Whether you’ve expressly planned to visit Singapore or it’s a stopover in a trip around Southeast Asia, it’s certainly worth a trip to visit the colloquially named “Little Red Dot”.
With a perpetual summer and unpredictable rains, to some tight fines that you won’t believe exist, preparing for a trip to Singapore can be quite a tricky task.
Here’s a checklist for everything you need for a comfortable holiday in Singapore.
1. Bring An Adequate Amount Of Cash
While countries like China are pushing ahead with full cashless payment systems, cash is still very much a viable mode of payment, and in some cases, the only mode of payment in Singapore.
Shopping malls and restaurants do accept all the major international credit cards, so don’t worry too much. It’s really only at hawker centres where cash reigns supreme as the mode of payment.
Why is this important? It’s because hawker centres also happen to be the bedrock of Singapore’s food culture and history, so you absolutely cannot give those a miss. As such, we’d recommend to always have cash on hand with you!
2. Pocket WiFi
WiFi has become an essential component of our daily lives today and a handy dandy pocket WiFi is something that every traveller needs, allowing you to stay connected on the go.
Changi Recommends offers one of the more reliable WiFi routers you can find in Singapore. With 1 router, you can connect up to 8 devices with a daily limit of 3GB local data. That’s a lot of devices with a more than sufficient daily amount to burn through.
What’s even better is that you can collect it from any of the Changi Recommends counter in the arrival hall across all terminals before you head into town. Just reserve it before your trip and you’re good to go!
3. Useful Apps To Download For Your Holiday in Singapore
Once you got your WiFi router, it’s time to download some useful apps that will make your trip in Singapore a seamless one.
One of the first apps you can download is Changi Recommends’ Singapore Tourist App which is a comprehensive, all-in-one app that can help you plan your itinerary with recommendations from the best sightseeing spots to some unbelievable shopping and dining deals.
Their sister app, Changi Travel, is a ride hailing app that helps to pull information from different transport options and allows users to choose from an extensive range of rides that fits your needs.
If you’re someone who has trouble navigating around, City Mapper would be a great way to help you plan your routes around Singapore. The app provides all the train and bus routes with real-time updates along with approximate durations from one point to another.
These are just the start of many apps that will greatly aid your travel experience in Singapore. Read more here for more apps that you can download to ease your trip!
4. Power Adapter and Power Bank
Electric sockets in Singapore uses 230 Volts 50 Hz AC with type G power plugs, so be sure to pack one or two to ensure that your devices can be charged.
In that same vein, a power bank is indispensable for your holiday in Singapore as navigating around, taking photos, and using social media throughout the day can be a huge drain to your electronic devices.
Having the best and most useful apps on your phone won’t mean much when the battery goes out, so be sure to keep your devices charged.
5. Comfortable Clothing To Beat The Heat
Situated near the Equator, Singapore is undeniably hot all year round, there’s no two ways about it. Temperatures can climb exceedingly high, especially during June and July, so definitely leave those scarfs at home.
We’d recommend light, loose, and cool clothing that will provide you with the most “breathability” as you brave the hot and humid streets during your holiday in Singapore. Jeans are good as well, but for some, they can still be quite cumbersome and hot.
Essentially, cotton T-shirts and shorts are your best friend. Oh, bring swimwear too for the mandatory chill sessions by the pool or on the beaches of Sentosa.
For footwear, a pair of sandals or slippers are good enough if I were to be very honest. Of course, a pair of loafers or sneakers would offer the most versatility and suitability and you’ll feel at home from bars and pubs to hawker centres.
6. Be Prepared For Wet Weather
Just as the weather can be steadily hot throughout the year, rains can be rather unpredictable on our little island.
The weather could very well change in an instant from a hot sweltering morning to an afternoon torrential rain. As such, we recommend to always have an umbrella, poncho, or a combination of both on hand.
It’s always good to be prepared, and an umbrella is a versatile choice as it can protect you from both the rain and the hot sun too!
7. Personal Healthcare
Being a hot tropical city-state, sunscreen and mosquito repellents are two “weapons” you always want to be equipped with on your holiday in Singapore.
Sunscreens are self-explanatory given high exposure to UV rays while out and about in Singapore. While mosquitoes in Singapore don’t usually carry harmful diseases, they can be very irritating as they buzz around you. This is especially so if you’re visiting local attractions like the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.
In a time when the world is tense on personal hygiene, hand sanitisers have become a necessity to keep the germs away. Coronavirus or not, a bottle of hand sanitiser is always helpful for good personal hygiene.
For more information and tips on Singapore, visit our City Guide!
