Singapore- An island of dreams

Traveling with kids has few additional checkboxes as compared to traveling on your own – a clean place to stay, good food, easy transport are just few examples. The perfect place where you can tick all these checkboxes is – Singapore!

Singapore, best example of rags to riches story, is also referred as the place where “East meets West”. The most urbanised and developed cities in Asia, it has best infrastructure and local travel options. It offers flavours from all over the world (just imagine we found a panwala there!!), making it a perfect place to travel with your kids. Another highlight of the sightseeing is that it has Universal Studios from USA and Singapore Flyer, a replica of London eye, not to forget River Safari in Jurong bird park where various rivers from all over the world are recreated.

Today’s blog will give you a brief idea of how to reach, what attractions not to miss and other relevant details –

How to get there:

There are plenty of flights from metros in India to Singapore.So getting here is not an issue.If you plan in advance, you will also get some wonderful deals. If you are planning a trip to Malaysia and Singapore together, then it would be wiser to book tickets to Malaysia as that is much cheaper than that to Singapore.

Visa:

Indian passport holders can apply for a Singapore tourist visa that allows a stay for maximum period of 30 days with a validity of 2 years. Similar to other country rules, even for Singapore, you should ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months from the date of entry in Singapore

Few attractions to enjoy with kids:

Universal studios Singapore: Universal Studios is a dream of every child! Situated on the Sentosa island, you need to spend an entire day or even two at Universal Studios with your kids. Walking around the studios is fun in itself with something cute in every nook and corner of the park.There are rides for every age! You can see the magic of dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park and meet the cute characters of Madagascar in the Madagascar ride. There are thrill rides as well to scare you to death! Try the 3D Transformer ride or the Mummy ride if you want to experience the thrill. Do not miss the laser show on water in the evening at Sentosa.

Night Safari :Singapore Night Safari is a treat for the animal lovers. It is also dedicated to the conservation and rescue of animals in the world. You can get into the tram along with guide who will inform your kids about animals here from all over the world! People also walk around all by themselves to explore the park in detail. Also don’t miss the night show to get amazed by the antics of animals along with the tribal fire dance!

Jurong Bird Park :It is Asia’s largest bird Avery with 400 species of birds present here. The nature walks make sure you come close to these feathered species. A must watch bird show gives you a chance to see a few birds doing the ramp walk. What could be a better way to teach the kids about the birds than taking to this park. Here they also get to hold the birds on their hands and even feed them!

Wild wild wet Singapore:If your kids are tired of  humidity, cool off at Singapore’s best water park. Wild Wild Wet Singapore is a good mix of gentle rides and action packed rides to give you fun for the entire family!

Singapore Discovery Centre: If you want your kids to know about the Singaporean history and culture, do visit the Singapore Discovery centre.  If you want to see how news are broadcasted on TV, visit the Singapore Discovery Centre. There are activities like paintballing, zorbing and 3D movies to entertain you!

Singapore Flyer:Get a ride in the Ferris wheel to enjoy the beautiful views of the Singapore city.The tallest point is at 165 metres from the base.Do this ride especially in the evening to get a view of the beautifully lit Singapore.

Legoland Malaysia:The Legoland is located in Malaysia and is just around the border.The journey is just around an hour and is a treat for the kids who love Legos.Lego blocks are available in different themed areas where kids can construct their favorite Lego models. There is also a Lego Kingdom which has thrill rides for adventure seekers.

Few attractions that the adventurer in you should not miss in Singapore:

Apart from the regular list of Jurong Bird Park, Marina Bay Islands and Universal Studios, these are few off beat activities which you can try doing in Singapore –

1. Kayaking in Khatib Bongsu:

Go kayaking through the mangroves of Khatib Bongsu, which lies on the North side of the island or at Pulau Ubin in the East. The lush green nature is enough to keep you company along the way. If you are lucky, you might spot dugongs in the wild at Pulau Ubin.

2. Singapore river cruise:

Float @ Bay gives you a mini cruise experience with four course dinner and enticing sights of the Singapore city. If you already had dinner, you can also join in for post dinner drinks on the floating bar with city skyline as company!!

3. Pub hopping at cool bars

You can enjoy some unique cocktails, including Singapore Sling in these awesome bars in Singapore along with pretty super ambience – Atlas, Manhattan, Operation Dagger, etc.

4. Race on the track of F1

Be in your own F1 car race anytime at Kartright Speedway or the Karting Arena. You don’t even need your driver’s license as the racing is with karts going upto 30kms/hr!! This is no regular go karting – The Karting Arena is Singapore’s first electrical karting track, boasting a modern fleet of karts with superior acceleration as well as a challenging race circuit that will leave you with the ultimate race experience.

5. Café Hopping in Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is known to be a hipster neighbourhood. But upon delving further, you will be surprised with delicious surprises it offers!! You will find a cute café while strolling around Yong Siak street or Eng Hoon street, like – Tiong Hun bakery, Forty hands bakery, Cream & custard, etc.

6. Rare books shopping

The book worm in you will be elated to know that there are some wonderful books cafes in Singapore, where you can find some real treasures from latest popular fiction to some rare classics. Go on treasure hunt in these cafes!! Few of these are – Books actually, Littered with books, Woods in the books, etc.

7. Let your creative juices flow

Find some creative inspiration in the murals on the walls of various streets in Kampong Glam. All the shots are definitely Instagram-worthy!! Some of the streets are – Haji Lane, Sultan Gate, etc.

Or you can exploit on your art skills in art jam cafes like Arteastic and Cups and Canvas! They let you munch on delicious treats while work on the canvas.

What to eat:

You would be spoilt for choices here! If you want to eat only Indian food then head to Little India.There are all the world cuisines available in Singapore, so hog on everything you love to eat!

Where to stay:

Singapore is a very small country, however you have multiple options in hotels. You can choose hotel according to your budget.Many Indians love to stay in Little India where Indian food is easily available. Marina Bay Sands with the infinity pool is a great option, if you are looking for a luxurious stay.

There is something for all types of travelers in Singapore – the book worms, the art lovers, the kids and also pub hoppers!! With so many options, wouldn’t you just love to plan a trip soon?

Share your experiences if you have already been there!