Singapore is undoubtedly one of the greatest destinations to tour, thanks to its serenity, green and spotlessly clean environment, and assured security, as crime rates are almost nil. Moreover, the city is quite small to navigate with all the best modern means of transportation, and tons of awesome places to visit and activities to do. To ensure your trip to the island state is as eventful and hassle-free as possible, here are some tips and guides that you may find useful:
The weather
Merlion land weather is hot and humid throughout the year, with temperatures rising above 30°C (86°F). There are rain showers, mostly in the evening and mornings, making them a bit pleasant in those high temperatures, so be prepared for torrential yet brief rains. You should bring a good variety of clothing, as you may sweat a lot due to the temperatures and humidity. Also, schedule your outdoor events for cooler mornings and your walks around the city for evenings. Finally, have an umbrella on hand for the showers that come unannounced.
Language
You can communicate in English, as most people are fluent in it and it is one of the official languages. Also, the locals use other languages, such as Tamil, Malay, and Mandarin Chinese.
Take your passport and visa while going places
One of the most vital travel information tips while touring the city-state is to ensure that you always carry both your original and copies of your passport and visa everywhere. Other than for security reasons, since you are in a foreign country, the documents will give you free entry into places like the Casino in Marina Bay Sands, and this is after verifying your identity, which can only be done using these documents. You need not worry about how to secure your visa before the trip, as you can easily engage One Visa, the best visa agent for speedy services, with an almost 100% guaranteed success rate in the visa application process.
Smoking is restricted
You should not smoke cigarettes in any air-conditioned places, such as restaurants, malls, and other public places. You will find designated smoking areas in open-air eateries and at some entertainment attractions.
Drinking water
Do not worry about the drinking water, and just reach for the nearest tap to drink your fill. The water in Singapore is safe and clean to drink, having satisfied the WHO standards. Also, you can conveniently buy some bottled water from the stores.
Get a tax refund on your purchases as you depart
You should be aware of this travel information tip while visiting Singapore: You can claim a refund of 7% of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for purchases from any participating outlet, like Fossil. You can do the claim at the airport while departing. The refund is only applicable if you have spent over $100 and if you have kept all the receipts of the purchased items.
Perfect the art of bargaining—but only at streets and flea markets
You have to haggle while buying goods, but only at places like Chinatown and Bugis Street. These places are more like flea markets that sell copies of great brands; hence, most of the items are unbranded and cost less compared to prices of the real brands. The art of bargaining is a key asset while in Merlion land, or else you will end up penniless. You need to smile, be polite, and bargain realistically.