You will be singing in Singapore just as I was as it’s one of the safest countries you can visit in Asia as a solo traveler. It may be one of the cleanest countries I’ve ever been to and another fun fact (probably the best) is that you don’t need to learn a new language because most citizens speak English.
My time in Singapore was fabulous! It was so easy to get around on the MRT, their train system, and I never took one cab or Uber during my stay in Singapore. Like many places I’ve visited in the past, I’m always looking to pair it again with a close destination while I’m planning new trips.
Singapore Must-Visits
1. Gardens By The Bay
When you visit Singapore, hop on the MRT and your first stop should be Gardens by the Bay. You will be in awe of the beautiful greenery and humongous trees. If you can make it there at night, it will be an extra special treat because you'll get to see the lit trees on Supertree Grove. It will leave you SPEECHLESS!
Gardens by the Bay has the largest Greenhouse and is the 2015 Guinness World Record holder for "The Largest Glass Greenhouse (Flower Dome)". There is a guided tour, but you can also walk the grounds on your own, which is what I did.
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2. Singapore’s Botanic Garden
If you haven't gotten enough of the beautiful greenery, then your next stop should be Singapore’s Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden is full of animals, beautiful orchids, and a stunning lake. It is very widespread so make sure you have your walking shoes!
Singapore Shopping!
To end it all you must do some shopping at:
1. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is one stop away from Singapore’s Botanic Garden, which I should mention has an MRT stop strategically placed right in front. I can’t express enough how easy public transportation is in Singapore. Again, with no language barrier and clear and concise signs at the train station, you will do very well. I also used public transportation to get back to the airport!
2. Shopping Perks: Riverboat Ride
Now back to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands! This mall has something for everyone, from low- to high-end clothing to dining to a gambling casino to even a riverboat ride, which I did enjoy. The boat ride is quite fun and takes you from one end of the mall to the other. Once you’ve done your boat ride you can go up to the Sands Skypark Observation Deck or step outside and sit and take in the wonderful water view or head over to Esplanade Mall.
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I hope you are as excited about Singapore as I am writing this. I would be remiss to not mention the Singapore rules. Ready?!
Rules of Singapore. Be Prepared...
1. If you’re feeling extra boozy, there is an additional sin tax on alcohol and it can be steep.
2. Yes, it’s true! Chewing gum is banned! The gum ban was initiated to stop gum litter in public places. The loophole is that if you have a prescription, your gum is welcome. I quickly disposed of my gum at my stopover in Tokyo. Importing gum can come with a fine or even jail time.
3. I’m sure you won’t be traveling with a firearm, but I appreciate this law the most so I’m listing it. Firearms are prohibited. You will be charged and sentenced to death for carrying one.
4. Littering is an offense (now do you understand why it’s so clean?). The minimum fine is $1000.
5. Vandalism is also a serious offense. Please refer to Michael Faye’s case. He received six strokes of the cane for vandalism.
6. Jaywalking is also an offense. Please pay close attention to the signs in Singapore, after all, they’re in English.
These are just a few of Singapore's laws but PLEASE don’t let this deter you from visiting! My visit was lovely and I will definitely go back again.
Until next time!
**Travelers Tips**
-According to my research, Singapore’s low season is between July and August. I went in May and the airfare was still cheap, $500 roundtrip on American Airlines. The flight from Tokyo to Singapore was Japan Airlines, which is one of my favorite airlines and codeshares with American Airlines.
-You do not need a visa for Singapore.
-Good travel pairings include Tokyo, Bali (which is 2 hours away and was my choice this go-around), Thailand (2.27 hours away), Cambodia (you will need a visa), and Malaysia (you will need a visa).
-Resort transportation cost is not included in your accommodations cost, however, I strongly suggest that you go through your resort if you travel solo.
-The local currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD). $1.00 USD equals $1.36 SGD. I did not exchange while there and I used my credit card for everything including public transportation.
-Don’t be discouraged by the long flight. A good airline will make you forget. My picks for this trip would honestly be Japan Airlines or American Airlines (they codeshare with one another). Japan Airlines gives you 32-34 inches of legroom free!
Happy traveling!
Dionne Dickson is in the Legal Profession and the proud mother of three wonderful adult children. You can catch Dionne traveling the globe, dancing to a great song in an Instagram story or catching a spectacular sunset sipping wine somewhere magical on Instagram @imbizzie_traveling.
