Exploring Singapore as a Solo Traveler

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Singapore is a beautiful mix of the old and the new; of the sensible and the absurd. However, this gorgeous travel destination definitely isn’t the easiest on the pockets. This tiny nation of modern luxuries can cost you the highest than the rest of its Southeast Asian counterparts.

Despite its dollar-stretching reputation, Singapore continues to be one of the most visited countries in Asia. With its world-class attractions, rich culture and diversity, and accessibility with direct flights to its surrounding regions, one can’t resist its urban allure.

Traveling Solo to Singapore

Visiting Singapore wasn’t part of my 2019 go-to places. I didn’t even have that list to begin with!

However, an opportunity to travel to Malaysia came in and I wasn’t one to let it pass by. Since Singapore is just an hour away from Kuala Lumpur via air, I figured why not visit the popular ultramodern city as well?

DAY 1 – SINGAPORE TRIP

My morning flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore actually just took no more than 45 minutes. I was even surprised when the pilot announced that we’re landing on Changi Airport as I finally decided to take a nap on the plane.

To get started, I dropped by Changi Recommends located at the arrivals hall in Terminal 4 to purchase our Singapore Singtel Hi! Tourist Sim ($30 SGD) and EZ Link Cards ($10 SGD with $5 credit). The Singapore Singtel Hi! Tourist Sim already packs 100 GB data, unlimited local calls, and 90 minutes international calls anywhere for 10 days. Meanwhile the EZ Link cards are contact-less smart cards used for the payment of public transportation fares (MRT, LRT, bus) in Singapore.

You can top up the cards in 7-Eleven stores or in MRT/bus stations. You shouldn’t miss getting these cards before exiting the airport, unless you’ve chartered a private car for the duration of your stay in Singapore. I availed Changi Airport’s shuttle service ($9 SGD/pax) for a stress-free transfer from the airport to my hotel. The shuttle service kiosk is located just beside Changi Recommends in Terminal 4. I was the last passenger to disembark from the city shuttle because of my hotel’s location, which was wonderful and very accessible.

I checked in at a local hotel in Lavender.

Take note that the bulk of your expenses when touring Singapore is going to be your accommodation. While I don’t have the means to check myself in a luxurious hotel, I found a great accommodation and service in a boutique hotel near the downtown area.

The accommodation in Singapore is quite expensive. You can stay in posh hotels in Kuala Lumpur with a $300 budget, but that budget in Singapore will only afford you a modest room with a small space for 2 nights. If you’re traveling alone and on a tight budget, you might as well just opt to stay in hostels that will only cost you no more than $20 a night.



That being said, I booked a room with a patio, not only because it fitted my budget, but because I read good reviews about it online. It has 20th century-style architecture on the outside, but don’t be fooled by its old facade. The hotel actually has modern amenities when you get in. The main selling points for me are its friendly and accommodating staff and great breakfast choices which are included in your booking. You might want to consider staying there if you’re looking for a modestly priced accommodation in Singapore.

Merlion

Park


The Merlion Park was my first stop as it’s the most iconic attraction in the country. Plus, it’s free! You might be surprised to discover that the area is pretty crowded, so pick a good spot when taking your obligatory Merlion photo.

Marina Bay Sands, ArtScience Museum & Gardens by the Bay

Across Merlion Park, you’ll find the architectural and engineering marvel that is the Marina Bay Sands Resort. A lotus-shaped building, which is the ArtScience Museum, stands as an accessory to the high straddling three luxury hotel towers. Just a few walks down, at the back of the resort, is the massive Gardens by the Bay.

My agenda for that day was to visit ArtScience Museum and Gardens by the Bay. To reach these areas, I had to walk under Singapore’s sweltering heat through the Helix Bridge, a pedestrian bridge shaped like the DNA linking Marina Centre with Marina South in the Marina Bay area.

I had a fun time at the ArtScience Museum, exploring the Marvel Studios and Future World ($32 SGD/pax). I then walked toward Gardens by the Bay to visit the Supertree Grove, Flower Dome, and Cloud Forest.

You can buy tickets to both conservatories at the gate but you can get a discount if you purchase them in advance. I bought a 2x pass to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest ($46.25 SGD) via the Klook app. Unfortunately, the Cloud Forest was undergoing maintenance when I got there so I only used the pass to get into the Flower Dome.



Before heading to the Supertree Grove, I had my dinner at Satay by the Bay where you can get set meals for as low as $4-6 SGD. My traveler friend Andrew told me ahead of my trip that a satiable meal would cost us around $15 SGD each. He wasn’t far from telling the truth when you account for the cost of the drinks! You’re better off refilling your water bottles with free tap water as they’re very safe to consume. After dinner, I headed back to the Supertree Grove to catch the first showing of Garden Rhapsody at 7:45PM. It’s a free light and music show that takes place at the Supertree Grove. I took the MRT going back to my hotel after the show and retired for the night.

DAY 2-

SENTOSA


Universal Studios Singapore & S.E.A. Aquarium Marine Life Park

Resorts World Sentosa is home to a slew of enthralling experiences. There are a lot of things that you can do and places to visit when you go to Sentosa. So it’s a must that you schedule an entire day on the island.

You can get to Sentosa by taking the monorail or riding a cable car, but the pedestrian boardwalk (accessible from VivoCity) is a great option as well if you fancy a stroll. Of course, I took the Sentosa Express monorail ($4 SGD/pax) as it’s the fastest although not the cheapest option. The ride is free when you get back to VivoCity.

I embraced my thrill-seeking inner-child in Universal Studios Singapore (USS). There’s an enticing selection of attractions, rides, and entertainment at this Hollywood movie theme park. I got an unlimited day access to the amusement park by purchasing my tickets worth $72.72 SGD.

There are seven movie-themed zones and 18 movie-themed rides. My personal favorite was the Revenge of the Mummy in the Ancient Egypt zone and Jurassic Park Rapid Adventures in The Lost World. If you’re one heck of a thrill-seeker, you can try Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi City). Well, we didn’t have the guts to try it! There are also 30 restaurants and food carts inside USS, so you’ll never have to worry about getting hungry.

Note: Food prices in USS are more expensive than what you’ll find in Hawker Centres. Drinks are expensive as well. So bring your own water bottles like we did and save a lot of money by using purified water taps throughout the park.

After an enthralling experience in USS, I also visited the S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa, which is just a walking distance from the theme park. I purchased my S.E.A. Aquarium tickets for $32.94 SGD.

The S.E.A. Aquarium used to be the world’s largest aquarium until it was overtaken by China. It’s home to more than 100,000 marine animals across 50 different habitats. It’s highly recommended that you visit this attraction when going to Sentosa.

DAY 3- Last-Minute Shopping

Chinatown & Bugis Street

Since it’s my last day in Singapore, I decided to check out from my room in the morning before heading out to do some last minute shopping and visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

Luckily, the hotel I was staying at has a room where you can leave your luggage after checking out. Because I am not some fancy jet setting people, I did my souvenir shopping in Chinatown and Bugis Street. There are a lot of affordable items that you can buy in these little merchant places, especially souvenir items such as keychains, paperweights, bags, clothes, and even chocolates and treats that are not always available in the Philippines.

The happy kid in me was delighted to find out I could purchase 5 large Toblerones just for $10 SGD and other flavors of KitKat for a cheap price in Bugis. Since I have 25kg luggage allowance for my return flight to Cebu, I had ample room to check in my souvenirs. From my hotel in Lavender, I booked a Grab car to Changi Airport Terminal 4 by 4PM.

FYI: Budget airlines like AirAsia and Cebu Pacific operate at Changi Airport Terminal 4.

As my return flight to Cebu is at 9PM, I had a lot of time enjoying the amenities in Changi Airport and that included playing tennis and darts (x-box) in the entertainment area. I even had the chance to avail of the free tasters and tried out expensive perfumes. There are still a lot of places in Singapore that I was not able to visit as I ran out of time. However, I will definitely be back to this amazing metropolis with my family and friends in tow next time.

Singapore’s hot and humid climate (I almost fainted) and a bit confusing (but impressive) public transport combined with different temperaments, agendas, and forbearance can be a recipe for disaster to a couple traveling alone. In one unexpected twist, I got lost on my way back to the hotel from VivoCity because of my doing.

Tip: Always have your Google maps handy, as well as the app/site Rome2Rio so you’ll know which public transport to take to your destination.

Despite all the minor setbacks, I emerged stronger with a deeper understanding of each other after the trip. It’s a rewarding and memorable experience to stand the test of time together somewhere I have never been to, without someone to guide my paths, and being spoken in a language I don’t speak.

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Comments

[Hayley Sugden]

Love your Singapore trip!
I've been to Singapore before and I agree with you that Singapore is much expensive than the other Southeast Asian countries. Anyways, great post :) Love it super

[Wandering Nomad]

Thanks for the feedback!
Thank you Hayley! Glad you have liked my post.