for food with lots of Indian restaurants all around.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Dieseltuned

August might be rainy for SG, so please check the weather on your day of trips.

I don't think its rainy season in August, though there could be sporadic showers.

The spray/bidet has vanished even from a bit (relatively speaking) high end hotels (like IBIS).

There was no bidet at Hotel Boss 6yrs ago. Only a handful of Holiday Inn properties have jet spray/bidet I think.

Originally Posted by NPV

Was this around 1997-98 when 1 SGD = 26 INR?
If I remember correctly, it was the same sometime in 1998 when I visited the first time

Yes, it was around the same time.

When I visited with family in 2013, we stayed at Park Royal near Mustafa, Little India and it was a very convenient location for the MRT as well as for food with lots of Indian restaurants all around.

Coincidentally we are staying at the same hotel.

[Dieseltuned]

Originally Posted by PPS

I don't think its rainy season in August, though there could be sporadic showers.

.

Yes, that's what I meant by rainy as these showers and thunderstorms in SG can easily last for a couple of hours and play havoc with all the tour plans. I faced one but luckily it was in the later half of the day and we had covered all the areas of interest by then for that day.

Regards
Diesel