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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

A month in Singapore, would you go?

84 replies

Sockmate123 · 22/05/2024 07:49

Just that really. DH has been asked to work there for a month potentially myself and 2 kids (11 &7) can go too. We love to travel but haven't been to Asia with the kids yet. I would be largely with the children by myself except for weekends. I have heard its very safe.
With the horrible news about Singapore Airlines yesterday that has also concerned me only because so many people are coming out saying they also experienced severe turbulence on that route....

Thoughts? Also if you are familiar with Singapore what would be the best area for us to stay in?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sockmate123 · 22/05/2024 09:05

BitOutOfPractice · 22/05/2024 07:54

Will the kids go to school there or will you take them out / in school holidays? That would be my only concern. Other than that I’d jump at the chance.

Children will be on school holidays so the timing perfect tbh

OP posts:
saraclara · 22/05/2024 09:10

My kids thought Singapore was heaven! Being out at night in the warm, with all the lights and the street food markets. Trips to Sentosa, the Night Safari etc. Boat rides around the harbour and between the huge container ships! It's just so outside of normal life at home!

My kids are now adults, but if I told them that someone on the internet was dithering about taking her kids for a month, their memories would have them shouting at you to do it!

Original poster
Sockmate123 · 22/05/2024 09:13

Thanks for all the replies. DH work are hopefully going to pay for accommodation for us all and his flight. This is brilliant but obviously we still need to pay flights and spending money.
We already had our Summer Holiday booked and it's non refundable so this is an 'extra' holiday. We are probably going to have to take out a loan to pay for the flights and if we intend to fo somewhere for a weekend.

Has anyone gotten a train or ferry to Malaysia or anywhere else? I love the idea of seeing those places. There is a long weekend while we are out there so we plan on heading somewhere then.

Thanks for all the replies you have helped me make my decision 🙂

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 22/05/2024 09:22

Go! You can easily get to other places to visit. For a bit of inspiration watch last weeks race across the world on iPlayer.

BigDahliaFan · 22/05/2024 09:30

When I was a kid, many years ago, our parents took us to france for a month, at that age it seemed like we were there years. It had a profound effect on me and made me want to travel more.

Go, it'll be amazing. You can easily travel into Malaysia.

BreadAndWineFeelingFine · 22/05/2024 09:32

Oh definitely!! I see you've decided to go - brilliant, this will be a great experience for you and your children.

Growlybear83 · 22/05/2024 09:35

If it doesn't involve taking your children out of school, I would definitely go. I loved Singapore. I thought it was probably the safest place I've ever been, and I remember walking around on my own at 1 am looking for a bag of shopping that I'd lost and feeling completely safe. The food was amazing, especially in some of the markets, and there was enough to do for a week or a bit longer in terms of sightseeing. There are so many other exciting places nearby that you can go to for a few days.

Original poster
Sockmate123 · 22/05/2024 11:04

BigDahliaFan · 22/05/2024 09:32

https://www.klook.com/en-SG/blog/cheapest-holidays-from-singapore/

There'll be people on here with more direct experience than me but there are loads of places to get to quite easily.

Thank you for this link 🙂

OP posts:
Clearinguptheclutter · 22/05/2024 11:50

Trains and ferries out are slow. Plenty of cheap flights to get you around the area. Start with airasia.com

theresnolimits · 22/05/2024 11:53

Good for you. I went a few years ago and felt safer than many UK big cities. Very jealous.

jollygoose · 22/05/2024 11:53

Singapore is fabulous you and the children will love it plus it feels very safe and very clean.

Original poster
Sockmate123 · 22/05/2024 12:24

theresnolimits · 22/05/2024 11:53

Good for you. I went a few years ago and felt safer than many UK big cities. Very jealous.

Aww thank you, its just been sprung on us really but exciting

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Roryhon · 22/05/2024 12:29

Definitely go! It’s the best place to take kids in Asia. Safe, clean, great things to do. Very hot though and rains a lot (warm, tropical rain though!).

As for turbulence on that route, it is a common area for a few bumps (I was cabin crew for decades) , but nothing as bad as what happened yesterday. That was a one off. Keeping your seatbelt on for all the time you are sitting down is always a good idea. Remember the media have made it all sound worse than it was. The plane dropped a few hundred feet, not six thousand- the rest of the descent was a controlled descent done by the pilots to find a calmer flight path.

BoredAuditor · 22/05/2024 12:56

I've got children same age and would go in a heartbeat.

I've flown to from Singapore and not experienced any turbulence - none. Whilst turbulence maybe statistically more likely on that route doesn't mean you'll experience it.

MrsArcher23 · 22/05/2024 16:59

Go, take the kids with you and don't worry about school or turbulence or anything. It's an amazing opportunity.

justasmalltownmum · 22/05/2024 20:05

Amazing opportunity.

We used air Asia which was relatively cheap to fly around the region.

LaPalmaLlama · 22/05/2024 20:11

I would go if I could afford side trips but a month just in Singapore would be long- unless you like the beach/pool a lot I’m not sure what you’d do all day. It’s one of those places that’s better to live in than it is to visit. If you go maybe see if there are any summer holiday camps your dc could do. Don’t get me wrong- I do like it but a long weekend and it’s done.

SpiritAdder · 22/05/2024 20:15

I would go. Singapore is lovely. Sentosa is fantastic. The Asian Civilizations museum is stunning, the gardens by the bay- love the cloud forest. Night Safari. Food. Their metro is clean and easy to use. Loved every second we were there. We did there and Japan on the same holiday.

rongy · 22/05/2024 20:25

The shorter trips I went on were to Malacca in Malaysia, if I remember correctly we got a bus. We went to a resort on Bintan in Indonesia, needed a visa, I'm sure we got a boat. Flew to other places like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia very easily

LaPalmaLlama · 22/05/2024 20:27

rongy · 22/05/2024 20:25

The shorter trips I went on were to Malacca in Malaysia, if I remember correctly we got a bus. We went to a resort on Bintan in Indonesia, needed a visa, I'm sure we got a boat. Flew to other places like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia very easily

Yep- Bintan is about an hour or so by boat from Singapore. Shouldn’t need a visa with a Uk passport- or at least can just get on arrival. Nikoi is amazing but pricey.

LuckysDadsHat · 22/05/2024 20:32

100% yes. Loads to do with the kids. Food can still be cheap in hawker centres.

BlowDryRat · 22/05/2024 20:36

Yes, definitely. It's safe and tiny but packed with amazing attractions: Marina Bay Gardens, the old quarter, the nocturnal zoo, Sentosa island. You and the DC will love it.

mouse70 · 22/05/2024 20:51

GO. I lived there many years ago. Best time of my life. Have been back a couple of times as a stop over to other places.Safest place I know of in Far East. How I wish I was in your position.

rongy · 22/05/2024 21:17

@LaPalmaLlama yes I don't have a uk passport but remember getting it at the border. it was a little more expensive than what I thought it would be. Maybe something like £25 when we were only there for 3 days so factor that into costs if you are taking a family of 4