SINGAPORE + JOHUR BAHRU, MALAYSIA SIDE TRIP

Singapore like any other progressive country is one of the most visited and most expensive tourist destinations in Asia. Survey also reveals that the country is known to be the home of the billionaires. The map may show us how tiny Singapore is, yet, many people love to spend their vacation there.
Having a thought travelling to Singapore due to a very limited budget? Here are some tips on how to save your money while you wander the beautiful city of Singapore plus a side trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
When travelling to Singapore, it is just as easy as travelling to Hong Kong, Malaysia or Thailand and other Asian countries because it does not require you for a visa. Before the trip, it is beneficial and highly suggested to do some research about the country's culture, policies and norm's to avoid future circumstances. Below should also be included in your research;

*Most visited sites
*Places where you can get best to eat
*How to take public transportation
*cheapest but has quality shopping centers and
*Economical hotel/hostels nearby downtown

Above all else, we must take note of the following requirements needed at the immigration
-Passport
-Round trip ticket
-Hotel booking (details are needed in the disembarkation form)
-Invitation Letter (If you ate living with your family or friends)
-Travel tax of Php 1,620.00
-Terminal Fee of Php 550.00

When I travel, I always ensure that everything is detailed and well-organized. I used to prepare my itinerary a month before my flight like what I did when I went to Japan, Hong Kong and Macau alone. This time, I did not travel alone, I have been planning this trip together with Karen since this is gonna be her first time to travel abroad. And here's what happened during our trip.

Changi International Airport

Day 1

I accompanied Karen to terminal 1 since she'll be taking the tiger airways at 05:00 in the morning while I will be taking the 05:40 Cebu Pacific flight at Terminal 3. It was 45 minutes past the hour of 9:00 when my plane landed in Singapore and I was expecting that she was the first one to arrive but when I went to the arrival hall I found out that her flight has been moved to 7 in the evening. I was so worried with Karen because she was really new to this thing(traveling abroad). On the other hand, Karen was actually holding other plane ticket, the 2 o'clock Cebu Pacific flight(her original round trip ticket) and because we really just want to arrive in Singapore at the same time, we purchased the new one (which a bit cheaper than Cebu Pacific's early flight). Taking the 7PM flight would be a waste of time so I told her to fetch the Cebu Pacific flight so she could be in Singapore as early as 5 and she did. I went to the hotel to checked in first and wander around the city while waiting for her to arrive.

Tip: Purchase a valued ticket at Changi MRT station for S$20.00 an additional deposit of S$10.00. This card can be use unlimited for SBS Bus, MRT and LRT valid for 3 days only.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Tip:Book your hotel online in for a free of charge at www.booking.com. You have either 3-4 days to cancel your reservation from the date of your stay if you opt to choose other hotels but expect for a 7% service charge and 10% VAT when you purchase online..

You may also book your hotel at:

www.hostelworld.com
www.agoda.com
www.hostelbooker.com

CLARKE QUAY

How to get there: Clarke Quay can be access by North East or the Purple MRT Line

Our first stop was to meet my friend before wandering Clarke Quay. Clarke Quay is famous because of its colorful buildings, this is also Singapore's best choice for dining and entertainment clubbing, river cruising, cafes, restaurants and even amusement park. Do not be fooled with this majestic place if you are in a low budget for these establishments are very costly but if you think and you just want to experience how to live luxuriously then this is a must try. 

Karen with her Luggage :)

MARINA BAY I GARDENS BY THE BAY at night

How to get there: Take the Circle (Yellow) Line or the North South (Red) Line 

DAY 2

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

How to get there: Take the Circle Line to HarbourFront Station proceed to Level 3 of Vivo City Mall before taking the Sentosa Rail Transit to Resorts World and Universal Studios. Train ticket is S$4.00.

I was a bit curious of what Universal Studios Singapore has to offer compare to Universal Studios in Japan. My friends says that you will be wandering the whole day in order for you to finish the entire park but they are just too exaggerated I guess. If I were to compare between the two, USJ was exceptionally beautiful than USS, USJ has Harry Potter, Superman, Jaw and a lot more. They also have performances which is the main highlight of Universal Studios Japan and your one day tour is really not enough to wander around the park, On the other hand, I am pretty excited for Karen since it's her first time to visit such huge theme park as this.

Tickets:
Do not buy any tickets at Universal Studios outlet if it is included in your itinerary because they are giving much higher rates than in travel agencies. You may purchase your tickets at Lucky Plaza Mall located outside  Orchard MRT station and you can save S$8.00 per ticket.
(Travel Agencies S$66.00 while Universal Studios Outlet -S$74.00)

SENTOSA CABLE CAR

You have two option when taking the cable car. A one way ticket from Merlion Station to Siloso Point Station can be purchase for S$13.00 or a round trip ticket to Mount Faber Station for only S$29.00.

We've been looking the Merlion Statue in our first day but we couldn't find his image so we decided to find him again on the following day but we were surprised because he was covered by tool bars and green nets. Unfortunately he was under construction when we went there.

CLARKE QUAY 

Liquor Prices

Hard drinks- S$16.00 and above per shots

Beers- S$15.00/bottle (or 502.50 in Philippine money)I had 6 bottles and a glass of vodka  that night

There were no other modes of transportation heading back to our hotel so taking cab is our only option since the MRT and buses were already closes their operations at 12 midnight, Fare rates start at S$3.20.

DAY 3 

JOHUR BAHRU, MALAYSIA

How to get there: Take the North South or the Red Line and drop off at Kranji Station before taking the Causeway Link Bus to Johor for a fare of S$1.00 or the SBS Bus if you do have the valued card. If you are taking with Causeway Link just keep your tickets so you can hop on to the next Bus since they don't really wait the passengers when passing thru the Singapore Immigration. Also, make sure that you bring your passports and disembarkation card to avoid the delay at the check point.

Upon entering the checkpoint we were hold by the immigration officers. They asked us about, Why are you here? What are you going to do here in Malaysia? Did you bring your plane tickets and any possible documents? Do you have any luggage's with you? All I have was our itinerary and we didn't bring anything except our SLR camera.They took us to the Immigration Kiosk and they asked the same thing. They took us again to their office, we couldn't provide them our plane tickets and hotel bookings since I don't have any internet connection (I have learned my mistakes when I went to Japan of using the internet, my local carrier billed thousands of pesos when I get back to the Philippines). They ask us nicely if how much money do we have for the tour, which hotel are we checking in Singapore, What is our purpose and how many days are we going to spend in Johor. And told them that we were just there for a day tour and we are just planning to go to Legoland. It was a bit terrifying when you're interrogated by an immigration officer and it was my first to be in that office and so as Karen.

Reminder: Taking photos at the immigration is prohibited.

Tip: Money changers are located at the JB Center to exchange your SGD to Malaysian Ringgit.

LEGOLAND

How to get there: Take the bus at the lower level of JB center bound to Hello Kitty and Legoland for a fare of MR 4.10/way.

It was a long drive going to Lego and all we did was just taking photos when we get there since the whole theme park were made just for kiddos.

Johor Bahru Food streets

...headed back to Singapore

Dined at Hotspot Cafe and Restaurant located at Bugis Street. To get there, take the East West or Green MRT  Line and explore the busy streets with lots of shopping centers, food streets, bars and restaurants.

SINGAPORE SUGGESTED ITINERARY

DAY 1

05:40               ETD to Singapore

09:05               ETA Singapore

09:30               Check in at Amrise Hotel (112 Sims Avenue, Singapore, Tel. No. +656-745-6656)

                        Take Tana Merah train–then To Joo Kon- drop at AlJunied station

10:00               St. Andrew Cathedral

10:20               Chijmes or Chimes

11:00               Asian Civilization

13:00               Art Museum

14:00               Lau Pa Sat Festival

16:00               Merlion Park / Fountain of Wealth / Esplanade

17:00               Marina Bay Sands / Gardens by the Bay

18:30               Singapore Flyers

19:30               Night Safari

DAY 2

06:00               ETA Sentosa Island/Universal Studios

21:00               Vivo City

DAY 3

05:30               ETD to Johur Bahru Malaysia (optional)

                        Via Causway Link Bus at Kranji MRT $2.50 round trip

08:00               ETA Johor Bahru

08:30               Start the journey by exploring Janlan Tan Hiok Nee (Jalan=Road) or City Square. 

                        You can walk into JB City Square Shopping Mall throught the bridge linked between JB City square and CIQ Building

01:00               Lego Land 

05:00               Return to SG

07:00               Bugis Street

09:00               Clark Quay

DAY 4 BACK TO MANILA