Singapore, Singapore

Singapore is a city of contrasts: two-story colonial buildings are dwarfed by huge skyscrapers just next to them. You can observe the elderly gathered in an outdoor plaza, spending their days playing checkers while a block away you see the frenetic energy of the young workers in the financial district. There are 5 million people living on this relatively small island nation.

I would recommend a three night stay for the average leisure traveler. There are many attractions to keep you busy day and night. We started our first day with an orientation tour of the city. Our guide, Ben, informed us that Singapore has four seasons: hot, hotter, hottest and extremely hot. I'm not sure which season we were in but it felt awfully hot to me!

We visited Chinatown, Little India, and Arab street. Each neighborhood retained its own distinct culture. We also drove down Orchard Road, a major shopping area with all of the brand name stores lining both sides of the road.

We stayed at the Fullerton hotel, located in the financial district, with beautiful views of the bay. Interesting to note that much of this area was built on reclaimed land. It's hard to imagine how they built huge skyscrapers on top of former wetlands and beach. The Fullerton is a 400-room hotel occupying the space of the original Post Office. It has a very stately facade with tall columns. You feel like you are arriving somewhere very special when you pull up to the front entrance. The rooms are large and many have views of the marina or the city. The breakfast buffet is extensive, offering both Western and Asian specialties. I enjoyed having my eggs along with noodle soup each morning.

The location was a great vantage point for exploring on our own. We walked down to Lau Pa Sat, an open air food court of sorts. The place is jammed with workers during the lunch hour and it can be hard to  find a table. You don't need to worry about the sanitation of the food as it is all strictly regulated by the government. Each food stall is given a rating of A - C. We enjoyed a simple dish of chicken and rice for about $2.50.

We also took time to visit the Marina Bay Sands complex comprised of a convention center, theaters, casino, a 2600-room hotel, and a huge shopping mall containing every luxury brand shop you can think of from all over the world. At the very top of the hotel, 57 floors up, is a Skywalk connecting all three hotel towers. You will find a bar, restaurant and the world's highest infinity pool all seemingly floating in the sky. The views are fantastic! Another unique attraction is the Singapore flyer - the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. It beats the London Eye by a few meters and from the top you can see three countries: Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

When you book your stay at the Fullerton hotel with us, you receive these complimentary Virtuoso amenities:
• Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
• Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
• Commemorative historical book
• Complimentary access to the Straits Club Lounge
(offering daily breakfast, tea items throughout the day and evening cocktails and canapes)
• 4PM late check-out

Contact the Travel Professionals at Bee Kalt Travel to book your next vacation to Asia!
Email: travel@beekalt.com
Tel: 248-288-9600 or Toll-free 1-800-284-5258
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