Doug

Just picked up a relatively inexpensive ticket to Singapore. Not sure I need all 8 days in Singapore - any suggestions on short excursions from Singapore? (Really wanted to hit India and Vietnam but just not enough time - will have to wait until next year.) Looking for somewhere to take advantage of the warm weather, outdoors (architecture, nature, bicycing?), meeting locals, take in local shows, food.... <BR> <BR>Also, if anyone wants to share their best experience in Singapore...I'd be interested. <BR> <BR>Thanks!

pat

Just returned from a conference in the lion city, it is indeed not a city for pleasure, but really good for business. I went to the night safari, walking along singapore river. I let my friend go to Sentosa island, and underwater world. <BR> <BR>I would recommend Bali for the excursion outside singapore, beautiful beaches, old architecture and culture. It should be very warm, may be too warm. <BR> <BR>Welcome to asia

Brent

Doug, <BR>I was in Singapore last year, and I can tell you 8 days is more than enough time. It's a clean city, and you can do lots of shopping. Don't miss the hawker stalls...these are outside street food vendors and Singapore is famous for them. Try the black pepper crab! Delicious! My friends and I actually drove in to Singapore via Malaysia, so renting a car and driving to Malaysia would make a nice side trip. Kuala Lumpur is a nice city and inexpensive. Have a great time!

Carrie

I was bored after two days in Singapore. Yeah, it is clean and tidy but it is rather boring compared its neighbouring countries. Rent a car and drive across to Malaysia or catch a flight to Thailand or Bali.

yipsy

Singapore's a small country, no mountains, no lakes.. definately not <BR>a boring place after 2 days! It's a squeaky clean and safe haven. Try the Christmas lightup in Orchard Road till January 2001. The whole street is lighted up in the night. <BR> <BR>Mandai Zoological Gardens, the Nite Safari, Botanical Gardens, (dun miss the Orchid gardens), Mount Faber(a decent view of the skyline). <BR> <BR>You could hop on a ferry at World Trade Centre to Bintan or Batam. The Banyan chain of resorts there are great. <BR>

Francois

Yeah, if you like man-made things which you can find in places like Disney or Vegas. Why travel half way across the world to see some modern and artificial things which you can almost see them anywhere else, when you can enjoy the beauty of the nature or diverse cultures of countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia? IMO, Singapore is highly over-rated (thanks to its tourist office's good advertising campaigns)and is only good for a transit to other pan-asia countries. Although I must admit they have the best airport and airline in the world. I have travelled widely in Asia, Singapore is my least favourite place. Give me Hongkong anytime.

Leonard

You might wan to visit the old ethnic districts - Katong, Serangoon Road, Changi Village, and Chinatown. If you enjoy nature, then spend an afternoon at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and spend a whole day at Pulau Ubin. Also, an overnight trip to Bintan, which is a beach resort, would be a good idea.

Sage Pebble

I am surprised nobody mentioned BINTAN!!! Its a indonesian island 40 mins by ferry and its a paradise so near to Singapore that its a must go. <BR> <BR>I reccomend the Banyan Tree Bintan if you want a quiet exclusive resort. Its recent sister property Angsanna opened in April and its Fantastic! Value for money. Just come to Singapore, buy the local papers, to go classifieds and there are plenty of travel agencies that sells ferry and hotel packages to the resorts. The prices don't vary so you won't be ripped off. <BR> <BR>Singapore is a great place for shopping! And its a food paradise. Its a city but not as complex as New York. <BR> <BR>Don't go to these tourists attractions and say that is Singapore. They are mostly man made. Have coffee in Marriott Hotel, dinner at Mezza 9, Chicken rice at Boon Tong Kee at Balestier road (celebrities from HK converge here) and a good meal of hawker food such as satay and coconut juice at Lau Pa Sat. <BR> <BR>And don't miss breakfast at Cafe Les Amis at Botanic gardens. They also serve very exclusive dinners but book way in advance. <BR> <BR>Lastly, anyone will have to pay pilgrimage to Holland Village. I love my dinners at Michel Angelos. They have also recently opened a FANTASTIC open view resturant at the National Indoor Stadium something call 8 Double on the Bay?? <BR> <BR>So keep your 8 days in leisurely pace and experience Singapore - going to Sentosa (1day) or Bintan (3) as side trips. If you go to KL, or Thailand or Bali, its going to make your trip overly expensive <BR> <BR>Have fun in Singapore.

Doug

Thanks for all the great recommendations, suggestions and advice. <BR> <BR>Doug

lynn

Hi - <BR> <BR>Hey Francois, Vegas is great! Way better than Singapore. <BR> <BR>I do agree that Hong Kong or Bangkok has much, much more to offer than Singapore. The place is very clean but the shopping sucks. Lots of malls at full retail prices. Bangkok and Hong Kong have much better shopping. <BR> <BR>Singapore has some nice restaurants but prices are no great deals. Our favorite meals were Au Jardin in the Botanical Gardens, Bice (pronounced bee-chay) at the Goodwood Park Hotel, and Al Dente at Boat Quay. Boat Quay was a real joke. People standing out in front of their restaurants trying to hawk their meals as you pass by. I knew it was going to be touristy but it was much worse than I expected. We went into Al Dente because they WERE NOT standing out front hawking dinner. Ended up being an excellent choice. <BR> <BR>The Satay Club at Clark Quay is fun to try but again, no great deal. Singapore was a bit of a surprise in term of price because we had already spent time in Thailand before we went down there. <BR> <BR>One thing we did like at Clark Quay was the blues bar. They were playing live blues music and the band was really good. If you like bluesy/jazzy type of music with a little rock thrown in. <BR> <BR>If I were in your shoes, I'd check out a flight to Bangkok for 2-3 days. Just for the heck of it. The flight is less than 2 hours. <BR> <BR>Good luck with whatever you do. <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR

Jason

Francois & Lynn <BR>Being a Singaporean, I also prefer to <BR>shop in HK and Bangkok. This is because of our strong Sing dollar. I normally <BR>wait for the Singapore Sale duing June/July to buy stuff in Singapore. <BR>In Singapore, you can walk in the streets at 3 in the morning, you will be fine. Can you do that in Vegas, Bangkok or HK? You will be mugged in no time!

Francois

Who would want to walk on the streets of Singapore at 3am in the morning? I would be bored to zzzzzzzzz before twelve!!!

Hadi

Singapore.. orchard roads and Sentosa island.. that's all about Singapore <BR>Yup, Singapore is a clean city.. probable the cleanest city in the world...

Paul

I agreed with Carrie. Two days is more than enough (1 1/2 is even better). If you want to go the cheap way, take a overnight train to Butterworth, take the ferry to Penang. There you will see the old Malaysia. Shopping is cheap, food is even cheaper and so much better (hawkwer food). It's a small island so you pretty much can get anywhere by walking or take a taxi which is also cheap. Don't forget to bargain, it's expected.

marg

If you want to spend time on a beach, get a flight to Penang (about an hour) and spend a few days at Batu Ferrengi. <BR>Alternatively, get a bus from Singapore to Malacca - once a Dutch colonial town and worth a visit.

kbrus

There is a lot to see and do in Singapore other than shop. The night safari, Jurong bird park, Underwater World, and Little India are all great. <BR>If you get bored go over to Borneo for a few days where you will find a lot of nature. Kuching is a very interesting place and a short flight from Singapore.