Jossie
member
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
We are holidaying in Australia for 4 weeks in October/November and are wondering whether to take travellers cheques with us or simply rely on debit/credit cards whilst we are there? Would be interested in others experience. We are visiting various places, outback, barrier reef, cities, etc. Also, quite a lot of train travel.
In addition, we are having a stopover in Singapore on the way there and I would love to have tea at Raffles! Having looked at their website there are so many restaurants/bars that I am unsure as to which one would be best! Also, should I book it before we go or can I leave it until we get there! Has anyone done this? Many thanks
|
Verite
member
Reged: 19/08/2008
Posts: 394
Loc: HONG KONG
|
|
Hey Jossie
Well what great places to visit. I have been all over Australia and had some of the best times ever in my travels. I have always used a credit card but I am in Hong kong. So maybe others can advise you on that better than me but Singapore I can tell you all you need to know. I lived there for a year and go back at least once every few months. They have better shops that HK.
If you go to Raffels start with a wonder down stairs. They have some great shops and make sure you check out the silks in the Jim Thompson shop best ties ever and scarfs and little bits for gifts. You can have tea there and its great to sit in such a fantastic Hotel. Also it's quite fun to go to the long bar for the famous Singapore Sling. try and see if you can sit down stairs and then relax eat your peanuts and throw the shells on the floor. After that we would walk to chimes for a meal at one of the many bars and restaurants there.
As for other places to see Botanic gardens are great to walk about in. If you do the river tours go for the aircon option instead of the bum boats. It's too humid to sit outside amid the diesel fumes.
If you do Mt Faber don't walk just get your taxi to do a loop and then walk up to the 360 point. You Can go over to Sentosa Island but huge theme park. I would say just do cabel car over and back gives you a diffrent view of Singapore.
Night Safari is a blast and everyone I have taken there from 2 to 70 loved it. Make sure OH does not hide on the trail and scare you.
Its so easy to get around, very efficient, you will spend your time in five districts Fort Canning, Little India to the north,Kampong Glam to the east, Chinatown to the south and Orchard Road/ Holland village to the west.
Best to carry your Hotels no with you just in case and also a small folderway umbrella as nearly every day it rains for a short spell.
With the taxis they speak very good english or singlish as in Hello/ Lah
ok/ ok lah, bye bye/ bye lah.
The cabs are every where except at peak times am and pm and also when it rains. Also be aware there is a road toll system in sing so some times you have add ons on your Taxi ride but you can pay credit card plus 10 %.Can't think of anything else but feel free to ask any questions.
v
--------------------
|
Janmac
member
Reged: 18/06/2008
Posts: 420
Loc: Lancashire
|
|
Hiya - your trip sounds like ours except we are off 13 september - also doing Singapore,cities , islands, barrier reef and Ayers rock safari. Cant wait.
We are taking small amount of currency and cards. Have got Nationwide ones as they do not charge for transactions abroad - lots of them do , like BCard.
My OH lived in Singapore for 2 years so I am expecting an excellant tour guide but also want to see Raffles.
Have a lovley time
|
ParmaViolet
member
Reged: 25/03/2008
Posts: 94
Loc: West Wales
|
|
Hello, we're hoping to do a similar trip to Oz, but in Sept 2009 so will be most interested to hear how the two of you get on. I did a stopover in Singapore last year on the way to NZ. We went to Raffles but couldn't go in for tea because my OH had shorts on - however we enjoyed a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar. We also went down into the basement of the food mall under the Intercontinental Hotel and at a Sushi bar asked the manager to select some sushi for us. She sat us at a quiet table and we had a fantastic feast + beers for £25.
Have a wonderful time and share any holiday tips with us when you get back 
--------------------
|
Snowy1066
member
Reged: 08/07/2008
Posts: 3070
Loc: Southeast
|
|
YOU WILL ALL HAVE THE BEST TIME IN OZ ITS FANTASTIC!
We flew out on Christmas day the year of the Tsunami, and landed in Bangkok on Boxing Day! We spent a lot of time in Sydney, becos my son was there with his girlfriend, now my DIL. I love Sydney loads of great restaurants too many to mention. The Rock Area, Darling Harbour, Woolloomooloo area, Sydney Harbour, they are just everywhere. Manly is a great Surfers town and has a good beach, The Spit on the way to Manly is a good place to stop for lunch, just call in at the Yacht Club, anyone can, just sign in and get some great seafood and frites! Look out for the little penguins on the boat ramps! Yes penguins in Oz!
Use the buses and trains the transport is brilliant.
Also if you get a chance drive up to Byron Bay (10 hrs)really worth a visit, great beaches there, and a little hippie/surfers town which is so much fun in the evening, v.lively. Great places to eat aswell in the town, but don't ask me to remember the names!
The Blue Mountains are beautiful and worth a look also.
I do hope you have a really wonderful time, I am GReen with envy! Would love to go back again soon.......
Snowy x
--------------------
|
Jossie
member
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
Hi Verite
Many thanks for all this info on Singapore, we are really looking forward to our visit. will certainly try to do some of the things you suggest, particularly the shopping and also the Singapore Sling!! Thanks for the advice about the umbrella!
Regards Jossie
|
Jossie
member
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
Hi
Thanks for this info, I will check out our credit cards to see if they charge for transactions abroad, good advice.
We are really excited too, enjoy your trip, let us know how it goes!
Jossie
|
avili
member
Reged: 07/04/2008
Posts: 27
Loc: Kent
|
|
Hi Jossie,
We did similar last year, I absolutley loved it, Singapore is amazing and the shopping, try the night zoo which is good fun. Go to Sentosa island and ride the cable car and look at the gardens.
What trains are you going on in Oz, we went on the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice then flew to Ayers rock, what an amazing place, also took helicopter over the Olgas. We returned to Adelaide on the Ghan, I found it a bit tedious as it was day time (the train to Alice was overnight) then took the Indian Pacific to Sydney. Oh and if possible Drive from Melbourne to Adelaid along the Gt ocean road, it will blow your mind! as you can see I could go on forever, but you will love it.
Anyway, To answer your question, we never had any problem getting cash out of cashpoints anywhere, although the chip and pin didn't always go thru smoothly in shops.
Lynne
|
leo3107
member
Reged: 30/07/2008
Posts: 61
|
|
Hi Jossie,
Have been away so have only just seen your thread.I lived in Singapore for over 20 years and came back to the UK in 2006.You'll have a great time.
As others have said the shopping is really good.It's also a good way to escape from the heat and humidity.They've recently opened the Singapore equivalent of the London Eye(haven't heard what it's like).
Tea at Raffles does get booked up simply because it's the tourist thing to do.Afternoon tea at the Shangri'la Hotel used to be my favourite.Also loved the Thai food at the Lemongrass restaurant chain.Don't miss out on a roti prata for breakfast.
The MRT is a very good way of getting around.Taxis used to be good value but I hear they've gone up quite a bit in the last two years.
Enjoy.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
