Singapore (July 19-21, 2025):
United Arab Emirates:
Abu Dhabi
Singapore:
Singapore
Malaysia:
Langkawi
Kuala Lumpur
Thailand:
Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai
Sukhothai
Bangkok
Vietnam:
Hanoi
Halong Bay
Phú Quoc
Singapore's history in a few lines:
Origins:
Singapore was a small trading port known as Temasek in the 14th century, part of shipping routes between China and India.
Modern Foundation:
In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles established a British port, turning Singapore into a strategic center for international trade.
Colonial era:
Under British rule, it developed into one of the most important ports in Asia.
20th Century:
Occupied by Japan during World War II (1942-1945). After the war, it returned to British hands and in 1965 became independent, separating from Malaysia.
Present:
Today it is a prosperous city-state, a leader in finance, technology and transportation, famous for its cleanliness, safety and cultural mix.
It's a very new city, barely 60 years old, so everything looks very clean and new. The people are friendly, everyone speaks English, and you can get around everywhere by public transport (we used the subway a lot).
The city is full of juice machines, and the orange juice is delicious and very refreshing in this heat and humidity. The soft drinks they make at various establishments are also highly recommended; you can add sugar to your liking.
A large ice cream cone costs $1 and you can pay by card, very tasty.
The pedestrian traffic lights are a real nightmare; they take forever to turn on, then they're only on for a very short time, and cars don't even give you a few seconds of courtesy. When it reaches 0, they accelerate like there's no tomorrow, regardless of whether you're crossing or not.
The hotel has no reception; online check-in is the only way to arrive and that's it. The room had no window. There are three entrances; we were put in building C. Our room had the bed against the wall, which was a bit awkward when going to the bathroom. The kitchen had everything we needed except a ceramic hob. There was air conditioning. They don't give you a key; everything works with an app, and without Wi-Fi, you're lost. However, they send you an email before your arrival that you need to read and follow the instructions. In building A, there's a tablet with direct communication to the staff if you have any problems. They'll resolve them quickly if you manage to get into the building. There are washing machines and dryers for shared use in the hallway of this building, free of charge.
Street food markets are highly recommended; most accept card payments as they are commercial establishments. There are a few other places where payment must be made in cash.
The Marina Bay area, where the huge lake with the famous hotel in the background and the Lion Fountain is located, is a very lively area; in fact, when we went there were live performances.
You might just come across this marvel:
A live murder against all the unicorns on the face of the earth…
Or... who knows?... you might even get there on the day they skin a cat alive... every day is an adventure...
Flight: The ticket price was quite good since we booked it a week in advance for a round trip, arranging it to include a long layover in Abu Dhabi (15 hours) on the outbound journey so we could explore the city. €760 per person round trip with Etihad Airways (an amazing airline, planes, and staff).
Hotel: Heritage Collection on Chinatown €165, 2 nights.
Travel insurance: Heymondo (Tranquility trip, for 22 days): €80/person.
Information obtained from the web https://www.exteriores.gob.es
Passport: required with a minimum validity of 6 months.
Visa: No visa is required for stays of less than 90 days, but foreign travelers entering Malaysia must complete a mandatory online form. This streamlines immigration procedures and replaces the physical card previously filled out upon arrival, facilitating entry into the country. MDAC Formulation.
Travel insurance: Travel insurance is recommended. The best-known and most comprehensive options are: Iati y Heymondo, If we don't need very comprehensive insurance, we'll get it with Globalfine which is much cheaper.
Vaccines: None are mandatory.
Badge: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
Payment card/currency exchange: we always go with Revolut y N26.
Roaming: NO Yes, so if you have data enabled, you might get a nice little gift in return. We recommend it. Airalo in Asia better than Holafly.
GPS: Maps.me Download the maps for Spain and they work great offline, whether you're on foot, by car, or on public transport.
Translator: It's gotten us out of a few tight spots; it's a translator that doesn't require an internet connection, just download the language before you leave and you're good to go. Offline translator.
International driving permit: It is necessary because it does not belong to the EU. It order through the website DGT. We remind you that they drive on the left because it was a British colony. The app GRAB It works very well and is very cheap.
The card costs €10.51. The good thing is you can order it online and pick it up without an appointment. It took a couple of days for ours, then you go to pick it up and it's a cardboard card like the ones they had 20 years ago.
Where to eat: If you want to eat at a restaurant, there's also the app. TheFork which has many discounts. If you book with the code 7C1B79A3 When you are finishing the booking, you will get 1000 Yums = €10 discount at your next meal. In addition to other special offers they often have, or simply to accumulate points and use them for discounts on your next payments.
