3D/2N Singapore-Malaysia Budget Solo Sight-Seeing for just $250 with airfare!
It's always been a dream of mine to experience life outside my own country and thanks to the frequent airline sales that made this trip possible!
It was Cebu Pacific's piso sale and I have scored a one-way ticket to Singapore for only 15 USD or 700 PHP all-in! I've heard some peeps getting as low as 10 USD or 500 PHP but I don't really mind the close gap as 700 PHP is still cheap. At that time, the return ticket is expensive so I booked at AirAsia which apparently has a sale also.
My return ticket from AirAsia is from Kuala Lumpur to Manila priced at 2,300 all-in, which includes an insurance since I'm quite not sure about the airline as the AirAsia incident is quite still fresh at that time. (Quite courageous, huh).
I did the 3D/2N trip on the first week of December.
Day 0
Departure from Manila NAIA T3: 8:30PM
I paid 1620 PHP or approx. 35 USD for the Travel Tax payment required to all Filipino travelers leaving the country, with some exemptions. Since this is my first out-of-the-country travel, I'm afraid I might not eventually continue and my travel tax would be wasted so I did not pay beforehand.
Arrival in Singapore Changi T2: 11:55PM
I did not book any hotel at this time since it is kinda crucial for me as this is my first travel outside the country. Not sure if I could get past the immigration but luckily, I did! I don't want to waste a penny for an unused hotel reservation.
sleepinginairports.com has consistently ranked Changi Int'l airport as one of the top ones for sleeping in airport and it certainly deserves it! It is actually the best this year of 2016.
Feel at home at Singapore's Changi Airport.
I slept at one of the airport's bunch of sofas everywhere in the arrival area until the morning. Luckily, I slept with some people which I assume are backpackers too, so suddenly, I felt normal, lol. My first plan was to sleep at the airport's 24-hour movie theater but I've heard they check the movie-goers there from time-to-time and I'm afraid that my sleeping pattern would be disrupted, lol.Tip: Sale tickets are usually late evenings and early mornings so prepare to actually miss your hotel reservation if you think of doing the risk of getting one for a late night arrival. If the airport is 24-hours operational, checking the facilities might save you a night. sleepinginairports.com is an amazing resource for this matter.
Day 1 Singapore
I have withdrawn money from one of the airport's ATM machines which have better exchange rates compared to the money changers. I ate breakfast from a locally-named cafe inside the airport. To feel really being in Singapore, I've had their typical breakfast of half-boiled eggs, Kopi-c and toasts.
Now on my journey! I purchased a single-ride MRT ticket for the mean time since I find the 2-day tourist pass to be expensive for 26 SGD or almost 750 PHP, although 10 SGD or almost 350PHP is refundable to these TransitLink Offices located in the MRT stations if you surrender the card. Having the card as a souvenir can be expensive!
I took the MRT to get to Chinatown. After getting to Chinatown, I bought a Nets FlashPay Card for my public commute. What I like about the card is that it has a 7-year validity (plans of going back! Lol) and you can use it to buy stuff from most stores, just ask!
Down to my first stop! I just used Google Maps to hunt my first destination which is the Sri Mariamman Temple!
Sri Mariamman Temple
Tip: I downloaded the FREE Singapore MRT and LRT app (very easy to use!) and also I downloaded the Singapore offline map in Google Maps to navigate. If all else fails, ask the locals!Just a few blocks from this place is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple! You can't miss this one as you can see it right in the street!
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Tip: Majority of stores in Chinatown are closed in the morning. I thought of buying souvenirs here but can't find a wide range of choices so I'm reserving that when I get to Bugis!I was going to Maxwell Food Centre to have a taste of the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken which is popularized by the words of Anthony Bourdain about it but unfortunately, it seems closed as I can't find it and another store owner has already done a sales talk to me which my hungry stomach can't resist at that moment.
After lunch, I headed to my hotel which is Darlene Hotel at Geylang. I reserved via booking.com. I got the reservation for just around 40USD or 2k PHP for a day for a single room. (Introvert alert! I don't prefer guesthouses at the moment as I need privacy, not a company outing! lol).
The place is in the red district but I don't care as long as the service is good and the amenities are satisfactory. Good thing it was really good and clean, it's just that the internet sucked. I felt like I'm just on a remote island in the Philippines. Anyway, for a decent cheap hotel in a highly-developed country, what can I say?!
Drinking the complimentary coffee from my hotel.
I headed to Sentosa to experience Universal Studios! Definitely a must! I booked via Klook before I departed the Philippines and got it for the cheaper price of 42USD (2100 pesos as of Nov 2016) only compared to the regular price of 76USD.
You can score a Klook discount if you sign up here.
I spent the entire afternoon at Universal Studios Singapore and felt like a kid again!
I've found out that dark nights are kinda late in SG so I took the opportunity of riding on their free shuttle and headed to Palawan beach and saw The Southernmost part of Continental Asia!
My next stop is Marina Bay Sands wherein I get to eat my lunch at Rasapura Masters which is a food court and is affordable, of course.
I was able to watch the 7pm shedule of the WonderFull show and it is, indeed.
Singapore Night Skyline
I bought my breakfast from a 7-eleven store for tomorrow as I have a small work needed to be finished (I am a freelancer!), and I don't feel like eating outside on my lazy mornings.Day 2 Singapore
After my breakfast and few works, I've had my lunch from a nearby eatery from my hotel. Some of it was bad and some are good. I wasn't able to finish my meal but I'm already full (whaaattt??!!) None of the staffs can speak English and all I got was the price of my meal which is about 3 USD.
Tip: Don't buy foods on a local eatery if you have a weak stomach, or at least choose the safe ones, lol.
It was freaking hot, I thought the Philippines was already hot!
Tip: Don't fall into the tourist trap of buying a drink in this area. I thought I bought an Evian for a water bottle I have already bought somewhere cheaper!I just strolled around the area and saw Marina Bay Sands from afar, the Helix Bridge, Gardens by the Bay and the Esplanade.
Marina Bay Sands and the Helix Bridge
Gardens by the Bay
I ate an ice cream sandwich as a snack when I saw a vendor around the area! Nice!
I didn't ride the Singapore Flyer as many say it's boring and expensive for the experience. I followed them, lol. (Or I'm a cheapskate, lol) Anyway, you can already see the skyline at the bottom and top view experiences can be done in Pinnacle@Duxton, Ion Sky, Esplanade Rooftop, among others, for a fraction of that price or for FREE! (Ion Sky, Esplanade Rooftop)I headed back to Marina Bay Sands and ate again at Rasapura Masters but with a different meal, of course, lol.
Since MBS itself has an MRT station, I got to that station and then got to Queen St., Bugis station, particularly the Johore Bus Terminal where the buses to Larkin Bus Terminal, Johor Bahru, Malaysia can be found. This place is a haven for souvenirs so this is where I bought those!
I found out that Causeway Link bus (Yellow bus) is the best option as there are almost no stops compared to the common SBS 170 bus option. It costs around 3 SGD or 120 PHP. This takes a 3 and a half hour ride from the terminal to the Woodlands Immigration which is your exit point from Singapore.
You would not be lost as almost all of those who got on the bus are at the same destination. Upon reaching Woodlands, when the traffic starts to build up, passengers often depart the bus already and head to the immigration, just follow the crowd.
Be ready with your documents as I was asked about my return ticket when my passport was stamped. After that, head on to the bus departure area and find the line for Causeway Link buses and just hop onto any Causeway Link buses. Don't forget your ticket. The bus will then cross the border of Singapore and Malaysia.
After the bus has dropped you to the Johor Bahru Immigration, the same process is needed as in any immigration checking. I was supposed to hop again to another Causeway Link bus but I'm quite worried that it's almost over 45 minutes of waiting but no Causeway Link bus came.
Tip: Be mindful of the bus frequency and schedules. For Causeway Link, here are the bus schedules and timings. The last bus departure of Causeway Link is at 11pm with a 30 min. frequency. I have decided to get into a different bus which is the SBS 170 and paid a minimal amount to get into Larkin Bus Terminal.I arrived there at around 10:45 pm. Quite early for the schedule as the next bus from Qstna Express is 12:30 am. I ate at a nearby Mcdonalds for a quick snack.
This had cost me 35MYR or 400 pesos and saved me time and a night's stay. The travel journey is about 4 hours and may change depending on the traffic. I arrived at TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) at around 5am.
Day 3 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I took the train to KL Sentral and withdrawn some money. I ate breakfast and then lunch there.
Since I am not booked with a hotel reservation and I'm a backpacker with only my backpack on my back, of course. I availed the locker there in Dr. Locker which is near a staircase opposite the entrance to the mall, for 10RM or approx. 100 PHP (medium), there are small and large sizes, as well there. Take note that it should not be stored overnight and you should take care of the key, of course. There is an instruction there so no need to worry much.
Next, I headed to KLCC station from here, and saw the must Petronas Twin Towers!
Definitely going back sometime for the night view!
I then headed to Batu Caves!
Unlucky me, it was under renovation.
For souvenir shopping, I did it on Petaling Flea Market, KL's Chinatown.
Petaling Flea Market, KL's Chinatown
I got back to KL Sentral and redeemed my valuables from the locker. Thank God I didn't forget the key but I forgot my umbrella, lol.
From KL Sentral, I availed the KLIA Ekspres train ride for 55RM or around 650 PHP to KLIA2 to catch my flight back to Manila at around 9 PM.
I arrived at around midnight in NAIA T3.
December Itinerary 2 Days SG, 1 Day KL
Day 1 Singapore
AM
- Chinatown Area
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Maxwell Food Centre
Sentosa Island Area
- Universal Studios Singapore (Lines can be long and it's not guaranteed you can ride all of the famous and new rides) You can score a Klook discount if you sign up here. Operating hours here.
- Palawan Beach
- Marina Bay Sands - WonderFull Show*
- *As of 2017, it was changed to Spectra, schedules here.
AM
(Rest, and few works lol)
Recommended Itinerary:
- National Gallery Singapore
- Singapore Art Museum
- Shopping at Orchard Road
- Fullerton Hotel (View of Marina Bay Sands and the fountains)
- Merlion Park
- Sightseeing (Esplanade Theatre, Singapore Flyer, Helix Bridge)
AM
Petronas Twin Towers
Batu Caves
PM
Shopping at Petaling Street Flea Market / KL's Chinatown
Expenses
Transportation Total: 90USD or 4600 PHP60 USD or 3,000 PHP - RT Ticket MNL-SIN, KUL- MNL
18 USD or 800 PHP - All MRT and bus transportation within SG and KL.
3 USD or 150 PHP - SG to Larkin Bus Terminal, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
12USD or 650 PHP KLIA Expres High-Speed train from KL Sentral to KLIA2
Foods and Souvenirs: 87 USD or 4300 PHP
30 USD or 1,500 PHP - Foods
17 USD or 800 PHP Drinks alone! (It was too hot and humid, I could dehydrate. Lesson learned is to buy a good thermos bottle along with you and don't buy drinks from tourist traps!)
45 USD or approx. 2000 PHP for souvenirs and stuff (Buy many toblerones here as it is rather inexpensive compared to my home country.)
Tickets and Fees: 74 USD or 3720 PHP
35 USD or 1620 PHP - Travel Tax Fee
42 USD or 2100 PHP USS Ticket
Misc.: 20 USD or 1000 PHP - These are my mistakes, which apparently cost me money. :D (I will not include this in the grand total.)
Grand Total: 251 USD or 12,620 PHP
PS: Most expenses here are rounded up for the easy estimate of the expenses. This is a solo backpacking experience so there are quite trade-offs but it is still an experience! Personally, I don't prefer guesthouses as already stated because I like more privacy, so for the 40 USD cost of my hotel, you can expand it to up to 3 days in a guesthouse if you prefer that! The trip just covered the main tourist spots and it's up to you to lengthen your stay to immerse for more! This post is not sponsored by the brands I named, It's just that I found those economical, might as well that I share. :D
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