Bino

How Using VPN Can Help While Traveling

May 26, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

With travel resuming, I find myself revisiting some of my age-old travel habits. Cameras, selfie sticks and tripods are a must for me. Given that I also tend to visit a lot of offbeat countries, one of the things in my checklist is getting a VPN.

Given that we are now in the age of media streaming and online shopping, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is no longer something too high-tech for average users. It is, in fact, internet security 101, especially while traveling. It masks your device’s IP address, encrypts your data, and reroutes it through secure networks, allowing anonymous and secure browsing.

What does this mean for you? In this article, we’ve listed five reasons explaining how these VPN features help you when you’re traveling. From bypassing internet censorship to preventing frozen bank accounts, we’ve covered everything. Let’s dive right in.

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Hotel Review: The Scarlet Singapore

May 20, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Scarlet Singapore in Erskine Road caused quite a stir when it opened back in 2004. Until then, the Lion City had only one other boutique hotel and The Scarlet was the only one classified under the luxury category. With its 80 rooms housed in a series of pre-war shophouses in Singapore’s Chinatown, the property offered a breath of fresh air against the prevailing steel and glass high rises that housed the bulk of the city’s hotels.

The hotel currently has a Party @ Scarlet staycation package. The package comes with additional amenities such as bottles of wine in the room along with standard inclusions such as free minibar. For suite bookings, the additional amenities include 3 bottles of wine while non-suite rooms get a single bottle.

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Father’s Day 2022 Best Food Delivery & Takeaway Establishments in Singapore

May 16, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

Even with the relaxation of dining measures, food takeaways and deliveries are still expected to play a huge part during special occasions – whether it be during birthdays and public holidays like Christmas, Hari Raya, etc. One particular occasion that is close to our hearts – Father’s Day – is also a big day for food takeaways and deliveries.

Rather than coming up with some run-of-the-mill list, this particular list of food takeaway and delivery options for Father’s Day draws from my own personal experiences. I have personally tried most of the dishes mentioned here and can recommend the efficiency of delivery as well as freshness and taste of the food after reaching my door.

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Hotel Review: Regent Singapore (Premium Room and One Bedroom Suite)

May 14, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Regent Singapore in Cuscaden Road traces its roots back in the early 1980s when it first opened as the Pavilion InterContinental Hotel. It then became the Regent Singapore in the late 1980s and even though this name has remained since then, it has changed hands from being under the Four Seasons Group to becoming part of IHG more recently. This latest development in a way takes the property back to its roots when it was an InterContinental hotel.

lobby of regent singapore

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Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn – Which is the Best Baltic City to Visit? (2023 Guide)

May 11, 2022 by Bino 38 Comments

The geographic location of the Baltic countries consisting of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; away from the major countries of continental Europe makes it intuitive to explore the three countries in one go. With a combined population of under 7 million, there’s not much that many outsiders know about the Baltic states except that these countries were once part of the Soviet Union and have since joined the European Union. On a trip to Europe, I explored the capitals of these three countries and spent about a week around Vilnius in Lithuania, Riga in Latvia and Tallinn in Estonia.

I have read a lot of questions online asking which is the best Baltic city to visit and I posed this question myself prior to my trip. Simply put, there is no one answer to the Baltics’ nicest capital. Each has its own quirks, its own attractions and its own charms. That being said, I must say I did have my own favorites so let me share them here:

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Food Review: CÉ LA VI Singapore – Gorgeous Views and New Menu

May 9, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

Mention Cé La Vi casually to Singaporeans and most are likely to identify it as that bar atop Marina Bay Sands. However, few would know anything about the food offering. No doubt the location and the views have attributed to the venue’s success over the years – the place is simply spectacular whether during sunset or late at night – that people would automatically consider coming here even without knowing anything about the menu.

That is set to change as Cé La Vi brought in a new Executive Chef recently. Chef Maksym Chukanov joined Cé La Vi in April 2022 and brings with him a wealth of experience in many notable restaurants, most recently at Cure in Keong Saik Road where he was instrumental in getting it a Michelin star. Under his watch, there is a deliberate effort by Cé La Vi to make its food options a top reason to come rather than just for the views.

Along with his arrival comes a revamp in Cé La Vi’s menu. While diners can expect new dishes, the venue stays true to its modern interpretation of Asian flavors and this can be seen not just in the mains but also in the bar bites and even desserts.

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Best Travel Insurance with Covid-19 Coverage & Sign-up Promotions (May 2022)

May 3, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

With the gradual resumption of international travel and removal (or reduction) of mandatory quarantine in several popular destinations, more Singapore residents are spending their holidays overseas. That being said, international travel is still not totally like what it was in the past and many countries now require pre-purchased travel insurance for entry, whereas travel insurance was just an optional thing in the past.

If you are browsing through travel insurance plans, here is a handy list of those that provide Covid-19 coverage and have some ongoing promotions at the same time. I will also try to expand this list as I get information from more providers. Freebies range from cash rebates to free PCR testing, depending on the plan.

Note that this offer is valid only if you apply via the below exclusive links (direct application with the insurance provider doesn’t count for the promotion). Why is that so? Singsaver actually acts as an aggregator and partner for these insurance plans and from time to time, Singsaver and the insurer may jointly fund the gift in order to split the marketing expense between them. Instead of hiring an insurance agent, part of the savings gets channeled as an incentive to the customer.

To be eligible for the S$10 or S$20 cash rebate, you will be asked to register your email address with Singsaver, who will fulfill the payout. After clicking submit on your travel insurance application, make sure to take note of your Application Reference Number. You will have to fill out a redemption form (automatically sent to your email once you make an insurance application) in order to be registered.

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Food Review: Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant at Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy – One of the Most Underrated Chinese Restaurants in Singapore

April 28, 2022 by Bino Leave a Comment

Tucked away at the second floor of the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy in Katong is Jia Wei, an unassuming Chinese restaurant in the chain hotel. Although most of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants are usually located in town, this Katong gem piqued my interest after an acquaintance on Instagram posted a couple of mouthwatering dishes from the venue. A quick check at various websites also revealed a few value-for-money deals so the decision to come was really a no-brainer.

Get a 20% discount voucher at Jia Wei here

As of this writing, I have been to Jia Wei five times. The first two times were for the value lunch sets. Portions were quite big and I was amazed by the 4 courses that came with the meal I chose. Following that, I was invited by the restaurant for dinner to check out the ala carte menu. I also dropped by a couple of times for their seasonal menus. The restaurant has a special dish that changes each month.

Jia Wei uses locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and that includes the greens in its vegetable dishes and even some of the seafood. Believe it or not, Singapore does have a thriving agri/aquaculture sector.

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