Expat Visitor Support:
How to prepare for Singapore visiting friends and family
Introduction
Singapore is an exotic and attractive holiday destination and your friends associate your life with mainly resting under palm trees. it will not take long and you will be swamped with the arrival of friends and relatives and friends of friends... A case has been reported to the editors of an expat who had 365 house guests in a year!
The usual problems with house guests can be considerably reduced, if you prepare their visit or even pass on this web site link and encourage them to make themselves familiar with the country prior to their visit.
We cannot list all the fabulous places you should visit. But we hope to grow this section with your help and have other expats share their secrets for the best islands with all of you.
Ask your visitors to download Singapore Tourism Board (STB) mobile application, available for free on iPhone and Android smartphones. The app will help visitors explore Singapore on the go by enabling visitors to access the latest and most essential information about Singapore including attractions and events, at their fingertips.
Photo:enterAsiaArt
Ask your visitors to import some alcohol for you. Each adult is permitted to import duty free 1 liter of liquor or 1 l of wine per adult. Saves you the welcome drink!
Below are some simple tricks you may want to follow. Additionally we suggest you have them visit the sections on laws and regulations in Singapore and Health and Immigration to give you peace of mind.
| Info |
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Stock a few brochures and the Official Guide from the Singapore Tourism Board/Order Online |
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Get the Civic District Trail from the National Heritage Board with Walking Trails through Singapore |
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Order This Week Singapore Tel: 6 325 4070 |
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Order Bc Magazine Tel: 6325 4070 |
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Order The Singapore Visitor
Tel: 6 393 9630 |
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Before they arrive hook them to a number of Web Sites (see below) |
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Explain the local taxi system |
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Accompany them to buy a ezLink Card (see Public Transport) |
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Hand over your Transit Link guide and a map |
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Show them the way to the next visitor centers and print them a map to your home |
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Give a short lecture on Singapore laws and customs. |
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Get them a Visitor Card for tourists to travel around Singapore with a booklet of discount coupons for goods and services at:
Changi Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Hall Booth 7
Changi Airport Terminal 2 Arrival Hall Booth 11
MRT stations: Raffles Place, Dhoby Gaut, City Hall, Orchard, Bugis, Somerset
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Get them a CityBuzzPass: website
CityBuzz are special air-conditioned double decker bus services that loop the city from 10am to 10pm daily, buzzing at key city stops every 10-15 minutes. To catch the CityBuzz, look out for the friendly bee at the buzz stop and in front of the bus. CityBuzz cost just $1 per trip or customers can purchase a $5 Day Pass at all TransitLink ticket offices for unlimited rides for one day. |
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Souvenirs
As Singapore is regarded as Asia in a nutshell, there is no shortage of souvenirs to take back. Apart from the famous and really tiny Tiger balm which fits in every bag, you can get a number of textiles, art, handicrafts and food items to remember your time in Singapore.
If you want to buy larger items you need not worry how they will get back to you. The shops are always willing to ship them to you.
Photo:Cityscoops Media
| Info |
| Chinatown |
Chinese Tea, Tiger Balm, Chinese Porcelain, silk, antiques, Chinese music, Cheongsam, rosewood furniture, mahjong, Chinese cookbooks, fans, umbrellas |
| Kampong Glam |
Carpets, silk scarves, table clothes, bedspreads, handicraft, rattan baskets, bamboo and willow products, batik clothing, beaded shoes, sarong |
| Little India |
Saree, silver jewelry, punjabi suits, Indian garlands, incenses, perfumes, indian spices,musical instruments, Indian music |
| Jungle Pottery |
Chinese pottery, garden furniture |
See Shopping for more ideas and places to go
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Visitor Centers
The visitor centers of Tourism Malaysia stock some fabulous brochures and offer a number of attractive tours with great savings.
And the friendly staff will always impress your visitors!
Photo:Cityscoops Media
| Addresses |
Singapore Tourism Board (STB)
1 Orchard Spring Lane
Tel: 6736 6622
Fax: 6736 9423
Email
no visitor center
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Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
#01-35/37/39/41
Tel: 1800 332 5066
8.30 am to 6.30 pm (Mon to Sat)
9.00 am to 6.30 pm (Sun and public holidays) |
Liang Court Shopping Center
177 River Valley Road
Tel: 633 62888
10.30 am to 9.30 pm daily
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Plaza Singapora
1/Ff Plaza Singapore
68 Orchard Rd
Tel: 6332 9298
10.00 am to 10.00 pm daily |
Singapore Visitors Centre @ Orchard
(at the junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road)
Touristline: 1800 736 2000 |
Visitor Center at Changi Airport
Arrival Hall Terminal 1 |
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| Advertorials |
 One of the best ways to discover Singapore and its diverse offerings is to grab a copy of Singapore CityScoops – the city's first independent and hip guide book. It's like having a local pal introduce you to the real Singapore and its best eats, buys, thrills, clubs, escapes ... and more. Find out where your kids can have fun while you relax with a cuppa; check out chic or truly local eateries; seek out cool spas, galleries or clubs; and hunt for unique buys for your home or wardrobe. |
Singapore CityScoops is created by a savvy group of expatriates and locals that have explored every inch of the country. Sectioned by area and supported with vibrant photos and friendly maps, the 144-page book zooms in on finds and experiences not found in other guide books to Singapore. Best of all, there are no adverts or paid reviews. One expatriate raved, "It’s excellent for finding the really good spots in Singapore, when you need them most.”
To get more information or to buy a copy of the guide, visit www.cityscoops.com |
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Tour Guides
As you may not be able to accompany your visitors when they explore the city, why not engage the services of a local tour guide who may even speak their mother tongue. There are 200 free-lanced tour guides are available form the Society of Tourist Guides which has been recently launched. An office is planned at Waterloo Centre. Or see the web sites below and search by language and tour in the directory of the Singapore Tourism Board.
See also further info Singapore Attractions - Island Escapes - Explore the Region
