There’s plenty to do on a short stopover in Singapore, but if you want to keep the cost down here are some suggestions.

Many airlines flying from Australia to Asia go via Changi. It’s not always easy to get a good connection, but luckily Singapore is a great place for a short stopover. It’s not cheap however, so we have only stayed a couple of nights to break up our trip. If you’re coming from Australia the good news is the currency is almost dollar for dollar, so it’s easy to convert.

GETTING AROUND

The Changi Airport Shuttle Bus leaves every half hour from the main exit point. You don’t need to pre-book, just go to the counter. It costs SGD$9 per adult and SGD$6 per child each way. It will drop you at the door of your desired accomodation. It takes around 45 mins to get to Hangout @ Mt Emily’s, as it makes a few stops along the way. This is the cheapest option for a family of five, although if there are only four of you a taxi may work out cheaper/faster. To get to Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands catch the metro from Little India or Rochor Stations. It’s super-clean and safe. Just buy tickets from any station kiosk.

ACCOMODATION

Accommodation in Singapore is expensive.  For a family of five I would recommend staying at Hangout @ Mt Emily’s. Perched on a hill next to Mt Emily Park, the best way to describe it is a ‘posh hostel’. It has clean, quiet rooms with five single beds and an ensuite bathroom. The cost is around SGD$320 p/n for five people and includes a basic breakfast of toast/cereal/fruit. The alternatives are hotels or Airbnb rentals. But beware it is actually illegal for Singaporeans to rent out their properties for less than 3 months. Due to this housing law there is a risk that Airbnb guests will be turned away by building security, which has happened in the past. We have tried to reduce costs further by staying at Mittra Inn (SGD$160 p/n), which would have been adequate if we had been able to sleep. Unfortunately locals stand in the narrow hallway and talk on their phones well into the night, despite a sign imploring otherwise.

This is the exact room we stayed in.

CHEAP THINGS TO DO IN SINGAPORE

Check out Little India

Walk the short distance from Mt Emily to Little India and explore the colourful streets. The vibrant Tekka Centre is a mass of trinkets and souvenirs.

Little India is just as colourful at night and safe to walk around.

FOOD

Komala Vilas is an excellent Indian restaurant. It’s crowded, cheap and authentic. If there is nowhere to sit downstairs try the upstairs area. The girls really liked the chickpea curry, but if you have fussy eaters don’t worry, the breads alone will WOW them.

Sweets Counter

Shopping

The famous Bugis Street is only a 15 minute walk from Mt Emily. This huge shopping complex has many modern shops, but there is also a maze of cheaper stalls that will keep you busy for hours.

Don’t forget to check out the large food court. It has some excellent lunch options.

Gardens by the Bay

The Gardens by the Bay are spectacular and reinforce that Singapore is indeed the garden city. Many of the gardens, including the Children’s Garden are free to enter. It’s only certain attractions that cost extra. We chose to visit the Cloud Forest, which was truely impressive. It cost SGD$12 for adults and SGD$8 for children (up to 12 yrs).

Look closely at the following photo’s – the flowers are actually made from lego.