Singapore: I got part of my trip for free!

Planning to buy a laptop? Get it in Singapore and it's like getting part of your trip for free!

You probably heard this before, but really, booking your tickets in advance saves you a lot of money. So if you are flexible, it's always advisable to take advantage of those discounted airline fares, book your tickets, then use the months before your travel to plan your trip.

I wasn't planning on starting a blog during my travel so I might miss out some details.

We booked our tickets to Singapore last September 12, 2010 for travel on March 5-11, 2011 (4193.69PHP/PAX from NAIA Terminal 3-Singapore Budget Terminal). We've been scouting  for affordable inns and researching online from October to February to make sure that our maximized itinerary would fit our budget.

We ended up booking a bed on the Basic 12 Bed Mixed Dorm of Footprints Hostel for 12.00 SGD/PAX/Night. If your are not very particular with cleanliness and smell, then it's a value for money considering that it comes with a free breakfast of toast, cereals, fruits and coffee.

Day 1

We arrived 11:55 PM in Singapore. We took the Shuttle to Changi Airport, ate at Toast Box (5.00 SGD) and waited for the MRT to open at around 6:00 AM since it's a lot cheaper than taking a taxi.

We took the Exit C at Bugis station and walk to the bus stop right across the Exit. After a short 5 minute drive, we alighted near the Sim Lim Square and walked towards Footprints Hostel.

Our check in is not until 2:00PM, so we rest a bit, left our bags at the hostel and started with our itinerary. Our first stop was the Merlion Park. With the exception of our bus ride from Bugis station and 2 more bus rides later on our itinerary, our main  mode of transportation is the SMRT, with Little India as our base (you can check their tariff at http://www.smrt.com.sg).

We were forewarned, to our big disappointment, by the Kuya at the hostel that due to a hotel construction, the Merlion was covered. And indeed it was, by a big red box. So we ended up taking our pictures with the small Merlion statue in the park. 

We walked to the Esplanade, walked around the mall, got ourselves a Reese's bowl souvenir at Hershey's Chocolate World and rode back the SMRT back to Little India and our hostel.

We checked in at around 2PM, settled down and took our lunch on one of the small canteens in the area (6.00 SGD for 2). 


Our next stop was Sim Lim Square where we window shopped for laptops hoping to find the one that I was eyeing back in Manila and buy it for a more reasonable amount. I found it plus a number of other candidates but I was unable to decide which one to get. We were tired and it was getting late, so we head back to our hostel, ate our packed food (from Manila) for dinner and rested.


Day 2


Day 2 is Universal Studios Day! Ride the Sentosa Express at the Vivo City (Level 3) for 3 SGD. A day is enough to enjoy the whole park. It was a Monday, so the crowd was just enough for us not to waste much of our time lining up for the rides. Make it a value for your money by riding as much rides as you can and watching their productions. My personal favorites were the Battle Star Galactica™ CYCLON, Revenge of the Mummy™, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure™ and the Water World™.  (Around 66 SGD-Off Peak Rate).

After the park closed, we walked around Sentosa Park Resorts World before heading back to our hostel.

Day 3


It's our lazy day, after sleeping to our hearts content (and eating as much peanut butter jelly toast and apples as we can), we headed to Sim Lim Square to finally decide on which laptop I would be taking home with me. After checking other good options I still ended up with the HP one that I was eyeing back in Manila. Comparing the price for the same laptop+ better specs and bigger memory back home, the total savings was almost equal my pocket money,so it was like getting my Singapore trip for free. We left the laptop at the store for safekeeping (which I think is a normal practice), since we can't leave it at the hostel. 


We then headed back to Sentosa Park to watch the Songs of the Sea. Since it's still early in the afternoon we took the free shuttle service offered around the park to explore. 

We went to Palawan Beach where you can stand at the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, watched the free animal show, went back to Siloso Beach, then up the Imbiah Lookout. All for 3 SGD which is the amount of the Sentosa Express that we again took to get to the park.

After all that walk, we were just in time to catch our 8:40PM Songs of the Sea show (10.00 SGD).

Day 4

Day 4 is our walk till your back ache day. We got the Park Hopper 3-in-1 Combo for 58.00 SGD. We took the MRT to Boon Lay Station and walked to the bus terminal from there. You can then either take SBS number 194 or 251 which will drop you off directly at Jurong Bird Park.

We then took the park's shuttle service (I forgot the price, but at the time, we find it the most affordable and convenient option) to the Singapore Zoo which is directly opposite the Night Safari. After walking around the zoo, watching the Elephants at Work and Play (expect to get wet and feed them at the end of the show), and the Splash Safari Show, We headed to the Night Safari. 

The Singapore Zoo would be closing in time for the Night Safari's opening. Again the shows are a treat. The tram would then take you around the park and drop you off at points where you can roam around.

By the time the parked closed, our only option was to take the bus back to Little India.


Day 5


Our flight home would be leaving not until late in the evening so after picking up my laptop from Sim Lim Square, we went to China Town to buy some souvenirs. 

We then headed to (Vivo City) No Sign Board to try their famous Chili Crabs. It was a high end restaurant, but their local crabs' prices are comparable to that of the ones in the small restaurants in China Town. Their buns that you eat with the crabs were small but very tasty. I forgot the exact price for this one as well (Around 2000PHP when converted), but it's definitely worth your money. 

We then picked up our luggage from the hostel, took the SMRT back to Changi Airport, then the Shuttle to the Budget Terminal to catch our flight home.


Note: When shopping for groceries, it's best to get it from The Verge Supermarket. The prices are cheaper than most of the smaller stores in the area (Little India).