Wow, what an adventure Emma and I had in Singapore! We’ve just returned and I have so much to share that I don’t know where to start, so today’s post will be a little overview of our itinerary so you can get a feel for what we packed into around four days.
We were lucky to have really great weather whilst we were there so the rough plans I made before we left all worked out pretty well. I don’t like to make rigid itineraries because when you travel with kids you need some flexibility. But for our last few trips, I’ve found just a little planning helps streamline the day so you can fit in some extra sights and activities which is especially important for short stays. With this trip (and London also), I organised media accreditation for some activities, which meant we had to book in dates and times in advance.
So here is just a brief roundup, I’ll be writing lots more detailed posts about the things we ate, explored and experienced in the coming weeks so stay tuned.
Fly in on Jetstar JQ007
If you haven’t already watched the video above, take a look. Our flight was during the day and was actually pretty comfortable. I much prefer flying during the day if I can help it, now that Emma is older she was pretty good at keeping herself entertained for the 7.5 hr flight. I didn’t lash out for meals or the entertainment package, instead I packed some snacks (vegemite sandwiches) and loaded up the iPad with games and movies for Emma. I just listened to podcasts and read the Lonely Planet Singapore guide book*.
I should have caught a taxi to the hotel (which was my original plan) but we ended up catching the MRT (metro), which left us with an uphill trek at night to the hotel. It looked really close on the map, but I guess the giveaway that it was on a hill was in the name Hotel FORT Canning.
Read my full review of Hotel Fort Canning
Singapore 4 Day Itinerary
Day 1:
Morning – Little India
We had a lunch date with the staff from the Nuffnang Singapore office which was just near Little India. Emma and I headed out early to explore the area and soak in the colour. After visiting a temple, we made our way to the office where the team gave us a little gift bag full of local snacks (mainly candy which Emma practically inhaled) and some essential supplies that would come in handy for our stay. It included mini portable fans and a pack of wet wipes, both which did come in very handy several times.
Lunch was at a local food court and was so yummy. I can’t wait to write about everything we ate, and trust me, we ate a lot.
Read my full post about Singapore’s Little India
Afternoon – Gardens by the Bay
After a swim at the hotel pool to cool off we headed to Gardens by the Bay, a futuristic garden with giant super tree structures and amazing conservatories, one of which contains a giant waterfall. The afternoon turned to evening and we stayed to watch the Supertree light show which is on twice every night. It was stunning and not to be missed. We grabbed a satay dinner at Satay by the Bay and headed back to the hotel exhausted.
Day 2:
Morning – Sentosa Island
We got up to some crazy thrill seeking stuff on Sentosa island, the theme of the day was heights! We travelled there by cable car, because why not? And after a little play taking photos at the Trick Eye Museum (which Emma loved), we set our sights on some heart racing challenges at Mega Adventure. I’m talking rock climbing, para jumping, elevated ropes courses and a zip line to top it all off. It was a little bit scary but super fun.
Afternoon – Singapore Art Museum
After all that adrenaline we needed to wind down with a little bit of art. I’ll be sharing more about SAM because it was amazing and perfect for families to visit.
That evening we wandered around enjoying the city lights. Caught the wrong bus home and ended up in Little India again. By now my feet were really very sore.
Day 3:
Morning – Food tour of Chinatown
More food! I’d been really looking forward to meeting Maureen from Miss Tam Chiak, who was so generous with her time and local knowledge. Maureen took us to some of her favorite food haunts in Chinatown and I tried lots of new things, which I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, and everything was delicious.
Evening – Haji Lane and Surrounds
After an afternoon swim at the hotel, we headed to Singaopre’s hipster heart, full of colourful street art, vintage boutiques and hip bars. We wandered a little and sat down for some Mexican food, which was pretty good. I really enjoyed a nice cold beer, which was my first and only drink of the trip. Those cocktails by the pool never eventuated.
Day 4:
Hotel Time
Our last day was spent packing and just hanging out at the hotel pool. We made some underwater videos and just mucked around before our flight home. I was hoping to squeeze in a little pool time every day so Emma could have some time to play and wind down. Apart from Day 2 where we had some time on the beach at Sentosa, I did manage to achieve this critical holiday KPI. Well done me!
We really did pack quite a lot in, but I could really have done with a couple more days to get to all the unseen things on my ‘wish list’. Singapore really has so much to offer, I feel like we only just scratched the surface.
Tune into my next post about our morning spent in Little India.
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