ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Travel to Singapore

Updated on November 5, 2008

About Singapore

Unique is the word that best captures Singapore, a dynamic city rich in contrast and color where you'll find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. Singapore has grown into a thriving centre of commerce and industry. Located in the heart of fascinating Southeast Asia, Singapore is the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines sending super tankers, container ships and passenger liners to share. Brimming with unbridled energy and bursting with exciting events, the city offers countless unique, memorable experiences waiting to be discovered.

Singapore's location on the major sea route between India and China. The strategic position has made it grow into an excellent harbor for trade and tourism. Its geographical location is 136.8 km north of the equator, between latitudes 103°38'E and 104°06'E.

Singapore's Central Business District actually spreads across both the central and southern parts of the island (you'll know when you're there - it boasts striking high-rise structures). You can get a good visual orientation to the city as you cross the Benjamin Sheares Bridge on the East Coast Parkway, which links the airport to the city center.

Climate

Tropical climate with temperatures ranging from a low of 24°C to a high of around 31°C. Rainfall usually takes the form of sudden showers and storms. June-August is considered to be the best time to visit.

People

The population is just over 4 million, and around 77.2% are Chinese, 14.1% Malay and 7.4% Indian. The remaining 1.3% comprises of people from all over the world who have chosen to make Singapore their home.

Language

English is the common language spoken by all. Signs in Singapore are also written in English.

Cuisine

Singapore is consequently a cosmopolitan place where people from all over the world sit down to enjoy each other's cooking. Each culture has brought with it unique cooking styles including Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, Peranakan, Indian, Thai, Japanese and Korean. There is a vast array of hawker stalls and restaurants, ranging from global franchises to gourmet delis to fancy six-star settings.

Shopping

Orchard Road, would be the most popular and mostcommonly heard names if anyone should mention about shopping. This place is the central hub, also known as the 'city' of Singapore, and it is well known among tourists. Orchard Road offers major departmental stores, supermarkets, movie theatres, restaurants. famous hotels and other entertainment outlets.

Electricity

Singapore uses the "Type G" (British 3-pin rectangular blade) electrical plug. Voltage is 230 V, 50 Hz.

Goods and Services (GST) Tax

When you shop in Singapore, a 7% Goods and Services (GST) Tax is applicable and is normally included in the price of items. Tourists may claim refund of GST paid on goods purchased from retailers participating in the Toursit Refund Scheme. GST is refundable if visitors spend a combined sum of at least S$100 from the same retailer, and the Refund Form should be obtained from the retailer. The goods must be taken out of Singapore within two months from the date of purchase.

You may cash your refund at Changi International Airport or the downtown cash refund counters. Before departing Singapore, show your purchases, receipts and passport to the custom officials and have your Global Refund cheque stamped. GST Customs Inspection counters are available at the airport, either before check-in (for checked-in goods) or after check-in and clearing immigration (for hand-carried goods). You must return the endorsed Global Refund Cheque to the staff at the Global Refund Counter which is near to the customs.

Tipping

Tipping is not usual in Singapore. Restaurants typically add a 10% service charge and may actively discourage any additional gratuity, but if none is added, leave 10%. Service personnel in the larger hotels can be offered around SGD 1.00 for good service, and taxi fares should be rounded up to the nearest dollar. Tipping is prohibited at the airport.

Useful Numbers

Police: 999

Ambulance/Fire Brigade: 995

Money Changers

The monetary unit in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (US$1 = S$1.40, Eur 1= S$2.30). The local currency is in dollars and cents. Foreign currency and traveller cheques can be exchanged at the Changi International Airport, hotels, shops and licensed money changers. Better rates are provided by money changers spread in the shopping areas. No commission is charged.

Visitors are discouraged from changing money with unlicensed money changers.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)