Bacall Associates Travel Singapore: Things To Do At Changi Airport Singapore

Topping the list of the World's Best Airports for years now, Singapore's Changi Airport upholds extraordinary service for its guests and passengers . While waiting for a flight here, travelers are treated to a wide array of activities and services that could easily make a hours of layover feel like a vacation . Here are some of the things in store for passengers:

1. There is a movie theatre located in Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Transit Area where travellers can have film screenings free of charge. Moreover, there is an entertainment deck at Terminal 2 and Transit Area where guests can enjoy music in an MTV booth, or indulge in a sports game in the Xbox Kinect room.

2. Get cozy in the pool and Jacuzzi (yep, a jacuzzi!). Situated at Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel at Terminal 1 are swimming pool facilities and a jaczzi. available for an amount of $17 SGD.

3. Take a glimpse of orchids, cactus and plants. Head to Terminal 2 see more than 700 wonderful orchids and other beautiful plant species. The cactus garden awaits at Terminal 1 where travellers can view more than 100 species of cacti and other arid plants.

4. Go shopping! There are loads of stores that can satisfy the needs of different shoppers and tourists. There are local products, international brands and duty free items to choose from.

5. Pause and relax at the rest areas and massage chairs. These facilities are located at the Snooze Lounge at Terminal 1, Sanctuary Lounge & at Oasis Lounge at Terminal 2, and at the Snooze Lounge at Terminal 3.The massage chairs are located across all terminals and they don't cost any cent. 

6. Use the internet connection. In all terminals, there are around 400 internet/computer docks available for all travellers to use. There are also connection facilities via the airport's wi-fi service Wifi@Changi, mobile phone surfing and WiFi Password Kiosks. The best part? these are all free of charge.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore: How To Maximize Your Time In Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore!

Planning an itinerary for a 3-nation 7-day vacation is a daunting task especially if you don't know much about the countries you are about to visit. Fortunately for you, we have the best travel tips on how to maximize your time if you're planning a Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore budget trip.

Days 1 To 3: Bangkok, Thailand

Book a flight that will have you arrive late at night at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to avoid the usual vehicular traffic on your way to the hotel, spend the night resting and preparing yourself for the adventure ahead.

The next day, explore Thailand's famous temples: the Wat Arun Temple (The Temple of Dawn), which according to CNN, is one of the most revered icons in Thailand, the Wat Pho temple (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), and the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

After sampling the local Thai food for lunch, return to action by exploring the Khlongs of Thonburi (Bangkok Canals) via public ferries. Spend the rest of the afternoon taking in the sights at the Grand Palace, one of the world's most visited palaces and castles according to CNN. Cap off the day by learning about Thailand's history via the Siam Niramit Show.

On your second day, explore another world famous landmark in Bangkok, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Visit the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo, the Crocodile Wrestling Show and the Elephant Theme Show, and then go shopping at the Bangkok Weekend Market. Cap off the day with a Royal Chao Phraya Cruise Dinner Cruise. Have a good night's rest to prepare for your flight to your next destination the following day: Malaysia.

Days 4 And 5: Malaysia

After an early flight, you'll arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at around noon. Check in at your hotel and then go out and explore Kuala Lumpur's famous landmarks. Go to Merdeka Square, the Menara Telecommunications Tower, the Titiwangsa Park, Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC, Petrosains (Petroleum Discovery Centre), CNN0 (located at the 3r floor Suria KLCC), the CNN1 (located at the Twin Towers podium level). End the day by shopping and dining at Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur's well-known night market. Check out early next day and book a CNN2.

Day 5 To 7: Singapore

Day 5 starts with the bus-ride from Malaysia to Singapore will have you arriving at around noon. After checking in to your hotel, go out exploring CNN3, Fullerton Heritage, The Raffles Place, CNN4, Marina Bay Sands and Bugis Village. End the day by visiting the Fountain of Wealth at Suntech City.

Day 6 starts by taking in the sights at the parks then relaxing at the Resorts World Sentosa. End the day by going off a tour in the Night Safari.

Day 7 and your last day in Singapore will be spent at the Universal Studios. Enjoy the theme park's blockbuster movie and television series-themed rides.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore: How To Maximize Your Stay In Singapore

Singapore has a rich history well preserved and functional and combined with the most modern attractions and amenities. Here's a 5-day travel tip to maximize your time in Singapore.

Day 1: Singapore Landmarks

Start your day at the Merlion Park where you can see Singapore's most famous landmark the Merlion. From the Merlion Park, visit the ArtScience Museum located at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Since you're already in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, check out its casino or just splash at its gorgeous infinity pool which is the highest and largest in the world. End your day marveling the sight surround the world's largest giant observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer.

Day 2: Temples, Parks & Safari

Begin the day by visiting the Sri Mariamman Temple, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, and the Thian Hock Keng Temple. These temples are accessible by just walking since they are situated not less than a kilometer apart. Rest and relax at the Esplanade Park after visiting the Temples, and then visit the River Safari. You can end your day by touring the Night Safari.

Day 3: Take A Trip Through Singapore's Rich History

Day 3 starts with a stroll to the ArtScience Museum0 and then retracing the colonial history of Singapore by visiting one of the three quays on the Singapore River, the ArtScience Museum1. From these historical sites, you can visit the ArtScience Museum2 and the ArtScience Museum3 (chimes), formerly called the Caldwell House. The last stop for the day is the ArtScience Museum4 which has the largest collections of Singapore, Southeast Asian, and East Asian contemporary art.

Day 4: Explore Resorts World Sentosa

ArtScience Museum5 is located on the island of Sentosa and has an area of 49 hectares. Within the park, you can feast your eyes on the Marine Life Park, the S.E.A. Aquarium, and the Maritime Experiential Museum. Interact and learn about the bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Island, and splash around the Adventure Cove Waterpark. End the day by walking through a museum and interact with the art work in the Trick Eye Museum.

Day 5: Universal Studios Singapore

ArtScience Museum6 is divided into 7 zones, visitors can enjoy cutting-edge rides, shows, and attractions based on blockbuster movies and television series. The zones include the Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar.

Singapore is a small country with its many attractions within walking distance from each other. While some of them are farther away, they can easily be reached via Singapore's public buses, trains, and taxi's.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore: Travel Guide

I’ve been to Singapore twice (in 2013 & 2016), and spent a total of 7 days in the city — it’s one of my favorite places in Asia! In this blog post, I am going to give you an overview of the city, and provide travel tips and recommendations for things like culture, attractions, food, nightlife and more. Everything you read is based off my own experiences.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON SINGAPORE

Singapore is a bustling hub of culture, food, and all around good vibes. It’s the most modern city in Asia. It’s vibrant, it’s energetic, and it always leaves me fascinated.

If you think New York City is busy, just wait until you see Singapore. People are always in a hurry and they walk really fast (they are actually ranked the fastest walkers on earth). It seemed like everything was happening in fast motion, which always kept me on my toes!

You might be surprised to hear that Singapore is a tiny tropical island, made up of 6 million people (75% Chinese). It’s located just 80 miles north of the equator — so the temperature is always hot and humid. It’s tropical location provides 17 nature reserves and more than 1.4 million trees!

The thing that stands out most about Singapore is the extreme cleanliness.

Seriously — the streets are cleaner than my washing machine.

Why is everything so clean in Singapore?

Well, Singapore has some of the strictest laws in the world. There are street signs all around the city reminding everyone not to litter, smoke, chew gum, run, spit, etc. If you don’t follow the rules, then you must pay a steep fine. But nearly everyone obeys the rules, which is why Singapore is also of the safest cities in the world.

7 tips to plan a memorable getaway trip by Bacall Associates Travel Singapore

During holidays, you're probably thinking of having a vacation trip with your family to create fun memories with them, right? As one of the experts in travel, Bacall Associates sees this as a great opportunity for you and your family to relax yourselves, so you should make this trip into reality.

The Bacall team provided the following to help you plan your holiday trip:

Create a travel journal

Having your own travel journal can help you organize things needed in your getaway because all data are kept in one place. A handwritten journal is preferred by many because it gives an emotional experience than an electronic journal; whatever you write there will be important to you and you will see your thoughts in your writing, which can make memories to each and every page. Handwritten journals provide stronger impression than electronic journals.

Pick your top travel destinations

Write down the destinations you like in your journal, and if you end up with a long list, try eliminating places one by one until you’re left with your top three. Bacall Associates needs you to have a short list so that it will be easier for you to choose which one is the best for your holiday trip whether traveling in Singapore, Japan or any United Kingdom.

Study each place on the list

Know everything you can about each place in your list and note every important detail you can find to help you compare them a lot more carefully. You can use Google or Bing to your research or ask your relatives or close friends for any information about each location.

Know the weather condition

When you're done choosing your final destination for your holiday trip, you should then consider the weather condition of that place during the time of your travel. Is it going to be a warm or a cold weather once you get there? You should match your clothing to the weather then make a list of clothes you're going to bring, along with a list of toiletries and cosmetics you need.

Pack light

In case you end up with a lot of things to carry, try removing items that aren't really needed for your trip. Avoid bringing things that are quite expensive because you'll only worry about their safety. If it’s possible, you should pack light because the less you have, the less stressed you will be.

Book in advance

You’ve seen this tip on several articles before and Bacall Associates also consider this to be very cost-effective. You should make your travel arrangements well in advance to get great discounts.

Contact a professional

If necessary, you should contact a professional travel agent because their expert help can give you the reassurance that everything will be alright in case something goes wrong. All the reservations your travel agent made on your behalf should be written in your journal.

Bacall Associates now in Singapore suggests that you should stay composed all the time and don't stress yourself too much so that you will surely enjoy your getaway trip with your family and build unforgettable memories with them, which you can cherish forever.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore: To be lost in the city

We all work for something. Be it a want, a goal or dream, that we follow the same routine, drive the same highways a hundred or even a thousand of times, do the same thing over and over again to earn and simply enjoy our lives.

But there will be times when you will just feel tired, I felt tired. I wanted a break, a short vacation, but little I had known that I was out of time. Summer had grown to a close and I was left with little time to plan, prepare and ready myself. I was supposed to be relaxing, that was then that I found Bacall Associates when I was at my wit’s end.

Working for hours to free up the next days while preparing everything proved to be tiresome. But Bacall fixed everything. In the end, I was only able to bring a few clothes, basic amenities and needs and next thing I know, I was on a plane. They prepared me a schedule that I can chose to follow, contacted hotels and made reservations and basically everything that I needed to do but didn’t have time to.

It was an hour after dawn when I arrived, most attractions are closed for the next few hours, and I had nothing to do. I checked in the given hotel dropped of what little things I had bring and took a walk.

As I stroll, I bought off what I didn’t bring, like clothes, bought myself some comfortable sandals (all in which I brought home as souvenirs) and continued to let myself be lost in the city. Had a lunch in a local restaurant I had passed through when I strolled (I’d recommend the Bak Chor Mee) and ultimately enjoyed.

Days went pass as I visited tourist spots like the gardens, the man made waterfalls and a lot more that in the end I felt satisfied. It was relaxing. It was then that I decided that once a year or two, I will take a vacation, god knows where but thankfully there is Bacall and Associates to help me with that.

Bacall Associates - Singapore Travel Guide for First-Timers

Singapore is South East Asia’s most prosperous city and smallest nation by land area. In recent years, newly developed mega-attractions and casino driven integrated resorts had transformed this “all work” economic powerhouse into one of the region’s most popular destinations for leisure travel.

Because of its compact size, Singapore is very easy to travel and generally safe. It is a top choice for first-time international travel, family trips, and those seeking to indulge in metropolitan luxuries. While costs are significantly higher than the rest of Southeast Asia, a lot of people continue to visit Singapore because of its unique and top-notch attractions that cater to almost every type of traveler.

I honestly didn’t expect to travel to Singapore as often as I have, considering the high number of seemingly more “exotic” and adventurous destinations elsewhere in the region. Singapore was just too irresistibly accessible with so many direct flights to other cities all over the region as well as convenient land crossing to Kuala Lumpur, another popular international gateway, in Malaysia. Singapore was a worthwhile jump-off point to Southeast Asia and a fitting “last stop” for indulging in urban comforts before the journey home.

Top Things to See and Do

Merlion Park — Pretty hard to miss anyway because of its prominent location at the mouth of the Singapore River. Not only could you get a good photo with the Merlion statue, Singapore’s most iconic monument, but there are amazing views to be seen of the Singapore Skyline, Marina Bay Sands, The Esplanade: Theatres by the Bay, and the Singapore Flyer.

Singapore Riverside and Civic District — this relaxing promenaded riverside area is a short walk away from the Merlion Park. Take a stroll down memory lane and get acquainted with the city’s early development and colonial history. A happening nightlife scene can be experienced at Clark and Boat Quay. Chinatown — Experience Singapore’s multi-cultural diversity by taking a walking and food tour of Chinatown. Visit a church, a mosque, Indian and Chinese temples all in one walk. Go on a food adventure and try dishes from Singapore’s different cultural influences at affordable hawker centers of Chinatown.

Marina Bay — Marvel at Singapore’s new urban cape by taking a walk around Marina Bay. Visit Marina Bay Sands, the Helix Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and Esplanade: Theatres on the bay. Amazing overlooking views can be seen from the sky park of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer.

Gardens by the Bay — an ambitious project set to transform Singapore from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden.” The main attractions here are the 25 towering man-made Super trees and two equally extraordinary bio domes.

Singapore Zoo — an impressively maintained zoo where you can find a wide array of animals from around the world. The River Safari is also worth checking out.

Sentosa Island — spends a fun day on rides and themed attractions or relax at the beaches of Sentosa. The island is home to Universal Studios Singapore, the first theme park of its kind to open in Southeast Asia and the second in Asia after Universal Studios Japan.

Bacall Associates: Singapore Trip Day 1 - Transportation Guide To Singapore

Singapore is my second out of the country trip early last year.  This prosperous city-state is so well known because of many Filipinos working here, mostly in tourism and IT industry.  This became memorable for me because of the misadventures we had during planning and the trip itself.  Nonetheless, Singapore is worth visiting I'd love to come back.

What You Need To Know:

• Singapore is one of the 25 countries Filipinos (with Philippine passport) can visit without a visa.  The tourist visa is good for 30 days.

• Immigration officers in the Philippines are pretty strict to Filipinos going here.  A lot of Filipinos visit Singapore as a tourist but they never came back instead start working there.  Most often than not, they process the working permit in Singapore once they got the job.  I hope you already read my Hong Kong series because I already stated the things you need to show to an immigration officer.  But just to refresh, make sure you show you’re:

1.  Fully filled and signed departure / embarkation card

2.  Philippine passport

3.  Itinerary Flight Details - make sure that you have a flight going back to the Philippines

4.  Hotel/Hostel booking

5. Company ID - if you are employed it is best to show your company i.d. to ensure the officer you will come back again.  Be confident.  Officers might ask a lot.

6.  Government ID and/or other supporting documents for self-employed and students.

• Singapore is a multicultural country comprises of Singaporeans, Indians, Malays, and a home to blue collar workers coming from Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.  English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil are four official language in Singapore.  The influence of Chinese and Malay language is apparent in their informal English they called Singlish.

• Money in Singapore is in Singapore Dollars (SGD).  1 SGD = 34-35PHP as of writing.

Bacall Associates - Vietnam Airlines Recognised as Leading Global

Prized certification marks key developmental milestone for flag carrier after transformative year

12 July 2016 – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines www.vietnamairlines.com has been certified as a 4-Star Airline by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax ranking it alongside some of the world’s most reputable airlines, including British Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa. Vietnam Airlines new President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Duong Tri Thanh, accepted the official certification during the World Airline Awards event at Farnborough International Airshow 2016.

Awarded after comprehensive Skytrax evaluation across all customer-facing product and service factors both onboard flights and at airports served by Vietnam Airlines, the prestigious 4-Star Airline certification is recognition for the significant recent improvements that Vietnam Airlines has made to the quality of its product and service standards, as part of its strategic plan to establish itself as the leading carrier for the region.

Last year Vietnam Airlines underwent a dramatic transformation, launching its new corporate identity and beginning a major fleet-wide upgrade to replace its entire fleet of wide body aircraft – significantly enhancing its product offering. 2015 saw Vietnam Airlines become the first airline to operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nonstop between Southeast Asia and Europe, and the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing and Airbus’ modern next-generation aircraft at the same time. A total of 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350-900 XWBs will be delivered to Vietnam Airlines by early 2019.

At the same time, Vietnam Airlines implemented a programmed to upgrade service levels to international 4-Star Airline standards – spearheaded by Vietnam Airlines’ new President and CEO Mr. Thanh in his previous role as Executive Vice President. Commenting on the news, Mr. Thanh said “I am honored to accept this highly prestigious accolade on behalf of Vietnam Airlines. This fantastic achievement is testament to the hard work of all of Vietnam Airlines’ dedicated employees, and an important indicator of the excellent progress we are making towards our goal of becoming one of the best-regarded airlines in Asia-Pacific.”

Mr. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said “This 4-Star Airline rating is an excellent achievement for Vietnam Airlines and the result of their hard work across a range of product and service areas. Introducing two brand new aircraft types into the fleet in such a short space of time is a difficult task, but the reward for Vietnam Airlines is a fabulous new product in their core long haul market. We acknowledge the considerable change and improvement they have achieved, with a new service concept rolled out in Business Class and an overhaul of cabin staff training procedures – all of which will further strengthen Vietnam Airlines position as a major Asian airline.”

Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 16 within Vietnam 5 in Indochina and the rest in other countries.

Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore :The True Flavour of Thailand For Families At the Dhara Dhevi

The iconic The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, situated on a peaceful 60-acre estate in Northern Thailand, offers a magical backdrop in which children and adults alike can absorb Thai culture with a fantastic range of experiences, guaranteeing lasting memories for the whole family.

This fantastical resort, conceived as an ancient walled city, offers a sense of place like few others and this is reflected in its carefully curated activities, designed to immerse guests of all ages into local culture.   Perfect for all the family, from little ones to adults, the resort’s Art and Craft Village offers an array of creative craft activities, from umbrella painting and paper making to bamboo weaving, which is led by a group of local village women who will help guests create beautiful artefacts and traditional toys from the plant’s leaves.

The building’s tiny resident petting ponies and llamas are sure to make a great ice breaker for children who can then choose from a varied range of activities to stretch and stimulate them mentally and physically, whilst offering an insight into traditional Lanna (the ancient kingdom of northern Thailand) and Thai culture.  Classes include Thai dancing and music and traditional Thai games and toys – children can also benefit for Thailand’s rich culture of wellness with mini Thai kick boxing classes and yoga for kids.

A must-try for visitors of all ages is the rice planting: donning a traditional protective tunic, the instantly recognisable Non La hat and waterproof socks, the session will teach budding rice farmers how the grain is grown from seed to harvest and includes the opportunity for all to wade into the squidgy warm mud and plant a few rows for themselves. Children will adore riding the water buffalo, which will obligingly walk little ones through the plantation.

Meanwhile adults can enjoy the Dhara Dhevi Cooking Academy, which stages daily Thai cooking classes, relax in the Jum Sri Hall Library, with one of its 5,000+ books, browse the 20 boutiques in Kad Dhara Shopping Village, or unwind and reboot at the Health and Fitness Centre and legendary Dheva Spa where in depth Ayurveda-based programmes are carried out in 11 spacious treatments suites.

Parents keen to make the most of the wide array of gourmet eating and drinking options at the resort can book the baby-sitting service, which is available on request.  All tastes and nationalities are catered for with international cuisines of the highest calibre, from Japanese dishes at the light and airy Ren; Chinese at Fujian, formal French at Farang Ses and contemporary international cuisine at the Akaligo, which offers views through wall to ceiling windows. There is even a Victorian Style tea salon, the Dhara Dhevi Cake Shop which caters to the sweet toothed serving decadent treats. 

Fabulously chic watering holes include the louche Horn Bar, an after dark cocktail bar, the al fresco Loy Kham Bar which overlooks the serene infinity pool and the Colonial Pool Bar, which centers around the heart of the resort, the spectacular and imposing blue and white tiled swimming pool.

Easily accessible via a 15-minute car transfer from Chiang Mai International Airport, the Dhara Dhevi makes for an immersive cultural experience perfect for crafting lasting family memories.

ABOUT THE DHARA DHEVI:

The Dhara Dhevi is one of Asia’s foremost luxury hotels.  More an experience than simply a hotel, this iconic property represents extravagant Thai luxury at its finest.  Nestling in 60 acres of beautifully landscaped tropical grounds, enjoying a picturesque and secluded setting in the countryside in the North, the resort has established itself as a classic ‘must visit’ for high end travellers to Thailand.  Its location on the outskirts of historic Chiang Mai, a walled ancient city known for its rich history of art and culture, is reflected throughout the resort.  The spectacular accommodation was built in keeping with traditional Lanna and colonial style architecture, set among lush paddy fields.  69 traditional Thai villas each boast a private swimming, or plunge pools, Jacuzzi tubs and separate showers.  54 Colonial Suites featuring separate living and bedroom areas with private terraces overlook the pool, lake or stunning verdant gardens.

Bacall Associates Travel: Vietnam Airlines Announces

Vietnam Airlines Announces Business Performance For First Six Months Of 2016

Hanoi, 22 July 2016 – Vietnam Airlines’ Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Airlines) has announced the company’s business performance from January to June 2016.

In the first six months of 2016, the aviation market grew by 27.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, with a 37 per cent increase in the domestic market. This was despite the difficulties and challenges that Vietnam Airlines was faced with due to economic slowdown, instability and terrorism in Europe and overcrowded infrastructures, especially at Tan Son Nhat international airport.

In responding swiftly to these circumstances Vietnam Airlines has captured the strong growth of the market, adopting effective measures to improve its operations and make good use of favourable conditions. Thanks to these measures, the business has achieved positive results with a high growth rate over the period, exceeding the set targets. Key achievements to note include:

• In the first six months of 2016, Vietnam Airlines operated over 70,300 safe flights (an increase of 10.7 per cent from the same period last year); carried 9.65 million passengers (an increase of 15.5 per cent from the same period last) and saw transport on international routes increase by 6.9 per cent and on domestic routes by 21.1 per cent . The corporation also achieved a freight output of 124,800 tons, exceeding its targets with an increase of 18.1 per cent over the same period last year.

• The company’s total consolidated revenue is estimated at more than 36 trillion VND and pre-tax profits are estimated at 1,600 billion VND, reaching nearly 7per cent of the target set for 2016. The airline’s parent company recorded an estimated revenue of over 29 trillion VND and nearly 1,140 billion VND in estimated profits, reaching over 7 per cent of the target set for 2016.

• Vietnam Airlines also accomplished two major tasks. Its restructuring and acquisition was completed with the signing and receipt of the share transaction payment made by ANA Holdings, who officially became a strategic shareholder on 1 July 2016. On 12 July, Vietnam Airlines was awarded 4-star airline certification at the SkyTrax World Airline Awards event at the Farnborough International Airshow. The airline is now officially a member of the world’s leading 4-5 star carriers and has been recognised as one of the world’s top three most improved airlines.

Vietnam Airlines has achieved these positive results thanks to its efforts in creating groundbreaking developments, taking advantage of opportunities to grow, increasing profitability, improving service quality and enhancing business efficiency.

Over the next six months, Vietnam Airlines will continue to mobilise its resources to ensure safety and security and improve the efficiency of its fleet. It will also coordinate with the airlines of the corporation, its strategic partner ANA and other SkyTeam members in order to introduce to the market further excellent products that are well-priced and comfortable in transit, meeting the quality required of a 4-star service and the increasing needs of passengers.

Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 23 within Vietnam and Indochina, as well as China, Japan and Taiwan.

Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.

Bacall Associates Travel - Your typical London Adventure Guide

I had seen what most of you hadn’t. Be it the towering heights of Ben’s, the Collection of masterpieces, or the Great museum that held centuries worth of history… That is because I went to London.

I had a lot of help with little time. So I was referred by a friend who previously travelled to London to Bacall and Associates.

From the tower of London (which is a full structure) to the Somerset House, my adventures included a lot of strolling. Feeling like I walked through history itself, their Museums offers artifacts and countless treasures of the past.

Structures that became the Icon of London itself such as the Eye that gives you a view from the skies whereas people are small and the dazzling city seemingly so too. Another is the Big Ben, a clock tower that dates as far as the 1850’s which still stands today, so no need to bring a watch. The Big Ben took 34 years to build.

Another is the tourist spot of the Buckingham Palace, where 11:30 (or earlier to get a good spot as people tend to crowd), disciplined and trained, the changing of guards occur that served as the modern knights of London.

Westminster Abbey. Modernly known as Collegiate Church of St Peter, it is a historical place that held not only royal weddings in the past, but also burials of the kings almost a millennium ago.

The Victoria and Albert Museum. A destination that held artifacts from 5,000 years ago spanning from artworks, costumes, jewelry, ironwork, and photos.

Lastly, the St Paul’s Cathedral the largest and most famous among London’s many churches and one of the most beautiful in the world. The Architectural design that made it proved to be genius and made of hard work, though the Cathedral has a history of a fire that occurred back in the 1666 it was rebuilt.

Bacall Associates Travel - To be lost in the City (of Singapore!)

We all work for something. Be it a want, a goal or dream, that we follow the same routine, drive the same highways a hundred or even a thousand of times, do the same thing over and over again to earn and simply enjoy our lives.

But there will be times when you will just feel tired, I felt tired. I wanted a break, a short vacation, but little I had known that I was out of time.

Summer had grown to a close and I was left with little time to plan, prepare and ready myself. I was supposed to be relaxing, that was then that I found Bacall Associates when I was at my wit’s end.

Working for hours to free up the next days while preparing everything proved to be tiresome. But Bacall fixed everything. In the end, I was only able to bring a few clothes, basic amenities and needs and next thing I know, I was on a plane. They prepared me a schedule that I can chose to follow, contacted hotels and made reservations and basically everything that I needed to do but didn’t have time to.

It was an hour after dawn when I arrived, most attractions are closed for the next few hours, and I had nothing to do. I checked in the given hotel dropped of what little things I had bring and took a walk.

What I had first enjoyed when I arrived at Singapore was the view. Everywhere I look was lush green, the streets were clean and maintained, and the climbing sun was in the background. I followed the detailed advises of Bacall Associates, took a train or two, walk a bit and soon found myself at the market.

As I stroll, I bought off what I didn’t bring, like clothes, bought myself some comfortable sandals (all in which I brought home as souvenirs) and continued to let myself be lost in the city. Had a lunch in a local restaurant I had passed through when I strolled (I’d recommend the Bak Chor Mee) and ultimately enjoyed.

Days went pass as I visited tourist spots like the gardens, the man made waterfalls and a lot more that in the end I felt satisfied. It was relaxing. It was then that I decided that once a year or two, I will take a vacation, god knows where but thankfully there is Bacall and Associates to help me with that.

Lucas P. Cromwell

Bacall Associates - Tips in using Social Media

Tips in using social media to improve your marketing communication plan

Known for their cost-effective integrated public relations, marketing and sales campaigns, Bacall Associates sees great importance in social media because it serves as a great helping tool to a lot of business owners today. It doesn’t only help you in terms of public relations but can also boost your integrated marketing communication plan.

Remember that a goal without a plan is just a wish. Same goes with your business, it's crucial to have a plan first before you begin communicating with the world about your business. This specific plan is called an integrated marketing communication (IMC) plan. It includes different methods on how to communicate your business along with its products and services to your target audience. During implementation, it can also be an effective guideline for your marketing teams to prevent any internal arguments between stakeholders and to reduce any problems.

Similar to your marketing strategy, this plan continues to evolve and once your communication channels keep on growing, you just need to adjust your plan together with it. Your IMC can utilize several different communication mediums, including advertising, public relations, content marketing and social media. Social media, with its purpose to improve communication, is considered vital to any IMC plan nowadays.

These past few decades, social media has been proven effective to the world of marketing, making it an essential communication channel and a worthwhile source of customer information. Bacall Associates has seen the impact of social media on the following areas, which proved that it could enhance your IMC plan.

Market research

You can use social media for your market research. Qualitative and quantitative market research are significant for an integrated marketing communications plan. You can use these sections as a guide for your strategy and tactics as well as identifying your target audience. It is often difficult to gather data on these sections, that’s why the introduction of social media has been a great help to a lot of business owners worldwide. Social media contains a plethora of social media data that can be used to discover detailed information about your target audience. You can also gather qualitative data through focus group-like questions.

Public relations

Using social media to drive public relations could also be an advantage to you. In the past, once a news break out, public relation pros are required to send emails, faxes, and make phone calls to update the reporters that their client is available to make a comment. Today, social media has lessened the stress of PR pros because it provides easy access and great convenience to them. You can achieve relevance and speed with social media, that’s why it’s now possible to get a comment out within minutes of the news breaking. It's important that your audience lives on social media and that your sources are connected to them.

Advertising

You can also advertise your brand using social media. It's evident that there's a massive change in the world of advertising today because of social media. Social media advertising has been around for a short period of time. Not surprisingly, business owners put big advertising budgets on social media because of its ability to specifically target your audience, easily measure your social media advertising ROI, and quickly make changes to your ads. Bacall Associates claims that it is now the right time to include social media in your advertising strategy and budget.

Reporting on your integrated marketing communication (IMC) plan

Using social media analytics to report on your IMC plan is also feasible. Because of the rise of social media analytics tools, it's important that you also include the data available in these tools even if there are already many different ways where you can report on your IMC plan. Social media analytics helps you gather data from blogs and social media websites and could analyze that data to make business decisions.

Bacall Associates - Singapore City Break Guide

An essential guide to Singapore, including advice on the best hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and attractions.

Why go?

Because Singapore is celebrating its 50 year of independence with parties and openings aplenty (singapore50.sg).

Come Q3-Q4, the six-starred Patina Capitol Singapore - with architecture by Pritzker Prize Laureate Richard Meier and interior by Jaya Ibrahim - will debut in two restored heritage buildings in the Civic District.

And in November, the National Gallery will open on the grounds of the city’s most iconic buildings - the former Supreme Court and City Hall; with a combined floor area of 60,000 sqm, it will house the largest collection of South-east Asian art in the world.

Discover for yourself what life is like in one of the world’s most affluent cities. While S$500 a pop meals are not hard to find, it’s completely possible to eat like a king without spending more than S$5 to S$10 per head.

Witness how the locals make the most of their lives in a city known for its draconian laws and apparently “unhappy” citizens. It will change the way you view the little red dot.

When to go

Weather-wise, there is no “best time” to visit Singapore. Known for its year-round warm and humid weather, the city’s temperature hovers between 24C in the mornings and evenings and about 31C in the daytime. From November to January, the temperature dips slightly with the onset of the wet monsoon season during which it’s wise to pack a brolly.

Singapore hosts the world’s only Formula 1 night race, and come September the city revs up for the event (September 18 - 20, 2015). Last-minute hotel reservations can be challenging at this time, especially if you want to stay in a hotel sited along the Grand Prix track, but advance planning will stand you in good stead.

Where to go

To see the real Singapore, veer off the beaten path to the newly gentrified Tiong Bahru. Start with local breakfast of mee pok (flat egg noodles) at 70-year-old stall, Hua Bee. Then, proceed to Tiong Bahru market to observe how Singaporeans procure groceries in the morning. Break for coffee at 40 Hands, peruse some books at hipster bookstore, Books Actually, and when hunger strikes, head back to the market for wallet-friendly hawker fare. If you’re in the vicinity in the evening and want to splash on a good meal, head back to Hua Bee. By night, the coffee shop morphs into Bincho, a modern yakitori joint.

Know before you go

Local laws and etiquette

Singapore is known as a fine city and for good reason – you can be fined, and even caned or jailed – for breaking seemingly draconian laws that the locals have learnt to live with.

Since 1992, when a vandal stuck a piece of chewing gum on an MRT door sensor that resulted in the disruption of train services, the sale and import of chewing gum has been banned in Singapore. You can still chew gum, but be careful to dispose of it properly.

Smoking is banned in restaurants, cinemas and all indoor public spaces. Since mid-2013, the ban has been extended to include public spaces such as overhead bridges and outdoor hospital compounds.

Vandalism is also a punishable offence and so are littering, spitting, jaywalking and failure to flush the lavatory.

Visas

Foreigners holding travel documents from certain countries require a visa to enter Singapore. See the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website (ica.gov.sg).

Bacall Associates - Singapore Travel Guide

I’ve been to Singapore twice (in 2013 & 2016), and spent a total of 7 days in the city — it’s one of my favorite places in Asia!   In this blog post, I am going to give you an overview of the city, and provide travel tips and recommendations for things like culture, attractions, food, nightlife and more. Everything you read is based off my own experiences.

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON SINGAPORE

Singapore is a bustling hub of culture, food, and all around good vibes.  It’s the most modern city in Asia.  It’s vibrant, it’s energetic, and it always leaves me fascinated.

If you think New York City is busy, just wait until you see Singapore.  People are always in a hurry and they walk really fast (they are actually ranked the fastest walkers on earth).  It seemed like everything was happening in fast motion, which always kept me on my toes!

You might be surprised to hear that Singapore is a tiny tropical island, made up of 6 million people (75% Chinese).  It’s located just 80 miles north of the equator — so the temperature is always hot and humid.  It’s tropical location provides 17 nature reserves and more than 1.4 million trees!

The thing that stands out most about Singapore is the extreme cleanliness.

Seriously — the streets are cleaner than my washing machine.

Why is everything so clean in Singapore?

Well, Singapore has some of the strictest laws in the world.  There are street signs all around the city reminding everyone not to litter, smoke, chew gum, run, spit, etc.  If you don’t follow the rules, then you must pay a steep fine.  But nearly everyone obeys the rules, which is why Singapore is also of the safest cities in the world.

Everything from the metros, malls, restaurants and residential buildings are so clean that you can eat off the floor!

Another thing that really impressed me about Singapore was the easiness to get around.

Despite being a densely populated city, the metro system is VERY easy to figure out and there are taxis all around that are pretty cheap to use.

After being in Singapore for just a few hours, I was already confident enough to navigate myself around town.  All the signs are in English (and most people can speak/understand English), so it’s almost impossible to get lost.

Alright, there is a downside…. Singapore isexpensive.  Really expensive to travel.

In fact, the city just took #1 as the Most expensive city in the world by the Los Angeles Times.  Aside from street food, which is reasonably priced, you wouldn’t believe how a beer or alcoholic beverage costs… And if you want to rent a flat, then good luck finding a cheap price!

Bacall Associates Travel Singapore Insider Tips from a Local

When I visited Singapore for the first time I instantly fell in love with this city-state: its futuristic design, the combination of different cultures and the diverse food. I was lucky to meet Jaclynn Seah there, who is from Singapore and writes on her blog „The Occasional Traveller“. She showed me around and we had a great time. She tells you her insider tips for the Lion City – the best time to travel there, accommodation, restaurants and sights.

Jaclynn is The Occasional Traveller, a Singaporean girl with a full-time day job who loves to travel. She started her blog in 2010 to encourage fellow deskbound wanderlusters like herself to remember to take that time off and get away. She is always looking forward to that next trip!

Here are her insider tips for Singapore:

Why should everyone travel once in a lifetime to Singapore?

There’s nowhere in the world quite like Singapore!

When is the best time to visit it?

Singapore is hot all year round and we hardly have any seasons. Year end tends to be cooler but also more rainy, though really it can rain any time of the year.

June and December are school holiday periods in Singapore so your tourist attractions will be more crowded with families, so you might want to avoid those periods.

Which attractions of Singapore are worth to see?

The Marina Bay area (which you usually see on TV during the F1 Grand Prix in September) is a tourist hotspot but for good reason – Singapore is prettiest in the evening when the buildings are all lit up.

I recommend starting from the Esplanade, walking clockwise around the bay area across the Helix Bridge until you reach Marina Bay Sands.

Other tourist attractions that I think are worth seeing are Gardens by the Bay (18 Marina Gardens Dr) – the alien-looking Super Tree Grove is mostly free (unless you want to go on the Skywalk, a rickety walkway suspended near the top of the tree structures).

But it is worth going into the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest as well – beautiful and cool, a good way to spend your time ‚indoors‘ if Singapore is being all humid or rainy.

If you want a proper outdoor garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 Cluny Rd) is centrally located in the downtown area and was just awarded a UNESCO award.

Bacall Associates - Easy Steps to Include Social Media into Sales Promotions

The tremendous impact of social media has brought to the business arena is phenomenal and Bacall Associates has been witnessing this phenomenon over the years. A social media campaign could add a cutting-edge facet to traditional sales promotions. Many customers prefer social media in looking for trusted reviews of different people about a particular service or product.

A well-designed social media campaign can be a powerful and effective sales tool as it enables your business to develop continuing relationships with your target audience and followers, and improve your understanding towards their needs.

Getting social media success usually includes a long process, particularly in small businesses, so you must flourish your profiles first and develop a genuine relationship with your business followers before easing into any type of sales promotions. The following are some of the easy suggestions prepared by Bacall Associates where you can use social media to your sales promotions.

Select the best platform for your business

Understanding on where you’re being found by your prospective customers on social media can assist you in determining on which platform you’re going to use for your brand. You can request your marketing team to report this information to you. But in the end, the platform should match your target audience. If your business is focused towards promotions and B2B then LinkedIn is an ideal option for you, but if you're aimed towards the consumer market then Facebook is for you.

Build a trustworthy image

This will not be easy, but you must do your best to build your business' creditability. You can begin with creating a professional profile and see to it that your posts and updates are discussion-worthy with only a small percentage of being directly promotional posts.

Properly handle gathered information

Social media provides an enormous quantity of data about qualified leads. A well-designed campaign using a combination of promo codes can provide many in-depth data, which is why most social media sites offer analytics to examine these data for future campaigns. It's important to correctly handle the data once these leads have been gathered.

Sell using social media

You can also achieve effective selling with social media. It is the best for daily deals or acts now offers. Encourage immediate action from your followers and motivate them to interact and share the offer, just make sure that it is a great deal to begin with so that they will be interested in sharing it. 

If properly implemented, Bacall Associates is convinced that social media sites can be an excellent addition to your marketing and sales toolkits. Since 1994, the Bacall team has been providing comprehensive public relations, marketing communications, and sales promotion services to their customers.

Bacall Associates - 7 Tips to Plan a Memorable Holiday Trip

Are you planning to have a holiday trip with your family? As one of the experts in travel, Bacall Associates views that it will be a great idea because it could create special and sempiternal memories with your family members. Don't stress yourself too much, just focus on the fun and relaxing aspect of it because the Bacall team is here to guide you in planning your getaway.

Get a travel journal

Having your own travel journal can help you prioritize things and be in control of any predicament because this can be a tool for you to cope with different situations since you're knowledgeable about the plans you've made and they're kept in a single place, so the moment you begin planning your holiday trip, get a notebook and write down all your ideas. But if you prefer an electronic journal, you can go with it, just remember that things might go wrong with electronics so it's better to have a printed version of your travel plans.

On the other hand, most prefer a handwritten journal because it provides an emotional experience. You know that whatever you write there is important to you, and you can see your thoughts in your own writing, making memories to every single page. Handwritten journals give stronger impression than electronic journals.

Choose your top travel destinations

If you have a few places in mind, write down those places in your journal and see to it that you'll only make a short list of it, so that it will be easier for you to decide on which place you're going to for your holiday trip. The list may include your top three preferred destinations.

Research each place on the list

Research everything you can about each place on your list to help you compare them a lot more carefully. You can use search engines like Google or Bing with your research, or you can ask your close friends and relatives for more information about each place. You must know the transportation available in each place, and how long will it take you to reach your destination using different types of vehicles. Also include in your research about crossing borders so that you'll know if you need visas or if your passport is in order.

Know the weather

Once you're done choosing your final destination for your trip, the next thing you have to do is consider the things you need to bring as well as the weather condition of that place during the time of your travel. Is it going to be a cold or a warm weather? Pay attention to it because you need to match your clothing to the place's climate. You should include in your journal the list of clothing items you're going to bring, along with the list of cosmetics and toiletries you need. You may also create another list of things you want to bring such as a gadget list, etc.

Prioritize your packing

In case you end up with a lot of things to carry, try eliminating things that aren’t really needed for your trip - just bring the things that are very important to you. Avoid bringing very expensive items because you’ll just worry about their safety during your vacation. You don't want to lose them or get stolen by a thief, right? So just remove these things on your list that may trigger stress to you. If possible, pack lightly because the less baggage you have, the less stressed you will be on your vacation.

Book in advance

Perhaps you've seen this tip a lot of times on different articles. Bacall Associates also consider this tip to be very cost effective. The organization advises you to make your travel arrangements well in advance to get awesome discounts. You can also manage the arrangements perfectly if you're just staying in one place for your holiday trip.

Contact a professional if needed

In case you want a professional help, contact a reliable travel agent to assist you in your travel needs. If you feel that there’s already too much stress to handle, and your worries are starting to become overwhelming, give them a call to get the reassurance that everything will be alright. Write in your travel journal all the reservations your travel agent made in your stead. If anything goes wrong on your journey, your travel agent can be your lifesaver and stress-minimizer because they're the one who's responsible for fixing any problems.

You might not enjoy your holiday trip if you're already stressed out before you even begin. Bacall Associates suggests that you must remain calm all the time so that you can surely enjoy your vacation with your family and build special memories with them that you will cherish forever.