Singapore with teens next summer

[homebythesea]

What do you think? We like nice hotels, some attractions, maybe a museum for local colour, bike rides etc. Never been to the far east, and like the look of Singapore, but would it sustain us for a 10 day - 2 week holiday next summer?

Lots to see in Singapore - universal studios, night safari, gardens by the bay, little India, sentosa etc and food is great.
I think 10 days may be too long and would consider a trip to Malaysia too. Years ago I took the bus from Singapore to Melaka ( about 3/4 hours) and it was really good value. Could also combine with KL or a beach resort.

I second considering extending your travels to Malaysia.

Singapore is great but essentially it's a city, only so much to do...
However only a short trip away is KL
(I've just relocated here and have to say it's very nice so far!) and from KL there are loads of short and very cheap flights to some amazing destinations should you wish to combine with a beach/ island break.

Ooh great local info! So is KL worth a few days ie a 2 city break? Are there any beach places that don't involve a flight (we have a puker amongst us so short hops to be avoided if at all possible!). We had thought to do Hong Kong as a second stop but I gather summer is the worst time of year weather wise so trying to think of other combinations......

I honestly don't think you could do 10 days in Singapore and have something new to do every day! It is also insanely expensive.

Bali is a 2 hour flight away, or you could even get the ferry from Singapore to Batam in Indonesia which is a beach resort. Other alternatives are a drive up to Mersing in Malaysia and then a boat over to the islands off the East Coast.

In Singapore itself, I would recommend the Night Safari/River Safari, the markets around Bugis/Arab Street. Sentosa is two days in itself but very expensive. And of course, the hawkers centres.

I agree 2 weeks is too long in Singapore but would suggest getting the ferry to Bintan for a 5 days or so in the middle of the trip. It's an island about an hour away, lots of different resorts there so all price ranges. www.bintan-resorts.com singaporeswing did you mean Batam rather than Bintan? I always thought Batam was for golf and men who find it difficult to find a girlfriend so resort to other measures IYSWIM......

Hong Kong is very humid in the summer and I would not combine it with Singapore. Singapore is also incredibly humid so a few days still the beach would be a welcome break. Bali is a short flight away and it's not the rainy season in July/August so weather should be good.

loads to do in Singapore (without shopping and Sentosa) but a week will probably do. Are you used to this kind of climate - bike rides???

the zoo is much less restricted during the day and is a full day to see. Changi Museum, Fort Canning, Little India, China Town, Botanic Gardens, tea at Raffles, the central reservoirs park...and just people-watching and eating! The place is an 'attraction' in itself. Oh, and you can drink the water and plug things in without adaptors.

avoid the city beaches, even Sentosa - water is dirty and scattered with oil tankers. Those dream tropical beaches will be a flight away although Bintan sounds a possible.

So would it be more comfortable humidity wise at Sentosa (just looked it up- teen heaven!) how humid are we talking- worse than southern US in the summer for example? From what (little) research I've done on weather it looks like temps don't change much all year so is Humidity the variable?

from my several trips to Singapore it is always ultra-hot and sweaty, as in 'start sweating when you step outside'. Nights are a little cooler earlier in the year, but really not much difference. Dark same time year round of course.

Sentosa will be crowded like you wouldn't believe at weekends and holidays, and temperatures/humidity the same.

lots of high factor suncream, of course. Singapore works hard on health and hygiene so dengue risk is low but still there.

We did Singapore , then flight to borneo and travelled around looking at culture / wildlife etc , had few days on beach relaxing with pool at end . Great trip . Kids love that type of stuff .
Have a look and see what you think , but only you know what fits with your family best . Both countries where very clean and felt safe to wonder around with needing guides .

Should have said without needing guides .

I think Singapore would be great for teens and their is loads to see and do (and eat). Shopping/ coffee on Orchard Road. Sentosa with all the attractions and beach. Best Zoo I have seen and think teens would still enjoy it. East Coast Park has cycling, rollerblading, a water ski circuit and places to eat. Good walks round the MacRitchie Resevoir. The Infintiy pool at the Marina Sands.

Live Singapore but if you have 10 days it would be a shame not to bounce on to somewhere else and maybe make it a two center holiday. Ferry to Bintan to a nice beach resort or catch a flight to Phuket or Bangkok etc.

For a short beach trip out of Singapore without flying, look at Rawa island or Sibu island or Batu Batu (Pulau Tengah), as well as Nikoi island (this last one is a 5* robinson crusoe), the island is tiny, luxury shacks on the beach (no air con, no windows but amazing).

Lots to do in Singapore, as others have said but a good idea to get out and about if you are flying so far. We moved from Singapore to Texas last summer - Singapore humidity is much higher than Texas!!! Just be aware too that often in summer, Indonesia burns its palm plantations and Singapore can be enveloped in a haze if the wind is in the wrong direction. It's unpleasant (like standing downwind of a bonfire) but rarely reaches the point where healthy people are restricted in their movements (it did last summer and my dcs wore face masks to school - school closed for a couple of days too but this was the absolute worst ever haze). If you have asthmatics in your party, make sure you have plenty of medication as a precaution.

I'm very jealous, Singapore was home for 9 years, love it!

Don't forget that you're a stones throw from Johor (Legoland), Malaysia - Tioman (paradise island) looks beautiful and Bintan, Indonesia - resorts. You could easily break your time-up.

I love Singapore, it's a great city.
Why don't you combine it with a trip to Sea Gypsy on Pulau Sibu, Malaysia? (www.siburesort.com). They run a transfer service out of Singapore by minivan, it's a great place and the kids will love it. Or you could go up to Tioman island and stay somewhere there, it's beautiful too - the Bali h'ai bit of South Pacific was filmed there (random trivia). Bagus Place is beautiful, and so is Minang Cove.
Happy planning!

Singapore is cheap as chips! However, I do agree that i would stay for approx 3 - 4 nights only.

I love Singapore- loads to do. You could try a trip to Malaka- buses go regularly. It's a UNESCO heritage site.