Travellers usefull tips

Things to know about Singapore

Capital: Singapore

Language: Chinese, Malay, Tamil are official languages. Most people also speak English

Religion: in Singapore, the most practiced religions are Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Islam. Attitude to religion is quite tolerant, and religion doesn’t play a big role there. Inhabitants respect different traditions and ceremonies. Patriarchy is notable for this country: a father is the head of the family, everyone respects him and his opinion without controversy.

Climate is hot and tropical humid throughout Singapore. The average daily temperature is +30ºC, while the night +23ºC. Some precipitations occasionally fall during the year.

The average temperature in Singapore is:

Currency: Singapore dollar (1 American dollar = 1,8 Singapore dollars), which is equal to 100 cents. Its international sign is SGD. Circulating banknotes are in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 10 000 Singapore dollars, and the coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1 dollar. Brunei dollar, equated to the Singapore dollar, is also in free circulation in the country.

Means of payment: such credit cards as American Express, Diners, JCB, Master Card, Visa and Visa Electron are widely used throughout the island. You can pay by cards in restaurants, shops, hotels and taxi. If you want to cash your traveller’s cheques, it is necessary to show your passport. It’s better to take traveller’s cheques in British pounds. However, banks charge a minimum commission. In most big malls and stores of Singapore you can pay by Singapore dollars, American dollars or British pounds.

Currency exchange: In Singapore, you can exchange foreign currency in banks or exchange offices Licensed Money Changer, i.e. in licensed exchange offices, including hotels. You are not advised to exchange currency in Singapore offices without a license. From Monday to Friday, banks work from 10:00am to 3:00pm. On Saturday, they are closed from 9:30am to 3:00pm. On Sunday, the banks in Orchard Road are open from 9:30am to 1:00am.

Calles to Singapore from another country:
The country code of Singapore is +65
If you need to make a call on landline you should dial 0, than 0 again and 65, a dialling code and a phone number at the end. The first 0 means access to long-distance, the second 0 – access to international line. If you call by a cell phone from another country, you should deal +65, then a dialling code and a phone number.

Calles from Singapore to another country:
From Singapore you can call to 170 countries through the use of international direct dialling systems or a telephone operator. It’s cheaper to make a call from public phone boxes. The old phone boxes require either 10 cents coins or in denominations of 2, 10, 20 and 50 dollars by phone cards.

For calling from Singapore to another country: you should deal 00 – international phone code of the country – a dialling code – a phone number. 001 – a code for accessing to international line.

Useful phone numbers in Singapore:
Ordering taxi in the city – 250-07-00;
Phone number of police – 999;
You can call to ambulance or fire station on number – 995;
The contact phone number of tourist information centre is 330-04-31, or 330-04-32.

Time zone of Singapore:
UTC +8 (by Greenwich). There isn’t Daylight Saving Time in Singapore.

Customs
In Singapore there is a duty-free import:
- 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, 250grams of tobacco
- 1l of alcohol beverage (1l of beer or wine)
Import and export of foreign currency is unlimited. For exporting weapons, especially Malay daggers and souvenir swords, explosives, stones, animals, medicines, jewellery, and poisons, exceeding personal needs, the Singapore Customs Control permission is required. Airport tax, at the rate of 8-12 Singapore dollars, is provided to passengers departing on international flights. It isn’t charged from the passengers who do not leave the transit area, and from children, who are under two years old.

Shopping
Most supermarkets, malls and small shops work every day from 10am to 9-10pm. If you buy some electric appliances in Singapore, make sure that they will do for your electricity. Sales season begins in June. Huge shopping centers along Orchard Road are the best for shopping in Singapore. Many big stores in Singapore offer you to deliver the purchased goods where you want.
It’s better to buy souvenirs in small shops, which are located in “Chinatown” or “Little India”. Pineapple cakes, bamboo flutes, batik, the Chinese violin, hats and gowns with hand embroidery, coffee, tea, spices and sweets are exported from the country. Leaving Singapore, VAT is returned to you if you spend a minimum of 100 Singapore dollars at the supermarket Premier Tax free.

Transport

а) public transport

In Singapore, public transport is well organized.
1. Subway is the fastest kind of transport around the city. Price of the trip depends on mileage, it is fluctuating from 0,8 to 1,7 Singapore dollars.

2. Buses. Air-conditioning system can be installed on buses, tickets for such buses will be more expensive. When you buy a ticket, be ready that change is not given. It is more convenient to purchase an electronic ticket, which is called ez-link, for travelling by public transport. It works in public buses and trains.

3. Taxi is the most popular way to get around Singapore streets. You can order taxi by cell phone. The fare includes landing (2.4 Singapore dollars) and 0.5 Singapore dollars per kilometre. During rush hours, and also from midnight to 6am, and on holidays the markup is valid. In Singapore, every taxi is equipped with taximeter. Most drivers speak English.

b) long-distance transport

1. Trains
Singapore is an island country. You can get there by sea and by air. The overpass, which connects the island with Malaysia, allows you to use railway services of Orient Express. You can get to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur using it.

2. Ropeway is the main transport on Sentosa Island. Mount Faber, Harbour and Sentosa are stations of this cable car system. Journey to one of the stops costs 7.5 dollars, however, the fare to four of them is only 8.9 dollars. Visitor Card, a special ticket, is provided for tourists.

3. Ferryboat
Tourists are invited to use the ferry, which takes you to uninhabited southern islands for a picnic and swimming in pools. The price depends on the distance from the port to the island where you want to go.

Car rental
For renting a car in Singapore, you must show an international driving license and a passport. You can rent a car for 200 American dollars per day. Tickets for parking in the city and in Central Business Region (CBR) are sold at any kiosk, post office or gas stations.

Hotels
There is a wide choice of accommodation according your taste and budget ranging from dormitories and hostels for the youth to luxury five star hotels. Many hotels offer babysitting services.

Tipping: Singapore is one of the few countries, where tipping is not required. In most hotels and restaurants the cost of service is included in the bill (10%). At airport, the tipping is generally prohibited. However, the country is moving to European standards, that’s why more and more service workers expect to be tipped.

National Holidays
New Year's Day – 1 January
Chinese New Year – 10-11 February
Hari Raya Puasa (the end of Ramadan) – 25 March
Good Friday on Easter week
Labour Day, the Birthday of Third Lotus Prince (a god child) – 1 May
Vesak, a holiday celebrated in honour of the Buddha – 6 May
Hari Raya Haji – 1 June
Singapore National Day – 9 August
Indian festival of lights – Deepavali – 13 November
Christmas – December 25

Electricity: line voltage – 220-240V, 50 Hz frequency. In Singapore, British three-pin plugs with flat pins are used. In addition, Singapore hotels offer you to use adapters.

Rules of conduct
In Singapore, it’s prohibited to spit on the ground or smoke in public places. On disco, karaoke bars, night clubs and pubs you can smoke only in special places. The fine for violation of this law is 1,000 Singapore dollars. Among games of chance, only charity lotteries and betting on horse races in the Singapore Turf Club are allowed. Other forms of gambling are strictly prohibited by law. For the bombing, running, holding and disposal or storage of dangerous fireworks, including firecrackers, fireworks, rockets and others, you can be arrested for 2 years or pay a fine about 5,000 Singapore dollars.

Health service
In Singapore, there are high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in restaurants and street stalls. Running water is clean, and it can be used for drinking and cooking. Chemist’s shops are located in supermarkets, department stores and other retail outlets, they are open from 9:00am to 10:00pm. Singapore Medical service is one of the best in the world.

Visa
The citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan need visa to Singapore. For citizens of most countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, visa is not required.