Singapore, an island city-state off southern Malaysia, is a global financial center with a tropical climate and multicultural population. Its colonial core centers on the Padang, a cricket field since the 1830s and now flanked by grand buildings at every turn. So, we were very excited when we were asked to put together an exciting incentive program for our VIP automaker client.
Though a small country by any standards, Singapore is well endowed with enumerable attractions to satisfy any visitor—young and not-so-young. So, we had our work cut out for us: We had to compact all that there is to do in the “Lion City” in three days.
For a group that had never been to Singapore, the choice of hotel was relatively easy. Notwithstanding the line up of all the luxury brands, we felt the group would enjoy Marina Bay Sands the most—known for its wide range of amenities (a world-class casino, multiple nightclubs, performance halls, shops and spectacular overnight accommodations. Not to mention the Sands SkyPark, an elevated open-air concourse that crowns the resort). But the hotel is also famous for its iconic rooftop infinity pool that is one of the must-see attractions in Singapore—and one that can only be enjoyed by the hotel guests.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
As the name indicates, the hotel is located in the district of Marina Bay, which is considered to be Singapore's tourism epicenter. Marina Bay houses some of the city's main points of interest as well as numerous opportunities for entertainment like The Float at Marina Bay (the world's largest floating stadium). We felt a walk around Marina Bay was a must for our first-time travelers. We recommended that the group try to take a stroll during the day and night, as both take on two different atmospheres. Those who were able to venture out at night were treated to the nightly light show put on by Marina Bay Sands. But after a grueling 15-hour journey from the west coast of the US, most of the group seemed a bit exhausted on arrival and anxious to rush to their waiting plush rooms, all with spectacular views of the city in every direction.
The next morning, after a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel’s 55thfloor executive dining room, with comfortable shoes on, we set out to discover this magical land. Our first stop: Orchard Road. Every modern metropolis has its commercial avenue. Singapore's version is Orchard Road. This electric boulevard buzzes with the whizzing of cars, the humming of neon lights and the swiping of credit cards, a far cry from the way things once were way back when. Orchard Road got its name from the presence of fruit orchards, nutmeg plantations and pepper farms that dotted the area in the early 19thcentury. Today, the mile-long street houses tons of eateries and a whopping 47 shopping malls carrying high-end brands, popular international retailers as well as local shops. The massive ION Orchard shopping complex is arguably the centerpiece of the street, so no surprise that many of our guests were inevitably lured inside by the designer names and stream of fashionable patrons.
Shopping bags in hand, the group was then transported to Little India with its bustling stalls. Straying a little from the mainland, the group got to immerse itself in this famed neighborhood. This cultural enclave, located a little more than 2 miles northwest of Marina Bay, features a dense network of streets and shops where the group was able to find anything from flower garlands to fragrant spices and colorful fabrics. While the group as a whole started by perusing the boutiques along Serangoon Road, many of them soon ventured down the smaller alleyways to discover true treasures. The adventurous bunch quickly discovered the 24-hour Mustafa Centre, perfect for grabbing any last-minute amenities, and the open-air Tekka Centre, which offers sari and goldsmith retailers. Our final meeting point was the gorgeous Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, a Hindu place of worship.
Time to head back to Marina Bay for a dine-around among the many eateries in the area and onto the hotel for a wide choice of entertainment to finish the night by.
Before you knew it, day two was upon us. After a restful night, we set out to discover the other end of the spectrum, Gardens by the Bay, a stone’s throw from our hotel. For those members of the group that were looking for a taste of nature without the trek, we had to take them to Gardens by the Bay, which is for all practical purposes an urban jungle. The attraction features a wide variety of enticing things to do and see that seamlessly mix Mother Nature with the metropolis. The Supertree Grove, the most recognized landmark of the park, features 18 "supertrees" that support the OCBC Skyway, a 419-foot-long aerial walkway that affords views of both the surrounding gardens as well as Marina Bay.
In the nearby seashell-shaped facilities, the group got to find the highly lauded Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse in the world and showcases numerous types of plants and flowers grouped by country—tulips next to replicas of Dutch architecture and Birds of Paradise flowers in the South African Garden. The Cloud Forest—the group’s favorite—features a 114-foot-tall mini mountain that is host to the world's tallest indoor waterfall.
Back to the urban life: As a nation of mostly immigrants, Singapore possesses a number of ethnic enclaves. Chinatown is one of the largest of them. Broken up into five districts, the neighborhood is packed with a variety of things to do and is constantly buzzing with pedestrians passing in and out of its shops, eateries and food stalls. No surprise, then, that our guests were all in awe just soaking in the sights and scenes. Those looking for souvenirs, headed right over to Pagoda Street for trinkets galore; and some ended up grabbing a bite on Smith Street or New Bridge Road, the latter of which is known for its barbecued meats. And when they seemed to need a break from the hustle and bustle, we took them to the Telok Ayer district. This area has the largest concentration of ancient mosques and temples in Chinatown. We had to step in the Thian Hock Keng Temple for some quiet Zen.
After their daylight excursion, the group seemed to be itching for a night out on the town. So, we directed them to the Tangong Pagar district, which offers loads of bars, pubs and karaoke lounges.
Day three was already here; so we headed to Merlion Park, which hosts one of Singapore's most recognizable monuments. The Merlion statue is the head of a lion with the body and tail of a fish, and the hybrid creature spouts water from its mouth and into the bay. Measuring 28 feet tall, the statue may seem a bit odd to the naked eye, but the statue is actually a nod to Singapore's history. The head of Merlion represents Singapura, the city's first name, which means “Lion City” in Malay. The fish tail and body symbolize Singapore's old days as a small fishing town. Even though the statue has claimed all the fame, another notable highlight is the park's panoramic view of the bay. The urban vista, with the spectacular Marina Bay Sands resort in the background, seemed to have greatly impressed our VIP guests.
After a box lunch, and to complete their trip, we planned a farewell to the city for the group from the top of the Singapore Flyer (think London Eye) Ever since Chicago built one in 1893 for the World Expo, cities around the world have learned that tourists really like Ferris wheels–huge ones. In 2000, London built its famous Eye, standing 443 feet tall. But Singapore didn't wait long before constructing the Flyer, which trumps its British equivalent by almost a hundred feet. Since opening in 2008, the 42-storey-tall Flyer, billed as Asia's largest giant observation wheel, has offered visitors 360-degree views of the urban landscape from Marina Bay. The attraction claims that visitors can catch a glimpse of neighboring Malaysia or Indonesia from the highest point of the observation wheel.
Our group labelled the Singapore Flyer as their favorite, with many of them saying the views atop the wheel were simply breathtaking. The 30-minute ride time seemed to have given our excited guests ample time to take in the great views and snap lots of pictures. What's more, the pods were air-conditioned, making it a great place for them to also cool off from Singapore's year-round heat.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. The group’s flight home was upon us and after a quick refresh, and a rushed dinner-on-the-go, they boarded the waiting coaches and headed to Singapore’s Changi Airport, which is more like an upscale shopping mall. Our group was among the privileged few that got to fly on Singapore Airlines’ inaugural flight to Los Angeles on the first AirbusA350-900 Ultra Long Range (ULR) aircraft and with that an exciting trip to the Lion City came to an end. If Instagram posts are any indications, the group had a blast on this fast-paced trip.