singapore
Editor's note: Before visiting Singapore, you must watch the iconic and gorgeous film, Crazy Rich Asians. An in-flight favorite, it's the perfect movie to watch when flying to Asia. When I first saw the film years ago, I decided that I wanted to live in Asia someday. And while our life is *slightly* less glam than Rachel Chu and Nick Young, visiting iconic Singapore landmarks from the movie is truly an incredible experience.
SEE
Marina Bay Sands: Gorg hotel with the "boat" shaped rooftop structure. MBS was featured is Crazy Rich Asians and she's absolutely iconic. While the rooftop pool is only for guests staying at the hotel, you can book a lunch reservation at Spago for delicious food and bird-eye views.
Gardens by the Bay: MBS has a walkway that connects the hotel to the Gardens by the Bay. Purchase tickets online in advance to avoid long lines and crowds. Visit the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome first thing in the morning and then enjoy Singaporean chicken satay at Satay By The Bay, located a short walk away from the Cloud Forrest.
Merlion Park: Visit here at night for a gorgeous view of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore skyline. The grab pick up/drop off stop is near the Starbucks, and called "Fullerton Hotel". The snack shack near the Merlion sells cute Merlion shaped ice lollies like the one pictured above.
Jewel Changi: The Jewel Changi airport is a destination in itself and truly a must-see activity when visiting Singapore. The Jewel is where you can find the massive waterfall, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. The best time to visit Jewel is upon arrival to or departure from Changi Airport. Because the Jewel is a popular tourist attraction, many airlines will check in your luggage up to 24 hours before your flight departs, giving you the opportunity to comfortably explore and enjoy sans bags. The Jewel is directly connected to Terminal 1, and there is inter-terminal transportation via trains and shuttle buses. So even if your flight departs from T4, you can visit Jewel and go through passport control at T1, then walk and transport to T4. It's super easy and straightforward. If you have. a few hours, you can enjoy the unique features of the airport; including an outdoor. butterfly garden, slides, movie theater, pool, etc. If you collect Louis Vuitton travel stamps, the LV in T4 has the Singapore Merlion and Changi stamps.
SHOP
Orchard Road: Iconic shopping street of Singapore. The malls have mostly high-end, designer shops, but there are also several "normal" shops on the street that are fun to visit. I love the Nike on Orchard Road; you can customize your own Nike shirts with exclusive Singapore designs and logos. Super fun.
Marina Bay Sands Shoppes: Again, mostly high-end, designer shops (Singapore! haha), but really gorgeous and a nice place to walk around and enjoy the air con. The food court on the lower level is a popular spot and often busy. Fun fact: The Louis Vuitton at MBS is the only "floating island" store in the brand.
SAVOR
Newton Food Center: Also featured in Crazy Rich Asians, our favorite hawker center! Some booths are open during the daylight hours, but Newton really comes to life in the evenings. Don't miss the iconic Singaporean favorites like sweet chili crab and chicken satay. I love the little rolls that come with the crab and the thick peanut sauce for the satay is just incredible. We usually get sweet Chili crab from Alliance Seafood (stall #27) and satay from Best Satay (stall #22). The vibes and atmosphere are so fun and the food is delicious. Save a table and then make the rounds and order from various vendors, who will then deliver your food to you once it's ready.
STAY
Westin Singapore: We've stayed at many different hotels in Singapore, but the Westin is our favorite. Perfect location near MBS, clean, great breakfast, spacious rooms, with gorgeous views, etc. When searching hotels, you may be tempted to stay far from the city center for a more affordable hotel. Just make sure to consider the costs of Grab rides to and from your hotel, and the fares are quite pricey. Don't stay at the Serangoon House; a Marriott property, usually the least expensive in Singapore, but teeny tiny and just not worth it. If you're looking to stay at a high-end property, check out Marina Bay Sands and the iconic Raffles hotel.