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Getting there by Air:
East meets west at this bustling Asian Pacific air hub roosting on the eastern fringe of the island. Singapore Changi Airport ( SIN ) ( +65 6542 9792 / http://www.changi.airport.com.sg ) is comprised of two terminals, with a third in the works due to open in 2006, and host to 60 airlines. The Skytrain monorail connects the terminals and runs about every two minutes. Besides the standard convenience amenities the airport features atypical diversions including a series of stress relieving nature walks through gardens, including a bamboo garden and a rooftop cactus garden. Many of the café/bars have live acoustic music for weary travelers. Families can opt for the arcade or play area. There is even an onsite movie theater and fitness center. Of course, it wouldn't be an airport without tons of retail outlets and restaurants ranging from local sushi joints to the ubiquitous Burger King and Starbucks. ATMs, business lounges and currency exchanges are also aplenty. Major airlines include:
Air Asia ( +603 8660 4343 / http://www.airasia.com )
Air France ( +1 800 237 2747( US ) / +65 6737 6355 ( Singapore ) / http://www.airfrance.com )
Air New Zealand ( +1 800 262 1234 ( US ) / +65 6535 8266 ( Singapore ) / http://www.airnz.com )
All Nippon Airways ( +1 800 235 9262 ( US ) / +65 6323 4333 ( Singapore ) / http://www.fly-ana.com )
Bangkok Airways ( +1 866 226 4565 ( US ) / +65 65458481 ( Singapore )http://www.bangkokair.com )
British Airways ( +1 800 247 9297 ( US ) / +65 6589 7000 ( Singapore ) / http://www.britishairways.com )
Cathy Pacific ( +1 800 233 2742 ( US ) / +65 6533 1333 ( Singapore ) / http://www.cathaypacific.com )
China Airlines ( +65 6737 2211 ( Singapore ) / http://www.china-airlines.com )
Continental ( +1 800 523 3273 ( US ) / +65 6538 6860 ( Singapore ) / www.flycontinental.com )
Japan Airlines ( +1 800 525 3663 ( US ) / +65 6221 0522 ( Singapore ) http://www.japanair.com )
KLM ( +1 800 447 4747 ( US ) / +65 6737 7622 ( Singapore ) / http://www.klm.com )
Korean Air ( +1 800 438 5000 / +65 6534 2111 ( Singapore ) / http://www.koreanair.com )
Lufthansa ( +1 800 645 3880 / +65 6245 5600 ( Singapore ) / http://cms.lufthansa.com )
Malaysia Airlines ( +1 800 552 9264 ( US ) / +65 6336 6777 ( Singapore ) / http://www.malaysiaairlines.com.my )
Qantas ( +1 800 227 4500/+65 6589 7000 ( Singapore ) / http://www.qantas.com )
SAS Airlines ( +1 800 221 2350 ( US ) / +65 6235 2488 ( Singapore ) / http://www.scandinavian.net )
Singapore Air ( +1 800 742 3333 / +65 6223 8888 ( Singapore ) / http://www.singaporeair.com )
Thai Airways ( +1 800 221 2500 ( US ) / +65 6224 9977 ( Singapore ) / http://www.thaiair.com )
United Airlines ( +1 800 241 6522 ( US ) / +65 6873 3533 ( Singapore / http://www.ual.com )
Ground transportation:
Avis ( +65 ( 0 )6542 8855 / +1 800 230 4898 ( US ) / https://www.avis.com ) and Hertz ( +1 800 654 3131( US ) / +1 800 654 3001( Intl ) / https://www.hertz.com ) are onsite. Before hitting the road you will need to purchase an Electronic Road Pricing ( ERP ) card, which is used on expressways at peak hours and in the central business district from 7a-7p weekdays and 7a-2p Saturdays. Cards are available from the rental companies.
Taxi ranks are perched outside of each arrivals hall. A trip to downtown can get rather hefty ( SGD25-SGD50 ) once all the surcharges ( airport and ERP ) are tacked on. Limousine taxis and MaxiCabs are also available and booked at counters in the arrivals hall. A flat rate of SD35 will get you downtown.
A frequent ( every 15-30 minutes ) airport shuttle jaunts to anywhere in the CBD and the majority of city hotels. Book at journey at the desk in the arrivals hall for SGD7.
Buses depart 6a until midnight from the basement of both terminals to most points around the city. SBS bus 36 will take you from the airport to Orchard road in downtown where most of the fancy hotels reside. Fares range from SGD.70 to SGD1.80 depending on whether the bus is air conditioned or not.
The quickest way into town, especially for those light on luggage, is by MRT train ( +1800 336 8900 / http://www.smrtcorp.com.sg ). The station resides in terminal two and is accessible from terminal one by Skytrain. A trip to downtown's City Hall station takes around 30 minutes. Trains operate from 5:30a until 11:18p.
Getting there by Bus:
Three bus stations handle international travel between Singapore and Malaysia, and Singapore and Thailand: Ban San Terminal at Arab and Queen Streets, Lanender Street Terminal off Kalang Bahru, and the Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road. Traveling by bus between countries is rather inexpensive and more than 25 routes are available including: Singapore-Johar Express ( +65 6292 8151 ), Singapore-Malacca Express ( +65 6293 5915 ), and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Express ( +65 6292 8254 ).
Getting there by Car:
The traffic ridden Woodlands Causeway extends across the Straits of Johor linking Singapore with Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The aptly named "Second Crossing" spans the straits into Malaysia at the western end of the island. Tolls apply at the crossings and there is the need for a Vehicle Entry Permit ( VEP ) and ERP card.
Getting there by Rail:
Malaysian Railways ( KTMB ) ( +65 6222 5165 / http://www.ktmb.com.my ) railway has three Intercity trains running between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and an overnight train, Express Timuran, chugging between Singapore and Tumpat. Trains arrive and depart from the Singapore Train Station, a classic art deco building on Keppel Road. The station has limited public transport options. Bus #97 exits Keppel road for the Tanjon Pagar MRT station, a 20 minute walk otherwise.
E&O Services operates the famous and exotic opulence-on-rails known as the Orient Express ( +65 6392 3500 / http://www.orient-express.com ) between Chiang Mai and Singapore via Bangkok. Trains depart once a month and journeys last anywhere from three to six days. The cruise train and its doting luxury does not come cheap though, with prices ranging from USD1540 to USD3110 per person.
Getting there by Water:
Singapore is king when it comes to calling cruise ships in Asia Pacific, with more than ten major lines docking year round. The main passenger port is the Singapore Cruise Centerâ€"a massive facility equipped three halls: regional, domestic, international. Ferries also depart from the Cruise Center for ports in Kukup, Tionman and Sebona, Malaysia. Daily ferry service is also available from the terminal at Tanah Merah to the Indonesian resort islands of Bintan and Batam in the Riau Archipelago. Service providers include: Bintan Resort ferries ( +65 6542 4369 / http://www.brf.com.sg ), Penguin Ferry Service ( +65 6271 4866 ), Widi Express Ferries ( +65 6275 2220 ), and Berlian Ferries ( +65 6546 8830 ).
Getting Around:
Although public transport is less stressful and walking around the city center is quite pleasurable, many tourists choose to rent a car. Traffic on the major expressways ( Pan Island, Ayer Rajah, Central ) and major roads can be hectic and getting accustomed to the ERP and ALS ( same as ERP but for the central busness district ) cards and numerous road rules is time consuming, but the system moves efficiently most of the time ( minus rush hours ), the signs are all in abbreviated English, and parking is usually easy to come by. Beware of the infamous speed camera. They are all seeing and fines are strictly enforced. You need to obtain a Vehicle Entry Permit ( VEP ) if you are entering the country from Malaysia.
Singapore's transit system consists of three metro lines ( MRT ), two LRT ( elevated monorails ) lines and bus services. A multitude of companies manage the different facets of the system but fares are generally integrated, especially with the EZ-Link card ( +1800 767 4333 / http://www.ezlink.com.sg )-a smart card that stores up to SGD10 at a time and can be refilled at General Ticket Machines ( GTMs ) in any station. Information for all lines is available through Transitlink ( +1800 764 333 / http://www.transitlink.com.sg ).
Singapore Mass Rapid Transit ( SMRT ) ( +1800 336 8900 / http://www.smrtcorp.com.sg ) operates two of the three MRT lines: East-West ( EW ) and North-South ( NS ). The EW line also spurs off to the Changi Airport. The system runs from around 5:30a until 1:30a, but actual times vary from station to station. Standard fares vary depending on distance traveled but the average cast is around SGD1. Singapore Light Rapid Transit ( SLRT ) ( +65 6893 6455 / http://www.slrt.com.sg ), a subsidiary of SMRT, manages the Bukit Panging LRT ( BP ), an elevated electric monorail with 14 stations that basically runs a circular route through Bukit Panjang New Town meshing with the MRT at Choa Chu Kang. Trains leave every 2 to 6 minutes from 5a-1a. Fares start at SGD1.
SBS Transit ( +1800 287 2727 / http://www.sbstransit.com.sg ) is the largest bus provider in town, but has recently expanded to control the North-East ( NE ) MTR line, which connects the Harbour Front with the CBD. The Sengkang LRT is also under the company's transit umbrella, with the new Punggoi LRT, due to open in 2004. Trans-Island Bus Services ( TIBS ) ( +65 6482 3888 / http://www.tibs.com.sg ) is the second largest bus company with 53 routes including 98 night buses ( NightRiders ) primarily focused in the north.
Singapore Explorer ( +65 6339 6833 / http://www.singaporeexplorer.com.sg ) runs the Singapore Trolley, a hop on/hop off motorized and air-conditioned turn-of-the-20th-century tram that plies the CBD with stops at Orchard Road, Singapore River, Chinatown, Raffles Hotel, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Suntec City between 9.40a and 4.55p daily. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. Besides the trolley, the company offers river boat rides up the Singapore River and operates a fleet of "trishaws" or motorized rickshaws.
For the true form of tourist transport you can board a cable car ( http://www.cablecar.com.sg ) at the Mount Faber station head down the hill and across the harbour to the island of Sestona. Cars run daily from 8:30a-9p. Fares range from SGD8.50 to SGD15.
Taxi services in Singapore are reliable and comfortable, and the fact that there are some 15,000 cars roaming the streets looking for fares, hailing one is relatively hassle free, although during peak hours in certain parts of town they can be scarce. Three main taxi companiesâ€"Comfort Transportation ( +65 6552 1111 ), TIBS Taxis ( +65 6555 8888 ) and CityCab ( +65 6552 2222 )â€"operate round the clock. Taxi-stands are located outside major buildings and shopping centers. Alternatively, you can book one, by phone or fax, within a half-hour or in advance. Fares are metered and strictly regulated by the government's Land Transport Authority. So, commuters can sit back and enjoy their rides without fear of overcharging. Most of the companies also offer "limo" service, which is more like a town car rather than a jalopy picking you up.
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