International travel can be such an expensive affair, especially if you're travelling as a group. But that shouldn't stop anyone from becoming explorers of this amazing world we live in. So, in this post I'll give you guys a really quick overview of how you can still explore Singapore even on a limited budget based on my own (mis)adventures. haha. Well, I charged it to experience... experience that I'm happy to share with you guys today! :)
AIRFARE
ACCOMMODATIONS
FOOD
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
ATTRACTIONS
SOUVENIRS
- There's basically only one sure-fire way to save on airfare costs: keep an eye out for promo fares.
- Plan your trip in advance. Bookings cost MUCH less if you book your flight 5 months before compared to 1 week before departure.
- Don't stick to one airline. SOMETIMES, it costs less to book two one-way tickets as opposed to one round-trip fare.
- Always do you research. Know when peak and lean seasons are. Flights to Singapore tend to be more expensive around May to September (Great Singapore Sale and Formula One Season)
- Play the field. Look for different fares from different airlines, at different times. You're bound to find fares that suit your budget. Don't be lazy.
ACCOMMODATIONS
- You don't need to stay at a five-star hotel. If you're like me and you'd much rather spend your time exploring the city, a clean and comfortable basic room should be enough to rest for the night.
- Generally, hotels in Sg can get a bit pricey. But if you aren't too squeamish about sharing spaces with strangers (like the bathrooms for example), you can opt to stay at backpackers' or travellers' hostels/inns/dorms. They are relatively cheaper compared to private rooms with en suite bathrooms.
- Again, plan your trip. Save on transportation costs by choosing a place near most of the destinations you have planned in your itinerary.
- ...Or at the very least, choose a place close to modes of transpo like train stations or bus stops to save on cab costs.
FOOD
- Bring your own water bottle. We found that there were many water fountains in most of the major tourist attractions in Singapore.
- Don't be afraid to try the small mom-and-pop establishments. Don't limit yourselves to major restaurants or fastfood chains. Plus, you'll have more chances of trying authentic local cuisine as opposed to overpriced items served in those bigger establishments
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
- Passes are the way to go if you plan on taking mass public transportation around the city. I would personally recommend taking the bus and trains everywhere. They're easy to navigate and are really efficient. There's a SINGAPORE TOURIST PASS available for one-, two-, and three-day denominations. These passes allow you unlimited rides on MRT, LRT, and major bus lines (except special and/or night buses) around the city for your selected period of time.
- Plan your itinerary well. Save money (and time, for that matter) by grouping the places you want to visit based on their proximity to one another.
ATTRACTIONS
- Keep an eye out on bundles or promos for the different attractions in Singapore. For example, Resorts World Sentosa sometimes releases bundled packages that allow you to enter several attractions at a discounted cost.
- Some attractions in Singapore require little to no admission fees, depending on the kind of places you want to visit. For example, my brother and I are fans of cultural sites so we opted to spend some time visiting museums around Sg. It turns out that many museums there charge very little, if not none.
SOUVENIRS
- Avoid major tourist spots when buying souvenirs! We learned this the hard way. My dad was so excited to add to his collection of collectable plates so when he found one at the souvenir shop at Merlion Park, he didn't even think twice about buying it. When we got to Bugis Street, at the recommendation of a relative who lives in Sg, we found the SAME item at almost half the price. Bottomline: for affordable souvenirs, GO TO BUGIS!
So, there you have it, folks. Travelling should not always be so expensive. You just have to do a bit of research and really take time to plan your trip. Also, try to get some ideas and insights from the people who live there, because, let's face it, they know better than we do.
