Singapore Travel Blog

Experience the Excitement of the F1 Season at Cape Inn

2009-09-17T02:51:00.000-07:00

This September 25 to 27, Singapore will once again be a-buzz with anticipation for perhaps the most prestigious event in car racing: the 2009 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. With some of the best racers in the world coming over, local and visiting fans alike will surely be vying for the best seats in the house to see their idols get pitted against each other in healthy competition.

For those looking for a convenient place to stay during this significant event, Cape Inn is an ideal choice. The Singapore hotel places guests where all the action is, being just a five-minute drive from Orchard Road and just 10 minutes away from the MRT. With such a strategic location, going to the race circuit or just simply touring the city-state is made easy as the hotel is near pretty much everything.

Popular tourist attractions that are proximate to the hotel include Clark Quay, Esplanade, Rochester Park, Underwater World, Holland Village, Jurong Bird Park, Kampong Glam, Wala Wala, and the Sultan Mosque. There are also numerous dining and entertainment options to choose from like the Makansutra Food Safari, Club Street and Far East Square, and Eastcoast Parkway. For the shopping enthusiasts, there's Little India, Orchard Road, Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, Paragon Shoppine Centre, and Jurong. For the artsy crowd, there's the Singapore Art Museum, Chinatown Arts Belt, and the Waterloo Street Arts Belt. Indeed, guests will find it hard to run out of things to see and do during their stay.

Aside from its convenient location, Cape Inn takes pride in offering practical Singapore accommodations at affordable rates. Its cosy, modestly furnished guestrooms provide comfort that won't hurt the budget. Each air-conditioned room is equipped with basic amenities such as coffee and tea-making facilities, Internet connectivity, cable television, queen-sized bed, private toilet and bath with shower, mini-fridge, telephone with voicemail system, ironing board, and hair dryer.

This Singapore hotel also keeps its guests' safety as its top priority. Modern security features such as CCTV cameras are installed within the hotel premises, and electronic access cards are employed for room access instead of ordinary keys. Other practical services offered include airport and city transfers, currency exchange, wake-up calls, laundry, massage services, and an in-house restaurant for dining purposes.

To learn more about Cape Inn, visit its official website http://www.capeinn-singapore.com/, where you can also make direct reservations and get instant confirmation online.

The Claremont Hotel’s Great Long-Stay Package

2009-09-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

Planning a long vacation in Singapore soon? The Claremont Hotel is now offering its Great Long-Stay Package to guests that make reservations at the hotel until November.

Book five consecutive nights and enjoy the SGD 50 discount on all rooms in the Singapore hotel. From Super Single, Deluxe Double, Superior Triple and Deluxe Family Room, guests can pick the room that they want via an easy-to-use online reservation system available on the hotel website. Rates inclusive of all taxes, the special offer is available from August 28 to November 30, 2009. The promo also makes available daily breakfast for guests.

Rooms at The Claremont Hotel are equipped with air-conditioning, mini-bar, private toilet and bath, queen-sized bed, telephone, room safe, coffee/tea maker, and other amenities. Complimentary coffee and tea are provided.

This Singapore hotel also offers a variety of services. Laundry services, mail and postal services, car parking, faxing services and a 24-hour front desk will surely make guests’ stay more comfortable.

Invite your friends for an extended movie marathon or your loved one for that much needed bonding moment. The Claremont Hotel’s Great Long-Stay Package is the ideal promo for those that want to spend quality time with the people they care about.

For more information about The Claremont Hotel and its packages, visit http://www.claremont.com.sg.

YWCA Fort Canning Lodge Gives You Quality Accommodations For Less

2009-09-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking to visiting Singapore this week, then you’re in for a treat. YWCA Fort Canning Lodge is offering a Last-Minute Promo that entails you to get 10% off on your room reservation, if you book for a minimum of two (2) nights.

From 30 August to 03 September 2009, Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore is giving you discounted rates on any room of your choice. Choose among the hotel’s affordable rooms ranging from Standard with pools and park views, Deluxe, to Family suites. Fort Canning Lodge boasts of 175 rooms on 13 floors – all non-smoking and furnished with rich wood furniture.

Each room comes with colored TV, air-conditioning, private shower, hair dryer and room safe. Water and energy-saving devices, as well as safety devices for heat and smoke detection are also built into each room. To ensure your privacy, as well as the security of all hotel rooms and floors, you are given an electronic keycard upon check-in.

Fort Canning Lodge is owned and managed by YWCA of Singapore. The hotel is located on Orchard Road and is just a stone throw’s away from Singapore’s popular entertainment and shopping districts.

For hotel inquiries or for direct online reservations, log on to www.ywcafclodge.org.sg.

Feel the Need for Speed at the Singapore Grand Prix 2009

2009-08-14T01:48:00.000-07:00

Sure to be a scene that would rival the exhilarating car racing action sequences of the movie The Fast and the Furious the Singapore Grand Prix will once again attract racing enthusiasts everywhere next month. From September 25 to 27, 2009, the event will be one to remember, as the audience is treated to not only the adrenaline-inducing sights and sounds of race cars whizzing by, but the light spectacle that complements the circuit as well. With over 1500 light projects suspended over the tracks, people might want to bring their camera along to take photos of the lavishly designed event.

The circuit is five kilometers long, winding around Singapore’s famous landmarks such as the world’s biggest Ferris Wheel, the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade, and many more. Feel the rush with fellow F1 enthusiasts and marvel at the beauty of Singapore upon seeing the city’s breathtaking tourist attractions.

Travelers heading to Singapore to be a part of this exciting event don’t have to worry about where to stay. Ever since it was built in 2008, Happy Hotel-Spring has been a go-to place for visitors who value comfortable accommodations at low rates. The hotel is located in the vibrant district of Geylang, which is a food lover’s haven. The Geylang district is filled with establishments that serve one-of-a-kind and affordable dishes sure to enrich the appetite, such as Frog Legs Porridge. And sure, it may sound a little odd, but visitors shouldn’t miss out on getting a taste of authentic Singaporean cuisine.

The rooms are furnished with basic amenities such as a cable TV, private bath, and coffee/tea maker. Hair dryers and kettles are available upon request. The hotel also arranges tours and transportation for its guests so they will have an easier time getting around the city. The staff is always available to help guests with their accommodation needs because at Happy Hotel – Spring, the aim is to keep the customers happy.

After watching the exciting Singapore Grand Prix, travelers would be pleased to know that the hotel is located near Singapore’s areas of interest. A visit to local attractions such as Orchard Road, Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, Suntec City and Esplanade Theatre will surely enhance one's vacation.

For more information on this hotel and its direct online reservation system, visit www.happyhotel.com.sg

Celebrate Singapore National Day. Book at Fort Canning Lodge

2009-07-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

If you’re planning to fly to Singapore to celebrate National Day, then you’re in for a special treat. From August 8 to August 10, 2009, Fort Canning Lodge is offering a special “National Day Package” if you book the hotel’s Superior Room during the promo period.

The “National Day Package” is inclusive of daily breakfast, 2 launderette tokens, Internet usage, daily newspapers, “Singapore Sling” welcome drinks, free on-site parking, and special buffet lunch discounts at the hotel’s in-house restaurant The Coffee House. The hotel also gives you the option of late check-out until 2PM, subject to room availability.

Package rate is SGD 88.00/night and subject to 10% service charge and government tax.

Superior Rooms at Fort Canning Lodge come with air-conditioning, single/twin beds, colored TV, private showers, in-room safes, and hairdryers. Rooms are also equipped with water and energy-saving devices, as well as safety devices for heat and smoke detection. Electronic keycards are given to ensure your privacy, as well as the security of all hotel rooms and floors.

For inquiries about Fort Canning Lodge packages or for online bookings, log on to http://nof.ywca.org.sg/index.php.

Fly To Singapore and Get Great Discounts When you Book at Fort Canning Lodge

2009-07-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

Singapore is fast becoming a city known for its entertainment and nightlife. If you’re looking into checking out the Singapore scene this August, then book your stay at Fort Canning Lodge.

On August 2 and August 5, Fort Canning Lodge is giving discounted rates if you book the hotel’s Superior Room and/or Executive Room. Rooms at the hotel all come with air-conditioning, private showers, colored TV, hair dryers, and room safes. They are also equipped with safety and energy-saving devices for your security and peace of mind. For your privacy, the hotel will provide you with electronic keycards for secure access to your room and other hotel floors.

Fort Canning Lodge is located near Orchard Road and is owned and managed by the YWCA of Singapore. The hotel is just a stone’s throw away from various shopping and entertainment sites, so enjoying the luxuries of Singapore is a cinch. If you’re in Singapore for business, the Singapore Hotel has function rooms, exhibition halls and business facilities that should cater to your every business need.

For hotel inquiries or for direct online booking, log on to http://nof.ywca.org.sg/index.php.

Celebrate National Day at Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore

2009-07-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

National Day in Singapore will be exciting and eventful this year. Dazzling fireworks and colorful parades await those who are anticipating the occasion this coming August 9, and Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore will not be left behind in treating its guests extra special during the long weekend.

From August 7 to 10, 2009, the Singapore hotel is offering guests some big discounts and other perks with its National Day promo. With the attractive new deal, guests that make a minimum two-night reservation for the hotel's Standard Queen accommodations for two persons will pay only the discounted rate of SGD160 net and get two hours of free Internet usage, daily breakfast (except on Sundays), and the option to upgrade to Superior Rooms for an additional SGD10 per room night.

A convenient base for those looking forward to the fireworks display and parade this August, Harbour Ville Hotel is a business and economy class accommodation located just minutes away from local attractions and the Central Business District of Singapore. It provides comfortable yet elegant guest rooms at very reasonable rates, all of which come complete with modern amenities such as air conditioning, private toilet and bath, cable TV, Internet access, coffee and tea-making facilities, and telephone with IDD.

Facilities and services of the boutique hotel in Singapore include a mini gym room, housekeeping services, free parking, laundry and dry cleaning, and the in-house Snack Cafe, which serves freshly prepared breakfast and brewed coffee or tea daily, among many others.

For more information on Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore and its National Day promo, visit http://www.harbourvillehotel.com/.

Revisit Singapore’s Colorful Past at Fort Canning

2009-07-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Fort Canning Park is one of the most prominent parks in Singapore. It is widely regarded as the cultural and artistic hub in the industrial city-state. Previously called Bukit Larangan, which means “Forbidden Hill” in Malay, the park is reminiscent of Singapore’s rich colonial past. Remnants of ancient fortresses and other relics have recently been unearthed, affirming earlier suggestions that the hill used to serve as a final resting place of Malay kings. In World War I, Fort Canning was used as a strategic military base.

The tiny patch of land that is Fort Canning Park offers tourists relaxation and interesting discoveries amidst the busy and modern city-state. With a history dating back up to 700 years, a day’s tour in Fort Canning is sure to leave visitors awestruck and nostalgic of the not so distant past.

Aside from interesting historic sites like the 14^th Century Walk, the Fort Gate, the tomb of revered Temasek leader Iskandar Syah, an archaeological site, and Parit Singapura (“Moat of Singapore”), tourists can also enjoy relaxing views of Singapore River, which used to be an important trade channel for ancient Singapore and where the Singapore Stone once stood.

Other must-see places at Fort Canning Hill include the Spice Garden, a botanical garden proposed by Nathaniel Wallich in 1882. The Raffles Terrace, which housed a long line of governors, provided magnificent views of the township in the 19^th century. The Battle Box is another place sure to rouse the interest of bold explorers. Found nine meters underground, it used to be a big military operations complex operated by the Malaya Command Headquarters.

Fort Canning Park allows for various activities like bird watching, dining, exercise, and guided tours. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna – a true sanctuary for the city dweller. The park also forms a sloped bowl for outdoor events like concerts and cultural shows. Bands like Muse and Beastie Boys have given performances at the park, which has also hosted Singfest and WOMAD, the largest music festival in Singapore. The venue can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

The park has also become a popular venue for garden weddings. It is located close to the Registry of Marriages so the sight of ceremonies and receptions is also commonplace at Fort Canning Park. The hill also houses the Singapore Dance Theater and Flutes at the Fort. Park management hosts the Heritage & Nature Guided Walk to accompany tourists in revisiting Singapore’s colorful past. The free guided tours begin at the courtyard, Fort Canning Center, and last for one to two hours.

Visitors wishing to establish closer communion to nature, culture, and history also have the option to reserve accommodations within the complex. One accommodation provider is the Fort Canning Lodge, which also gives access to the commercial district along Orchard Road. The hotel offers mid-priced yet elegant accommodations to leisure and business travelers. For more information on Singapore accommodations, visit www.ywcafclodge.org.sg.

Enjoy Discounted Rates with YWCA Fort Canning Lodge's Superior Room Package

2009-05-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Guests at YWCA Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore are in for some big savings when they reserve the hotel's Superior Single or Twin rooms this year.

With the hotel's new Superior Room Package, guests who reserve a minimum of two (2) nights' stay at the hotel's Superior Single or Twin rooms will enjoy the discounted rate of only SGD 113.00++ per room per night, inclusive of breakfast. The discounted rate is subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government tax. This promo is valid until September 24, 2009.

YWCA Fort Canning Lodge's Superior rooms all come complete with air-conditioning, electronic key card locks, colour TV with cable channels, telephone with IDD service, broadband Internet access, in-room fridge and safe, private toilet and shower facilities, hairdryer, heat detection safety devices, energy and water-saving devices, and 220-volt sockets - easily assuring guests of a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Other hotel features and services include an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, meeting and banquet facilities, a gift shop, high speed Internet access anywhere within the hotel, travel and tour assistance, laundry and dry cleaning services, 24-hour security, and The Coffee House restaurant which serves local, Chinese, Thai, and Western cuisine.

For more information on YWCA Fort Canning Lodge and its Superior Room Package promo, visit http://www.ywcafclodge.org.sg.

Experience the Ultimate Valentine’s at The Treasure Resort Sentosa

2009-01-20T22:25:00.000-08:00

Indulge your significant other to a Valentine they’ll never forget. Bring your loved one to the Treasure Resort Sentosa and treat them to a romantic Valentine package. Wow him/her with a four course candlelight dinner, a ride on the cable car to Sentosa, or a tour of the Song of the Sea and Cineblast or Underwater World and Lagoon attractions, and a two (2) days and one (1) night stay at a Deluxe or Premier Room.

Enjoy a truly romantic moment with a scrumptious dinner at the Treasure Bistro or privately in your room. The four course dinner consists of a Caesar salad and grilled chicken breast as a starter, butter nut pumpkin soup with rock lobster avocado, and a choice of either pan-fried treadfin fillet with lemon butter sauce with a side of grilled potatoes and sautéed vegetables or grilled rib eye served on grilled asparagus with sautéed vegetables and topped with a red wine reduction as the main course. Finally, end the night on a sweet note with a cleverly coined dessert, the Adam and Eve Slice of Life.

Sitting elegantly atop a gentle slope, the Treasure Resort can be found right beneath the Merlion where lovers can take leisurely walks along the Merlion walk as the sun sets in the distance. The 1940s colonial architecture also adds a touch of romance in the air to this Sentosa resort.

For those looking for a more exciting Valentine, the Treasure Resort is just five minutes away from the Siloso Beach and minutes away from the Imbiah station and the Sentosa light rail. Going to the Sentosa 4D Magix, Singapore Cable car, Carlsberg Sky Tower, Butterfly Park and Insect kingdom, Images of Singapore and the Songs of the Sea from the resort only takes a short walking distance.

Treasure Resort Sentosa in Singapore offers this Valentine Package from February 13 to 16. For more information and other packages, log on to http://www.treasure-resort.com/.

A Beginner’s Guide to Sentosa

2008-10-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati ("The Island After Death" in Malay) Sentosa Island is popular among native Singaporeans and tourists as Singapore’s quick island getaway.

The island’s best attractions are undoubtedly its beaches, with several man-made attractions as well. While a large number of these attractions are viewed by the general public as overpriced, Sentosa is currently in the midst of a multi-billion construction program that will bring a Universal Studios theme park to the island, among other things.

Getting There
As the island is a mere 15 minutes away from Singapore’s city centre, visitors have several options on how to get there—by walking, taking the cab, the bus, or the monorail. The cheapest by far, however, is to take the North-East MRT to Harbour Front, and from there the Sentosa Express monorail (found on the 3rd level of Vivocity). All-day tickets are priced at SGD3, which includes the price of admission to the island.

The Sights and Sounds of the Island
Take the cable car to Imbiah Lookout, home to various attractions such as the Merlion, the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Sentosa 4D Magix, Tiger Sky Tower, Sentosa Luge & Skyride, Sentosa Cineblast, and Images of Singapore.
Savour local cuisine the likes of the Nonya Lobster Laksa and the Jumbo Satay at Tastes of Singapore. Other restaurants such as Barnacles Restaurant & Bar, The Cliff, the Il Lido, and the Samundar are also worth a visit.
Meanwhile, those who require a spot of relaxation can visit Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, the Spa Botanica, Rasa Sentosa Resort, and the Underwater World.
One more thing to catch before ending a day at Sentosa is Songs of the Sea, a multi-million dollar water show that features a live cast, pyrotechnics, water jets, lasers, and computer-generated imagery.

Where to Stay
While the island has a reputation for being overpriced, Sentosa has many accommodation options that will fit discerning travelers’ needs. The island currently has three spas and six hotels/resorts, one of which is the Treasure Resort, slated as one of the island’s premiere leisure and recreational destinations. The resort is the embodiment of old-world charm with a touch of modern comfort, and is ideally located at the heart of Sentosa Island.

Celebrate the 2009 Chinese Year of the Ox at The Claremont Hotel

2008-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Preparations for the Chinese New Year of Ox in 2009 begin months in advance so that the celebrations are observed in splendor and brilliance. The Chinese communities in towns or cities often hold dragon dances, parades and other festivities that are open to the public.

To prepare for the Chinese New year, The Claremont Hotel in Singapore is offering guests a Chinese New Year Holiday package. Guests can choose from Superior Single, Deluxe Double, Superior Triple, and Deluxe Family Rooms during the Chinese New Year Holidays.

Holiday rates are:

Superior single – SGD 280
Deluxe double – SGD 300
Superior triple – SGD 330
Deluxe family – SGD 370

The Chinese New Year package celebrates the Year of the Ox and the culture and diversity that Singapore has to offer. Guests planning to stay at The Claremont Hotel from January 25 to 30 for three days and two nights can avail of lower rates through early resevations. The holiday promo begins as early as October and ends on December 1 of this year.

Claremont Hotel readily provides holiday makers with the perfect accommodation type and excellent hotel services. The 90 rooms are fitted with air-conditioning, private toilet and bath, a mini-bar and other conveniences much needed by every guest. Each is designed to offer everything: from a luxurious business retreat to a cozy home. Every vacation and holiday is made special at The Claremont Hotel.

Besides top-quality accommodations, guests of the hotel can also enjoy the local cuisines and unique food culture of Singapore. The room service menu features South Indian, North Indian, and Chinese cuisines

Guests can avail of the Chinese New Year early bird promo through The Claremont Hotel’s secure and guest-friendly online reservation service which gives the flexibility of choosing rooms within a specific budget and preference. Guests of The Claremont Hotel are also guaranteed the lowest rates online.

What every F1 fan should know about Singapore

2008-08-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

There is an air of unmistakable excitement in Singapore as the country heads into the opening night of the 2008 Formula1 Grand Prix on September 28. It will be the first F1 race to run at nighttime and on a street circuit, so expect many surprises from the Singapore GP than you will normally expect from previous F1 Grand Prix. This is going to be a part of motor racing history.

Come get-go time on September 28 Singapore will be overflowing with both F1 fans and tourists alike. Before the frenzy start, here are Singapore must-knows that every visitors ought to know. As part of our F1 Grand Prix coverage, the Singapore Travel Blog gives this essential introductory guide to Singapore and 2008 Formula1 SG races:

General Travel Information—The Singapore Changi Airport is one of the more technologically advanced air terminals in Asia. With the opening recently of the state-of-the-art Terminal-3 of Changi Airport, Singapore has lessened passenger gridlock at its airport and is able to clear tourists off the immigration from 15 to 20 minutes after they leave their flights. So that you can zoom-zoom faster out of the terminal and into your hotel in Singapore for the Formula1 races, be sure to be ready with these travel documents (must be met prior to arrival):

1. A passport with at least six months validity

2. Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Singapore

3. Confirmed onward/return tickets (where applicable)

4. Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.

5. Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate*

*if you are from any of these countries that are endemic for Yellow Fever.

Hotel, Inn, and other Accommodation—The Marina Bay area has a handful of hotels that will get you near the action of the Formula1 races. Most of these hotels, like the Ritz Carlton, are on the southeastern side of the city. Another vantage point in Singapore is the Bras Basah Road and Orchard Road, which forms the retail and hotel ‘heart’ of the city. Here you can find the Raffles Hotel as well as a cluster of other less-priced hotels.

A little further West from the city center are places of interests such as Chinatownl Little India, the Robertson Quay eating and leisure area, among others. There are also a slew of resort-type hotels on Sentosa Island south of the city and linked by a causeway and cable cars. Below is a list of hotels in Singapore, from three- to five-star hotels, worth checking out:

Cape Inn Singapore
Singapore Beach Hotel
Harbour Ville Hotel
Joo Chiat Hotel
Park View Hotel
Treasure Sentosa Resort
YWCA Singapore Hotel
Tekka Hotel
The Aspinals Hotel
The Ambassador Hotel

Transportation, Communication—From the airport, the Marina Bay area where the races will be held is about 20 minutes away by taxi. It is not a major problem to look for taxis in Singapore. They are cheap and easily available. Taxis are on call 24 hours a day at the taxi stand of the airport departure gate and it normally costs around SGD 20.

A number of hotels also offer shuttle service that serves two or three hotels at a time. Information on fares and availability can be had from the hotel itself. Another way to travel around Singapore is the country’s MRT system.

The East-West line of the system runs from the airport to the city center of Singapore and it normally takes 30 minutes to cover the entire route. The East-West line is connected to the North-South line at the City Hall station. From here you can access the Orchard road area.

Single fare tickets from the airport costs SGD 1.50. If you intend to use the MRT system often, the Singapore Tourist Center website offers transportation packages for unlimited travel on buses and MRT.

For your communication needs, there are wi-fi internet services in Singapore that serve most of the city center. Public areas in the city are hooked up to wireless@sg that gives wireless broadband access with speeds of up to 512 kbps. Also, most GSM and 3G mobile phone services are supported provided you have the necessary international roaming account.

Discover History and Art on International Museum Day 2008

2008-05-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

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.

Get Your Culture Fix at the 2008 Singapore Arts Festival

2008-04-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

If you ever find yourself yearning for a taste of the arts in Singapore this May and June, then you are in for quite a treat. The Singapore Arts Festival will be held at various venues around the metro from May 23 to June 22, 2008, showcasing the most eclectic mix of local, regional, and international works. Known for being appreciative of innovative artistic endeavors, the annual Arts Festival in Singapore promises to deliver the finest in the fields of dance, music, theater, and visual art, featuring both Asian and international world-class artists.

The various shows and exhibits will be held at several venues all over Singapore, and so it would be wise to familiarize yourself with the very efficient train system to get yourself to the event of your choice. Just as wisely, it would be good to find a comfortable but cheap hotel that enables easy access to most of the places that the festival will be held at, such as the Claremont Singapore Hotel. Located at the heart of Little India, opposite of the huge Mustafa Centre shopping mall, it is just a minute’s walk away from the Farrer Park MRT Station.

Ideal for business and vacationing travelers, this particular Singapore hotel offers affordable accommodations without sacrificing topnotch service and quality facilities. Quite favored for its proximity to the local attractions, the Claremont Hotel will allow you to fully enjoy your stay as you hop around Singapore, shopping and sightseeing, and of course, checking out the various cultural events offered by the Arts Festival.

For tickets and bookings to the Singapore Arts Festival, get in touch with the SISTIC Authorized Agents and Hotline at +65 63485555 or visit their site.

Around Singapore… with a fork

2008-04-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

The World Gourmet Summit is one event in Singapore where all people speak the same language, the language of food. So leave the travel brochures home. If you are in Singapore this spring, a fork may be what you’ll need to get a taste of the island.

Where to go

Pierre Herme Culinary Master Class, April 19, Singapore Tourism Board Auditorium—Find out what makes this pastry shop in France one of the famous in the world. Each of the Pierre Herme master chefs in Singapore will be conducting a cooking demonstration and prepare their signature dishes for the Singapore audience.

An evening with Curtis Stone, April 21, Pan Pacific Singapore—Get your dose of the Take Home Chef from Discovery Travel and Living when the 2008 World Gourmet Summit presents celebrity chef Curtis Stone. Singapore visitors will be treated to a private dinner with the TV show host, and get a chance to get intimate with some of his culinary secrets and gastronomic creations.

An Evening with Anne-Sophie Pic, April 25, Grand Hyatt Singapore—One of the only three female chefs in Germany to receive a Michelin rating, Anne-Sophie Pic is scheduled to work on her fish specialties and signature dishes. Backed by the culinary team of Grand Hyatt Singapore, An Evening with Anne-Sophie Pic guarantees that only the crème de la crème will be served at the table.

Where to stay

The World Gourmet Summit is scheduled throughout April in select venues across Singapore. Singapore visitors will find it easy to go to the summit events via the Singapore MRT. Singapore hotel that fringe one of the key MRT stations in the island is the Park View hotel in Singapore.

Located at Beach Road in the Bugis District, the Park View Hotel offers affordable convenience at one of Singapore’s busiest and oft-visited districts. Park View Hotel is 5 minutes from the Bugis MRT, near the City Hall area, and on a location commonly plied by buses.

With 88 well-appointed rooms available, the Singapore hotel of Park View gives budget hotel accommodations a touch of discreet luxury. Intimate and snug, each room provides escape from the hassles of city life that Singapore guests will find sufficient and satisfactory.

Park View Hotel
81 Beach Road
Singapore 189692

Singapore Guide to 2008 Spring Fashion and Music Festival

2008-03-09T23:41:00.000-07:00

Nurture culture in Singapore this March with a dose of these musical, fashion, and arts festivals lined up across different events destinations in Singapore. From fashion shows to musical performances and arts festival, Singapore plays host to the following spring events this season of the arts in Singapore.

Singapore Fashion Festival—Top designers and international models come to Singapore for fashion exhibitions and club parties presented by the 2008 Singapore Fashion Festival. Scheduled from March 28 to April 6, the Singapore Fashion Festival brings not only the biggest names in the international fashion industry, but also the season’s hottest buys straight off the runways of New York, Paris and Milan. For fashion show and club party schedules, visit the 2008 SFF website.

Getting There—The 2008 Singapore Fashion Festival is scheduled to hold exhibitions and parties at different events destinations in Orchard Road and Somerset areas. MRT Stations NS22 in Orchard and NS23 in Somerset bring Singapore visitors to the fashion festival, or the hotels in Singapore’s nearby Fort Canning area like the YWCA Singapore Hotel. The shows and parties across Singapore are for free unless those specified as By Invitation only.

Singapore Mosaic Music Festival—Now on its fifth year, the Singapore Mosaic Music Festival features different genres of live music performances from March 7 to 16 at the Singapore Esplanade. The 10-day music festival in Singapore promises to be as comprehensive in its scope as it has ever been with scheduled performances from top artists in Jazz, Indie, Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, and many others. Highlight of the festival is scheduled on Saturday, March 15, as simultaneous performances takes center stage at the Singapore Esplanade:

House of Blues II, Singapore Esplanade theater studio
Yanokami with Akiko Yano and Rei Harakami, Singapore Esplanade recital studio
Nanu and The Disclaimers, Singapore esplanade Concourse

Getting There—The Esplanade Concert Hall is located near the MRT City Hall Station. Singapore visitors will find the Singapore Esplanade easily accessible from different MRT stations and bus stops across Singapore, or from hotels in the area that offer convenient hotel accommodation like the ParkView Hotel in Singapore’s Beach Road. Tickets for the music festival are available online at the mosaic music online store in Singapore.

We Will Rock You Singapore—From British comic writer Ben Elton comes the musical discography of rock band Queen scheduled from March 28 to April 13 at the Singapore Esplanade Concert Hall. Starring New Zealand’s pop princess Annie Crummer and Rockstar: INXS finalist Mig Ayesa, We Will Rock You reprises in Singapore one of theater’s most successful musical about the legendary Freddie Mercury and Brian May band whose hits include the Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Killer Queen, Another One Bites The Dust and This Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Getting There—The Esplanade Concert Hall is located at the City Hall area in Singapore, and can be accessed through the MRT City Hall Station, CityBuzzTM routes C1, C2, and C3, and numbered busses that go to the Clark Quay in Singapore. Visitors on a short stay in Singapore can find hotel accommodations in Singapore’s Beach Road area, or near the Ferrer Park MRT at the Aspinals Hotel in Singapore. For show schedules and ticket information, visit the Singapore Tourism Board.

F1 Grand Prix: Something great is happening in Singapore

2008-02-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

In the runup to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, events organizer Singapore GP announces that it will be releasing 70,000 tickets and official passes on Feb. 14 at 9 am (Singapore time GMT+8). The first batch of Singapore GP tickets will consist of 15,000 walkabout passes and 55,000 grandstand seats at strategic locations throughout the circuit.

Where to get tickets

Three-day passes to the Singapore GP are priced from S$168 (walkabout) to S$1,388 (Premier Pit Grandstand). They include a separate ticket for each race day and can be used by three different people over the three days. However, tickets cannot be interchangeable on the same day.

All prices include the relevant processing fee and Goods and Services Tax. Singapore GP patrons will receive a printed confirmation at the time of the booking, which they can then use in June to claim the plastic commemorative tickets and lanyard currently on hold for security reason.

Singapore GP bookings can be made through OmniTicket Network outlets located at Forum Shopping Centre, Marina Square Shopping Centre, and Singapore Visitors Centre at Orchard Road, or via Singapore GP sales counters at post offices across the island.

Online, F1 patrons can log on to the official Singapore Grand Prix website for tickets reservation, seating chart, grandstand descriptions, and details on the historic F1 races at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Where to sleep

Singapore GP is set to break cover on a street circuit around the Marina Bay area. With downtown Singapore as backdrop, spectators get a glimpse of the exotic garden city of Singapore with its quaint mix of historical landmarks and modern-day buildings.

Marina Bay is the district in Singapore that flanks the sheltered waters off the Raffles Boulevard, Beach Road, and Esplanade Drive. Across the district are Singapore hotels that range from budget to luxury.

The Singapore Beach Hotel on Beach Road offers room-per-night as well as long-term hotel accommodation at special rates, which can be luxuriously economical for the lengthy schedule of Singapore GP events.

Over at downtown Singapore, where Singapore GP fever is most likely to be evident on island residents, Singapore visitors can opt to stay at the upscale classic accommodations of Claremont Hotel in Singapore.

The hotel in Singapore of Claremont is in the vicinity of Farrer Park, near in the heart of Singapore while accessible from the rest of the island through the Farrer Park MRT Station.

Need a crib near enough to feel the rush of Singapore GP yet not isolating from other must-sees in Singapore? YWCA Singapore offers its Fort Canning Lodge to Singapore visitors looking for rooms within reach.

The YWCA Singapore Hotel is located on the outskirts of the Fort Canning Park, adjacent to Orchard Road that leads to downtown Singapore, and to Fort Canning Road that heads toward the get-go flag of Singapore SG at Raffles Boulevard.

What to expect

The 5-km street circuit of Singapore GP features wide tracks and sharp turns that can only make overtaking and cornering all the more electrifying. At 300 kph on average, F1 entries from Ferrari to Mercedes will rev up in the heart of Singapore’s garden city with the charming blend of old and new buildings in the background.

The 2008 F1 Singapore GP races are scheduled to run at nighttime, so expect the Marina Bay area in Singapore to be bathed in light at night and exude an impression of a city full of activities that it never sleeps. Clark Quay and the Esplanade are just around the corner, so expect as well a zoom-zooming nightlife well into sunup.

How great cuisine and fine wine can cook up a unique dining experience in Singapore at the 2008 World Gourmet Summit

2008-02-04T00:17:00.000-08:00

Wine and food make every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, and every day more civilized. As in any attempt at sophistication, however, there is art in mixing and matching food and wine, which if followed ignorantly can leave a bad taste in the mouth.

It used to be that white wine is paired with fish and chicken, and red wine is partnered with meat and game. The rule, however, is no longer cast in stone and from April 7 to 28, gourmet luminaries across the world are scheduled to showcase new ideas on food and wine cultures as the 2008 World Gourmet Culture kicks off in the “island spice” of Singapore.

Host to the 2008 World Gourmet Summit, Singapore relives its glory days as the premier trading post on the Asian spice route as the celebrations of the gourmet summit gather the big names in the food industry and conduct workshops and luncheons for the benefit of food aficionados in Singapore.

Masterchefs and Good Life celebs Curtis Stone and Ian Wright, as well as renowned Singapore hoteliers are set to grace the 2008 World Gourmet Summit in Singapore with a one-night-only presentation on how to create a unique gastronomic experience from choice food and wine.

A gala dinner on April 11 will feature the first growth of Spanish wines for the season—a must-see for every wine aficionado. On April 12, a special luncheon will be held to commemorate the best in the food and beverage industry. Billed as the “Oscars” of food and wine, the World Gourmet Summit aims to keep Singapore visitors in the loop of the latest industry trends.

The 2008 World Gourmet Summit spans across Singapore, hopping from one luxury hotel to another in order to provide an industry-wide conference on the gourmet culture. With a carefully selected hotel in Singapore, one can follow each event of the World Gourmet Summit easily.

HarbourVille Hotel, a chic and cheap hotel in Singapore that offers convenience and comfort to every Singapore visitor, is located at Harbourfront Singapore and can be an ideal jump-off point to follow the 2008 World Gourmet Summit in Singapore.

At Harbourfront, Singapore guests gain easy access to the MRT system and bus transport lines of Singapore. The Singapore hotel of HarbourVille leads not only to the gourmet summit, but to the two most civilized things in the world as well: food and wine.

Because food and wine need more than a tongue and a stomach for appreciation, there is no set formula in pairing a good food and a fine wine for a unique dining experience. And such element of ambiguity, as in the case of the arts, casts a light on the gourmet culture now shining in Singapore.

YWCA Singapore bids good luck with Lunar yusheng treats

2008-01-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

Fancy eating a salad of raw fish? You might get lucky doing so according to Chinese legends. But, with a sumptuous mélange of spices and plum sauce, luck or no luck this Chinese New Year treat is a must-have for even the most philistine and discriminating of delicacy buffs.

Called yusheng in local parlance, the raw fish salad treat is introduced in Singapore by 19^th century Chinese settlers from the coastal towns of South China. These seafaring men and women depended on the sea for their fortunes, and gave thanks to the sea by offering the most elaborate seafood treat they had to a Chinese female deity known as Nuwo.

The Chinese dish consist of fish strips, most commonly salmon or ikan parang, and mixed with shredded vegetables and fermented sauce mixes to enchanting effect. Due to the labor-intensive requisite of preparing a Singapore yusheng, the dish has traditionally been served in Chinese-majority countries like Singapore only on special occasions and dates like the Chinese New Year.

Yusheng is a popular dish in Singapore hotels and restaurants. By tradition at the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge in Singapore, families would gather around the table of yusheng and on cue, would toss the shredded bits of the dish into the air while exclaiming auspicious wishes. This practice has given the name “Traditional Toss” to a dish of yusheng.

From January 28 to February 8, the hotel in Singapore of YWCA Fort Canning Lodge offers Chinese New Year yusheng packages at the hotel’s Coffee House restaurant. The traditional yusheng toss comes with salmon and ikan parang varieties. Each set is available for up to 10 persons and can be availed at the Singapore hotel from 12 pm to 8:30 pm.

In addition to the traditional yusheng toss, the Singapore YWCA Fort Canning Lodge likewise offers reunion and celebration packages during the Chinese New Year season. For details on the Chinese New Year Specials at YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, you can visit their Singapore hotel website. Located at Fort Canning Park, the YWCA Hotel in Singapore can get you tossed to prosperity this Chinese New Year.

Singapore welcomes spring with bang of Chinese New Year

2008-01-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

Singapore in spring, a time of year when it warms significantly throughout the island, when Singaporeans live through longer days and shorter nights, and when even the flowers can’t help but bloom in anticipation of the forthcoming summer.

Spring, it’s no surprise that they write songs about it, and why the whole of Singapore is upbeat in welcoming the arrival of spring through the monthlong celebrations of the “Singapore Spring Festival,” or Chun Jie in Mandarin, the Chinese New Year.

Of course, it is a New Year’s celebration that is not without a touch of the local colors of Singapore. The 2008 Singapore Spring Festival is set to bring to Singapore streets the traditional Chinese New Year festivities of lion dances, gigantic floats of Chinese mythology characters, and daily lineups of cultural presentations.

Easiest way for Singapore visitors to follow the track of the Chinese New Year festivities is through the island-nation’s MRT system, where cultural centers like The Esplanade and Marina Bay are accessible, and where Singapore hotels and room providers sit most conveniently near.

The Bugis district in Singapore is one of the major tourist hubs in the island that is oft-visited due to its accessibility and convenience. The district has its own MRT station in Bugis, a string of cheap and chic hotels in Singapore, and a wide variety of island attractions.

For a Singapore hotel in Bugis, there is the Singapore Tourism Board-decorated hotel of the Singapore Beach Road at the junction of Liang Seah St. and Beach Road. Designed to give Singapore visitors a modern, cosy hotel room accommodation right in the heart of the Singapore CBD, the Beach Road hotel in Singapore provides a warm safe haven and at the same time hooks up hotel guests with the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Center of the celebrations is at the Singapore Chinatown, turned festive and elaborate this spring with colorful lanterns and fireworks displays. Here, the usual Chinese goodies and more are in stock to give Singapore visitors a New Year splurge for some retail therapy.

Simultaneous Spring Festival events are likewise scheduled from Feb. 5 to 16 at the “River Hongbao” float in The Esplanade Park in Singapore, where the highly wrought Chinese myths and legends are set to come alive through the arts.

Highlight of the Chinese New Year exposition will be the Performing Arts Group of Tibet, which have been invited to Singapore in an attempt to make the 2008 Singapore Spring Festival truly unique.

Capping off the celebrations is the Chingay Parade of DreamS on Feb. 16, expected to flood the Marina Bay area in Singapore with a sea of vibrant floats, sequined customes, and psychedelic sights and sounds to put Singapore in a party mode.

For inquiries and hotel reservation requests, Singapore visitors can go to the following websites:

http://www.beachhotel.com.sg/
Singapore Beach Hotel
Beach Road cor. Liang Seah St.,
Bugis, Singapore

http://www.visitsingapore.com/cny/index.html
Chinese New Year 2008
Tourist line: 1-800-736-2000

Switchfoot dares you to move, Singapore!

2008-01-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

For one night only US alt-rock band Switchfoot performs in Singapore as part of their Oh Gravity world tour. The concert, scheduled on Jan. 31 at the Max Pavilion of the Singapore Expo, marks the first time Switchfoot brings its Gospel music and highly energetic performances to Singapore.

“Given the band’s immense popularity and diverse range of fans, Switchfoot fans here [in Singapore] have waited far too long for the band to come perform [live],” said Wake Me Up Music productions manager Jon Hemsley.

The Switchfoot concert will likewise mark the first performance of an international act at the Singapore Expo. Equipped with top-end audio-video systems and state-of-the-art lighting, the Max Pavilion of the Singapore Expo is considered the future of concert halls.

Located at corner Changi Road and Xilin Avenue, the Singapore Expo is a landmark in Singapore for its impressive structural design and modern architecture. The site, however, proved inaccessible to most Singaporeans and only with the opening of the Expo MRT Station did the Singapore Expo gained prominence as the premier events destination in Singapore.

The Expo MRT Station connects the Singapore Expo to key commercial districts in Singapore where visitors can find a hotel room. One such district is the Bugis locale in central Singapore, which features a budget boutique hotel called the Singapore Beach Hotel.

The Singapore Beach Hotel is blocks away from the Bugis MRT, which links its part of Singapore to the Max Pavilion in Changi Road. As an alternative to the MRT, buses likewise ply the route of the Bugis district, with bus numbers 12, 24, 38, 35, and NR7 to take every Singapore visitor to the expansive complex of the Singapore Expo. The Singapore concert of Switchfoot is priced from S$70, S$80, to S$90, and features front acts that include the Fire Fight and West Grand Boulevard. For tickets and reservation inquiries contact:

Beach Hotel Singapore
http://www.beachhotel.com.sg/

Singapore SISTIC
www.sistic.com.sg

Wake Me Up Music Singapore
http://www.wakemeupmusic.com/switchfoot/

Sound-and-sight New Year’s delight at Sentosa, Singapore

2007-12-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

New Year’s Eve is like any other night. There is no pause in the march of the universe. And not even the promise of a fresh new year can get in its way. Yet nobody has quite the same thoughts on New Year’s Eve as on other nights. It is, after all, the fittest time for festal cheer.

So ring out the old and ring in the new. Wherever you are this New Year’s Eve let us give a warm welcome to the coming year and see the first sunrise of 2008. It is an event not to be missed and best shared with other people. And there is no better place in Singapore to do just that than in the southern island of Sentosa.

Located at the southern tip of Singapore, Sentosa Island is surrounded by the skies and cannot be in a lovelier position to have a grand view of 2008’s first light. What’s more, the strip of Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island in Singapore is throwing a sundown-to-sunup bash for the New Year.

Dubbed Asia’s Grooviest, the Siloso Beach Party on Sentosa Island promises to be a fitting start for the New Year. Aside from the usual Singapore staples of outdoor carnivals and theme parks, the Siloso Beach Party is likewise set to gather the big names in the Singapore club circuit to spread the cheer and liven up the Sentosa party scene.

Sentosa Island is a bus ride away from the city center of Singapore, or a spectacularly cable car ride away from Harbour Front, Singapore. Sentosa visitors can look up for a budget hotel in Singapore at Harbour Front for ease of access to the island, or a chic Singapore hotel right in the heart of Sentosa.

Located at 512 Kampong Bahru Road in Singapore, the Harbour Ville Hotel puts guests to the city center of Singapore, while keeping the holiday island of Sentosa within arm’s length through the shuttle bus, MRT, and cable car stations available near the hotel.

In Sentosa Island, on the other hand, guest can opt to stay near the famous landmark of Singapore: The Merlion. Sitting on the gentle slope beneath the famous Singapore statue is the Treasure Resort in Sentosa.

The Treasure Resort in Sentosa is more than a place to stay in Singapore. With a hotel view that looks out to the Siloso Beach, well-appointed rooms, and a prime entertainment location, the resort in Sentosa of Swiss-run Treasure Singapore has all the works for a grand New Year bash.

Wherever you are coming from in Singapore, Sentosa Island can get you ready for the New Year with DJ Shy and DJ Rough at the controls, and their distinct Commercial and Funk beats as prelude to the grand midnight bash. At 12 it’s time for another thrill: The grand Sentosa Beach Party fireworks.

But the party doesn’t stop there. Right after the fireworks display are the feature performances of Incognito, DJ Jensen, and DJ Kavan. Scheduled until 6 a.m. of Jan 1, the Siloso Beach Party is rightfully the event in Singapore that can give you a look at the first light of 2008.

“Chaos in Motion” in Singapore on Jan 17

2007-12-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Knowing where to go, progressive rock band Dream Theater used to have the luxury of walking though experimentation, even if that meant producing an album that was a considerable deviation both in sound and style from what many critics considered their seminal work in 1994’s Awake.

Now the rock impresarios from New York are back, with a brand-new record that sounds more like Dream Theater than their past two albums combined. Theirs was not a case of making up for lost time. Dream Theater fathered the genre and they could move it anywhere they choose. Only now, both Dream Theater and the progressive-rock scene are moving to the same direction.

Nobody might be willing to call the new Dream Theater album a masterpiece. But with traces of Awake and a refined sound of Scenes from a Memory, the new Dream Theater album Systematic Chaos might be the incendiary to bring the genre back to the forefront of the music world again.

Starting in June 2007, Dream Theater has hit the road to promote Systematic Chaos, via the portentously titled Gods of Metal gig in Milan, Italy. Toward the early fall of 2007, Systematic Chaos made it to the US Billboard 200 at 19, the highest Dream Theater album charts entry ever, even surpassing Awake’s debut at 32, and Images and Words at 61.

Early next year it is Singapore’s chance to listen live to the new offering of the Dream Theater. Produced by the LAMC Productions, “Chaos in Motion: The Dream Theater World Tour” will be staged at the Fort Canning district in Singapore on January 17, 2008.

The date is January and the place is Fort Canning, Singapore. It would be very well for Dream Theater fans to be clear about that. It is, after all, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear live a mature and crucial gig of Dream Theater.

Tickets for the Dream Theater Singapore Tour in Fort Canning are available online at the Sistic website, or through acknowledged agents accredited by the Singapore ticketing company. Hotel rooms in Singapore are likewise available online.

Inside Fort Canning is the budget accommodation of the YWCA Lodge. By providing guests with a twin sharing option, the Fort Canning hotel in Singapore of international foundation YWCA is perfect for Singapore visitors traveling in groups.

Outside Fort Canning are the fashionably low-priced hotels of Tekka Hotel in Singapore and the ParkView. Both hotels fringe the Fort Canning Park, and are near the city center of Singapore for your convenience.

The Singapore gig at the Fort Canning will be the third of five stops of the Dream Theater Asia Tour, after the band revisits the Budokan Theater in Japan and the parental hometown of Dream Theater bassist John Myung in South Korea.

“If you’re a musician or ever aspired to be one, this is a show not to be missed,” said the LAMC Productions. But it isn’t necessary to remind anyone that. Progressive rock fans around and outside Singapore know very well not to miss a gig that features a promising turn at the Dream Theater career.

All ears at the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival

2007-12-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

It was a heady night in Singapore. But the look on everybody’s face, in attendance for the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival launch, it was the best smile in the world. There was much to see and hear, and there was nobody hurt. The night proved portentous of the present youth culture in Singapore that was given voice at the Noise arts festival.

The Noise Singapore is an annual fete of arts and culture that stars the young guns of the Singapore arts intelligentsia. Started in 2005, Noise Singapore had since laid out the platform for the emerging movers of the Singapore arts scene, enabling Singaporeans and Singapore visitors alike to feel the noise that the young Singapore arts scene is making.

In the run up to the final leg of the 2007 Noise Singapore arts festival, Orchard Road yet again turned festive this December with live performances, arts exhibits, and workshops on Gibson Guitars and beatboxing by Noise Singapore artists.

Festivities are appropriately centered on the Heeren Shops at the junction of the Orchard Road and the Fort Canning area. With the greens of the Fort Canning as backdrop, the increasing popularity of the Noise Singapore is being heard and now beckons like the Emerald City in Singapore.

The Fort Canning is likewise a backpackers’ district in Singapore, where vacation breaks are well within the means of most Singapore visitors. At the center of the Fort Canning greens lies the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, a low-cost hotel run and owned by the YWCA Singapore. That doesn’t mean, however, that Singapore visitors get the short end of the straw at the hotel in Singapore YWCA Fort Canning Lodge.

With rates starting at SGD82, the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge is easily one of the cheapest hotels in Singapore. But it is also one of the Singapore hotels with a prime hotel address. The Singapore hotel of the YWCA is located deep in the lush neighborhood of Fort Canning, and complements the location with plush hotel facilities.

Also, for Singapore visitors on a tight budget, the Singapore hotel of the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge offers a special hotel rate for twin sharing of rooms for 2 days and 1 night. Inclusive of one buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to the use of hotel facilities, the twin sharing rate of the YWCA makes it suitable for youth groups who are in Singapore for the Noise Arts Festival.

Only in Singapore: White Christmas in the Tropics

2007-12-11T00:03:00.000-08:00

There is a place in Singapore where it snows in December. It sits on a hilltop where the treetops glisten and the children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow, transforming a part of Singapore into a winter wonderland where Christmas is brought to life to magical effect.

Perched on the hill of Mount Faber in Central Singapore, The Jewel Box is an iconic Singapore theme park specially known for its simulated snowfall. Every Christmas since 2006, the Jewel Box Singapore blankets a portion of Mount Faber with snows and Christmas lights to re-create a different and unique Singapore Christmas.

Originally a family recreation center, The Jewel Box has enthralled Singapore visitors with novelties like the Sky Dining restaurant and The Jewel Christmas Light Show. This Christmas, The Jewel Box is set to frost the beauty of Christmas once again with a simulated snowfall at the Altivo and Faber Rock cafes in Mount Faber.

Because The Jewel Box is located on the hilltop of Mount Faber, there is an air of exclusivity in the area. But do not think that Mount Faber, like a winter Christmas in Singapore, is almost out-of-reach for most Singapore visitors.

The Jewel Box at Mount Faber is only minutes away from the city center of Singapore via cable car. The cable car tower at Mount Faber connects to Harbour Front and Sentosa, forming a triumvirate of Singapore must-sees. The Harbour Front district in Singapore is what makes the Mount Faber accessible for those on a weekend visit in Singapore.

The main artery of the Singapore cable car system is located at the Harbour Front station, connecting the holiday getaways of Singapore to the island’s city center. Also at the Harbour Front is the hotel of the Harbour Ville in Singapore, which for many years now has been serving as jump-off point to the different Singapore getaways like the Sentosa and the Mount Faber.

The Harbour Ville hotel in Singapore is a small boutique hotel that offers low-priced rooms to Singapore visitors. Fashionably cheap and well-placed, the Singapore hotel of the Harbour Ville is often every traveler’s gateway to various Singapore vacations.

With Mount Faber, Singapore visitors get a taste of high-rise living, Singapore style. At Sentosa it’s about the beach. At Harbour Front it’s about the commercial districts and urban centers of Singapore. The best place to feel the warmth of Christmas.

Short on time for a Singapore holiday? Here’s a roundup of December must-sees for time-strapped Singapore visitors

2007-12-05T00:22:00.000-08:00

Vacation breaks don’t come too often. When it does, it is usually confined to a very limited length of time. It is considerably brief compared to the time spent on one’s slaving away in the office. But we take it because we need it. Even though at some happy instances we knew that we were running the risk of losing our jobs when we enjoyed ourselves too much and failed to show up in the office at the scheduled day. We take a break before we break down.

For every time-strapped vacationer, Singapore beckons like the Emerald City. One of the smallest countries in the world, the island of Singapore surprisingly has a comprehensive set of tourist attractions for Singapore visitors of varied tastes and interest. From the impressive coastline of Sentosa Island in Singapore to the technology-driven theme parks and art centers of the metropolis, Singapore has got everything for every tourist.

Imagine lounging on the sunset in an isolated piece of beach in Sentosa Island, having dinner at a posh restaurant in Singapore, and then heading off for a night-out to the arts and commerce hub of Singapore City—all without hurry. Who needs to in a place like Singapore, where one attraction is minutes away from another must-see?

ZooukOut 2007

An annual beach party at Sentosa Island from sun up to sun down, scheduled on Dec. 8. It treats Singapore visitors to a heady night of house, tribal, techno, trance, electro, hip hop and Mambo Jambo music. Carnival rides and gaming booths fringe the musical stage. Adding to the glamorous vibe is the stunning seascape of the Sentosa Island in Singapore.

Getting there—ZooukOut shuttles will be stationed at Harbour Front in Singapore City, where clubbers will be ferried directly to the Sentosa Island.

Crib nearby—Over at Harbour Front stands the hotel of HarbourVille in Singapore. It is a walking distance away to the terminal, and within the vicinity of the Singapore nightlife hub. Another option is the Sentosa Treasure Resort in Sentosa, Singapore. The hotel is an enclave in Sentosa, Singapore. A nice place to crash after the party.

David Sanborn at The Esplanade

Six-time Grammy winner David Sanborn comes at last to Singapore, in a one-night-only performance at The Esplanade on Dec. 10. Celebrated for infusing jazz with blues and soul, David Sanborn is considered the driving force of contemporary jazz.

Getting there—It’s hard to miss The Esplanade, especially at night. Called Theaters on the Bay, The Esplanade is a waterfront performance center that lights up the Singapore River at night. An MRT ride (EW13/NS25) to the Singapore city hall brings guests to The Esplanade in no time.

Crib nearby—If you fancy an evening saunter on the quay to and from The Esplanade, we suggest the Park View Hotel on Beach Road, Singapore. Beach Road runs parallel to the Singapore River, where The Esplanade is located. Traversing it after a David Sanborn concert may be a good way to cap the night off.

Singapore River Market @ the Arts House

It is said that every great civilization started at the fertile banks of a major river. Such is the case in Singapore. The Singapore River is more than just a waterway. Its riverbanks serve as a venue for the emerging indie art culture in Singapore.

Art bazaars line the part of the Singapore River near the Arts House, where Singapore visitors can find motley items ranging from artwork, clothing, accessory, home ware, etc., all with the Singapore River and the crisp breeze as backdrop.

Getting there—The whole expanse of the Singapore River Market is located between the Raffles Place and the Clarke Quay MRT Stations. Singapore visitors can get off at either of the stations for some riverside shopping, dining, and a night out.

Crib nearby—Beach Hotel, located at Liang Seah St., in front of the Bugis MRT Station, From the Beach Hotel in Singapore, you can opt to take a leisurely walk on the riverside all the way to the Singapore River Market, or board the MRT and get off at the nearby raffles Place.

Chinatown’s Dong Zhi 2007

Cultural event that is a must for food enthusiasts. The Chinatown-Singapore Dong Zhi Festival is the Chinese equivalent to Thanksgiving. It is celebrated by serving Tang Yuan, an ethnic Chinese food made from glutinous rice flour. Highlight of cultural celebration is a street festival in Chinatown, featuring street performances and an attempt to break into the Singapore Book of Records for most Tang Yuan made.

Getting there—The Chinatown in Singapore is located at Outram District of the island, accessible through the Chinatown MRT station. Buses likewise ply the outskirts of the Chinatown, but are not allowed entry to the busy sections like the Smith Street, Pagoda Street, etc.

Crib nearby—The Serangoon Road is a chief commercial center in the area and has commercial establishments that include the Tekka Hotel in Singapore. It is a low-priced, boutique hotel in Singapore, small and stylish—pretty much what Singapore visitors need for a brief, hectic holiday in Singapore.

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2007-12-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

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The time is now, the place is Singapore

2007-11-28T23:54:00.000-08:00

Shopping is one addiction no one should feel guilty about. People think it’s all about overindulgence and unreasonable spending, which should not be ignored, but what they forget is the satisfaction that one gets from shopping.

Think of the best moment you ever had with your other half and it will probably fail in comparison to the rush of shopping. Now multiply it by a thousand and still you are not yet near the feeling of going through the Great Singapore Sale.

Imagine an entire city lined with exotic bazaars and signature shops. That is what the island of Singapore becomes at the time of the Great Sale. Scheduled on May 2008, the Great Singapore Sale is set to bring Singapore into a summer of great buys for everyone’s retail therapy.

For sure the Great Singapore Sale will be a major tourist draw. It’s that great gig, to borrow a metaphor, for everyone’s shopping fix. And, like any great gig, it cannot be missed and has to be taken care of as early as now.

Singapore is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that do not require a visa for entry. That is one problem less. Next is air travel, which should not be foremost in your concern because Singapore is a key destination in Asia and majority of the major global airlines has direct flights to Singapore. The only real difficulty is finding a hotel in Singapore.

Major hotels in Singapore have presence in the Web and enable Singapore visitors to book in advance. There are also booking engines that are operated by travel portals. These, however, have additional costs. Hotel websites often have the best rates you see online because Singapore visitors transact directly with the hotel.

The Claremont Hotel in Singapore is one of the key hotels in Asia that have an online presence. Their website at http://www.claremont.com.sg/ provides Internet users looking for a Singapore hotel not only with a comprehensive website but a booking engine as well.

Through their Singapore hotel website, The Claremont Hotel is made accessible to travelers worldwide. Here, the strategic location in Singapore of the Claremont Hotel can be seen, and helps explain why their hotel in Singapore is one of the oft-frequented hotel of Singapore visitors.

Because it is owned by the Claremont Hotel Singapore, the website gives the best offers that the hotel management can give and gets rid of the amount that travel portals put on hotel room prices. It’s the easiest way to get a room, too, because the hotel can confirm a reservation instantly. No more long queues to stand in the way of our need: shopping!

Living it up at the HarbourVille Hotel in Singapore

2007-11-20T02:19:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year in Singapore once again to let everyone’s hair down and party from sun up to sun down to the beat of the Singapore ZoukOut Music Festival. In what might be the last beach party of the Singapore ZoukOut Festival, this year’s festivities on December 8 will treat clubbers to a unique entertainment zone in Singapore for a night of living it all up.

The Singapore ZoukOut Festival consists of carnival rides, gaming booths, drumming sessions and performers—all in the middle of the eclectic music genres of house, tribal, techno, trance, electro, hip hop and Mambo Jambo music. And it’s all happening at the dramatic seascape of the Sentosa Island in Singapore.

With the godfather of UK techno Carl Cox and DJ Armin van Buuren at the controls, the Singapore ZoukOut festival is set to bring purist clubbers to Singapore, from Harbour Front to Vivo City and to other key places in Singapore that could lead them to the ZoukOut Festival in Sentosa, Singapore.

Harbour Front is one of the major Singapore locales that fringe the Sentosa Island in Singapore. Because hotel rooms in Sentosa is quite on the up-side of the Singapore hotel rates and the Harbour Front being minutes away to Sentosa, Harbour Front provides an attractive alternative to Singapore visitors.

The Harbour Ville Singapore at the Harbour Front is one option. With rates starting at US$65, the boutique hotel of Harbour Ville is not likely to make some real dent on the Singapore guest’s travel expenses. The hotel in Singapore of Harbour Ville is known for its proximity to the nightlife hub of Singapore, including the Sentosa Island in Singapore.

From the Harbour Front hotel, visitors going to the ZoukOut Festival in Sentosa are a bus ride away to the premier event in Singapore this December. At the Harbour Front bus terminal there will be special ZoukOut shuttles that are designed to bring guests directly to the music festival.

For a place where the Sentosa is just minutes away, the Harbour Ville enables guests to live it up in Singapore on a budget.

Singapore: Travel purist’s dream getaway

2007-11-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

For a country with a land area of 700 square kilometers, the smallest in Southeast Asia, Singapore is remarkably overwhelming. It is not rare to hear Singapore described as the melting point of cultures in Asia. It is. And the best of these worlds are conveniently packed within the small land area of Singapore, creating a travel purist’s dream getaway where practically everything is within reach.

Singapore, in the old days, was a trading post between Europe and Asia. It remains thus and has since created a shopping Mecca along Orchard Road, Little India, and at posh Singapore establishments like Paragon, Palais, Reneissance and Forum. Being an island state ensures Singapore of a regular rush of great buys from the Who’s Who in the world of fashion, electronics, among other things.

Center of Singapore is the famed Beach Road, a coastal highway that typifies much of the developments in Singapore. From the airport to the harbors, the highly urbanized Beach Road is the first major thoroughfare that greets Singapore visitors. Because of its location, Beach Road hosts one of the oft-frequented business hotels in Singapore: the Parkview Hotel Singapore. Also at Beach Road are the jump-off points to the stately transportation system of Singapore that makes the island smaller.

The Singapore transportation system is composed of a fleet of taxis, buses, cable cars, and the highly efficient MRT. From the hotel in Singapore of the Parkview, shopping malls and nightlife hubs are within walking distance, while centers of tourism and culture—such as the Goddess of Mercy Temple, National Museum, Bugis Street, National Art Museum—are in the neighborhood.

Sunset at the Singapore coastline

Singapore Skyline

Nightlife at the Beach Road locale in Singapore

Towering over the Singapore Beach Road, the Singapore hotel of the Parkview Singapore likewise provides easy access to the world-renowned entertainment island of the Sentosa. The Sentosa Island in Singapore is accessible through ferries on the Beach Road port, cable car via the Harbour Front, or the Sentosa Express monorail.

The Sentosa Island of Singapore holds a quaint mix of the old and the new. The Sentosa coastline in Singapore is combined with the technology-driven attractions of the Singapore sky tower, theme parks, zoos, and golf courses, integrating modernity and tropical island experience to stunning effect.

The goddess of wealth smiles at Little India in Singapore

2007-11-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

Singapore trips the light fantastic during the Hindu
celebrations of the Deepavali, or Festival of Lights

Nobody really loses anything when putting into practice the things that are believed to bring good luck. Fortune may come one’s way, or it may not. But being in Singapore for the Festival of Lights this November at least puts one in a position not to antagonize Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth.

Called Deepavali in the Hindu world, the Singapore Festival of Lights is celebrated in the Little India district of the island through the lighting up of grand arches and fireworks on the streets of Singapore, which is believed to attract the Hindu goddess of wealth.

Center of the celebrations is at the vicinity of the Serangoon Road in Singapore, where the bric-a-brac stalls, curio and sweet shops, restaurants, and bookshops of what has come to be known as the Little India arcade form the winding alleys of great buys and great haunts.

The Little India district in Singapore gets lighted up,
which is believed to attract the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi

The Little India district is situated between the Serangoon Plaza and the Mustafa Shopping Centre along Serangoon Road, Singapore. It is accessible via the Farrer Park MRT station. For hotel accommodation at the center of the celebrations, the Singapore hotel of the Claremont stands at the same neighborhood as the Little India.

The Claremont hotel in Singapore is a complete-amenity hotel that boasts of upscale accommodation, modern conveniences, and classic hospitality. Each Claremont Hotel room is secured by a key card system and equipped with a room safe for a confident Singapore day out.

Accommodations at the Claremont Hotel likewise allow guests to avail world-class hotel services that include a room service menu featuring South Indian, North Indian and Chinese cuisine, House Doctor on call 24 hours, all-day and all-night Front Desk, and airport transfer on request.

Singapore, having a Hindu population of 15 percent, is not exactly the Mecca of the Deepavali Celebrations. The lively Singapore street scene, however, and the bazaars at Little India make sure that this Singapore festivity will not fail in extravagance.

Claremont Hotel: For your shopping fix in Singapore this Christmas

2007-10-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

While there is no scarcity of great buys and shopping haunts in Singapore, there’s more to the usual Christmas fare in the island than its traditional retail havens. That Singapore provides the ultimate shopping fix in the entire Asia is a given. Throw that into the mix of Christmas season extravaganzas in Singapore and it is difficult not to feel keyed up at the coming Singapore Christmas this early.

The Singapore Christmas 2007 is a seven-week festivity that is scheduled to start with the grand Fairytale Christmas Lightup on November 17. From the Orchard Road to the Marina Bay, the famed Singapore strip will be festooned with what promises to be a stunning set of Christmas lights, decorative pieces, chandeliers, and carousels.

From November 17 the celebrations build up with a string of nightly stage performances along the Orchard Road in Singapore, themed “Christmas: It’s all about love.” Then, at the nearby Esplanade Theater, a limited season run of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens in Singapore. Coming out of a successful US and Europe tours, the Singapore musical production of the Ian Fleming novel is set to wow the Singapore crowd with its sensational sets and special effects. And then there’s the shopping.

Christmas in Singapore is, indeed, the best time of the year to get a fix for one’s shopping addiction. And Singapore visitors this Christmas can earmark more of their hard-earned cash for shopping and celebrations and less on a Singapore hotel accommodation with the best rates online of the Claremont Hotel in Singapore.

Claremont Hotel rates start at US$109 in their Singapore hotel official website. Because Singapore guests book directly with the Claremont Hotel, room rates are lower and the extra cash can then be easily converted into more shopping funds!

Towering on Burma Road in Singapore, the Claremont Hotel stands opposite the shopping haven of Mustafa Center and the Serangoon Plaza, and is a walk away from the Orchard Road of Singapore. Renowned for its world-class facilities and luxury standards, the hotel in Singapore of the Claremont is one of the key accommodation providers that are within easy access to the shopping district of the island.

IndoChine 2007: A moveable feast in Singapore

2007-10-17T01:07:00.000-07:00

Singapore positions itself as the festival capital of Asia with the long-awaited fourth edition of the Singapore IndoChine celebrations. Billed as the region’s jet set event of the year, the IndoChine Festival ushers in a weeklong of festivities that feature a series of lifestyle events and parties across IndoChine outlets in Singapore.

Kicking off the festival is the 2007 IndoChine Golf Classic in October 21, followed by the IndoChine Tropical Fiesta Gala Dinner later that night. A slew of celebrity chefs and international DJs will be featured during the event.

"Copacabana" is the theme of this year’s Singapore IndoChine Festivals, and dinner parties that await Singapore visitors are typified by an extraordinary evening of superb cuisine, fine wines, lively entertainment, and socializing. A new addition to the 2007 Singapore IndoChine celebrations is the Ladies Polo match.

“The festival is already gearing up to be even bigger than last year’s event,” said IndoChine Group CEO Michael Ma. “The IndoChine Festival is Asia’s only Jet-set Event of the Year, and aims to brand Singapore as the destination of choice for all types of visitors.”

From family to group and even solo travels, the tourism sector of Singapore offers a substantial and motley group of Singapore hotels that visitors may find suitable for various itineraries. But what would be more fitting for participants of Asia’s jet set event of the year than the plush hotel of the Claremont Hotel in Singapore.

Offering limited cut-rate prices of their hotel rooms at their official hotel web site here, the Claremont Hotel is a stylish hotel at the heart of the Singapore commercial center, combining substance and style into value for money.

The Singapore IndoChine Festival runs from October 21 to 28, and coincides with yet another festival called the Singapore Sun Festival, a fortnight celebration of the Art of Living Well through the arts and culture.

With the two festivals set to put added vim to the Singapore lifestyle, the Claremont Hotel at the Singapore commercial hub is a virtual gateway to what is expected to be a grand moveable feast.

The sun also rises in Singapore

2007-10-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

Sun and rain make rainbows appear. While the rest of Asia seems to have yielded to the typhoon months, Singapore beckons like a glimmering sun city as the island gears up for the Singapore Sun Festival on October 18.

Celebrating the “Art of Living Well,” the Singapore tourism authority integrates a wide variety of lifestyle-themed events into two weeks’ fete of felicity. The 2007 celebrations of the Singapore Sun Festival give expression to the Good Life through seven key disciplines that include music, film, visual arts, literature, cuisine, wine, and wellness.

The Singapore Sun Festival gives Singapore visitors a treat to enjoy a spa retreat in the morning, a visual arts exhibition in the afternoon, and an evening concert or a fine dinner prepared by a celebrity chef featuring no less than the world’s finest wines.

Celebrations of the Singapore Sun Festival revolve around key landmarks across Singapore, from the Esplanade Concert Hall to the Arts House, Singapore Tyler Print Institute and The National Museum.

The Singapore Sun Festival is a sort of a moveable feast, with the city center of the main island as the permanent center. Celebrations hop from one place to the next, putting into a grand display the Singapore pipeline for fine living.

But fine living does not always come expensive. At the center of the Singapore Sun Festival celebrations is the business hotel of Park View Singapore. Its strategic location helps Park View Hotel guests enjoy the island in leisure, while its Singapore hotel accommodations provide a virtual sanctuary to the festival.

Located at 81 Beachroad in Singapore, the Park View Hotel is a 15-minute drive to the Changi Airport, a 5-minute walk to Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, and within the vicinity of the Raffles Place, Singapore’s financial and business district.

Park View Singapore room rates start at US$65, proof that it is not always that the fine things in life come at so high a cost. For more details on Park View Hotel in Singapore, the official hotel website can be found here.

Singapore: Island Spice of Asia

2007-09-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

There can be little else more remarkable than being allowed to pet orangutans before having breakfast in one of the serene and verdant enclaves scattered across Singapore, and head out into the streets of sleek skyscrapers, religious temples, and ecological parks—all in one neighborhood. For first-time and frequent Singapore visitors alike, it is hard not to get dumbfounded by the richness in contrast and color of Singapore and its flavorful mix of culture, cuisine, arts, and technology.

An island nation which serves as trading outpost between Asia and Europe, Singapore brims with the finest of both East and West. It combines astute urban planning with the innate aesthetics of the island’s ecosystem, creating a Singapore that is virtually a Utopia for people who want to come into contact with nature without losing the comfort of city life. With its well-integrated commercial districts, art centers, themed attractions, and lush tropical landscapes, Singapore is a tourist haven for people of varied interests.

Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin, and Sentosa are among the oft-visited islands in Singapore. Surrounded by verdant rainforest and turquoise waters, the Sentosa Island beckons in Singapore like the Emerald City. Translated “tranquility” in English, Sentosa is an island resort in Singapore that blends ecotourism and tropical island vibe to serene effect. Via cable car, the famed shopping districts, wellness hubs, cultural centers, and entertainment establishments of Singapore are accessible from Sentosa. Nowhere else but in Singapore can the good life be so within reach.

Welcome to Singaporetal... Singapre Travel Blog

2007-09-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Singaporetal... Singapore travel Blog...