Singapore is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. When it's noon in Singapore, it's 1a.m. in New York and 9p.m. in San Francisco.

Time -- Singapore Standard Time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). International time differences will change during daylight saving or summer time. Basic time differences are: New York -13, Los Angeles -16, Montreal -13, Vancouver -16, London -8. 

SINGAPORE

Singapore is very hot in March; loose fitting clothes made of natural materials will be best. Also, we will be walking quite a bit so be sure you wear your most comfortable shoes. You may wish a light sweater, jacket, or wrap as indoor areas are often air-conditioned. Bring and umbrella, sunscreen, sunglasses, and travel sized toiletries such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, along with a small first aid kit containing band-aids, and pain relievers. Singapore is a modern city so if you forget something you can likely find it in local stores.  

To enter Singapore, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. Your airline will not let you on the plane if you passport expires in less than 6 months before your expected departure date. Make sure your passport is renewed before you travel. Before traveling abroad it's a good idea to make two photocopies of your passport, your driver's license and your credit cards. Leave one copy at home with a trusted person and another in your suitcase.

It is important to note that Singapore has some very unique prohibitions on the import of certain items. While pretty much every country in the world, including Singapore, prohibits travelers from bringing items like explosives or firearms, and agricultural products such as live plants and animals, controled substances, and poisons, Singapore adds to the list chewing gum, chewing tobacco, imitation tobacco products (electronic cigarettes,) any type of printed or recorded pornography, pirated movies, music, or software; and toy or decorative guns, knives, or swords. A detailed rundown of prohibited items can be found on the Net at the Ministry of Home Affairs home page: www.mha.gov.sg.

Leisure travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are not required to obtain a visa prior to arrival. All travelers are required to submit the SG Arrival Card within three (3) days before arriving in Singapore. Submission of SGAC is Free and can be done via the SGAC e-Service or MyICA Mobile app. For details, check out the Immigration Checkpoints Authority of Singapore website at www.ica.gov.sg.

This tour starts and ends in Singapore (airport code SIN).

The tour starts at 1:00PM, Monday, March 17, 2025 in Singapore so your flight should arrive at Changi International Airport (airport code SIN) no later than 12:00PM on that day. We anticipate most tour guests will be continuing on from our Enchanted Bali tour. If so, Sights and Soul Travels will provide the flight from Denpasar, Bali to Singapore, and we have arranged for a group transfer from the airport to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, where we will enjoy a welcome cocktail and lunch at the Spago Lounge. If you are arriving from elsewhere, individual airport transfers have been arranged in accordance with your flight's arrival time, and on your arrival you will be met by our chauffeur, who will bring you to the hotel or the welcome lunch, depending on your arrival time. Depending on your location and the airline/route you select, you will probably depart North America in the evening of Sunday, March 16, 2025. Since it is a long flight to get to Singapore, we recommend arriving a day earlier or stay a day longer to rest and enjoy the amenities of the hotel. Also, if you are prone to jet lag and travel fatigue, we recommend arriving at least a day early. 

This tour ends at 1:00PM on Friday, March 21,2025 after our visit to the Gardens of the Bay. Please schedule your flight no earlier than 4:00PM and we will arrange for your private airport transfer in accordance with your flight's departure time.

To avoid jet lag (common when crossing more than five time zones), you should drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and eat light meals. Upon arrival, get exposure to natural sunlight, exercise and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep and so on) as soon as possible.
 

To avoid paying the single supplement, we offer guaranteed roommate matching, and we will try to match you with a roommate of similar age. Otherwise, there are seven single rooms available on this tour, but they tend to fill up early. Please keep in mind that all shared rooms are non-smoking.

The Modern City-State of Singapore tour group is limited to the maximum of 16 women + the Tour Director. The minimum group size is 10 women + the Tour Director. In addition to the Tour Director, the travelers will be assisted by professional local guides and bus drivers, who will accompany the group throughout the tour.

Singapore's healthcare system is exemplary; all hospitals have international accreditation. The CDC and WHO recommend (but not require) the following vaccinations for Singapore: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.

Tap water in Singapore passes World Health Organization standards and is potable.

Clean and safe western-style toilets are almost universally common in tourist areas. You may find the "squatty potty," the Asian-style squat toilet, in the more "local" places. Carry plenty of tissues with you, as they often run out. Very rarely will you still find a pay toilet around. If you do, it's usually S$.20 per entry.

Safety

Singapore is an extremely safe place by any standard. There's very little violent crime, even late at night. If you stay out, there's little worry about making it home safely. There is virtually no political or social unrest. Women travelers are treated with respect. In recent years, some pickpocketing has been reported. Hotel safe-deposit boxes are the best way to secure valuables, and traveler's checks solve theft problems.

Insurance

Before you travel, it's a good idea to check with your airline, credit card issuers, and any medical plan you have in your home country to find out what kind of coverage you have for things like flight delays, loss of luggage, theft, accident, or illness while traveling. Additional travel insurance can be purchased on an annual basis or per trip through your insurance company.

Women traveling alone in Singapore face no particular safety issues, and common sense should keep everyone safe. No particular vigilance is required for female travelers, as violent crime is minimal, but the usual precautions about walking alone at night and hitchhiking certainly apply, as anywhere. Singapore is renowned for its stringent laws and regulations which contribute to its position as one of the safest cities for female travelers whether solo or in a group. The crime rate is very low, and respect for individual rights and public order is generally a norm.

During the Modern City-State of Singapore tour, we will travel by private bus, while some touring will be done on foot and by boat. To be able to fully enjoy the tour and participate in scheduled activities, you need to be able to walk, at a leisurely pace, up to 4 miles throughout the day, frequently on uneven surfaces. You should be able to stand unassisted for up to 30 minutes, you should be able to climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles without assistance and manage your own luggage without assistance. Overall, this trip is not strenuous, although it is filled with outdoor activities, sometimes in hot weather.

Singapore in March is often sunny and warm. The Northeast monsoon season ends around March, but there may be an odd thunderstorm to contend with, so be sure not to leave that umbrella behind! March is also one of the sunniest months in Singapore. Even though rainfall is comparatively low in March, as falls in the 'dry phase,' there may be showers almost every day. The weather in Singapore becomes less windy in March, but thunderstorms occur more often. The average temperature in Singapore in March is between 77 and 88 degrees Farenheit, while average humidity stays constant at around 84%. Due to its proximity to the equator, temperature and humidity stay relatively even throughout the year. The fact that Singapore is surrounded by water and lies within 50 feet of sea level ensures minimal fluctuation.

Internet coverage in Singapore is quite good with a ton of free Wi-Fi hotspots in public places.  The hotel where we'll be staying has unlimited free WiFi Internet for their guests. For local calls, getting a prepaid local SIM Card is the best option. SIM cards on in Singapore are very affordable. As long as you have unlocked phone, for 12USD you can be online. You can buy a travel SIM card at any 7-11 or Cheers convenience store.

Electricity -- Standard electrical current is 230 volts AC (50 cycles). Local electrical outlets are made for "type G" plugs. Consult your concierge to see if your hotel has converters and plug adapters in-house for you to use. If you are using sensitive equipment, do not trust cheap voltage transformers. Nowadays, a lot of electrical equipment -- including laptop computers -- comes with built-in converters, so you can follow the manufacturer's directions for changing them over.

Singapore's four official languages are Malay, Chinese (Mandarin dialect), Tamil, and English. Malay is the national language, while English is the language for government operations, law, and major financial transactions. Most Singaporeans are at least bilingual, with many speaking one or more dialects of Chinese, plus English and some Malay.

The official currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD) and it is available in both banknotes and coins. Commonly referred to as the "Sing dollar," retail prices are marked as S$.  You can exchange money at currency exchanges, branches of major banks, the airport, or hotels. Major credit cards are widely accepted at major restaurants, hotels, bars, and taxis. Check with your credit card company to verify if it charges foreign exchange fees. 

The tour's cost includes all gratuities for local suppliers: restaurants, guides, drivers. When dining alone, check the bill first to see if the gratuity is already included, quite often, especially at upscale restaurants, it is. As most waiters, masseurs, guides, or taxi drivers earn under Rp100,000 a day and work long hours, an appreciative tip for their hard work is always a nice thing to do. Round up taxi bills to the nearest thousand. At the conclusion of the tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director a gratuity. We recommend $15 per person per day if you feel that her services enhanced your experience of visiting Singapore.

While tipping is not exactly discouraged at hotels, at bars, and in taxis, it is not the norm here. A gratuity is automatically added into guest checks, but servers rarely see any of it. While tipping is not expected, most people typically leave the small bills behind in restaurants and bars and tell the taxi drivers to "keep the change," and give bellhops at least S$2 per bag in all hotels. It is always appreciated.

There is a reason Singapore is known as one of the most clean and safe cities in the world. Singapore has strict laws; spitting, littering, smoking in public, not flushing a public toilet, and jaywalking can cost a visitor a fine up to S$ 1000. Also, avoid eating while traveling in public transport which can also result in a fine. 

When communicating, Singaporeans tend to be subtle; rather than saying "no," they might say "i will try," which allows the person making the request and the person turning it down to "save face." Pausing before responding indicates that the request has been given appropriate thought and consideration; the western culture's ability to respond to a question hastily is thought to indicate recklessness. Raising your voice or talking rudely is considered bad form.

Here are some suggestions on what to bring back from your visit to Singapore: Kaya (coconut jam), TWG luxury teas, Perakan Porcelain, Textiles,  Merlion Statue, Risis Orchid, Malay Jewelry, Local Snacks, Traditional Dresses, Tiger Beer, Traditional & Custom-Made Perfume,Tiger Balm (a traditional ointment of Singapore)

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