Plan a Singapore Trip on a Budget(Complete Itinerary + Tips + Cost)
Are you planning a family or couples trip to Singapore? If so, read this detailed blog. It will be the only guide you need to plan your Singapore trip independently!
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You may have watched dozens (if not hundreds) of videos (just like I did 😅) on how to plan your travel, including places to visit, accommodations, dining options, and budgeting on YouTube, Instagram, or various travel websites. However, trust me, planning a trip is much simpler than it seems. I suggest you use your valuable time to read and note down essential points that will help ensure you have an enjoyable, memorable, and seamless trip without any unexpected mishaps 😁.
Note: I have also attached a Detailed Singapore Itinerary, including the expenses that I incurred at the end of the blog to help you get an estimate of the cost (It is not as expensive as you have seen on videos/ travel websites)
This blog is divided into two phases:
1. Preparation phase: Where you lay out the trip, i.e., finalizing the duration of the trip, deciding on place(s) of stay, attractions to visit, flight ticket booking, transportation options, etc.
2. Execution phase: Things that will help you while you are in Singapore.
Blog Phase 1: Singapore Trip Preparation
Preparation for this trip started around 6 months ago we were discussing our next family trip to a location that we had never explored, while initially, we had planned to do a Singapore and Malaysia trip, after deliberate exploration, I found out that Singapore alone will take a week to explore at a relaxed pace. We did not want to cover the attractions in a hurry as we wanted to take one step at a time to enjoy the places that we visited, so we decided to keep to a single country.
Initially, we had thought of going through a travel agent and explored options online and offline. But soon realized that the prices quoted by agents did not match our expectations. Also, the hotels and paid attractions we wanted to visit were not part of any packages(All of the packages were similar, often including only free attractions 😏), and customizing them would shoot up the price significantly.
For example, one of the agents did not include Universal Studios Singapore in the itinerary, and after enquiring about the price, they quoted 30% more than the Universal Studios online ticket price; transportation would still be on us. That led us to explore the self-plan option. I found Singapore to be tourist-friendly, where buses and the metro (MRT) are available for almost all attractions, but be prepared to walk (a lot!).
Flights to Singapore:
We were a family of 4 (me, wife, and parents) traveling internationally for the first time, so we had a lot of questions about Flights, Visas, Hotels, Currency, etc. But at the same time, since we started planning 6 months in advance, we explored all possible options and decided on the most optimal ones according to our needs.
Flights are available directly(recommended) or via 1-2 stops from India. We are from Ahmedabad, and Singapore Airlines has a direct flight to Singapore daily. Cheaper options would include 1-2 stops in between, resulting in 2 extra days in layovers/reaching in the evening would result in a wasted day in Singapore. While Singapore Airlines would take us directly from Ahmedabad at night and the next day arrive at 7:15 Singapore time, this seemed a perfect option to make sure not a single day is wasted while traveling.
For the return flight, the same option was selected as we would leave Singapore at 17:50 and arrive at Ahmedabad on the same day at 22:00, making sure we had enough time to rest for the next working day.
The best time to book Singapore flights: In my experience, I found that flights were available cheapest when booked 3-2.5 months in advance. The closer you are to the travel date while booking, the more the price you have to book. I used Skyscanner to track the prices of tickets but booked via the airline's website.
While paying for the flight and other tickets, if you are using a credit/debit card, you will be charged DCC (Charge for making international payment in INR) or FCY(Conversion charge for paying in other currency). Some platforms allow paying in INR, while for others, you have to pay in SGD or another accepted currency. Note that an additional 18% GST would be charged for both DCC/FCY. Based on my calculation, paying INR was a better option for my card since DCC was 1% and FCY was 3.5% for my card (HDFC Regalia First).
Tip: A benefit of flying Singapore Airlines is its own ticket and attraction booking platform, Pelago. If you book your flights with Singapore Airlines, they offer discounts of up to 150 SGD (50 SGD each for 3 attractions) when booking attractions in Singapore, which we used to save a lot of money 😇 (more on this in the attractions booking section).
Singapore Hotels:
This can take a lot of time for you to decide, you can select from hotels listed on travel agents' portals (mostly in Bencoolen/Rocher/Little India) that are fine for what they are offering (A good combination of price + food + connectivity) but asks for the price, OR you can search through internet on hotel booking platforms like Booking, Agoda, MakeMyTrip and make a informed decision, I chose the later.
I searched through different websites, compared prices, evaluated the best transportation options, and finalized Holiday Inn Express Katong as my primary hotel for the stay. The reason was simple: I was looking for a decent hotel that has great connectivity, breakfast included, and rooms of decent size and windows! (A big problem in Singapore as you can not judge the size of rooms based on pictures while some of the rooms do not even offer windows!). I had no problem traveling extra every day due to the strong connectivity by both bus and MRT.
Tip: I found booking directly from the hotel's website was cheaper, unless there a really good discounts/coupons available on hotel booking websites.
Tip: Make sure that the names of all the guests are mentioned in the booking, as this will be required for the Visa.
Singapore Tourist Visa:
You need to have a valid Singapore Visa before boarding your flight, and you cannot apply for a visa on your own, thus, you would need an agent to get a Visa for Singapore. There are a lot of agents available who can help you with a visa, but we selected Riya Tours and Travels, Ahmedabad, as they are listed as 'Authorised Visa Agents' on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. You can find the complete list of agents here after selecting your closest city (Mumbai, Chennai, or New Delhi).
As far as documents and requirements are concerned, at the time of writing this post, the requirements for a Singapore Visa for Indians are as follows:
- Form 14A (Filled by visa agent)
- Recent visa photo taken within last 3 months (Guidelines)
- Passport (with at least 6 months validity)
- Flight tickets
- Hotel booking
- Travel itinerary (Places to visit, places to stay, etc.)
- Income Proof: This is on a case-to-case basis, generally, agents would recommend having at least 50,000 INR per person in the bank account for the last 3 months. If you are traveling as a family, a single member can also have the balance. If salaried, salary slips for the last 3 months would be required.
Note: The above list is indicative; please check the exact details while planning your trip.
Singapore Attractions Bookings:
As stated above, due to the benefits of Singapore Airlines, I booked the expensive attractions from Pelago to get maximum discounts (10% per attraction up to 50 SGD) and a few directly from the attractions' websites. There are third-party options like Klook, Headout, etc., but I recommend booking directly from the websites as prices on the attractions' websites are usually the same. Also, if you have a Mastercard, there are always offers running on the official websites that are not on third-party platforms.
Attractions to visit in Singapore:
Here is the list of places that we visited:
Singapore Flyer:
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| Singapore Flyer |
Booking method: Booked through Pelago
Singapore Zoo:
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| Singapore Zoo |
Booking method: Booked through Pelago
Bird Paradise:
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| Bird Paradise Presentation |
If you are interested in different species of birds and love to watch them up close, this is a great option for you. There is a really large penguin section where you can see them playing around. There are really large open areas developed for birds from different regions, and you can get really close to birds in these designated areas. Finally, fantastic bird presentations are organized to view the skills of the birds trained by professionals. Water and food options are also available at this location; just bring your own bottle for refills.
Booking method: Booked through Pelago
Universal Studios Singapore:
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| New Minion Land |
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| Sentosa Express for Sentosa Island |
Again a must-visit place when you are in Singapore. This is the only Universal theme park in Asia, and it also has a newly opened Minion park, which is adorable. The number of rides is close to 15, and it is recommended to visit on a weekday as the waiting time for each ride may touch 2 hours on weekends. My favorites were Jurassic Park Rapid Adventures, Revenge of the Mummy (big surprise, a prime example of Do not judge a Book by its cover!), and Battlestar. If you have ever been to Imagica, you will understand where the idea of rides came from 😛. Water refill stations and food options are available here but are limited for vegetarians.
Booking method: Booked through Pelago
Merlion Park:
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| Merlion Park |
This is a must-visit place if you are going to Singapore. This iconic monument represents half lion, half fish and is the official mascot of Singapore. You can easily spend 1 hour here, but keep in mind that there are no water refill centers available here, so bring your own filled water bottles. You can also enjoy unique merlion-shaped ice cream here.
Booking method: Free attraction
Bugis Street and Chinatown:
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| Bugis Street |
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| China Town |
Bugis Street is known for the shopping lovers and offers a wide variety of clothes and souveniers that you can bring, however, I would recommend buying souvenirs from Chinatown as more variety is available at the lowest rate I have observed in Singapore. So, for purchasing souvenirs for yourself or family/friends, Chinatown will provide you most options at the cheapest rate in Singapore. There are no water bottle refills available, but remember to enjoy the ice cream at Mixue, located at the entry point of Bugis Street.
Booking method: No entry fees
Gardens by the Bay:
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| Gardens by the Bay |
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| Garden Rhapsody in Gardens by the Bay |
Just opposite Marina Bay Sands, this is again a must-visit if you are visiting Singapore. There are a lot of sections, each boasting a unique combination of flora and fauna. However, the best one is Supertree Grove, which gets even more appealing during the light show called Garden Rhapsody (do not miss this show; there are two shows in the evening). Water refill centers are available throughout the campus, so just bring your empty water bottle. Food options are available, but again, limited for vegetarians. You can also opt for Supertree Observatory, which will give you a bird's eye view of Gardens by the Bay. Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are the two attractions that you can visit if you have sufficient time.
Booking method: Official Gardens by the Bay website
Spectra Light Show:
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| Spectra Light and Sound Show |
There is limited information about this show available on the Internet, but this is by far the best light and sound show that I have witnessed, and even that is free!. It is located just behind the Marina Bay Sands and offers mesmerizing Singapore skyline views. You can easily spend 2 hours here at the time of sunset and then enjoy the light show.
Booking method: Free Attraction
Attractions we avoided:
Night Safari: While Mandai National Park has some really good parks like Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, and River Wonders, I feel that the Night Safari would be a redundant addition if you are visiting the above parks. Also, as Night Safari slots are available during the night, you have to make your own arrangements for cabs, as public transport options will be next to none close to midnight.
Sentosa Island Attractions: While there are a lot of attractions available on the mainland, Sentosa Island offers even more variety and thrilling attractions that you can visit. Singapore Cable Car looks to be really expensive compared to what it offers. Although you can take a round trip with one ticket, I found the cable car ride to be not worth the ticket price charged. Similarly, attractions like Wings of Time, SEA Acquarium, Madame Tussauds, Skypark, etc. were either redundant or expensive when you compare the price vs experience.
The Biggest Disappointment was Little India for us. While preparing for the trip, I watched many videos and got the impression that Little India would have so many options for Vegerians, and I planned the itinerary keeping Little India as our dinner stop. However, once we reached Little India on day 1, the Little India that I imagined was not at all similar to what it actually is.
Little India in Singapore will not give you the impression that you are walking in a neighbourhood consisting of vibrant India (at least where I live). It was just 9 PM in the evening, and the area was dull and not at all happening. The ambiance made us feel that we were in a remote village where everything was dull and boring.
The main reason why we visited Little India was vegetarian food, and that again went downhill as we discovered restaurant menus. While there are some limited number of restaurants available in Little India that offers great Vegeterian food, but other restaurants which have a sign of being Pure Vegeterian had meat items within their menu and this was a bit of shocker for all of us.
The next day, we decided to explore restaurants beyond Little India and discovered Annalaxmi Restaurant on Google Maps. It offers a unique pay-as-you-want concept for dinner, and the food quality was excellent, making us happy that we found this place. Later, we found another great vegetarian restaurant close to our hotel and considered it our go-to option.
Things to Carry for Singapore Trip:
Over the normal things you keep while travelling, here is a list of things that I carried and found useful during the trip:
- Universal charger (In case the hotel does not have a universal socket)
- Extension cable (In case the number of plugs is limited in a hotel, and you have more devices to charge)
- Powerbank (Battery will be drained in no time when you open camera)
- Good pair of shoes (You will need to walk a lot, approx 15000 steps a day )
- Prints of Visa, tickets, hotel bookings, Sightseeing
- A retractable or small water bottle that can be fitted in a small bag (Must)
- Sunscreen, Sunglass, hat (Direct sunlight in Singapore is a bit harsh)
- Umbrella (It may or may not rain; in my trip, it rained only once, so a good to have)
- Milk Powder and Tea Bags(MUST if you want your ghar ki chai)
Blog Phase 2: Singapore Travel Tips
Now that you have all prepared to start your trip, here are the things that you have to keep in mind when you are in Singapore:
Sim card and Wi-Fi:
Most of the attractions booking platforms allow you to prebook you Sim and get it from the Airport or city collection point, I would recommend getting a simcard from the airport without prebooking it, because I have seen a lot of reviews of the online voucher being not valid or not able to find the pickup point at all. So the best option is to purchase a sim card from a counter at the airport located after you collect your luggage but before immigration. Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport and major attractions.
Transportation:
This is where you can save a lot of money if you plan your travel in advance. Singapore has an excellent transport system combining buses and MRT. You can easily plan your journey and cost using a single portal (Plan your journey). It might seem complex at first, but as you start planning your journey, it will be a lot easier. Also, you can trust Google Maps 90% of the time; it shows you public transport options with where to board, where to change lines/bus/MRT, and which exit to take to reach your destination faster. My overall expense for transportation for 5 days was around SGD 40, including a one-way airport transfer in a cab.
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| EZLink and Flashpay cards for transportation in Singapore |
The best way to save money is to purchase a 2-in-1 EZLink Simcard that has both a Sim card and prepaid card that you can use to pay for MRT, Bus, or even merchant outlets. Though the above cards have a SGD 5 non-refundable issuance fee, they are still way cheaper than paying for cabs.
Food:
We, being Gujaraties, took the amount of food with us that could last a whole week even if we did not get any meals from outside! But joking aside, the food in Singapore is at least 4-5 times more expensive than what you would find here. However, you may find it problematic if you are vegetarian, as the options are quite limited, even if you do find food, the strong smell of non-vegetarian dishes coming from nearby stalls can be uncomfortable. This is one reason why we did not explore much of the local street food markets.
Tip: There are Indian vegetarian restaurants available; you just need to search that keyword in Google Maps and verify the same by looking at its menu. I have seen restaurants having Pure Vegeterian in int name and serving non vegeterian items as well.
Tip: Just like Uber Eats, Singapore has Grab, FoodPanda, etc., if you do not want to step out of your hotel for food or are just tired after a long day!
Singapore Currency and carrying Cash:
While we initially thought of purchasing a Forex Card or a Credit Card to manage our day-to-day expenses, given the use case, we did not find either of them useful. Here is the explanation:
- Forex Card: When you want to purchase a forex card, you will have to load money that will incur some additional fees over and above the conversion charges to load and issue a forex card. Once you are done using the Forex card, the same unloading charges have to be paid, along with the currency exchange charges and card closure fees. All these would damage the overall conversion rate of INR to SGD if the amount is less than 1,00,000 rupees.
- Credit Card: We also had a look at some of the zero forex markup cards; however, given that we have to make an FD in the bank to obtain a card, it did not seem a logical option at that point to park money just to get a zero forex markup card.
The solution: After a lot of research, I found that it is not worth to get into so much of a hassle if you want to carry 1000-2000 SGD. The best approach is to carry SGD purchased from a trusted currency exchange. I then started searching exchange agencies with the best rates, starting from BookMyForex, Thomos Cook, and so on. But finally found the rates of Orient Currency Exchange to be the least expensive from a forex purchasing and selling rate. I made a request online and paid in advance. You can get the currency delivered at your doorstep with an additional 100 rupees charge or collect it at a branch near you.
So, this was everything that can help you start planning and preparing for your upcoming Singapore trip. But, there are always some things that might not go as you have planned, so just take it easy and go with the flow once you are in Singapore; enjoy the time that you will spend with your family/friends as this will be one of your most memorable destination that you might ever visit!
If you want a detailed and const inclusive Singapore Travel Itinerary, you can click below and request for the itinerary, trust me this is really detailed and can save you a lot of money before you go ahead and plan Singapore trip. Additionally, it also has advanced tips and tricks that can help save you a lot of money!
Get Singapore Travel Itinerary along with an Expense list and Advanced Tip 🚀
- Detailed Travel Plan for Singapore with Hotel, Bus, and MRT Numbers
- Estimated Cost of the trip (You can easily keep it below 1 lakh per person!)
- Advanced Tips and Tricks that are not available online on any Website/Videos
Feel free to provide your inputs in the comment section, and if you have any questions, post them in the comment section. I will try to answer all of them! Here are some of the FAQs that will help you
FAQs:
What is the best time to visit Singapore?
In my opinion, from late February till June can be a great time to visit Singapore, as it will be dry season with less chances of rain. However, be prepared to witness some rainy hours as it may rain anytime during the day.
How many days in advance can I have the visa for Singapore?
You can apply for a visa at a maximum of 30 days in advance of your planned visit. The processing time for a Singapore visa can be 3-5 business days. At least 6 months valid passport will be required from the date of your arrival in Singapore to obtain the visa. You do not need to submit your passport for the visa, as Singapore offers an e-visa that will be a PDF that you can print and keep with you.
How many days will be sufficient to cover Singapore?
This has many answers. You can cover major attractions in 3 days in a rush, however, I would recommend at least 5 days for a relaxed and enjoyable trip.
What is an approximate expense per person for a 5-day trip?
The total expense for a Singapore trip per person varies significantly based on your accommodation, travel, food, attractions that you visit, etc. To give an estimate, you can easily spend around INR 1 lakh per person for a 5-day trip, including everything. To get more ideas on planning a Singapore trip on a budget, you can also check out the Itinerary (attached above) that I have prepared, which also has a detailed list of expenses that I incurred.
How is the food available in Singapore
While Singapore has a lot of options for non-vegetarians, if you are a vegetarian, you might find it difficult to find pure vegetarian restaurants, especially close to attractions that you will visit. The recommendation would be to carry dry snacks and ready-to-eat options. I would highly recommend booking a hotel inclusive of breakfast to start your day without worrying much about lunch.
What is the best way to travel within Singapore?
Cabs are really expensive in Singapore and the best way to travel in Singapore has to be public transportation. All major attractions are well connected by either MRT or bus service and are affordable compared to cabs. Additionally, you can also track live MRT and bus status via Google Maps and other official apps.
Can I use my Credit/Debit card for public transportation in Singapore?
The answer is yes, but only a limited cards are supported as you will need a wireless payment option enabled. Also, there will be an additional daily administration charge deducted by your bank over and above the forex markup, GST, if you use your credit/debit card for public transport. The best option is to rely on EZLink cards that you can purchase and refill at almost all MRT stations and return as you leave Singapore to get the balance amount.
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