- Where to change currency
Finding a good place to exchange currency is not so important in Singapore. Most (if not all) places offer fair prices. The exchange office at Changi Airport is not bad either. But if you want the best exchange rates, Mustafa Foreign Exchange in Mustafa Center in Little India is your best bet. Not only do we offer the best prices in town, we are open 24/7. If it’s too far from where you live, check this website for a list of the top 5 money changers in Singapore. They are located in various parts of the city, so you can find the one closest to you. Prices are competitive and some say even better. If you withdraw SGD from an ATM, be sure to let your bank know as they may need to activate it for use abroad. I do this before every trip. In my experience, some machines have ATM cards that work and others don’t.
Note: Some ATMs may ask you if you want to proceed “with or without conversion”. This allows the foreign bank operating the ATM to exchange money on your local bank’s behalf, so never proceed with “money exchange”. I have made this mistake before. According to this article on Medium, the price difference can be 10% or more.
- Best area to stay in Singapore
Singapore is not very big, but it is a diverse and multi-ethnic city with many interesting neighborhoods in an area of 720 km². This is by no means a definitive list, but here are five popular neighborhoods to stay in Singapore.
We have been to Little India several times. We never intend to, but the search for affordable accommodation always seems to get us there.
As the name suggests, Little India is home to Singapore’s Native American community. It is a lively area with many Indian restaurants, colorful shop buildings and several MRT stations. On my previous visit, I stayed at one of the modern capsule hotels, Atlantis Pods. The pods are surprisingly spacious and perfect for individual travelers on a budget.
Atlantis Pods has several branches in Singapore, but if you want to book a pod at the Little India outlet, you can do so through Booking.com or Agoda.
Chinatown
Like most Chinatowns in the world, this is a great place to stay and eat in Singapore. There are plenty of dining options here, from cheap street vendors to trendy bars and restaurants. Budget travelers will find a good selection of hostels and boutique hotels here too.You can find a list of places to stay in Chinatown on these pages:
Booking.com | Agoda
Marina Bay
The legendary marina He is home to Bay Sands and he one of the best areas for luxury travelers. The hotels here are the most luxurious and offer some of the best views in Singapore. Marina Bay is home to many fine dining restaurants, bars and shopping malls, as well as popular attractions such as the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Flyer.
Orchard
If you travel to Singapore for shopping, this is probably where you want to go. Orchard Road is one of Singapore’s premier shopping destinations. The 2km long city has more shopping malls than anywhere else in Singapore. Would you like to take a break from shopping? Visit the nearby Botanical Gardens, Singapore’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sentosa
Sentosa is Singapore’s holiday island. There are man-made beaches and theme parks like Universal Studios and Resorts World Sentosa. Staying here puts you far from central Singapore tourist attractions, but if you are traveling with kids, it’s a good place to consider.