Singapore is such a special travel destination that you may want to leave a couple of days extra in your planning to enjoy Singapore after the excitement of the night time racing of the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.  Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in South East Asia and to ensure that you make the most of your experience, here are a few helpful tips to ease your visit.

TRAVEL

The cheapest and most convenient way to travel round Singapore is to use the extensive public transport system the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).  A Singapore tourist pass can be purchased which allows unlimited travel both on the MRT and on the bus.  Obviously, some roads will be closed for the Grand Prix weekend which will cause some disruption to the buses (guide below) but this will not affect the MRT.  Taxis are more expensive and Uber is no longer used in Singapore but there is an app called Grab which is very similar to Uber and can be used for ride sharing.

WHAT TO WEAR

Singapore enjoys a year-round tropical climate with high humidity and temperatures ranging from 26 to 34 degrees celcius (78-93 degrees farenheit).  Wear loose clothing in natural fibres if you want to avoid melting into a frazzled mess.

EATING

The rule of thumb here is to eat with the locals. Singapore offers an array of hipster cafes and fine dining restaurants but the local hawker centres are the best places to try authentic local cuisine.  For those suspicious of questionable food hygiene standards, look out for coloured placards which rate every stall from A (the best) to D (possible risk). Smith Street, Little India and Chinatown are places to look out for.

RULES

Singapore is one of the safest cities to visit in the world, due in part to its many laws and regulations which must be strictly adhered to.  Spitting in the street, smoking in public, littering (including sticking chewing gum on public property) will result in a fine.  Illegal drug taking is harshly punished. Smoking is banned in restaurants and clubs as well as within a fixed perimeter around public transport hubs and it is advised to seek out the yellow smokers’ boxes if you really need a smoke!

WATER

The tap water in Singapore is safe to drink so remember your refillable bottle and save the planet!

COMMUNICATION

Wi-fi can be expensive but it is easy to charge your devices as electrical plugs are the same configuration as in the UK.

TIPPING

Tipping for good service is not part of Singapore culture so staff will not expect a tip although it is obviously welcome if you wish to reward excellent service.  Smaller shops and hawkers usually charge a 7% goods and services tax and bars and restaurants often charge an additional 10% service charge (denoted on your bill with a ++ symbol).