Arrival by planeSingapore Changi is one of the best airports in the world. From wheels down to bags arriving on the carousel, it is generally just 10 minutes, so you can be in a taxi within around 15 minutes of landing. The airport itself has won almost 500 awards, including world's best airport by Skytrax in 2015. Departures is spacious and airy with plenty to do even if you are travelling in economy - five different gardens (sunflower, cactus, butterfly, orchid, fern), three cinemas showing movies free-of-charge, interactive science displays, a rooftop swimming pool and the world's tallest indoor slide (free if you make a purchase of 10 SGD within the airport).
Singapore airlines offers excellent business and first class cabins, including the suites class on the A380, which offers a double bed for couples. Business class is as good as first class on many carriers, with wide flat bed seats and superb service. Travel by carDriving in Singapore is relatively easy and similar to most European cities. Thanks to its British colonial history, driving is on the left side of the road.
Taxis are cheap and easily available with different levels available at varying prices. All journeys are metered and you are unlikely to fall foul of a tampered meter as the penalty for drivers is high. However, each taxi company sets its own prices, with City Cabs tending to be cheaper than Premier or Prime Taxis (as the name suggests). The model of car will also impact the price charged - Toyota Crown is the cheapest vehicle with limousines costing around 50% more per km, although at only around 1 SGD per km plus booking fee, this is a very affordable luxury. A Mercedes taxi from the airport costs a fixed 50 SGD to the city. |
Train travelWithin Singapore, the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system is cheap, quick and easy to use. If you plan to use the MRT more than a few times, we would recommend buying an EZ-Link card, which enables you to touch in and out, paying with cash stored on the card, rather than having to queue to purchase tickets each time you want to travel.
Further afield, you can travel by train to Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Bangkok. For top luxury, travel by the Eastern and Oriental Express, which takes a leisurely 2-3 nights. Alternatively, first class on the standard trains is comfortable and very affordable - from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur takes 6 hours during the day and costs around US$20. The overnight sleeper service takes slightly longer and costs $43 for a deluxe sleeper with WC and shower. |