Have you been to Singapore? I recently went there on my first trip overseas and I had an amazing time! My primary purpose for the trip was to watch BTS member SUGA in his concert. Since I was already there, I also explored some tourist attractions. I also got to try some of the must-have food there. Allow me to share with you some stories from my Singapore travel experience. Let me share some tips that could be helpful as you plan your own!
Phase 1: Planning
This was a trip I took with my friend, who has traveled overseas before. I do not think that I could have planned this trip without her help!
The first thing we figured out was when would be flying in and out of the country. Once we got that out of the way we searched for the best flights for our trip. The lowest price for flights that we found (Manila – Singapore) was from Scoot. They had a flight leaving in the early evening and arriving before midnight.
Once we booked our flight, we went in search of a hotel. Unless you are traveling to relax, finding a less expensive hotel is the practical choice. You won’t be in your hotel room much during the trip so having the basics was enough for me and my friend. We searched Google Maps for a place near the concert venue that had good reviews. Once we found one that fit into our budget, we were good to go. We booked it via Booky, which allows you to book without making any downpayment.
With the flight and the hotel out of the way, we worked on figuring out the requirements for our trip. One of these requirements is the eTravel declaration for the Philippines. We also needed a Singapore Arrival Card. You can file both online up to 72 hours before departure/arrival.
As many people have heard, Philippine immigration is strict about Filipinos traveling overseas. There are many horror stories of people who have issues with immigration, we did not want to be part of that. We made sure to prepare the suggested list of documents in case the immigration officer asked for it. Requirements change from time to time, so it is best to check the official website to see what you need to bring.
On my end, I decided to bring an employment certificate. I also had a leave and travel authorization from my employer. The important thing here would be to prove that I am returning to the country after my trip.
Another crucial part of the planning is coming up with an itinerary. My friend and I made a list of places that we wanted to do and see. We figured out a schedule to fit everything in based on how close or how far everything was from our hotel. With this itinerary and some travel insurance later, we were finally ready for our trip.
For people wondering about money, make sure that you have enough funds for what you have planned. Or if you have a budget, make sure you have a plan that you can stick with. I traveled without exchanging money before going. I had a debit and credit card with me with limits that were within my budget. If you plan on doing the same, make sure to call your bank/s to inform them of your trip. That way you won’t have issues using them overseas.
Phase 2: Travel to Singapore
On the day of the trip, my friend and I arrived early at the airport so that we wouldn’t get held up in the immigration line. We went early because this was after news of a long line due to power issues at the airport. We made sure we had enough time to get through before our flight.
We were traveling light, with only carry-on luggage. Lucky for us, Scoot allows 10kgs of carry-on luggage, which was more generous than the usual 7kgs limit. That made it easy for us to check in and get our boarding pass. Lucky for us, the immigration line was long but was very fast. I did not have any issues and ended up not needing any of the documents that I had brought along in my bag.
The flight was not bad. One of the reasons that I have not traveled overseas before was a fear of flying, but I braved it all for SUGA. To keep calm, I decided to force myself to sleep during the entire 4-hour flight.
We were in and out of the airport fast upon arrival in Singapore. Our online arrival card submission made that possible. I love how efficient the Singapore immigration system is. I'm glad this was where I chose to travel for my first international trip.
A little travel tip I got from a friend who had been to Singapore before was that I did not need to bring that much cash. If I had a debit or credit card, that would be all I needed because digital payments are everywhere.
The only reason we needed cash was no more trains were running when we arrived, and we needed to take a cab. We withdrew money from the airport ATM then we were in a cab on our way to our hotel.
The cab was the only time we needed cash during our trip. We only used cash a few more times but not because it was necessary. It was because we did not estimate how much we needed for the trip and withdrew too much money from the ATM. We had to use the cash or else we would be going home with it! I didn’t even use up all my cash from the trip and went home with some Singapore dollars in my pocket.
Phase 3: Agust D Concert!
Our first official day in Singapore was the day that we attended the Agust D concert. This was at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. My friend and I decided that we were going to be walking around all day so we got brunch at Kaeden Cafe to charge up.
I loved that there was no need to talk to anyone because you had to access their menu via QR code, order, and pay via phone. The only time you get contact with anyone from the restaurant is when they bring your food. As someone who is not a big fan of people hovering over me, I loved this about Singapore. I wish they could have more of this concept in the Philippines.
My brunch at Kaeden was filling and it was so good. It was surprising to find out how much I spent in Philippine pesos, but it would ruin my trip if I kept doing that. I had to stop computing after a while or it would drive me crazy!
We walked to the venue with the help of Google Maps’ immersive view. You turn on the app, enter your destination, and point the camera around so that it gets an idea of your location. The app then gives you directions as you go if you point the camera in front of you. It is so useful, and it made our entire trip easier. We were able to go to the stadium and back to our hotel later that evening without any hassle.
One thing that I noticed was that many restaurants closed early, even the fast-food places. It was difficult for us to get something to eat at night! This was new to me since there will always be someplace open in the Philippines one way or another. We spent two evenings having onigiris from 7-11 for dinner because of this!
Phase 4: Sight Seeing
The day after the concert, we started our whole-day sightseeing trip around Singapore. Here are some of the places we made a point to visit:
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
I was skeptical when my friend said we were going to a coffee shop with that name. When we went there, I was still not sure about it given how it looked on the outside. It surprised me when we went in because it was such a nice place to visit! I loved the concept, and I was very happy with the brunch and coffee we ordered!
There was so much coffee that you could buy, and I was so tempted to do so. My luggage was already full, and I wasn’t planning on having any check-in baggage so I couldn’t buy anything to add to my bag. Too bad because the coffee beans smelled so good!
Chinatown
We went around Chinatown, and my friend and I got to buy some (light) souvenirs to bring home. I even took some photos of nice-looking buildings, and we had some coffee (again) at this nice spot with a name I had forgotten (I’m sorry!). We wanted to try one of those Michelin-starred hawker stands but found the place closed. We had to go elsewhere for our meal.
ArtScience Museum
Another one of the places on my list was this museum. Unfortunately, we could not get into the exhibits (way too pricey) and shows (due to timing issues). We opted for an immersive VR experience as an alternative. It was fun, but I wish we could have done more when we were there. Next time.
Gardens by the Bay
After our museum trip, we met with a fellow Pinay who was living in Singapore. She took us around for the evening, sharing stories and tidbits about Singapore along the way. Our first stop was Gardens by the Bay. I was very happy that we got to see that as it was on my list of places to visit. I wanted to see it because it was part of the filming locations for Little Women. Gardens by the Bay (and other parts of Singapore) were locations in that K-Drama and I had to see it!
While there, I conquered my fear of heights and went up to enjoy the view to watch the sunset. We also stayed to see the lights show to the tune of movie theme songs.
Kinokuniya Bookstore
Another place on our list was this bookstore, which I heard was the biggest in Singapore. We had planned to see it during the day but didn’t have enough time. I felt bad because there were so many books and I had wanted to buy some. Unfortunately, I had set a budget for myself, and my luggage was already full. I had to make do with browsing and making a list of books I wanted to buy in the future. If I lived in Singapore, I would go bankrupt with all the books I would be so tempted to buy there!
Newton Food Center
A trip to Singapore would not be complete without trying the famous chicken rice. We had some at the Newton Food Center, which I heard was a filming location for Crazy Rich Asians.
Apart from those places, we were able to pass by some other tourist spots. We didn’t stop to check them out, but it was nice that I still got to see them in passing. We passed by the Fullerton Hotel, which I was happy to get a glimpse of. It was another one of the filming locations for the K-Drama Little Women. We also passed the Merlion, another tourist attraction. Most tourists go there for photos, but we agreed there was no time for it so we decided to pass on it.
We also got to walk around the mall area of Marina Bay Sands because it was the way to get to the ArtScience Museum.
Phase 5: Travel Home
Ya Kun Kaya
My friend wanted to have some of this on the trip, so we went on the morning of our trip home. It consists of eggs and toast served with a special, coconut-based, spread. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I liked it! I heard that they have a branch here in the Philippines, it’s something I need to check out soon!
Kam’s Roast
At the airport, I finally got to tick off one of my must-dos in Singapore by having our lunch at this place. We didn’t get to do the Michelin-starred meal at the hawker stand, so we had one at this restaurant. Not bad. Nothing mind-blowing, but it was still a good and filling meal.
The Jewel
Since we were waiting at the airport, we had to see the Jewel before heading out. We didn’t get to see it when we arrived since it was already late at night. We took the time to see it before we left and took the usual touristy photos with it in the background.
And that, my dear readers, was my journey in Singapore. I hope that I was able to provide ideas of places to see and things to do in Singapore for your next trip!
If you have any questions, about anything I mentioned in this post, message me in the comments! I will get back to you as soon as I can!
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