Dates Visited: February 13 – 18, 2019
Arriving
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Singapore’s Changi airport is commonly called the #1 airport in the world and for good reason – after visiting hundreds of airports around the globe, I find none that are comparable to the experience at Changi. If you’ve seen Crazy Rich Asians, yes it is true that the airport has a butterfly garden, also a movie theater, a shopping mall, cactus garden, four story slide, swimming pool, a massive waterfall, and more. It’s simply the best airport in the world. For a bit of context, I went to Singapore right after the Crazy Rich Asians buzz so a lot of the places we visited were featured in the film. You’ll recognize quite a lot.
Immigration/Customs
For U.S citizens, Singapore is visa-free and arrival was a relatively painless and efficient experience as all things Singaporean are. I was promptly stamped into the country and proceeded onwards with my day.
I would double check for COVID regulations because they are ever-changing.
Lounges
In 2019, Priority Pass had almost a dozen lounge options at Changi – I’m not sure which ones still exist/are open so do check the Priority Pass app. Every lounge option I visited at Changi had excellent hot food including sashimi, chicken rice, satay, laksa, and curry – no pre-packaged cold sandwiches and mystery salad here! One of my favorites was the SATS Premier Lounge.
Currency
Singapore uses the SGD (Singapore Dollar) and ATMs/exchange counters are readily available throughout the city. Most shops and [bigger] restaurants accept Visa/MasterCard – but hawker centers generally are cash only. It’s a good idea to withdraw/exchange your money for SGD just in case.
SGD comes in denominations of 2,5,10,50, and 100. Most of the time you will want to have 2,5,10. 50 is generally the largest note in circulation daily, and the only time I saw 100 was at a bank. 100s are generally not used in day to day matters.
Taxis/Rideshare/Local Transportation
Singapore has an efficient underground metro system (MRT) that covers downtown and surrounding area, but if you’re looking for point-to-point transportation – download the Grab app from the Apple App Store/Google Play Store and setup an account there. The app may not be fully accessible until you arrive to Singapore (GPS controlled) but you can attach a Western credit card to this app and it serves the same function as Uber back home. Grab is a major player in the Southeast Asian market and like Uber, has both ride sharing, and food delivery options.
Taxis are also readily available but I try to avoid these as Grab tends to be cheaper and less of a hassle (price negotiations, etc). English is commonly spoken in Singapore so language barriers tend to not be an issue.
SIM Cards/Wi-Fi
SIM cards are available at Changi airport as well as around the city, prices are reasonable/cheap for American standards and WiFi is generally readily available and fast.
Sightseeing
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore’s most famous institution – built about a decade ago housing three towers of hotel rooms,infinity pool, a nightclub, multiple restaurants, bars, casino, and a shopping mall – MBS is the icon of Singapore similar to Times Square of New York. It’s nice to walk around and see the entire complex but remember that this is the epitome of luxury – prices are high for everything. The famous infinity pool is closely guarded and practically impossible to access without an active hotel room key. For similar views, try Ce La Vi on the 54th floor of tower 3.
ArtScience Museum: Future World Exhibition
You’ve probably seen this place on Instagram – it’s a world famous exhibition from the teamlab folks in Tokyo. Cool to see if you’re in the area – this is located near the MBS complex.
Gardens by the Bay
Another feature from CRA – this is an indoor garden complex that’s good for pictures and fully air conditioned so that you can get out of the heat.
Clarke Quay
In 2019, this was the center of Singapore’s nightclub scene and nightlife. World-famous clubs like Zouk originated from here and I remember visiting a handful of clubs during my time here – all of which were excellent. Stop by if you have a chance and if they’re open. During the day, it’s a shopping paradise.
ION Orchard
One of the fanciest shopping malls I’ve seen – probably on par with something you would find in Dubai. I remember our group arrived in a Grab and there were dedicated doormen to open the vehicle doors and personally welcome us to the shopping mall. Once you get inside, it’s pretty much all of the Western luxury brands you would expect. Come once for the experience but you’re not getting any bargains here.
CHJMES
This is where the wedding ceremony took place in Crazy Rich Asians – when I visited, we could only peer in through the windows as they were setting up for another event. Pretty cool to see.
The Mansion from Crazy Rich Asians
One of the scenes in Crazy Rich Asians showed Rachel Chu arriving at a mansion in Singapore, that mansion is in fact an actual mansion and while it took my group almost two hours to find the mansion – I linked the Google Maps directions above so that you can find it much faster than we did. Since our visit in Feb. 2019 when the mansion was up for sale, the mansion was sold and repainted. The mansion is next to the Botanical Gardens so worth a stop over to the Gardens too if you’re in the area.
Botanical Gardens
A large botanical garden complex in the middle of Singapore, nice to see some nature and get away from the city but Singapore’s sunshine, heat, and humidity make the experience a bit more uncomfortable so be warned.
Food/Drink
Hawker Chan
This stall rose to fame after it was known as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. They serve a version of Hong Kong soy sauce marinated and roasted chicken over rice that won them a coveted Michelin star. Since then, they have expanded to multiple franchises and chains all over the city and region while the original is still here in Singapore. It’s pretty good but I would prefer chicken rice over Hawker Chan’s soy sauce chicken.
Tian Tian Chicken Rice
Chicken rice is Singapore’s most famous dish and while the origins may be in Malaysia, or Singapore, or wherever – Singaporeans love their chicken rice. I remember my Grab driver telling me that he eats chicken rice everyday – whether that’s true or not – Tian Tian Chicken Rice is the most famous chicken rice stall in the city. There’s hundreds of chicken rice stalls – it’s like finding cheesesteaks in Philadelphia or pizza in New York City. But there will always be the good ones, the better ones, and the best ones and I can confidently say that despite the tourist fame – Tian Tian lives up to the hype. This is located in the Maxwell Food Center so you’ll have plenty of other food options in case you want to sample around. A dish I would happily get on a 21-hour flight for.
Lau Pa Sat Satay Street (specifically Stalls #7 / #8)
Go here only at night for dinner (after sunset) – and mind the weather because this is outdoors – that’s when all of the satay street vendors setup shop and begin grilling their delicious beef, chicken, mutton, and shrimp satay skewers. All of the stalls practically sell the same satay but I’m biased to stall #7/#8. You buy satay by the stick and the vendors will try to get you to their stall as you walk through. Cash only. Cheap delicious eats for sure and this is one of the food items I would happily get on a 21-hour flight for.
Ce La Vi
Ce La Vi is a couple things – restaurant, bar, nightclub – on top of tower 3 of Marina Bay Sands, you’ll find this world-famous brand. Be warned – prices are high and expect to pay Manhattan-level prices for food and drink here. We didn’t go for the restaurant but rather the nightclub on a Saturday night. Good music and good crowd, although since it was Valentines Day Weekend, I definitely heard more Beyonce’s Crazy in Love than I would expect. A few months after, I came back to get a Singapore Sling during the day – pretty good experience albeit high prices. I would go here if you can free guestlist admission (search up Hazel’s Guestlist if they’re still around) to the nightclub or if you want to see a city view. Don’t go to the Sands Sky Deck and pay the admission fee there – just get a cocktail from Ce La Vi that comes with free views of the city.
Song Fa
This is also another famous Singapore restaurant that serves pork ribs in a light broth. A very light dish for those looking to recover from a hangover.
Newton Food Centre
This is where Crazy Rich Asians shot the hawker center dinner scene – a thriving hawker center with many options and cheap price points. Bring cash and prepare to get stuffed.
Maxwell Food Center
The site of Tian Tian Chicken Rice as mentioned above, Maxwell is another famous hawker center in Singapore. Remember to bring cash!
Old Airport Road Food Center
Another famous hawker center in Singapore – this is where I got more chicken rice and more satay on my last day in the city.
Accommodation
I stayed at this budget, no frills, 3-star hotel during my Singapore trip – clean rooms, although a bit compact. Friendly staff and close to the MRT. I would recommend this hotel.