By Danny R. Johnson – Travel and Entertainment News Editor
SINGAPORE – San Diego County News had the opportunity to visit Singapore recently and was struck by how this strategic city-state has transformed its image. At one time, Singapore was once little more than a stopover for many travelers, but now it has become a booming metropolis that does good business for vacations and holidays. This has led many hotels to refurbish, expand, and vary their services to accommodate a changing clientele. As in many other cities, boutique hotels with smaller, quirkily designed rooms have become more common over the past few decades.
Hotel prices in Singapore can rival those in New York or London—a superior double room in a deluxe hotel can run more than S$400 a night, and one with a private bath in a modest hotel may run around S$200 a night. During conventions and in the peak months of December and June through September, rooms are often scarce, and prices rise. Still, there are usually enough discounts and deals to avoid paying the total published price.
Search Chinatown and Little India for meager rates, which have many of Singapore’s budget hotels.
But for those who can afford extra luxury, the JW Marriott South Beach Singapore, where I stayed for seven nights, is your ideal location. This five-star hotel is steeped in history and is situated on a heritage site, formerly the Beach Road military camp, from the 1930s to the 1990s.
The hotel buildings initially housed the Singapore Volunteer Corps before becoming the enlistment center for Singapore’s National Servicemen. Beach Road derives its name from its proximity to Singapore’s original coastline. JW Marriott South Bech is now part of the iconic South Beach mixed-use development, consisting of four historical buildings with two new hotel towers. It includes high-quality office space, luxury residences, various food and beverage options, and retail shopping. Soon, San Diego County News will highlight some of the hotel’s unique natural resources, energy savings, and art exhibit features.
The staff of JW Marriott South Beach was exceptionally professional in all aspects of our site visit, and a few employees stood out: We thank Hazel, Zenith, Kendy, Angela, John R, Angelica, and Mohd for making our stay comfortable and enjoyable.
# 1
The best way to get around Singapore is by bicycle.
Singapore has one of the largest bicycle lane networks in any urban area. Its Park Connector Network trails connect parks and nature reserves, and there are some brilliantly innovative routes, too. These include the Rail Corridor, a 14-mile bicycle and hiking route in the footprint of a former railway once used to shuttle goods to Malaysia. It is lined with rewilding projects, and species spotted here include the rare Sunda pangolin. Hire a bike using the HelloRide bicycle sharing app or stay at a hotel offering guests complimentary bike hire–we recommend the Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen, which has a fleet of slick Bamboo Bikes.
# 2
Singapore is not just skyrises and shopping.
Yes, tree-lined Orchard Road has more malls than you can shake a stick at, but Singapore’s 400 parks and nature reserves are often overlooked. At the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, visitors can hunker down in wildlife hides to spot crocodiles, otters, and rare birds, and at the MacRitchie Reservoir, there are troupes of macaque monkeys. Take time to explore Singapore’s islands, too. Pulau Ubin, a 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Singapore, has the wonderfully wild Chek Jawa Wetlands, while Lazarus Island has a stunning lagoon. It is also now possible to spend the night there–in late 2023, five one-bedroom tiny houses were unveiled.
# 3
Know the best times to visit Singapore.
Singapore’s packed calendar of events means it is worth thinking about timing, whether to avoid massive events, which might send hotel rates through the roof or to bag ringside seats at sporting extravaganzas such as the Singapore GP. During the Chinese New Year celebrations, street parades weave through Singapore’s downtown, and lanterns illuminate Chinatown. Then there’s February’s Singapore Airshow, a biennale event first held in 2008. September’s Singapore Grand Prix is famous for its tight, twisting track, so safety cars appear more here than at any other race.
# 4
You will never go hungry, but there is so much food to choose from.
In 2020, Singapore’s hawker culture–open-air food halls serving delicious, wallet-friendly street food from all corners of Asia–was given UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. Types of food sold here include Peranakan and Nyonya cuisines, which comprise Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian ingredients. Some of the best hawker centers include the Newton Food Centre, a backdrop for Crazy Rich Asians, and Little India’s Tekka Centre, which specializes in Indian delicacies (this is where you will find Singapore’s best butter chicken).
Are you feeling brave? Try durian–the spikey, stinky fruit with a creamy, aromatic flesh–do not forget that it is illegal to eat it on public transport, and many hotels will have “no durians” signs in their lobby on account of the fruits’ powerful odor, often compared to sweaty socks. Finally, plenty of fine dining is on offer in Singapore, too. Its swankiest restaurants include Odette, which is regularly highlighted on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, and Labyrinth, a Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Singaporean chef LG Han, who serves up dishes inspired by the ones from his childhood.
# 5
It would help if you played by the rules in Singapore.
Singapore is often painted unfairly as a destination where it is easy to fall foul of draconian laws. While the country has capital punishment, there are many destinations with much stricter regulations, and if you do not do anything stupid (or illegal), you’re unlikely to get into trouble. The most stringent laws relate to drugs. Being caught with under a gram of cannabis can mean a fast-track ticket to jail or result in a sentence involving caning. Public disorder offenses can quickly land you with a hefty fine or worse. Vaping and smoking are banned in all public places, barring designated outdoor areas and on private property. Chewing gum (barring certified nicotine gum and oral dental gum) remains illegal in Singapore, so bin it before you arrive. You are unlikely to get in trouble if it is found in your bag at the airport–you will just be asked to dispose of it.
