Singapore has a special place in my heart. It was the first city outside of the Philippines that I set foot on. My first time was almost two years ago and it was on that trip that I met some of friends. That’s why when I was thinking of a trip for me and my mom, it was easy for me to decide to head back to Singapore and share with my mother what it has to offer.
Note that we didn’t hire a travel agency for any of our activities on this trip. Everything was done Do-It-Yourself-style.
Booking Flights to Singapore
All major local airlines including Cebu Pacific and PAL Express fly to Singapore from Manila. Some even fly from Cebu, Davao, and Clark. Seair/Tiger Airways Philippines and AirAsia Philippines also added Singapore to their new destinations. For budget travelers, the main factor in choosing is, well, the budget. The best way to snag a deal is to wait for a seat sale and just grab a promo seat.
Remember, Cebu Pacific flights use the Changi Budget Terminal while PAL Express uses Terminal 2. There are free shuttles that take passengers from the Budget Terminal to Terminal 2, which is connected to the MRT that will take you to the city proper. You may also take a bus if you prefer. More info about that here.
Preparing Travel Documents
Traveling to Singapore does NOT require a visa. All you need is a valid passport (with 6 months left before expiration). All you really need to do is show up at the airport and fly.
However, you’ll see in my Singapore posts just how kid-friendly the city is. If you want to travel overseas with your kids, I will strongly recommend Singapore. This city-state just has something for everyone, even for the young and the young at heart — Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, Universal Studios, Snow City, to name some.
For more information on how to prepare requirements for passport application (especially if you’re traveling with kids), click here.
Finding Cheap Hotels in Singapore
The nastiest part of preparing a trip to Singapore is looking for a cheap place to stay. Space is a scarce commodity in this city and even the cheapest hotels may still be expensive in Filipino standards. But here are two cheap accommodations that I have tried in Singapore.
 G4 Station Singapore |
 Fragrance Hotel Selegie |
- G4 Station Backpackers’ Hostel. The rooms are small but it was good enough given the price. It was very, very clean though and the staff was really friendly and helpful.
- Fragrance Hotel Selegie. It’s clean, close to the Little India MRT station, and surrounded by restaurants. Each room is equipped with cable TV, a water heater, a phone and airconditioner. Basic and cramped but completely functional.
What to Do in Singapore
A lot! Singapore may be small but it is packed with all sorts of sites, attractions, and adventures! Whatever your reason for traveling is, Singapore has something for you. Shopping? Culture? History? Food? Nature? Theme parks? Singapore has them! Here are the points of interest in Singapore that I have set foot on. The photos will lead you to a more detailed post about that destination.
 Singapore River Walk |
 Universal Studios |
 Chinatown Heritage Walk |
 Little India |
 Sentosa |
 Jewel Box, Mt Faber |
 Singapore Flyer |
 MINT Museum of Toys |
 Orchard Road |
 Suntec City Mall |
Sample 4D/3N Singapore Itinerary
One thing I like most was that Singapore is a very “walkable” city. Walkable because it’s actually a fun and rewarding experience to walk around many key areas in the city. The best part, it’s free! So I just squeezed in a lot of walking tours into this itinerary. Here’s a sample itinerary. You may use it but make the necessary adjustments.
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN SINGAPORE, RIVER WALK TOUR, MARINA BAY SANDS
07:00 am – Rendezvous at NAIA Terminal 3
10:10 am – ETD NAIA Terminal 3 (Manila)
01:50 pm – ETA Singapore Budget Terminal
03:00 pm – Check in: G4 Station Backpackers’ Hostel
04:30 pm – Singapore River Walking Tour
(Sightseeing: Fullerton Hotel, Merlion Park, Esplanade, Makansutra, Boat Quay, Clark Quay, etc)
08:00 pm – Marina Bay Sands
Day 2: KAMPONG GLAM, SENTOSA ISLAND
07:00 am – Kampong Glam Walk
10:00 am – Universal Studios
05:00 pm – Explore rest of Sentosa
Day 3: CHINATOWN WALK, ORCHARD ROAD, SINGAPORE FLYER
07:00 am – Chinatown Heritage Walk
10:00 am – Orchard Road (Shopping)
03:00 pm – Mint Museum of Toys
05:00 pm – St. Andrews Cathedral and Singapore Flyer
Day 4: LITTLE INDIA, RETURN TO MANILA
06:00 am – Little India Walking Tour
08:00 am – Mustafa Mall and Sim Lim Square
10:00 am – Check out: G4 Station, Proceed to Airport
02:20 pm – ETD: Changi Budget Terminal
06:15 pm – ETA: NAIA Terminal 3
You may also add several other attractions like Gardens by the Bay, Jurong Bird Park, and Singapore Zoo. The Asian Museum is also a good place to visit.
Breakdown of Expenses
So now we have come to the list of my expenses as part of this Singapore trip. Below is the breakdown of everything I spent on in SG.
TOTAL COST (excluding pasalubong and airfare)
P4,229 – G4 Station Backpackers’ Hostel (4 days, 3 nights)
P1,650 – Travel tax
P750 – Departure fee
P705 – EZ Link cards (for 2, reloaded once, inclusive of almost SGD8 unused)
P881 – Total food expenses
P105.5 – Sentosa Monorail Train tickets
P2,537 – Universal Studios tickets
P528.5 – MINT Museum of Toys tickets
P1,040 – Singapore Flyer tickets
P352 – Taxi from Hostel to Airport
P264.5 – Check-in baggage fee (Cebu Pacific)
PhP 10,662 – TOTAL COST
As I always say, this can change based on your spending habits. I’m only sharing so you have a ballpark figure of how much to prepare here although I strongly recommend that you pad this with much allowance to be on the safe side.
Additional Tips
- Taking the MRT. If you’re taking the MRT a lot, buy an EZ Link card. This will allow you to breeze through the station entrances when taking the train. The train system is pretty expansive so you might want to take advantage of it. It can be a bit tiring, though, especially at interchange connections, when you’re walking from one line to another.
- Exchanging Currencies. The Mustafa Center at Little India has one of the best rates I have seen around Singapore. You might want to change money here. But if your budget isn’t that big (say USD 500), I don’t think the difference between here and the ones at the airport matters. You might lose whatever you think you could save in transportation just to get to a good money changer.
- GST Refund. Tourists in Singapore can actually claim refund on GST (Goods and Services Tax) paid for items purchased from establishments that are participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme. More info here.
- No chewing gums, please.
There you have it! Enjoy the Lion City!
The Budget Travel Guide to Singapore: Planning, Itinerary, Budget,
I really enjoyed reading your blog about your trip to Singapore with your mom. What really touched me is your loving concern to have your mom join you on this trip and have her experience the sights in Singapore. I am a mom, myself, and I really love it when my only daughter takes me to trips out of the country for bonding. Keep it up. You will really Go Places (as in literally!!!).
Hi there! Thanks for appreciating! I love my mom and one of my goals is to take her to places she didn’t have a chance to visit when she was younger.
Nice to hear that your daughter is doing the same! You’re blessed.
i saw ur Singapore trip & its very helpful as im travelling to SG in November.
I got my cebupac promo as well.
However, i hope u dont mind if i will use ur agenda as its a good saving.
thanks a lot.
No problem, Malu!
Have a great trip!
I researched about Singapore as i will be exploring the city this month. I stumbled on your blog and i really find it very informative and helpful. It was so nice reading your entry
Thanks Montana The Explorer! Hope you had a blast in SG!
your blog is so informative and helpful. It features just everything a first timer traveler traveling in a foreign country just like me..I’ve been searching through net about DIY travel to Singapore coz were booked to travel there by Sept. I’m so glad I found your blog.
I really love your blog
keep it up!
Hi Thess! Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad to help! If you have questions, just shoot.
ask ko lang kung pano kau nagpabook ng accommodations? nagpareserve kau thru online? thru credit card? nagkamali kami ng oras ng boking ng flight papunta dun ang nakuha namin gabi so madaling araw dating namin dun. my mga mrt or buses p ba dat tym kaya dun?
Hi Thess! I usually book via HostelWorld, AirAsiaGo, or Agoda.
Hi!I found your blog tru friend and i find it very interesting,I remember my mom while reading your SG trip,how I wish I can also do the same…I’m quite sure I will learn a lot after reading all your blog…keep up the good work!
Thanks Cheryl! Glad to be of help. If you have questions, just shoot.
Hello! I really want to go to Singapore. I hope someday I could.
Meron bang “show money” dito? I mean, magpapakita ka muna ng cash before ma-approve yung pagtravel mo papuntang Singapore? May naririnig kasi akong ganun. I don’t know if it’s true. Thanks. And by the way, are the foods in SG expensive kasi 2 meals/day lang yung naka-indicate sayo.
Hi Rox. Because you don’t need a VISA to go to Singapore, you can simply book flights any time. Just make sure you have a valid passport. At the Immigration counter, they don’t USUALLY ask tourists to show how much money they have or even ask about it. They just check your passport, some times your airline tickets, and ask standard questions like:
- Who are you traveling with?
- How long will you be staying?
- WHERE will you be staying?
They only ask more in very “special” occasions, like, when they do random questioning or when they suspect you’re not entering their country for leisure.
I’ve flown to Singapore 4 times and I was never asked any question. They just scan my passport and stamp it and they let me through. My friends get asked though, so I guess I’m just lucky. haha
hi..too late..thanks for the information it’s very helpful..ask ko lang my babayaran pa bang tax s singapore kapag pauwe na ng manila?? ngbubudget na kasi me pupunta me sa december kya super research..thank you..
Hi Hyemi. Wala naman.
hi im wondering if u will travel somewhere in europe or north america…;) sure it will be a big help for some of us who wants to go to europe and n. america
Hi Nedith, HOPEFULLY. I have friends in Europe who have been begging me to visit them but airfare is still a problem for me. Too expensive. Maybe in 2014. Need to save first. Or revive my whorish ways to earn more. Haha. Kidding.
Hi, ask ko lang if what room yung na book niyo sa G4 Station Backpackers’ Hostel? Private bathroom po ba xa? Pupunta kasi ako sa singapore by next year, so nag reresearch na ko. Medjo hirap lang sa pag hanap ng hostel, mostly shared bathroom ung mga nakikita ko kasi.
Hi Annir! Nope, I booked a private room but shared bathroom.
Nice. This really helped me a lot ‘cos I’ll be visiting Singapore soon. Thanks for the info!
HI,
For the private double room, are my kids free or I will still need to pay for them?
hello there,
I found this posts about Singapore very useful and informative. I will follow some of your itinerary as i will tour my family on june 2013 in singapore. First time kasi namin at i’m looking for an itinerary na kasya sa 3 days.
many thanks!
april