Travel
Take full advantage of Singapore’s excellent location and connectivity to Asia and beyond, and unleash the intrepid explorer in you.
You will have the adventure of a lifetime!
Destinations
ASEAN, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, tags itself as Asia’s Perfect 10 Paradise. Its member nations include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – offering you 10 dreams in one! The Travel ASEAN website proffers a long list of tourism heritage sites ready to be explored, as well as adventure-based youth programmes.
Singapore, being right between the northern and southern hemispheres, also means you can head off to Europe or Australasia easily. Check in with one of Singapore’s many backpacker hostels for recommendations from seasoned travellers.
Volunteer vacations are getting popular for the unforgettable experience they provide. This is a great way to get under the skin of Asia.
Land
Getting across the Causeway to Malaysia is no more difficult than hopping onto a bus. SBS Transit number 170 brings you right into Johor Bahru every nine to 15 minutes, or try riding with private bus operators headed that way. You’ll recognise these by the queue of people rushing to board wherever the buses happen to stop. Just give the driver a nominal dollar for the ride.
There are also countless bus companies operating coaches north, with stops in Malaysia and Thailand. Fleets range from the ultra-modern and luxurious to no-frills seats. Popular destinations are Malacca and the Genting Highlands.
For those who prefer a rail journey, the Malayan railway Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) offers regular intercity routes throughout Peninsular Malaysia and up to Thailand. Stops include both city and rural areas.
Air
Singapore’s Changi International Airport is consistently ranked the best in the world. With more than 100 airlines serving some 210 cities in about 60 countries, Singapore is only a few hours away from your next adventure.
Budget airlines operating out of Singapore are Jetstar, Tiger Airways, Air Asia, and Cebu Pacific Airways. Special offers as low as SGD 1 (excluding taxes and surcharges) are frequently available, especially online, but they disappear fast, so you have to be quick.
Compare prices before you go, at websites such as www.NToGo.com, which also consolidate promotions by leading airlines.
Sea
The Singapore Cruise Centre operates three ferry terminals and an award-winning cruise terminal.
Board a ferry for a short ride across to Malaysia or Indonesia for a diving expedition.
Star Cruises specialises in regional voyages, and weekend cruises-to-nowhere, which often include an all-night chocolate buffet.
Within ASEAN, traditional cruises along local rivers allow you to get up close to the people and culture of the country. These can last for hours to a few days.
Travel Agents
The Yellow Pages lists over 700 travel agencies in Singapore. Look for those which are accredited with the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS). Most of these specialise in packaged tours, though they will assist in customising an itinerary for you.
You can just as easily design your own vacation online through sites like www.zuji.com.sg.
Guide books are easily available at all book stores. You could even borrow one from the National Library and extend the loan period on-line if you need to, from wherever you are.
Customs and Excise
Do read up on the kinds of controlled and prohibited items under Singapore’s customs law – there’s more than just chewing gum! Asian countries generally have a very firm stance on drugs and may have very unyielding penalties.
If you’re returning from countries other than Malaysia, you’re allowed some duty-free concessions on alcohol (one litre each of spirits, wine, and beer). There is no relief for the import of tobacco products, which have to be declared and duty- and GST-paid.