Discover History and Art on International Museum Day 2008

Culture and history buffs, you’re going to love this: from May 31 to June 2, Singapore will be holding International Museum Day, a cultural event wherein the country’s 46 museums will be featuring 39 fun-filled events and activities all aiming to show that museums can be lively and just as interesting tourist destinations when you're visiting Singapore.

With the theme “Museums ALIVE!” the National Heritage Board of Singapore hopes to pique the interests of museum-goers young and old with unique activities such as cultural bus tours, calligraphy classes, and free visits to selected museums. Each day offers something new, and interested visitors can have their choice on what events to check out.

A convenient place to stay during your museum-hopping would be the Tekka Hotel located just near the Mustafa Centre Mall, and is minutes away from Singapore's Museum District. This nicely situated budget hotel offers easy access to Singapore's tourism and culture centers like the Veerama Kaliamman Temple, Sim Lim Square, and even the Singapore Zoo.

Another would be the Beach Hotel, also a lovely but affordable hotel that is just walking distance from Singapore's National Museum, St.Andrew's Cathedral, and the War Memorial. If you ever take a break from visiting your museums of choice, there's still lots of interesting places to go sight-seeing.

For more information on International Museum Day, visit their official site.

Shop 'Til You Drop at the Great Singapore Sale 2008

So you’re a shopaholic and you’ve decided to go crazy at the Great Singapore Sale this year. You‘ve got your credit card or hard-earned cash in hand, comfortable walking shoes on, and probably even a huge bag where you plan to stuff all your purchases in. You might even have a list of your target shopping venues so you can strategize how to go about your mission of finding the best bargains. There’s a determined look on your face; and if other people saw you, they might even think you’re ready for war.

Well soldier, you definitely have the makings of a plan! All the way until July 20 when the Great Singapore Sale closes, you have plenty of time to scour Singapore for those good finds. One other thing you might want to consider, though, is the place you’ll be staying when you need to take a break from your shopping excursion. A good Singapore hotel to choose would be one that’s near most of those target shopping venues on your list so you can conveniently drop off your haul, rest your feet for a while, then easily go right back out for another round of shopping.

If you plan on targeting the Mustafa Centre or Little India, ideal hotels to check in would be The Claremont Hotel, the Aspinals Hotel, and the Tekka Hotel. All three budget hotels offer affordable comfort and are conveniently located within the area and are all walking distance from these shopping hubs. The Farrer Park MRT Station is also just nearby, ready to shuttle you off to other shopping destinations like Orchard Road or Suntec City.

If you’re thinking of going to Bugis, the Marina or Raffles City, the Park View Hotel and the Beach Hotel would be good budget hotel choices, as they are located just a few blocks away from the Bugis Junction, reputed to have fine accessory finds. The Beach Hotel is also near Suntec City, known for their electronic goods. Both offer cozy, reasonably-priced rooms aside from the convenient location.

For more information on the Great Singapore Sale this year, visit their site to learn more about their tourist specials and coupon deals for those much appreciated discounts. Happy shopping!

A taste of Singapore: Comfort food at your comfort

Great holiday starts with great food. From May 23 to 27, the Singapore Food Expo will bring together what’s hot in Singapore cuisine to start off the tourist season in Singapore. Featuring a record-high number of 150+ exhibitors, the 9^th Singapore Food Expo is poised to showcase the widest selections of food and beverages now available in Singapore.

Also scheduled to top-bill the event are the kitchen products, condiments, and spices from local merchants. If there is an upcoming event in Singapore that combines shopping and food at their best, the Singapore Food Expo would be it.

The Singapore Food Expo will be held at Hall No. 5 of the Singapore Food Merchant Association, located at the Changi District in downtown Singapore. The trade fair is five minutes away from the airport, accessible by busses and MRT stations, and close to hotels and other accommodation providers in Singapore’s Changi District.

In anticipation of the Singapore Food Expo, accommodation providers in Singapore like the Harbour Ville Hotel open up an online reservation system where Singapore visitors can make reservations with instant confirmation.

Located at the Singapore Harbour Front, formerly World Trade Center, the Harbour Ville Hotel is a cheap and chic (boutique) hotel on the southern coast of Singapore. The Harbour Ville Hotel in Singapore is within the vicinity of the Harbourfront MRT and busses regularly ply the route so that moving around Singapore will not be a problem.

Each room at the Singapore Hotel of Harbour Ville is well-appointed, serene, and ready, providing a sharp counterpoint to the bustling city of Singapore. Also, the hotel location of Harbour Ville is convenient. For those really keen on food, the famous Maxwell Hawker Centre is just minutes away from the hotel. At Harbour Ville Hotel, great holiday starts with great food choices.

Experience Asia without leaving Singapore

Asia is a nice place to seek a change of scenery, different in one country, not the same in the next. Asia has everything for everyone, from its refreshing vacation spot to its captivating culture and cities far removed from the usual. What makes it an even better place is that you can experience Asia by being in only one country: Singapore.

One of Asia’s celebrated playgrounds, the tiny tropical island of Singapore offers a wide range of itinerary ideas. Visitors will find it convenient that the imported sand of thecelebrated Siloso Beach in Singapore is just minutes away from the shopping centers, cultural hubs, and modern theme parks across Singapore.

Added charms in Singapore can be found at the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and European districts that stand cheek-by-jowl to one another in downtown Singapore. From food to arts and crafts and entertainment, the melting pot of culture in Singapore takes visitors across Asia without leaving Singapore.

What to do

Get a high-rolling start on your Singapore vacation with the newly opened Singapore Flyer on Raffles Avenue. With its 165-meter top, the Singapore Flyer outsized the London Eye Ferris wheel and provides a 360-degree panoramic view of Singapore.

From the Singapore Flyer, one can see most of Singapore. Singapore’s playground, the Siloso Beach, lies on the southern coast while the city’s sky scrapers are up north. Each carriage is air-conditioned and UV-protected, really the nicest Singapore attraction that should be on anyone’s itinerary.

Below the Singapore Flyer is the street track for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, which is scheduled for flag-off on September. Already, though, there are shops in and around Raffles Avenue that will draw your attention.

After getting off from such great height, a good follow-up would be to get a fix for your shopping needs. Singapore visitors can take a walk or hop on a taxi to Suntec City, Mustafa Center, Little India, Chinatown, or to Orchard Road.

Don’t overindulge, though, because there remain the Siloso Beach and Mount Faber on a Singapore itinerary. Located 500 meters off the southern coast of Singapore, Sentosa Island can be reached through road, monorail, or cable car.

A good time to visit the island would be in the late afternoon, when life really starts in Sentosa. Must-sees in this vacation island include the travelator at the Underwater World, the Butterfly Park, and the Insect World.

Where to stay

Hotels are scarce and prime in Singapore all through the year, so that there is a good chance of getting a great value hotel if you book well in advance. Prime hotels in Singapore include those on Raffles Avenue and around Marina Bay, where midsize and big hotels stand next to one another.

Medium-size hotels in Singapore like the Claremont Hotel are located at the busy city center of Singapore. The Claremont Hotel in Singapore is located in front of the 24-hour shopping haven of Mustafa Center, 20 minutes from the Changi Airport, and is pretty much a walk away from many city attractions in Singapore.

The Marina Bay area, on the other hand, offers easy access to a bucket-and-spade holiday in Sentosa Island. Harbour Ville Hotel, a small boutique hotel in Singapore, offers convenient hotel accommodation south of Singapore. The Singapore hotel of Harbour Ville is right at the Harbour Front district, where cable cars offer a great way to reach the Sentosa Island.

In the middle of the Old World charm of the Singapore City Hall district is the Park View Hotel in Singapore’s Beach Road. Located 15 minutes from the airport, the Singapore Hotel of Park View offers guest convenience. Among other places of interest near their hotel in Singapore are the riverside plazas of Clark Quay, the Raffles City, and Little India.