What every F1 fan should know about Singapore

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop 'Til You Drop at the Great Singapore Sale 2008

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

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

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

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

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

A taste of Singapore: Comfort food at your comfort

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

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

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

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

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

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

Experience Asia without leaving Singapore

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

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

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

What to do

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where to stay

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

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

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

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

Get Your Culture Fix at the 2008 Singapore Arts Festival

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

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