Singapore

The Most Unusual Things You Never Knew You Could Do in Singapore

September 7, 2014 by Bino 6 Comments

Branching out from my previous entry on free things to do in Singapore, I thought I’d steer from mainstream activities and attractions and focus instead on some offbeat ideas. As a tiny and highly urbanized city state, people have a certain notion of what Singapore is and what it should be that seemingly mundane things elsewhere are considered highly unusual here. But aside from this, the city state is not as predictable and sterile as most people think – you might get thrown off by the city’s state quirkier side, especially if you’re not from here! To prove my point that not everything is what it seems in this city, here is a short list of unusual things you can do the next time you find yourself in this part of the world and which you can include in your Singapore itinerary:

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Favorite Streets: Keong Saik Road in Singapore’s Chinatown

June 25, 2014 by Bino 1 Comment

keong saik road when i visited in 2013 just after tong ah eatery closed down in its original location

The southern part of Singapore’s lively Chinatown district has come a long way from its dilapidated and red light past. I remember passing by only two years ago and the place was still filled with karaoke bars. What were ones seedy brothels have become hotbeds for a fairly unrelated and somewhat juxtaposing bunch. On one hand, you have all these speakeasies and fine dining restaurants catering to the business and society set, and at the other end you have these fiercely independent establishments- some of which can only be entered with a password – that are more attuned to hipsters and creative types.

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Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay – New No Frills Option by the Singapore River

April 10, 2014 by Bino 2 Comments

The Intercontinental Hotels Group continues to expand in Singapore – opening its sixth Singapore hotel through the new Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay. This is the second “no frills” property of the group, after the successful Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road which opened around a year ago.

futuristic-looking lobby of holiday inn express singapore clarke quay

The hotel hosted me for a staycation less than two weeks after it opened its doors. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay is located around a block or two from the Singapore River, a stone’s throw away from the clubs and dining options at Clarke Quay. This makes the hotel a great location for those planning a late night out on the town.

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Alternative Weekend Getaways From Singapore

March 30, 2014 by Bino Leave a Comment

With over 140 direct air routes out of Changi Airport and land routes to Malaysia and Thailand, Singapore is a weekend traveler’s dream. Many destinations nearby have now become staples for weekenders – plane seats to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Bali typically fill up very quickly on Friday nights or Saturday mornings. At the same time, plane tickets to these destinations usually cost a lot more for weekend trips!

If you are planning a weekend trip in the near future, consider these top alternative travel destinations where you can explore some stunning natural wonders, view awe-inspiring monuments, shop your heart out and have a sampling of sumptuous food, all within a few hours’ radius from Singapore. …

Amazing Free Things to Do in Singapore

November 13, 2013 by Bino 12 Comments

Singapore is rapidly becoming one of Asia’s most expensive cities. Much has changed in the 5 years since I have been living here. Perhaps there’s no more telling illustration of the change of pace here than by the subtle replacement of the Merlion with the Marina Bay Sands as the most prominent landmark of the city.

While a holiday here can indeed set one back by quite a bit, many would be surprised at the sheer amount of free things to do in Singapore. I can list dozens but in this instance I will just limit it to twelve. To prove my point that a trip to Singapore need not be expensive, here are my favorite free things to do:

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Review of Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road

November 2, 2013 by Bino Leave a Comment

A new entrant in Singapore’s mid-priced hotel category is Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road, an offshoot brand from the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG ). The brand itself has been around for quite some time, with many similar properties in other Asian countries (and even in America, Europe, etc) that aim for the “no frills” concept. The Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the group’s first Holiday Inn Express branded hotel in Singapore, with another budget hotel in the works in Clarke Quay.

my room at holiday inn express singapore orchard road

The hotel hosted me for two nights during a recent weekend. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is located right behind Orchard Road itself, with popular shopping malls such as Paragon and Ngee Ann City only around 3 to 5 minutes walk from the hotel. I must say that staying here made me feel like a tourist all over again, with Orchard Road being oh so close. The location is definitely unbeatable!

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Review of Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, Singapore

October 17, 2013 by Bino 5 Comments

During a recent weekend, I was hosted by the freshly opened Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, located just in between Raffles Place and Clarke Quay. This strategic location is very popular among the backpacking crowd, with many hostels in the vicinity. More recently, full-fledged hotels have also moved in but so far Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is the only boutique option in the area. The Hotel Clover brand is relatively new but rapidly expanding not just in Singapore but also overseas as a chain of boutique of hotels. In fact, during the time of my stay barely 3 weeks after the hotel opened, I was told that they’re constructing a new one next door!

deluxe room at hotel clover at 5 hong kong street

Due to skyrocketing hotel prices in Singapore – where even rooms in 3-star hotels can cost upwards of US$ 200 per night – boutique hotels have become a worthwhile alternative for lodging. Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is well-placed under this category and they’re going out in a big way with many hotels opening island-wide. And in keeping with the tradition of boutique hotels, each property is set to have its distinctive motif.

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Capri by Fraser Changi City Turns One!

September 2, 2013 by Bino 1 Comment

Time sure flies fast. It’s hard to believe than this month marks one year since my staycation at Capri by Fraser Changi City, the first hosted staycation I’ve ever had. While a line of staycations have come after that, the very first one remains to be one of the most unique hotel concepts I’ve experienced (I still remember the gaming consoles and exercise machines they have in the laundry rooms). And I am not alone in saying this. Today, Capri by Fraser Changi City is one of the highest rated hotels of its class, having garnered consistently top-notch reviews from travel and booking websites.

Coinciding with the one year since my most enjoyable stay in Capri by Fraser Changi City, the said hotel is likewise marking their first anniversary this same month and they have prepared an exciting line up of activities and promotions to mark this occasion.

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