Ex Singapore bargain airfares
 

Gday fellow fodorites. Just landed a fabulous fare back to Oz for a quick month long visit so wanted to say a big thank you to JamesA for recommending airfares.com.sg. I'm sure it was you James! If not then thanks to whoever posted their website details here.They are most efficient and our Gulf Air fare is a bargain at AUD650 return to Sydney inc tax.

We've been on Koh Samui for the past few weeks. The weather has been glorious with the occasional rainstorm but for the rainy season, it's been fine most days. Changed our plans on moving to India and will probably settle on Samui instead.

A question for those people who regularly stay in Singapore, please. I've checked the usual websites for hotel rates & rates have really increased a lot during the past 6 months. Anyone have a secret website or agent they use for hotels in Singapore. All the usual suspects do not reveal any bargains! Thanks!

Misr Travel ( aka airfares.com.sg ) have done me well the times I have used over the years, I rate them the same way Seatours in Thailand, good and efficient but real cheap deals!

I hope you enjoy Gulf, it's an A-340 so it's 2x4x2 so the 2 togethers are good. It always come down to the particular crew on a flight with any airline but I rate Gulf as good or better than Emirates, nice relaxed easy going style, nothing over-the-top or gimmicky, just efficient and friendly.
I think it's about 7hrs 15 which will fly by(!)

The singapore rates have gone up a lot but on the other hand over the years as you'll know more cheaper hotels have opened up, it perhaps is the case that as main hotels up their rates ( i think it's about 20% a year!) more smaller places come in to fill the gap. thiough I do regret once staying at a Fragrance place!! I search out on Asiaoz and use the last minute rooms available thing, never book anything more than a few weeks ahead so go for their last minute ones, they have how many rooms at whichever hotels and are heavily discounted just to sell-off remaining rooms, it's a gamble waiting for just a few weeks ahead but when I go down it's always within that time span so suits me fine, years back i relied upon the airport hotel counter but got un-stuck twice in a row as places were full and ended up paying about SGD 150 a night, though year before last(I think) when we did a pre Christmas trip the Crowne was about SGD 144.

Have a good one!

Strange that link won't add the .sg on the end, for anyone interested it's www.airfares.com.sg ( include the .sg )

Lyndie, out of interest I had a look at next Wednesday singapore, this is what they offered for a twin/double room including tax/service etc in SGD and the USD

Royal Plaza on Scotts SGD 138 / USD 91
Roberston Quay 78 / USD 52
Furama Riverfront 110 / USD 73
Copthorne Orchid (single) 99 / USD 65 ( Twin SGD 112 / USD 74 )
Golden Landmark 110 / USD 73
Peninsular Excelsior 130 / USD 86
Furama 135 / USD 89
Holiday Inn Atrium 150 / USD 99
Meritus Negara 170 / USD 112

I'm behind on the going rates, how do those sound to you ?

Those rates weren't from Mist/Airfares but Asiaoz, the Royal Plaza on Scotts for SGD 138 sounds as good or better than I was getting years back for a good place in the Orchard road area ! those were on www.asiaoz.com by clicking the last minute rates-to-go section.

lyndie...take a look at the orchard hotel...mid level and not badly located...not sure of their rates, but very serviable even for an OZ person..

samui not india, interesting...how about coming up to bkk for our nov 6 GTG at the marriott??? send me an e mail...

booze must be cheap on samui...haha

G'day James & G'day Bob!

James, thanks a lot for the asiaoz website. Seems they are cheaper than wotif.com by a big margin on the Royal Plaza, for example. Will check them out. You're a legend!

And Bob-just because the Chang is cheap here does not mean that's the primary reason for our visit. It's the secondary reason for our visit! Seriously the island is developing quickly but we've found our little slice of heaven & will rent a villa for 6 months commencing mid November. Koh Lipe is where we'll be from Nov 1 to Nov 15 so sorry won't get to see ya! Have a Cointreau, lime & lemonade for us! Will email you with a boring update sometime soon! All the best, guys!

The rate of SGD 138 for Royal Plaza on Scotts makes a bargain, lot less than I saw elsewhere.

Hey Lyndie, good to hear from you! You've been MIA for a bit there and I was wondering where you've been. Glad to hear you're out and about and having fun! Laurie

Those asiaoz rates are very good. I also noticed they were offering Traders Hotel at $76SG per night for a last minute deal. That's a great rate for a hotel operated by the Shangri-La folks, just steps off Orchard Rd and attached to Tanglin Mall. Walking distance to the Botanical Gardens.
I was also on wired-destinations.com and noticed they had the Regent Singapore for $145SG including bfst. That's less than $100US for a hotel operated by Four Seasons. If it's in your budget and available on your dates, that's the most amenities and service for your money.
If you are going for price, Traders, Orchard Hotel, Orchard Parade and the Royal Plaza on Scotts Rd are all good locations and very nice accommodations.

lyndie---we accept your invitation and karen and i will arrive, with the extended family for a month and 1/2 stay....can you pick us up at the airport...?? bring a truck for our belongings...

G'day all! Some power cuts on Samui as cable maintenance happening right now so internet a bit unreliable!

Booked 2 nights at the Robertson Quay on www.asiatravel.com-SGD90 inc bfast & taxes. Hotel has some good reviews & is not as well located as some but OK for 2 night.

We've just rented a lovely little villa around 300 metres from Choeng Mon beach on Samui so delighting in swimming most of the day & pedicures & massages & the best Thai food from Suk's mango tree! Life is sometimes so difficult! Already had our first house guest! OK Bob, we'll give you a special rate as long as you don't mind sleeping on the sofa! Hope all is well Laurie! Thanks Lindsey for your input! Must get back to the crystal clear water! All the very best!!

Lyndie,
Robertson Quay is not really a bad location.....you are right on the river, perfect for an early morning or an after dinner stroll. you are walking distance to Clarke Quay and Mohammed Sultan, both of which are loaded with restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. It's a quick cheap cab ride to Chinatown, Orchard Rd. etc. And 90SG is a great rate! Let me know if you need help with anything else in SG and enjoy Samui!!

Hi Lindsey-thanks for the Robertson Quay info. Much appreciated. We intend stocking up on Teva sandals & trainers(i.e.great backpacker shoes!) and also we'll hit the shops for some Christmas presents so won't have a lot of time to indulge ourselves but would love your recommendations for cheap yum cha/dim Sum. We found the Yum Cha restaurant in Singapore Chinatown to be almost as expensive as Australia. i.e. around SGD40 for two people for brunch. Any local places off the beaten track that you know of? We're looking for Penang prices for Chinese food! Asking too much for Singapore? Just love dim sum & those wonderful mee noodles. After all the Thai curries my mouth is looking for some blander stuff! I think Samui is the one place we've visited which really gives us everything we want in a place to live. Great shopping, magic food & so very cosmopolitan with some glorious places to just relax & chill-out! Lots of British, Americans & Europeans here with great ex-pat network. Have lots of happy days yourself!