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I will always gravitate towards shopping and food, but I want to see more than just the tourist attractions to truly be immersed in the culture. As I have allergies, I also value being able to find accomodating places!
Who: 52 year old Margaret, her husband and sister-in-law who has lived in Singapore for several years.
Where: Singapore
How long: 10 days
What do you value most when travelling?
Hidden gems or recommendations?
Many people will go to Marina Bay Sands rooftop bar for a drink and views of the city, however, we actually enjoyed the rooftop at the Mondrian Hotel Canyon Club much more. It was quieter (and cheaper) while still offering great views of the city. The staff even offered us use of the pool despite us not being guests of the hotel!
Singpore is a great city to bike around, even with the heat. There are rental bike stations everywhere (I recommend downloading the Anywheel or HelloRide app on your phone), so if you feel up to it, I recommend biking along the river and taking in the scenery. The buses are also a very cheap way to get around if you are happy to navigate public transport. They are also airconditioned, so if you get too hot cycling, you can hop on a bus back to your accommodation.
The Canyon Club at Mondrian Hotel
Photograph Credit: Booking.com
Zion Hawker Center
Photograph Credit: PinkyPiggu
Definitely book a hotel with a pool, it gets so hot there, all you will want to do some afternoons is cool off with a swim.
If you have any kind of allergy, street food will most likely be off the table for you, so we found some other fantastic options:
The Butcher's Wife was a great recommendation we received. They are very allergy aware. Their lava cake is something I think about often - it was divine! Their dishes are more westernised but with a Singaporean twist. It was actually a good break from the street food my partner and sister-in-law had been eating too!
Deckers BBQ was one of the best meals we had there, it is traditional USA BBQ. It is located in a precinct called Robertson Quay which has plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.
The Butcher's Wife
Photograph Credit: The Butcher's Wife
Any tips from the locals?
My sister in law told us about a day trip to Bintan Island. The water there is turqoise! It is technically Indonesia, but this means the prices for spa treatments are much lower than what you would find in Singapore. It's a very tranquil day and the ferrys leave in the morning and come back in the evening.
Things you wish you knew before visiting?
There is a bit of culture shock at times. It is a finaeble offence to litter and wet markets are very normal. Hawker markets, where you can purchase street food are very fast paced, so it's important to know what you want to order! Never line up for a stall that has no one there, stick to the busy ones, these will be your best meals. If you are wanting to go to a Hawker, I would recommend the Zion Riverside Markets, these markets are everywhere and they are not all equal. Look out for the otters that live in the river too!
Did your city have any seasonal events/markets?
Tiong Bahru Market is a great spot to go for cheap flowers (more relevant if you are staying a long time) and fresh produce. This isn't a seasonal market - we didn't come across any of these - so you can enjoy what we experienced all year round.
Tiong Bahru Market
What about the city makes you want to go again?
There is so much to do here! I would go back for the zoo alone. But I do think the ease of getting around and being able to experience so many different cultures is what attracts me the most.
