Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Singapore

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Singapore.

Hi! I’m Anya, an American who has been living in Singapore for the past three years. I’ve been surrounded by expats (I went to an international school), but I’ve also made tons of friends native to Singapore, so I know the spots to go that are luxurious, whilst still maintaining Singapore’s charm.

What makes Singapore a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Singapore is an incredibly, clean, polished city with high standards and impeccable taste! It’s a small country, so everything you must see is easy to get to. Singapore’s identity stems from a vast array of other cultures and expat communities, so there’s always something new to try, or somewhere new to explore. 

What 5 star hotel is the best in Singapore?

I’d have to say Marina Bay Sands, the hotel with the iconic infinity pool overlooking Singapore’s skyline. The hotel is right in the middle of Marina Bay, so you get amazing views of Singapore right from your room! It’s a great location; it’s in the center of the city, close to all of the action. Its right over a luxury mall with plenty of designer restaurants, so food and shopping is easily accessible! If you don’t feel like taking the lift down to the mall, Ce La Ve is a wonderful Asian Fusion restaurant at the top of Marina Bay Sands (MBS to the locals).

Check for a full Singapore neighborhood guide here

What about boutique hotels in Singapore, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

The Raffles Hotel is an absolute beauty! It’s a Singapore icon, full of history and glamour! It’s right in the middle of the central business/civil district, so it’s easy to get nearly everywhere in Singapore. Better yet, the Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was created, is right inside the hotel. (Read a full review here)

Are there any fun luxury activities for the adventurous traveler in Singapore?

Sentosa Island is a great place to go for some adventure, from zip lining over beaches to indoor skydiving! Even better, when you’re done with your adventure, you can lounge around at a seaside pool (or by the ocean), fruity cocktail in hand, of course! You can also hire a yacht to take you out to St. John’s Island or out into the sea for a day of relaxing, partying, or sunbathing!

MacRitchie Reservoir is fun to have a little hike around. There’s a treetop walk where you’re on these big metal bridges over the trees- it’s really beautiful, but avoid it if you’re afraid of heights!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Singapore?

The Shangri-La Hotel has the most amazing tea buffet, with plenty of local Singaporean dishes and also the most incredible dessert spread- including a chocolate fountain! Haji Lane is another little place not to miss. It’s a “hipster” street right in the middle of the city, full of street art, small boutiques, and plenty of cafes. My favorite Haji Lane Café is #Selfie Coffee, where you take a selfie on their phone, and it’s printed onto the foam of your drink!

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Singapore and what are their best dishes?

Singapore definitely takes pride in food, so you can’t really go wrong. A tried-and-true favorite of mine is Catalunya, right on the water of Marina Bay. They have the most incredible Spanish food and everything you can order there is absolutely fantastic.

Another favorite is Stellar at One Altitude, a beautiful restaurant located at the top of the highest building in Singapore! Their streaks are absolutely amazing- perfectly cooked and oh so buttery! They melt in your mouth! And you get to enjoy that whilst enjoying the most incredible view of Singapore and the bay.

Fancy restaurants in Singapore are amazing- but don’t skip out on the local food, which is a fusion of Malay, Chinese, and Indian dishes, with influences from Thailand and Indonesia. Check out Hawker Centers for those

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

Benjamin Browns on Orchard has insane over-the-top milkshakes! They’ve got tons of different flavors, and the toppings are crazy! There’s a slice of cake and a bunch of candy on top of one!

The 2am Dessert Bar is also a great find. They have a bunch of different desserts, from cheesecake to more exotic tarts and mousses, and the best part? They’ve got a recommended wine/cocktail pairing!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Singapore; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

If you want to shop, Singapore is definitely the place! Orchard Road is the place to go, home of 22 malls, most of which are interconnected by underground walkways. You can find everything on Orchard; from big-name luxury goods to smaller local designers. I like Aijek, who designs some beautiful feminine clothing. It’s very lightweight (perfect for Singapore heat!) and very whimsical.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Singapore?

The So Spa at the Sofitel on Sentosa Island is absolutely divine. Choose from a wide assortment of rejuvenating, relaxing, and health-inspired treatments, work out at their gym, then float in their waterfall pools- the pressure of the waterfall against your back releases tension! There are also a couple saunas and a body mud masque area!

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

Take a hike up to Mount Faber! It’s not a strenuous walk at all, and at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful Singapore sunset, peeping through the trees, the glow of the city lights below you. It’s the perfect balance of city and nature, and the sunset just ties it up into a big picture perfect moment. You can continue your walk all the way over to Sentosa!

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

The Library Bar is a fantastic little place – if you can find it! You have to find the little bar first, then give them the day’s password for entry, found on their Facebook page. The hunt is surely worth it, though, as the second you walk into the quirky little bar, it’s like you’ve time traveled into a swinging little speakeasy! The cocktails are just as quirky as the concept of the bar; my favorite is the Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, a pea and lemon gin cocktail!

If you’re looking for a more low-key place to pregame, Stickies Bar is a good one! You can sing, play beer pong or cards, or watch a game there! Whatever you’d like to do whilst downing a beer, cider, or cocktail, you can surely do at Stickies!

If you end the night at a fancy club in Singapore, which one do you head towards?

Singapore does nightlife like no other! Clarke Quay is a covered area (so the rain can’t ruin your night), home to many bars and clubs. My favorites are Attica and F.Club! You could also head to Zouk, consistently voted one of the top clubs in the world! Make sure to end the night at Bang Bang, a club located at the Pan Pacific Hotel near Marina Bay. Bottle service is the way people like to go, but you can also buy drinks at the bars there.

Anya is a 19 year old with dreams of exploring the world. She loves trekking in the Himalayas, getting lost in foreign countries, and all things spontaneous. You can follow her adventures at Unexpected Occurrence, where she writes about all of the mishaps and craziness that comes along with being a part-time nomad.

The post Luxury Guide to Singapore appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

The hippie made it to the Raffles & I’m going to share my Raffles Singapore review! Okay to be fair, I have had a massage at a Raffles before (in Instanbul) but I had not yet laid my head on one of their immensely oversized pillows in their giant King size beds. Now, I have and like that time I was bumped up to business class on British Air, I have now seen how the other half (or 1%) truly lives.

If you missed last weeks’ post, check it out to see why we were in Singapore and what we got up to.

Raffles Singapore Review

I suppose you’ve already realized I love the place but I’d like to share a few photos and show you what you can expect when you stay at the Raffles Singapore hotel. It’s one of the most iconic and historical buildings in Singapore and dates back to the East India trading company, hence it being named after Mr. Raffles.

Back then there were Indian workers in Singapore and you’ll notice Indian touches at the hotel – for example the Tiffin Room where you have High Tea. Tiffins are “lunchboxes” Indians used for work. We actually thought the hotel reminded us a lot of Taj properties, one of the best chains in India.

There are a few must do’s in Singapore and awesomely two of them are right in the Raffles hotel! See my favorite things to do in Singapore in this post.

Tripadvisor puts Raffles High Tea at the #2 coffee/tea place in the country. The second big thing is having a Singapore Sling where they were invented- right here! They were made because us ladies wanted to drink too – but it wasn’t classy- so an awesome man invented this so it would look like we were drinking fruit punch of sorts.

The High Tea was very fancy. In fact when Ben walked in he realized he should go back to the room and change into his button up shirt instead of a t-shirt. While there were regular High Tea offerings, there were also a few bits of local food like dumplings.

We stayed in the Palm Suites room which came with Butlers (yes, I swear). Of course, we only called them once. That was at 8 am when I woke up with a crashing hangover and no water. I called for four bottles. I could have drunk the sea at that point. Our lady butler came in and could tell I’d had a late one… okay, maybe it wasn’t 8 am, it could have been about 130 pm. She said I should flush my system and have some chamomile tea. I liked her!

They gave complimentary fruit baskets, water, tea, and coffee (but not the glass bottled water, it’s $14). The rooms had a little living area, bedroom, and bathroom with a tub.

We were given the “writer’s room” which was really adorable. Definitely historical, these rooms were rooms of the past which I LOVED. The wood was all dark, there were shutters separating rooms, and the writers desk and vanity were so cute. Ben had a bath (because British people love that nonsense) and I of course didn’t because that’s like laying in a hot water pool of your own dirt and I can’t understand it unless you shower first.

Overall, it was a great experience and if you’ve got the budget for it you should absolutely crash here. There is a great rooftop pool, exercise room, a lobby filled with fresh flowers each day, and 14 restaurants and bars on site- including the famous Long Bar where you have the traditional Singapore Sling.

I stayed at the Raffles as a guest and was not compensated or requested to write a positive review for them. All opinions are my own. It’s the Raffles- I mean, WHO has a bad thing to say about them!?

The post The Iconic Raffles Singapore (Review) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

We went to Singapore just recently and had a blast. We’ve been before so didn’t have to hit up all the tourist sites. I’ll link some older articles with some weekend in Singapore tips below so you can plan your own whirlwind weekend! I’m also sorry that I said I’d snapchat and didn’t. It lasted until I got drunk on the first night and then I gave up – I will try again lol.

photos of the Quincy Hotel

Our Weekend in Singapore

Ben’s best friend from his school days, Dom, got married to Massy a Singaporean girl who we’ve been lucky to have met before when we visited them. She’s adorable and a fashion designer! Dom has been living in Singapore/Kuala Lumpur for something like 5 years.

Dom’s brother, Mitch, who is also Ben’s BFF came out too with his wife Laura and their other friend James. We definitely partied ourselves silly on the first night and it was a bit rough from there on out. The boys spent Saturday go-karting and were really tired after that. Laura and I walked around Orchard Road which is the famous shopping street.

Read more: Luxury Guide to Singapore

• Here’s a quick guide to shopping in Singapore

We were informed that Club Street is the place to be on Friday nights so that’s where we went for drinks after some Thai food at Soi 60 in Roberson Quay. I loved my curry. It was very tasty food. Affordable by Singapore standards at about $15 a dish. Obviously not Thai prices haha.

• Check out this Guide to the Neighboorhoods in Singapore if you’re planning on visiting so you can get a feel for the land.

After Club Street, which was PACKED and so much fun, we wandered off somewhere via a party bus where we were coerced (by Ben) into taking regrettable Jäger shots. If you’re on a budget don’t opt for the party bus instead of a taxi it was like $100 for a 5 minute ride but we were a collective 60+ beers deep at this point. The nightlife in Singapore is so much fun.

Get a taxi app!

I HIGHLY recommend downloading the app Grab if you pick up a Singapore SIM card (it has to be a local SIM to work). In Singapore to catch a cab you can’t just grab one off the street in most place, as there are lines and people would be furious if you cut. Leaving the mall the line out in the sun was about 20 minutes long. So, the app was a lifesaver. We used it the whole time, it’s fixed price, and you pay in cash. You don’t have to worry about being ripped off. You can download the Android or Apple one.

• If you’re on a budget, here’s a guide for backpackers.

We didn’t have the best luck with food while there but mainly because we just didn’t have the time. We went to Morton’s steakhouse in the Mandarin Oriental which was a splurge but really delicious food. You can expect about $100 for a steak and $30 for a salad. You should make a reservation.

We didn’t go into any hawker’s markets this time and go for much local food since we did all that last time, and personally Ben and I didn’t love all the food we tried. You can read about it all in the article below. We had High Tea at the Raffles which has some local yummies. We also ate at Boomerang where we didn’t love the food but the vibe is really fun and they play sports so the guys wanted to watch some bike races!

• Some food you should try in Singapore

The first day there, Ben and I were wandering around looking to buy him some socks and saw a sign for a place you could “pet puppies.” We immediately went to check it out but decided $20 a piece to pet dogs when we’re surrounded by them in India was absurd.  It took us a few minutes to decide that… but we did which is what matters ;)

Dog and Cat cafes are not uncommon in Asia. Here’s a list of some in Singapore.

Dom and Massy’s Wedding!

Of course the main reason we were in Singapore was for a WEDDING! It was so unique and fun to attend. Massy’s wedding was Malaysian/Muslim so the languages spoken were Malay, English, and Arabic and the “solemnizer” would speak them all.

She’s not ready for this pic, but still looks amazing and I really want you to see the dress!

Massy wore TWO stunning dresses and was perfect. Dom and the boys wore something similar to an Indian lungi and looked so nice. The wedding was very short and the signed papers and were not allowed to kiss once it was final. Lots of photos and Malaysian food later, we were off. You cannot drink at Muslim weddings of course because well, it’s the rule.

Massy had 3 photographers there and the newlyweds were so tired from having a million photos taken I didn’t really get a great pic of them – I have some but eyes are closed here and there so will only post the good ones!

Ben and I have the same glasses on our heads haha… I just picked up Ben a pair of original Wayfarers while in Istanbul, which were from his family to him for his birthday. I tried them on and thought hmm I like these. I looked online at vision direct who deliver internationally, and turns out those and the Clubmaster are unisex…. so I got a pair. He’s not stoked that we match haha.

We had a really nice last night out at a few different bars. Unfortunately the Marina Bay Sands rooftop bar was closed due to rain, but Ben took Mitch and Laura to see the lights of MBS from the Fullerton Bay Hotel which is something we did our first time there. It’s a great place to have a few beers and see such a cool view.

The best part about Singapore is just popping into little pubs that are kind of like English ones. I didn’t really take note of all the names. There are so many! We had a yummy little pub lunch before everyone headed off on Monday to go back home.

It is always so nice to just chill and go with the flow a second time to a city when you don’t feel pressured to see the tourist sites, as you’ve seen them before. I love going back to London as well with Ben’s family and just getting to follow along with locals who know where to go and what to do.

Where we stayed in Singapore

We stayed two nights at the Raffles hotel as they invited me to do a review which you can read here. It’s a fantastic old hotel that’s ranked in the top 3 on TripAdvisor for the country. The Singapore Sling originates here and they are famous for their High Tea. It’s a great hotel.

On Sunday we shifted to the Quincy Hotel which is near Orchard Road and part of the Far East Hospitality group. It was modern and funky. I loved it. Guests get free mini bar, free buffet with chicken wings and such plus booze from 6-8 (unheard of in Singapore), and other snacks all day like warm muffins, cookies, and a soft serve ice cream station! When you think about all you get free, it’s a steal. The rooms were white and crisp and every single room has a great skyline view. They also have an amazing rooftop pool.

It’s about $180-$200 a night. You pay about $10 a beer when out in Singapore, so Ben and I drinking two free beers each at the hotel was worth $40 of that rate- not bad.

I partnered up with Singapore Air who I’d never flown with before and checked out their amenities on the flights and lounges. I think it’s the first flight I’ve flown where everyone in economy gets a warm towel, socks, and eye covers. Pretty cool. They also had nearly all the Oscar nominated movies I wanted to see and I watched Carol, Brooklyn, and the Danish Girl along with a fun comedy How to Be Single with Dakota Johnson. You could also choose Indian food (as it was a flight from India) or International food and it was much better than most airlines I fly. I would definitely fly Singapore Air again.

Also keep in mind that if you fly Singapore air for a connection through Changi (Singapore) airport onward, you get $40 gift voucher to use in the duty-free. If you stay in Singapore, you can get discounts at a variety of hotels, attractions, and restaurants.

I was a guest of Singapore Air, Quincy Hotel, and Raffles hotel so I could write about them. They are all spankin’ good and all opinions are my own! 

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Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I have met so many fashion designers and artists on my travels who I buy jewelry, swimsuits, clothing, etc from. I love having unique items and I’m creating this section to share them with you!  These are people I’ve met and personally shopped from/love, not people perking/paying me.

I have a little obsession with makeup, which is odd considering I rarely wear it. You have to spend quite a bit at Sephora to be a VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) and I meet the quota easily. When I do wear makeup, I like to take my time and put a little of everything on. I’m pretty sure that’s not what you’re supposed to do…So, I happen to have a friend I met in Bombay that is a makeup artist for some serious clients! I figured I’d hit her up for some tips.

Introducing Makeup By Hongling

Hongling Lim was born and raised in Singapore. She’s another great example of someone who isn’t using their degree in the way they thought they would, but instead found a new calling. She didn’t start out in the makeup industry, but in an office. She knew pretty quickly she wasn’t into it that kind of work life so she took a break.

Out of boredom (and a little interest) she took a makeup class and it stuck. Being brought up in an Asian family, she was told it was a job with no prospects, but she knew it was the right fit for her. FYI all the photos below unless noted are all shots of Hongling’s work!

Hongling’s Brand

Her work is all about enhancing her client’s natural beauty, which is so evident from her photos. The less it looks like you’re wearing, the better! Makeup artist Pat McGrath, who is considered an industry legend, is one of her biggest inspirations.

work of Pat McGrath, Hongling’s idol

I asked Hongling to tell me a little bit about her makeup routine when she’s traveling:

 “I have light makeup on when I travel. I don’t want to look like a raccoon at the end of the day and I like to avoid touch-ups. I’m quite lucky as my skin holds my makeup base well; some blotting is needed and that’s it.”

“I bring along a Kajal Eye Liner
whenever I travel even though I’m typically for the natural look. I never know when I’m going to hit the club; and if I do, the kajal liner is enough for me to create a soft smoky eye.

Let’s ask Hongling to help us poor souls do our makeup…

What exactly does your job entail?

A typical day of my job starts with lugging my heavy suitcase and bags around! That just comes with the job.I enjoy the time when I’m actually working on my model’s face. We talk about anything under the sun! We share our stories and joke around.

Ok, now tell us: what are you 5 specific products you can’t live without?

1. Maybelline waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

2. M.A.C eyebrow pencil

3. Laneige BB Cushion

4. Cle De Peau Concealer

5. Sugar Tinted lip balm

What is the one mistake are most girls making with their make up?

They too often mess up their eyeliner! Some girls wing it out from too far within the eyes, and some make the wing too thick and too much in general.

Is lip liner really that important? Now that bright lips are in style, I feel like I might need to get some.

Lip liner is essential when you want to give your lips definition, especially when you have uneven lip shapes and want to “justify” them a little. Otherwise, using just lipstick is fine.

In Asia, some (the TV commercials) imply lighter skin is ideal, but for those who like a tan what product do you recommend?

I’ll recommend products that make my client’s skin glow. It makes your skin looks healthy and somewhat sexy. Tanning in the sun does dry your skin so be careful!

In high humidity, like during monsoon, what products are necessary?

In places like this, waterproof or smudge-proof eye makeup products are must haves! Also general long-lasting makeup products! Start with Eyeshadow Primer, the Maybelline liner mentioned above, waterproof mascara, K-palette , and dust over with a finishing powder.

How do you set make up when it’s SO hot out?

Firstly, you must prep your skin well. You need to have on makeup base like mentioned above. Once your makeup is done, brush on some setting powder, like Make Up For Ever HD finishing powder to hold/set the makeup. You can even spray on some oil control setting spray when needed.

What product will help clear out pores when there is high pollution like Bombay?

A good makeup remover is important. This should be followed by a cleanser routine to ensure skin is deeply cleansed and no particles remain to clog your pores. I start with Chacott Cleansing water or Bioderma Sensibio H2O  to remove makeup. After cleansing, I use Mario Badescu Silver Powder to treat my skin. After a few uses, you will notice that your pores, breakouts and black/whiteheads are reduced! It helps in oil control on T-zone too.

What are your favorite 3 lip products?

I love any moisturizing lip balms, Yves Saint Laurent Lip stain #27, and bright pink lip colors to create that Korean lip makeup that everyone’s going crazy about (intense on the inner lips, pale on the outer lips).

Have you tried the new idea of “oiling” your face? Josie Maran Argan Oil is a trendy item that I’ve just started trying & like so far.

I don’t use oil on my face, but I’m not against it. Imagine applying olive oil onto areas of dry skin on your hand. Having it on for a short period of time nourishes your skin, but do remember to wash it completely off your face so it doesn’t cause adverse results.

I write a lot, a LOT, about jet lag but tell me, what do you do to keep your face from drying up after a flight or before?

It’s all about the mask! I’ve tried putting mask on everyday for a week; I can see noticeable results. The mask I’m using is Beauty Dairy Mask, which is a huge craze in Asia! (Editors Note: BB cream came from Asia.. so maybe this is next!)

Are there any new make up trends our products that we should avoid?

Please avoid the raccoon eye makeup unless you are going for a Halloween party!

How do you give models that “dewy” Victoria’s Secret model look or that beachy skin look? What products do you reach for?

Try Laneige BB Cushion for the dewy look. Alternatively, you can use wet products with a glow effect over the face, after you put on the base.

What is the one brand/color nail polish you couldn’t live without?

Any black color is my staple!

Anything else you want to share?

Less is more when it comes to makeup!

How you can work with Hongling:

Hongling Lim is a talented makeup artist in Singapore. She works freelance so you can contact her to make an appointment. Check out more of her work on her Facebook page Makeup By Hongling and make sure to follow her on Instagram for behind-the-scenes glam, Singapore views, and awesome food photos. You can contact her via e-mail at hongling921@yahoo.com.sg or call her at (+65) 94558681

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Last week Ben and I took a last minute trip to Singapore to visit his friend from England, Dom and his Singaporean girlfriend, Massy. I have compiled so much information already on this blog, but now I feel like sharing my opinion on this new and modern country; Singapore is only 49 years old!

I have compiled lots of information in 5 different posts on Singapore, but other than my general opinions this is a nice round-up of Singapore. If you’re planning a trip, start here!

photo credit: flickr

Intro to Singapore

You’d think Goa to Singapore would be an easy flight, but it was not. I highly suggest not using Air India even though we did get upgraded to business class for the last leg of the flight. We flew to Bombay, as the ticket read Bombay to Singapore… failing to mention the stop where we wouldn’t get off the plane in Chennai. It took us 9 hours just to get out of India, then 4 to Singapore! Not to mention the monitors in the brand spankin’ new Mumabi International airport were not working so we almost missed our flight.

So, starting the trip exhausted after downing some coffee, for some odd reason I was determined to see “Little India” in Singapore, as if living in India isn’t enough for me.

Read more: Luxury Guide to Singapore

little India was much cleaner than real India

Although a fairly small country, there are many different neighborhoods to check out in Singapore. Singaporeans are mostly Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian. There is such a variety of culture throughout the city from food to religious buildings and language. The USD is worth a little less than the SD and the pound is worth more- just check into rates before you go.

“Clinically Clean” Singapore

As for the reputation of being “clinically clean”, I think it’s a huge exaggeration. The city is clean, but there is nothing clinical about it. Coming from India, I expected to be shocked by the cleanliness, but truly found it normal. There are laws “no spitting” “no chewing gum” “no stinky durian fruit on transportation” but they make perfect sense. Like India, some countries have a problem with spitters; it’s gross, and in Bombay and Delhi you see signs for spitting fines, it was nice not to see gum all over the streets (you can’t buy it here), and that fruit smells atrocious. These make total sense. People aren’t littering because of fines and they aren’t doing drugs because you can’t get them. I found it refreshing.

It is almost impossible to get a car in Singapore because prices are so high. For a car that costs 30,000 in the states, you’ll pay over 200,000 in Singapore. No car can be on the road that is over 10 years old. I never saw a mediocre car. Everyone is driving Mercedes, Audi, Range Rovers… and all those fancy sport cars I can’t even name! Because only the super rich can drive, all the cars are insanely cool, which adds to the “clean” reputation.

Weirdly enough, my one of my favorite things about Singapore are the town houses along the streets. They were painted with pastel beach colors and had adorable shutters. I really liked this hotel above and then was informed that’s one you go to for an hour at a time… if you catch my drift. Although searching for someone to pay, or someone to pay you for sex is illegal, the actual act of exchanging money for sex is seem as a legal business deal between to consenting adults. In conclusion: you can have sex for money, but you cannot chew gum.

Transportation in Singapore

We traveled by cab because we were being a bit lazy and the metro doesn’t stop by Dom’s house. Cabs anywhere in the city will cost you about 10-20 dollars.  There are places to queue up all over the city and sometimes lines are very long, like near Vivo City. Coming from India, seeing people stand in line properly about blew my mind. I’m becoming more Indian everyday, like eating with my hands and my new head wobble, so the Indian inside me wanted to push my way to the front of the line like a bossy Indian would.

There are local buses, but the cheapest way to travel is the metro (MRT).

If you take the NE Line (purple) you’ll stop at China Town to Clark Quay (great walkway with food and bars) and Little India. The NS (red) line takes you to Orchard Road and Marina Bay. The EW (green) will get you to Bugis and lastly, the airport.

A Guide to Neighborhoods of Singapore 

Popular neighborhoods that I visited include: Little India, Bugis, China Town, Arab Street, Clark Quay, Orchard Road, Robertson Quay, Financial District, Marina Bay, and Sentosa Island. You can read all about them on my Singapore Neighborhoods Guide: what to eat, where to shop, and what bars will make you feel fabulous, like one of Leonardo Dicaprio’s model girlfriends.

Food/Shopping/Nightlife in Singapore

There are many Hawkers, “coffee shops” and food courts around Singapore, the most famous being Lau Pa Sat or Newton’s. Food is so important in Singapore, as it’s been said all they do is eat and shop, it of course needs a post full of foodie photos. Because I stayed with a local fashion designer I got the best insight into where to shop in Singapore, including off the beaten path boutiques. Sadly, Arab Street had closed theirs by the time I arrived. The nightlife if massively expensive so for that reason I have two guides: one for backpackers looking to get drunk cheap, and one for high heel lovers who want to experience Singapore the extravagant way which in Singapore, I think really is the best way! I recommend not coming unless you have some money to burn, or else you’ll leave feeling like you killed your budget in just a couple days.

Changi Airport

Lastly, when you leave the Changi airport you’ll get to see why it’s one of the best in the world. You can get pre-paid taxis here but don’t worry about being scammed. All the drivers use a meter without being asked and most have GPS (as well as security cameras). One driver spent 40 minutes telling us how Bruce Lee changed his life. The airport has places to charge and lock up your phone, big screen TVs playing soccer, comfortable seating, free internet, photo booths, a gym, mall, and swimming pool.

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Before coming to Singapore, I wanted to see how it was laid out as a city and where the cool places to be were. I couldn’t find a good guide anywhere! I know mine isn’t the best but I did learn a lot while there (staying with local friends) and they helped me organize this. I’ve since been back three times now, so trust me when I say I know where to stay in Singapore depending on what you want t odo!

Tiny Singapore is divided into many neighborhoods that encompass the diverse people of the country. In such a small place you have Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and more getting along peacefully.

The varied cultures make this an ideal destination for travelers because it allows you to see more of the world while staying in one place. Kind of like “Beers of the World” at Disney Land, but better.

Where to Stay in Singapore: A Neighborhood Guide

I’ve put together this Singapore neighborhood guide to help you get around. Everything is really close and easily accessible using the MRT (train), although walking might be a bit of a mission. Uber often has surge prices and you can opt to use Grab app if you want to go by taxi at a lower rate.

Little India

If you’re looking for where to stay in Singapore on a budget, Little India is said to be the cheapest area to sleep. This is THE place for backpackers from bars to food. For backpackers on a budget in Singapore, the prices are still going to be a little out of reach. If you’re only passing through give yourself about 30-60 minutes here to wander around and shop.

For super budget hostels or hotels in Little India, try the Traveller’s Loft @Jalan Besar, New Society Backpacker’s Hostel, or Footprints Hostel. Check here for more hostels in the area.

this is not anything like India, and is definitely not dirty although by Singaporean standards it is

Similar to India?

Stepping out of the cab into Little India was pretty funny for me.. I’d read that it’s “dirty” and “like the old Singapore” but compared to “Real India”, it was clean and crisp! They sold Indian clothing, gold, electronics, bindis, and Indian sweets/food along the roads… at much higher prices that India. I feel a little bad saying it, but most of what I saw here was junk.

we didn’t quite understand this restaurant… jungle themed but they are Native American, no!? 

I love the puja flowers, and the sticks of clothing hanging out the windows

The gems were priced literally 10 times what they cost in India. I was quoted 200 SD for a very small moonstone pendant that should have cost maybe 20 SD, maybe less. She brought the price down to 50, which was still too high.

Eyebrow threading was about 15 SD whereas in India it cost me 20 rupees (about 30 cents) last time.  The guidebooks say Little India is the cheapest, but actually you can get threading done for 12 SD at the big shopping malls so don’t assume Little India will have best prices on everything. If you do get threading be sure to ask for tea tree oil after! There were signs for massage, reflexology, and Ayurveda treatments at higher than average prices, especially for an Indian market. Singapore is so far the most expensive place I have traveled.

proper Indian snacks

Check here for hotels in Little India & here for Airbnbs

Bugis

Bugis is the most bustling area of Singapore with its many shopping malls, markets, and places to eat.

Top-rated hotels in Bugis include Andaz Singapore, ZEN Premium Kampong Glam, or Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel. Check here for more hotels in Bugis.

year of the horse

The next stop for that day was Bugis. Luckily Dom, Ben’s university friend, has lived in Singapore for 3 years and was the perfect tour guide. It helped that his girlfriend is Singaporean! Although small (like everywhere in Singapore), I liked Bugis more than Little India and China Town.

Be sure to try some juice here! I explain how strange Bah Long Long is in my foodie post on Singapore.

We got a couple snacks here. Peanut balls and a spring roll. The peanut ball had a  yummy exterior and middle, but the layer in between was very strange. The spring rolls were the freshest I have ever had!

Here is where you will find the “greatest electronic mall of all time”: Sim Lim Square. I actually thought it was a lot of scams.

instead of fancy electronics, I was content with this ice cream wafer sandwich (I could have had it between two slices of colorful bread too!)

Check here for hotels in Bugis & here for Airbnbs

China Town

The boys were worn out from touring around with me, so they sat at one of the street bars to down some Tiger beer, while I wandering through China Town. I have to say I was mildly disappointed. Maybe I’m just over shopping in tourist places, but it is really overpriced junk. T-shirts, plastic crap, Chinese slippers and robes made from bad material but priced as if it were real silk. There was such a variety of chopsticks I was almost tempting to buy some.

Best hotels to stay in Chinatown are: Sofitel Singapore Chinatown, The Club, and Chic Capsules. Check here for more places to stay in Chinatown.

Two things I did want to buy, but never got around to it:

1. The waving cat. Too cute! And I don’t even like cats. 3-10 SD.
2. My name or Ben’s written in Chinese. I know it’s something you do at amusement parks… but it looks so beautiful when illustrated. 20 SD.

crappy watches and “perfume” trinkets… drunk Ben and Dom bought 40 dollars worth of watches and wore them the rest of the day.

Check here for hotels in China Town & here for Airbnbs

Arab Street

As you can imagine from the previous places, this is all Arab! The street is lined with delicious food and people smoking hookah. I’m partial to Persian food, but we saw Moroccan, Turkish, and many other countries represented. There are bars here with live music. We spent one evening here for dinner and drinks. Check out the huge Sultan Mosque– it’s beautiful at night.

Check here for hotels in Arab Street & here for Airbnbs

Orchard Road

As for Shopping you have the famous Orchard road with 20-plus malls and Vivo city, which is on the way to Sentosa. Because shopping is one of my favorite ways to burn money, and Massy, my friend and local fashion designer told me the ins and outs, I’ve written up a separate post dedicated to shopping in Singapore.

Check here for hotels in Orchard Road & here for Airbnbs

Clarke Quay & Robertson Quay

 Near each other, these both have bars and restaurants along the river. There are loads of expats here, delicious brunch, and great spots to watch soccer games or people watch. More on what we got up to here in my post about Singapore’s food.

Check here for hotels in Clarke and Robertson Quay & here for Airbnbs

Marina Bay & the Financial District

photo credit: flickr

photo credit: flickr. I took some but none turned out well :(

This is talked about in more detail over here on my post about Singapore’s abundant nightlife, but you can go to the Marina Bay Mall during the day and see the Gardens by the Bay. We chose to go at night so we could see it all lit up after the laser show! This is one of the most memorable times I had in Singapore when we went to the Lantern in The Fullerton Bay Hotel for drinks and to see the show, then after went to Ku-deta, the most well-known bar in Singapore on top of the most well-known building.

Check here for hotels in Marina Bay & here for Airbnbs

Sentosa Island

We took a cab from Dom’s place to Vivo City Mall, where we caught the Sentosa Train out to the beach for 4 dollars. There are 2 stops on the way, the first being Universal Studios. At the last stop called Beach Station you will get off if you want the beach, pretty self-explanatory. We only spent an hour at Sentosa. We live on a beach, so I didn’t want to waste the small amount of time I had in Singapore getting a tan. It’s completely man-made and seems a lot like an amusement park. Prices are much higher than in town- and that’s saying something.

If you’re looking for where to stay in Singapore with a family of younger kids, Sentosa might be a fun choice with all the adventurous things it has to do.

For hotels in Sentosa, check out: Capella Singapore Hotel, Shang-ri La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa, or W Singapore Sentosa Cove. Check here for more places to stay in Sentosa.

There are loads of activities to do at Sentosa:

Skyline Luge, starting at 8 dollars looked fun but a little to slow for us. WaveHouse looked very cool and Ben was all set to try his hand until he was informed he couldn’t without a passport.

 TIP: Take your ID with you!

Other options include trapeze, rock walls, and resorts that offer spa services.

You can stay the night there at one of the resorts and the beachside restaurants have many intercontinental options. Sentosa was not my favorite place; I found it strange how artificial it seemed. There were trolleys taking people around like at Cedar Point between the two beaches: Siloso and Palawan. I think if I lived in Singapore I’d go on the weekends because it’s a nice break from city life, but as a tourist with limited time, I do see it as a little bit of a tourist trap. If you have the money go there and drink all day and the time to chill out by the sea, then you should definitely go. If you are a backpacker with limited time and budget, this might be something to skip.

Check here for hotels in Sentosa & here for Airbnbs

Have you been? Which of the Singapore neighborhoods do you think is best?

Pin for later!

The post I Wish I’d Had a Singapore Neighborhood Guide Like This One… appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Nightlife is the best part of Singapore. It’s a pretty bold statement since most people would say food, but I was a little disappointed by the food. The nightlife I’m used to in Goa is literally on the other side of the spectrum in comparison to Singapore. In Goa I drink beer that’s a dollar while rocking back and forth like a zombie to trance music wondering, “but really… I don’t get this music…” (Ben thinks it was invented by those who can’t dance”. For the first time in a YEAR, I went to a club, and danced to RIHANNA! It was necessary for my mental well-being. Yes, it was a little expensive, but a girl needs a dose of the western world every once and a while.

While planning a night out at Teso in Goa, I said “I don’t know which heels to wear” and my friend squealed laughing, “OMG, no one wears heels to Teso!” Noted Priyanka and Nami.

The whole “Hippie in Heels” thing was getting very “Hippie Only” in Goa- so much so, that one night I found myself barefoot carrying my heels like I did only at 18. I needed Singapore’s nightlife!

I have shared some of the best places to get wasted on a backpacker’s budget. Most of the cool clubs and bars are mentioned on over on that post, but for those of you who would rather go BIG, here is my guide to a fabulous night out in Singapore (backpackers beware: this is super not on budget like my tagline implies)!

Bars and Clubs of Singapore:

A great place to start and have a laid-back dinner before partaking in the luxury nightlife of Singapore would be Robertson Quay or Clark Quay. It seemed pretty chill and there are a lot of restaurants and bars in that area to choose from most of which I mention in my budget post on Singapore’s nightlife where I list their daily specials. Some of the ones I included are Insomnia, Crazy Elephant, and China One where we had a lot of fun. Without specials, these are no longer budget options. One of the most famous clubs in Clarke Quay is Attica, also known as “sluttica” to locals. I’ve been told if you’re looking to get laid, this is the place to be! Men out there reading this are writing that down, I’m sure.

at China One a bottle of vodka will set you back 200 bucks, but is cheaper than cover charges/drinks as a group

If you want a more lavish dinner, go to one of the five star hotels in the Marina Bay or the Financial district. We didn’t eat here, we just had drinks. We went big… but not that big. Some of the best food will be at The Lantern at the top of the Fullerton Bay Hotel or Clifford at the bottom *it looked extra swanky*, Summer Pavilion, The Courtyard, New Asia Bar (which I’ll talk more about below), or Sky on 57 right on top on Marina Bay Sands.

One of the oldest clubs in Singapore is Zouk. It wins countless awards for “Best Nightlife Experience” and is actually three interconnected clubs: Zouk (main dancefloor), Velvet Underground (house and soul), and Phuture (hip hop and R&B). This is more of a younger scene that was recommended to be skipped because I guess I’m an old fart now.

To mix it up you could try Kyo, Cigar Bar for the guys in China Town or Pangaea Wine Bar, which has loud music and is a little cliquey, but is ranked best of luxury nightlife in Singapore on many websites. I was surprised how many men were smoking giant cigars, but was not surprised that everyone smoked cigarettes there.

Now on to the Impressive Elegant Bars…

If you only have a couple nights out in Singapore, you need to make time to see the laser show that comes from Marina Bay Sands. The best place to watch is across the bay at The Lantern in the Fullerton Bay Hotel, or another rooftop hotel on that side.

View from the lantern, the perfect place to watch the laser show

When the light show is over and you finish your 20-dollar drinks, you can walk across to Marina Bay Sands (which houses Marina Bay Mall) and go up to the rooftop (your ears will pop on the elevator and you’ll probably share it with some old rich Singaporean women leaving the hotel spa in robes). If you aren’t a hotel guest you can either pay a fee or hop on the elevator with someone who has a card. The rooftop bar is called KU DE TA and is maybe the most well known bar in the world! The structure is “space ship” but looks like a boat going across 3 tall buildings. There is an infinity swimming pool on top that only guests have access to. This is a great view and a glass of wine is about 25-30 dollars. 

okay just ignore my hair, I blame the mixture of wind & humidity. 

A couple other fancy-shmancy bars to check out are Avalon at Marina Bay and New Asia Bar in Swissotel The Stamford. The last Thursday of every month, the rooftop helipad is opened up for a party… but be careful- they don’t put up railings! That’s heli-scary. Get it? Hella scary, heli pad…

The post Don’t Miss Out: Luxury Nightlife in Singapore appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

After my first day in Singapore, and Ben and I spending over 200 bucks, I thought there’s no way I could have made it here as a backpacker. It isn’t a joke when people say it’s “so expensive!” The prices really are extremely high, and if someone asked me, “is Singapore expensive for backpackers?” I would have to say yes, it truly is.

I did find a few places that had great deals and thanks to staying with a Singaporean girl, I got some inside tips that I’m going to share on where to get boozy in Singapore without breaking the bank. Although it might be expensive overall, it is doable on a backpacking budget! You just might not have as much fun. The most important thing is to not stress about the money while you’re there. It will ruin your trip. Just mentally prepare and know that it’ll be a little more than your usually daily spending.

Singapore Skyline, photo credit: flickr

Stay in Little India, Chill at Esplanade

First off, if you’re on a tight budget you’ll want to stay in Little India. The lodging is cheapest here and there are bars nearby. Here you will pay about 7-8 SD for a beer at bars like Prince of Wales.

view of esplande, photo credit: flickr 

Prince of Wales in Little India, photo credit: Cho

Alcohol is the most expensive part of Singapore. It’s not a place to skip out on the nightlife– that was my favorite part! So the “cool” place for backpackers to hang out is Esplanade. Grab a few beers from 7-11 and head here, just north of the mouth of the Singapore River. You’ll have a great view of the skyline while you pregame with other people as poor as us backpackers! There are also open bandstands. The cheapest decent beer you can get at 7-11 is 6 small Tiger’s for 16 SD. One of the best beer deals I saw out was: Bucket of 5 beers for 40 SD, which doesn’t seem like that much of a deal.

Look for Specials on Booze

Singapore nightlife photo credit: Cho

If you want cheap booze but don’t want to be socially awkward drinking Tiger on a bridge, then I suggest doing to the bars during happy hour. They’ll be signs up outside bars where the locals will go after work at 5.

Most cover charges are at least 18 bucks, but some are upwards of 100. Some clubs will make you buy a drink to get in. For 4 of us, it was cheaper to by a bottle of vodka at 200 SD than multiple drinks and entry fees at China One.  Try to find a “Ladies Night” (if you’re a lady) like Le Baroque and Bubbles and Heels where from 8-9 ladies drink for free on Wednesday.

Insomnia in CHJIMES, and old churchyard with a restaurant in Robertson Quay Square offers 20-dollar free flow from 9-11 for both men and women. Other places with Free flow offers: Wine BOS and Vivo Mexico.

Five Izakaya Bar in Collyer Quay next to Raffles in the financial district has 5 dollar specials all day. Bartini on Club Street has 5 dollar bellini’s.

There are bars that are known “backpacker” destinations, they may not have set discounts, but people know they can get cheap booze.

• The previously mentioned Five Izakaya, Insomnia, and Prince of Wales are all well known backpacker bars.
• Cuscaden Patio off Orchard Road has deals on Tuesday
• dbLO on Queen Street near Bugis (there are hostels nearby) offers deals for ladies on Thursday
• Crazy Elephant on Clark Quay
• Café Iguana (Mexican Food, yum!) has 5 dollar magaritas from 11-3.
• Saint James near Vivo City
• New Harbor Café in Duxton
• China One is known as cheap. A bottle of vodka goes for 200 SD. We got two. It was a VERY fun bar/club! The first place I’ve actually gotten Ben to dance to hip/hop and rap!

More Money Saving Tips

-To miss cover charges, you can also go somewhere early for dinner when they aren’t charging covers, then stay there throughout the night.

Come to places like Robertson Quay during the evening to skip cover charges! photo credit: flickr

-Skip cabs and take the MRT! It’s one of the easiest metros I’ve used and is very reasonably priced.

-Eat the street food, but skip the touristy Hawkers. We paid 80 bucks for satay for 4 people near Lau Pa Sat and apparently Lau Pa Sat’s prices are gone way up. Try the local food courts. Ben and I got more food at a local food court than Lau Pa Sat for only 13 SD. Hawkers are not always the cheapest option.

-Check your bill for added service charge of 10% and you don’t have to tip further than that. According to locals, you shouldn’t tip at Hawkers either.

-Stay away from the malls: Vivo City, Sim Lim, Orchard Road, and Marina Bay. You can get this stuff at home with your trip is over! It’s just more to carry around. I talk in my other posts about shopping in Singapore at these very same malls, but I now live abroad and can get away with it- I never would have as a backpacker.

-If you get to Sentosa (only 4 dollars by metro) have drinks at Bikini Bar on Silosa Beach who offers specials from 4-7.

-It still wouldn’t be that cheap, but if you’re looking for a fancy bar with a deal, New Asia Bar on the 71^st floor of Swissotel, offers 8-dollar beers and 12 dollar cocktails from 3-9.

The post Guide to Boozing on a Backpackers Budget in Singapore appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

In Singapore two things are clearly important: Upscale shopping malls and Eating. With a variety of ethnicities combining, like Chinese, Malay, and Indian, there is an enormous assortment of architecture, religion, and most importantly, FOOD! I was in search of the best food in Singapore.

I’ve shared on the blog quite a bit about Singapore, although I was there only 4 days. Guidebooks advise it as a 1-2 day stopover but I think 4 days is perfect if you have the budget for it. Singapore is small and easy to get around using the MRT train (most tickets costing around 4 SD or less). The neighborhoods of Singapore make it easy to get food your craving in places like Arab Street, China Town, and Little India.

If you’d like a variety you can go to “coffee shops”, food courts, and hawkers which are all very similar and as a tourist hard to tell apart. Hawkers are meant to be the cheapest selection of street food described all over the internet as a place “you’ll be rubbing sweaty elbows with Singaporean locals who know where to go”. I didn’t find that to be the case at all, with Hawkers being very touristy and overpriced. Possibly the two most famous are Lau Pa Sat and Newtons. Lau Pa Sat was closed for construction but the side streets took the overflow and still had food stalls.

Peanut Balls & Spring Rolls

The first bits of Singaporean food I tried were upon arrival at Bugis. Luckily we were staying with a local (a friend of Ben’s) and got lots of great advise on what to try. Peanut balls covered in sesame seeds were good, but maybe not my cup of tea. The spring roll on the other hand was the freshest I’ve had. YUM. If only it came with some kind of sweet chili sauce.

Juices

To drink we had fresh juices. I got grape juice, which was VERY grapey, if that’s a thing. I had never had fresh grape juice before. The boys got what Dom recommended… Ka Dong Dong (in Malay), or Bah Long Long (in Chinese). Ben and I both agree it tastes like pickle juice! I literally tried looking up what it is online and can’t find it which is a little bit scary.

International/Bar Food

For dinner we ate at Hannibal in Robertson Quay. Hannibal has great sirloin steaks, the BEST mushroom risotto, burgers, and pizza. I wasn’t impressed with the chicken wings or nachos.  I realize that in Singapore one might only want local food, but sometimes Ben and I want what we miss from home and can’t find in India. Food at Hannibal ranges from 10-40 bucks and about 7-10 for coke/wine/and beer- but it was not the best food in Singapore… I was still on the look out. 

Roberton Quay is a popular place for people to watch soccer, eat bar food, and have a quiet beer. We saw a lot of expats/interns here.  Nearby Clark Quay has a more wild nightlife surrounding a center fountain with… outdoor A/C! What! We went during the day as well for brunch along the river and it was scrumptious. All the restaurants along the walkway are ranked highly.

Satay & Lemon Chicken

The most famous hawker Lau Pa Sat was closed, but I am not too bummed. Our friends there are locals and said it’s gone way downhill. We ate at the side street where the overflow from Lau Pa Sat is. There were more tourists than locals for sure. We paid almost 80 dollars for our food, some of which was inedible. Peanut Chicken, pork, and prawn satay was very good. The pork soup was bland, and the beef (that was supposed to come with vegetables) tasted like it was 10 days old. We couldn’t eat it.  The best part about it was the lemon chicken… omg to die for! Dom and Massy who we stayed with only brought us here at my request and did tell me at a food court all the food would have been no more than 30 SD. Damn you Lonely Planet.

 Dumplings, Noodles, and Duck

Another cool little food court was Bukit Timah Food Court just minutes from where we were staying. They say stand were the line is the longest, but Massy let me in on a secret- the Sinaporeans just get in a line that has a couple people and before you know it everyone jumps lines thinking it must be the best food! So really just go for what looks and smells good. I tried the Fried Dumplings and Fried Kway Teow. The noodles didn’t do much for me, but the dumplings were so fresh. I live for dumplings and momos. Ben got the duck and rice and liked the duck itself but wasn’t fond of the sauce.

So much food, So little time… last minute tips

Other food that I will be trying when I go back (that I couldn’t find at the food courts) are the famous black pepper crab, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and the bak tuk (pork rib soup). I saw an option of bak tuk at Bukit Timah, but it didn’t look like it would be ‘all that’. I’d also like to try the Laksa, a Malaysian dish and kaya jam.

A famous Singaporean food that I do NOT want to try is fish head soup.

photo credit: flickr

TIP: make sure you ask for barramundi, not snapper. Although a delicious fish, there is hardly any meat in the heads, so they will try to give the snapper heads to tourists.

A fruit famous to Singapore, durian, is so stinky you can smell it around the corner even when it’s wrapped up. It’s a payable fine if you take a durian with you on transportation (MRT or cab). Some hotels won’t allow them either. If you look at the price markers you will see how even though it all looks the same, they have very different qualities making some much more expensive.

Tipping: Remember a service charge is on the bill so don’t tip too much over (or don’t tip at all if you don’t want to) and at hawkers it is not customary to tip. Also, ordering is easy because there are photos of everything with price!

Overall, the foods that I did like tended to be Chinese; I decided for me, the best food in Singapore is the lemon chicken. I didn’t try the Indian, as I live in India and all that I saw looked and smelled identical while being made by Indians. Singapore is a “foodies heaven” so I think that means I’m not as much as a foodie as I thought… or my taste buds still have some growing up to do!

The post Best Food in Singapore: A Foodie’s Heaven appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

When Ben and I decided last minute we’d go to Singapore for our visas, I will admit the first thing I thought of was Burger King. The second was shopping. I swear soon after that culture and local food came to mind… but I never claimed not to be materialistic! Plus, a girl has needs that India sometimes fails at providing. I spent a lot of time shopping and eating so here is my guide to shopping in Singapore.

We spent the first day in Little India, Bugis, and China Town. These areas are great for souvenirs and trinkets. It is also a good place to get anything tailor-made or buy fabric. If you have clothes that need hemmed bring them here and get a much cheaper price! But this is not that kind of shopping I was looking for. I live in ‘Real India’ where I see souvenirs and trinkets that are identical to Singapore’s on a regular basis.

You can buy any type of chopstick you’d like! They had mother of pearl, sterling silver, and sandalwood…

…and they had Angry Birds and Horoscope ones.

I wanted A/C shopping malls, and man did I find them! We stayed with Ben’s friend, Dom. His girlfriend, Massy, is a clothing designer AND Singaporean (check out her FB page) so she of course had all the best advice for me!

 1. Orchard Road

This is shopping heaven. If you’re really going to shop hard you need the day here. Maybe in your hometown you might have a couple big malls about a 20-minute drive apart, but on Orchard Road there are over 20 HUGE malls within 2.5 km of each other. It’s intense. It’s very high-end but also has staples like Sephora, H&M, and Aldo. The most well known mall is here Ion mall, but it’s just one of many.

Special Tip: Skip the mainstream stores on Orchard Road and head to the Far East Plaza for boutiques. Get something no one else has!

largest H&M in Asia

2. Vivo City

That road was a little too extreme for me, so we went to Vivo City on our way to Sentosa. This is thankfully just one mall and it had everything I wanted: TopShop, Forever 21, and MAC, among others.

This is where you’ll go to get on the train to Sentosa so it’s worth going an hour early. There is a food court, so we went for lunch. I’m not ashamed to say I had Burger King, and it turned out not to be my only burger of the day.

a “little Venice” inside the mall, photo credits flickr & flickr again.

3. Marina Bay Mall

If you’re reading this and are super rich, first off go ahead and shoot me an e-mail, maybe you’d like to donate to my travel fund? but secondly you’d like shopping at Marina Bay Mall. This is the most marked up price you’ll price from the most expensive designers in the world. No discounts here. It’s a little intimidating! What does a girl have to do to get a Pretty Woman shopping spree? Obviously other than whore herself out, even though it worked out well for Julia and seems like it could be easily done in Singapore…

what else could you expect in a mall that looks like this? credit: flickr

4. Arab Street

Want more boutiques? Of course you do! I love wearing clothing that no one else has. Make sure to fit in Haji Lane near Arab Street. There are clothing and art boutiques here, but they are closed at night.

5. Sim Lim Square

For electronics, the nerd in you will want to spend a little time at Sim Lim Square, of the other Sim Lim just across from the Square. Multiple stories high it has everything from iPhone lens clips and cameras, to cell phones and TVs. Quoted prices I got were very high and you do have to negotiate.

Ben wanted something very nerd-like called a Google Chromecast . It is about 30 USD in India so we looked at prices in Singapore. A knock-off Andriod one was quoted to us at 330 SD! Obviously, we bought it… Joking. Make sure you are getting a real version, not a knock-off and ALWAYS test what you buy with an outlet they’ll provide. I almost bought an iPhone charger, but after testing discovered it didn’t work. You can get phone cases and accessories here for 3 bucks or less, so there are some deals worth coming for.

photo credit: flickr

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