Saturday, August 20, 2011

SINGAPORE TRIP 2011

Singapore was my destination last July 2011 together with my friend. It was my first time to travel overseas, thanx always to Cebu Pacific for their seat sales.

When we arrived in Changi Airport (Budget Terminal), kinuha ko na lahat ng mga brochures and maps (free naman lahat) na pwede kong makuha. Pinaka okay syempre yung map and the brochure called "Your Essential Singapore Guide" by Singapore Tourism Board. You can get it for free sa airport, available in several languages, so get the English version. They also have this in STB website, in pdf version, just go to their site: STB website or for pdf version. They have sample itineraries there for every spot in SG. Everything about Singapore, where to go, where to eat, what to do, they have in that brochure.

If you are coming from Budget Terminal, you need to transfer in Terminal 2 for the MRT, doon kasi naka connect ang MRT. They have free shuttle service to and from Terminal 2, 24 hours ata ito.

For our accommodation, we stayed at Amrise Hotel located in Sims Avenue, in Geylang Area. Geylang is the red light district in SG. But not like in Manila, this red light district is so tranquil, and so safe, you will not know it is a red light unless you know it already, it's not that conspicuously noticeable.

Amrise is a basic hotel. Kung wala ka masyadong hinahanap sa isang hotel, I highly recommend this. They have hot and cold shower in every room, complimentary coffee and bottled water and a nice bed. We got it for 1,900 PHP per night through Agoda. Also the hotel is near MRT station and bus stops. Nearest MRT is the Kallang Station located also in Sims Avenue.

For transportation cost, we used EZ link card, of course, for MRTs and buses. Lahat lahat, S$23 for 4 days ang nagastos ko for transportation, kasama na yung S$5 na cost for the card itself.

First Day:


Universal Studios Singapore and Sentosa Is.
 
To get there, we alighted in HarbourFront station that is connected to Vivo City mall and we transferred to Sentosa Express, a monorail train that serves the whole Sentosa Island . You can use your EZ Link Card in riding Sentosa Express. It costs S$3 unlimited ride for one day. They have three stations sa Sentosa from Vivo City mall--Waterfront (Resorts World, USS), Imbiah station (giant Merlion, luge and skyride, Images of Singapore, iFly, cable car, etc.) and Beach station (Palawan ang Siloso beach).

We spent almost 7 hours sa loob ng Universal, from 130 pm to 8pm.











Giant Merlion at Imbiah Sentosa

Second Day:

Orchard Road (malls) and the Civic District (Singapore Art Museum, Raffles Hotel, CHIJMES, Civilian War Memorial, Supreme Court).

We spent our evening in the Marina Bay
.

Nilibot namin yun Marina Bay from Esplanade mall (Theatres on the Bay), yung may durian-like roof, tapos Esplanade Bridge, the original Merlion in Merlion Park, nakita namin yung Fullerton Hotel, then the Marina Bay Sands, Helix Bridge, the Float, etc.

Orchard Road




One Dollar Ice Cream on Orchard Rd


CHIJMES

Singapore Art Museum

Raffles Hotel

Wisma Atria Mall

St. Andrew Cathedral, an Anglican church

Fire Station


Esplanade

The Marina Bay


View of Marina Bay Sands





The Original Merlion, situated at Merlion Park Marina Bay near Fullerton Hotel

Inside Marina Bay Sands Mall


Helix Bridge

ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands


Third Day:

Chinatown and Bugis

Sa Chinatown, dami nyong mabibili na mura, lalo na key chains, hanap lang kayo ng stalls na mas mura ang offer sa inyo.  Mas mura pa nga yung prices ng key chains dito compare pag bumili ka ng souvenir key chains sa mga tourist destinations sa Pilipinas, like in Ilocos or Bohol.

Sa Bugis, dami din ditong mura.  Dito kami bumili ng SG shirts na 3 for S$10 meron din 4 for S$10.

Chinatown MRT





Buddha Tooth Relic Temple


Bugis


Bus ride in Singapore


MRT Station

MRT ride


Fourth Day:

Mustafa Centre, Little India and the Singapore Flyer

Mustafa Centre is located in Little India, a 24-hour shopping center.  If you want to buy chocolates in SG, this place is worth a visit.  Parang yung isang floor dito halos chocolates ang tinda, sobrang daming pagpipilian, ang tagal namin dito.  May mga cheap perfumes din na tinda dito.  Okay na okay itong shopping centre na to.

Sumakay kami ng Singapore Flyer sa last night namin, mauulan pa nga, kaya medyo maulap.  It costs $S29 for 30-minute ride.

Pero there are combos to choose from para makamura kayo,  combo like Flyer with River Cruise and City Sightseeing on a topless double-decker bus that will cost you only S$49.

Check this site: Duck & Hippo 

You can visit also Singapore Visitors Centre on Orchard Road, or check the brochures available on the airport for more of combo packages sa mga tourist spots sa Singapore.

Street in Little India

The Singapore Flyer









I

Inside one of the capsules of Singapore Flyer





View of Singapore from Singapore Flyer


Marina Bay Sands

The Float

Marina Bay




Helix Bridge with the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands



WHERE TO EAT:

There are lots of hawker centres in Singapore that serve Singaporean dishes. You can have a meal that will only cost you S$5. Also, there's Food Republic located in the malls. It's like a hawker centre (food court), but inside a mall. Almost same price as the hawker centres outside malls.

But two days of Singaporean food, you will crave for McDonalds or Burger King. You can already buy a meal in McDO or BK for S$6.

Some Hawker Centres:

Lau Pa Sat.
This is near Raffles Place MRT station. Already an institution in Singapore.

Makansutra Gluttons Bay. Hawker centre near in Esplanade or in Marina Bay area. You can eat here pagkatapos nyong libutin ang buong Marina Bay, this is just beside Esplanade Theatre.

Maxwell Food Centre. This is where to eat when you are in Chinatown area.

Tekka Market. A hawker centre in Little India


Lau Pa Sat






Inside Lau Pa Sat

Satay (skewered barbeque meat) area in Lau Pa Sat



Makansutra Gluttons Bay


Makansutra

Makansutra


A S$5 Meal in Food Republic


Durian Stall on Sims Avenue

34 comments:

  1. How much the ticket sa universal studio...and pwede dun nalang kami bibili ng ticket or magpapabooking tru online..and yun sa hotel master card pwede ba...thank you

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  2. Hindi ba nakakaligaw kasi amrise hotek din like namin magstay....thank you

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  3. hi!!! nun pumunta kayo ng uss nagpabook ba kayo ng ticket online o doon na akyo mismo bumili ng ticket?/anu ang mas ok

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  4. Universal studio ticket costs S$66. Pero yung sa amin through their website kami bumili ng tickets, they have a promo na 20% kung Mastercard ang gagamitin mo pag-purchase, so nabili namin yun tickets namin for S$52.8 lang. Check their website regarding sa promotion eto

    http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore/Promotions

    Better kung through sa site nila bumili ng tickets para at least pagdating mo dun may tickets na kayo.

    Yup pwede Mastercard ang payment sa Amrise hotel, BPI yung ginamit ko. Initially one night lang ang book namin through Agoda, Mastercard gamit. Then yung nasa hotel na kami, nagextend kasi kami ng days sa Amrise, tumatanggap naman sila ng card, Mastercard BPI din ang ginamit ko.

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  5. Yup hindi nakakaligaw pagpunta sa hotel at paggaling ka Amrise. From airport, mrt ka then baba ka ng Kallang Station. Then from Kallang, pwede mo na lakarin same street lng naman ang Amrise at Kallang Station, they are located sa Sims Avenue. Pwede ka rin mag bus from Kallang to Amrise. Paglabas mo ng Kallang Station, may bus stop dun, sakay ka ng bus na may stop sa Yi Xiu Factory, isang stop lang yun from Kallang Stn. Better check this site gothere.sg for directions and bus# and duration.

    From hotel naman to tourist attractions malapit lang naman ang Kallang MRT station and may bus stop naman na malapit. Basta kuha ng map sa airport di kayo maliligaw.

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  6. Nung pumunta kami ng Universal, dito pa kami sa Pinas nagpa-book, online through their site. eto yun link:

    http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore/Promotions

    Mas better kung dito pa sa Pinas may ticket na kayo, kung sure talaga kayo na yung date na ibu-book nyo ay makakapunta kayo sa USS.

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  7. Wow, nice post! You really did a good job here, like you've really shown and presented it well. Sarap tlga sa SG, I wanna go baack! lol

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  8. @John: thank you so much for the comment. It was my first time there, I wanna go back too!

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  9. Thank you very much...:D may idea na kami ...magpapabook na kami sa amrise para mas mura and uus....pag magpa extend ba sa room agnun parin ang room rate nila...thanks

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  10. Ask ko laNg Po april 2012 pa naman ang punta,namin ng sg pwede,na ba,kami mag pabook ng ticket uss meron na kaya.or next year pa.excited na kasi kami ...mas makakamura,kasi pag promo po hehehe

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  11. I agree with John, this is a very helpful and informative post.


    SeenDBee

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  12. we're planning to go there too on april 2012, nde ba mainit?

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  13. thank you po sa inyo...

    Nung nag extend kami, same price yung binigay sa amin, kung magkano namin nakuha sa Agoda, ganun din bigay sa amin sa additional nights...

    Alam ko pwede na bumili through online kahit sa next year pa yung punta nyo, pero depende yung kung may promo sila. Eto uli yung link ng site for info:

    http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Attractions/UniversalStudiosSingapore/Tickets

    Regarding sa weather, parang Pilipinas lang, last July, medyo mainit parehong pareho lang sa atin talaga, so next year April, ganun din ang weather tulad sa atin...

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  14. Hello,
    we are planning to stay at amrise hotel, kaso ang dating pa namin singapore ay around 5pm pa, ok lang ba iyon, kasi baka mamaya ikansel nila ang booking kasi late na dating namin ng singapore.. info please. thanks..

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  15. if you have booked and paid it already, them maybe they will hold the room for several hours after the check-in time. PERO JUST TO BE SURE, INFORM AMRISE hotel BY CALLING THEM ON THAT DAY THAT YOU WILL ARRIVE IN SG ON THAT TIME, HERE'S THEIR PHONE#:

    AMRISE HOTEL
    Contact No:(65)6 745 6656
    Email: reservation@amrisehotel.com

    note: When calling through landline from PH, dial "00" before the country code(65): 00+65+ 6-745-6656

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  16. BIG THANKS to you.
    I been in Singapore 10 years ago now me and my friend going back next month. Ur a big help for the new info's. thanks thanks thanks....

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  17. Hi im grace....kakabook ko lang po ng room amrise hotel kami...ok na man po dun...and ask ko lang kasi ang dating namin frm manila to sg is 1am so magtataxi na,lang ba kami or may mrt pa ng ganun time...thank you po...need ko lang p

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  18. mam pag magpaextend kami ng stay sa hotel same price pa din ba po...thank you.and magkanu po budget ok na po ba 20k mam for two days namin...thank you po.grace

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  19. Hi Grace, til 12am lang ang MRT sa SG, malamang kelangan nyo na magtaxi ng ganyang oras.

    Nung nagpa-extend kami, same price lang binigay sa amin, price ng nagpabuk kami sa Agoda.

    20k for two days for 2? sapat na yun, depende sa lifestyle.

    For transpo (EZ link card) bus and mrt, for four days, naka S$23 ako. Then yun mga hawker centers naman dun and some fastfood, yung isang meal ranges from s$5 to S$12. Kung gusto nyo pa mag Universal, regular price nya is S$66, then yun Flyer S$29. May mga combo packages din naman sa mga attractions, baka sakaling makamura kayo,Check nyo tong website na to: http://www.ducktours.com.sg/tours_flyer.php Inquire nlng kayo about dyan pagdating nyo dun.


    Convert natin sa peso (exchange rate around 35 ata , s$1 = 35 Php

    4 Days / 3 nights (per person)
    I-sample natin

    Transpo (EZ Link Card) S$25 = 875 Php

    Food (hawker ctr/fastfood)
    (ex. S$9 per meal x 3 x 4days) S$108 = 3,780

    Universal Studios (Optional) S$66 = 2,310

    Singapore Flyer (Optional) S$29 = 1,015

    Pasalubong S$60 = 2,100

    Total = 10,080 more or less ganyan nagastos ko for 4 Days
    (excluding yun Accommodation. Since 2 pax kami, share ko for 3 nights sa hotel room was 2,850 pesos, total)


    Also, don't forget paglabas ng Manila, sa NAIA kelangan magbayad ng 750 php for Terminal Fee and around 1,600 ata for Travel Tax so mga 2,350 php din) sa NAIA lang naman to, pagdating at paglabas ng Changi Airport at pagbalik ng Pinas, ala na tong fees na to.

    Mas okay cyempre, may sobra din dalang money, just for any emergency cases lang (like kelangan nyo lage mag taxi, hehe) kahit atm lang, para in case kailanganin may ma-withdraw

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  20. So so nice post Bro..

    can i ask some favor, Me and my fiancee will be be having a stop over form doha to singapore
    this coming Dec.8,2011
    I also book at amrise hotel.
    can you please help me it is our first time to be there.
    would it be ok if you can give us guide how to get to the places we want in singapore.

    if possible pls specify the rides (MRT and BUS)

    1. from changi airport to amrise hotel.

    2. from amrise to marina bay.

    3.from amrise to sentosa.

    Thanks in advance for you help.
    GOD bless and have a great day..

    from Lloyd

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  21. Hi Lloyd, sorry for the late reply. I can give you a site that is very helpful when it comes to information on what bus/mrt to ride from one place to another, distance and time of arrival, and estimated travel time, and amount of fare. Just type on the upper left side of the page the places, example "changi airport to amrise hotel"

    Then it will give you info (fare, time, distance, direction) by bus, mrt, and taxi.

    this is the site: http://gothere.sg/maps

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  22. hi yun terminal fee po ba na 2300 dalawa na po kayo nun or each po.thank you

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  23. per person po, yun Terminal Fee = 750 pesos for int'l flights, tapos mga 1,620 pesos yun travel tax; so bali 2,370 pesos each. Dito lang naman yan sa airport natin, palabas. pagbalik mo, wala na naman ganyang babayaran.

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  24. ok lang ba ibang ccedit card holder ang gagamitin ko pag magpabookinh sa armrise hotel.pero ako po ang pupubta dun

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  25. Thanks for this post. I plan to visit Singapore for three days during the next month, this will be really helpful!

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  26. hello! kung 1am ang arrival time namin sa hotel, considered 1 night rate na po ba yun? thanks

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  27. may cut off ang mga hotels Sir sometimes you need to wait for that cut off before you can occupy the room usually 2pm or 3pm so maghihintay kayo kung may storage yung hotel pwede nyo muna paiwan tapos ikot muna kayo habang hinihintay nyo yung cut off

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  28. Hi, your blog comes in handy for us would be first time singapore visitors. Thank you. May I ask, anong luggage size limitation sa mrt? There are six of us going, di pwede isang taxi, yung malaki daw dapat, e mahal. Advise naman. Thank you.

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  29. very informative..^^

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  30. honga.. super! thanks so much. we will be in singapore on march 2013.

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  31. ^^ to anonymous: siguro nakabook ka ng flights dun sa recent promo ng cebu pacific hehe.. march 2013 kasi travel period nung recent na mga promo hehe..


    ako naman papunta ako sa singapore this coming november 5. sa amrise din ako magsstay :) nagbook ako thru agoda.. :) kaso mukang taxi din ang papunta ko sa hotel from airport kasi 1am ang dating ko sa sg (airphils)... mapapamahal tuloy ang transpo ko.

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  32. @Anonymous:yesung promo ng cebu pacific. hehe.. well sharemo rin dito experiences mo pag puntamo dun ha? para malamn din nmin at kung may mga suggestions ka.. hehe. thanks.

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  33. Hi po, ask ko lang kung pwede mag iwan ng luggage sa amrise hotel...09:40am kasi arrival namim...ung check in ay 2pm pa...para makagala na kami. or pwede ba ung early check-in? may additional fee?...TIA

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