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.