Singapore Grand Prix any advice please...

Singapore Grand Prix any advice please...

Author
Discussion

CRA1G

Original Poster:

6,499 posts

194 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
quotequote all
As per the title we're settling off Thursday to Singapore ending up at the
Grand Prix,staying at the Orchard Hotel with Bay Grandstand seats for Fri/Sat/Sun any tips/recommendations greatly appreciated.

JML

52 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
quotequote all
Get an MRT card for the underground - its cheap to use goes most places you need and its air conditioned. Best way to get to the track as well.
taxis are realtively cheap as well, but dont fall for thecexecutive taxi stuff at thecairport. Regual ons are fine and cheaper

Orchard is pretty much upmarket shopping zone but easy to get around Singapore from there.
I'm leaving glasgow on Tuesday arriving Wednesday next week , been at the GP for last 4yrs. Have 3 day premier walkabout ticket.
Touristy non f1 stuff - Singapore Walks - guided walking tours- highly recommended if you want to learn a bit about the history of Singapore.The Changi ww2 one is very sobering.Done a few of them and found them all very good.
Night safari at the zoo supposed to be v good,not done it myself.
singapore flyer big wheel but once the track is closed this is in zone 1 ticket area.
roftop bars- flight (i think) on marina bay sands and 1-altitude but thevprices reflect the view. There are a good few more
Sentosa island reached by taxi or monorail if you want to go to the beach.
Eating - you can eat cheap in hawker centres - you should do at least once for the experiance anyway- or you can eat very expensively in Sg.
Try the local food - its great and plenty of western options as well. Try kaya toast for breakfast.
drinking - go for happy hour deals if in orchard/marina bay/river. On the riverside my recommendation is Brewerkz mircrobrewery. Beer starts cheap at lunchtime and gets progressively more expensive through the day / evening. Buy a pitcher in the aftenoon and watch the world go by.beer
Cheap souveneirs - some of the shops in mall halfway down orchard at somerset or bugis market (take an mrt)
I go a lot for work, so know some more local bars and restaurants in east coast park as well if your interested.
F1 - you can usually walk most of the track on wed or thu evening except the pit straight

it gets hot. Very very hot.and humid. really humid.wobble
this is just the stuff that comes to mind - there is plenty more to do/see - chinatown, little india etc

Hope all this ramble helps.

If you want to meet for a beer let me know.

edited to add- Raffles. How did i forget that. Go to the Long Bar and have Singapore Sling.

Edited by JML on Tuesday 5th September 21:09


Edited by JML on Tuesday 5th September 21:21

Mr Dendrite

2,301 posts

209 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
quotequote all
Another one, heading out Friday with my 88yr old father! A cruise ship and then the GP, also staying at the Orchard hotel. Really looking forward to it. Thanks for the info on Singapore, my dad can walk a mile or so but is on the slow side and getting to/from the circuit is the biggest concern. we're in the Stamford stand, so should be ok for access.

JML

52 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th September 2017
quotequote all
Ref. Stamford grandstand - you can probably get a taxi from your hotel to gate 3 at the swissotel stamford. practice and qualy ok, but it gets crazy on raceday there as many companies host a corporate room in the swissotel. Taxis back after the race are a bit of a lottery . You can get uber in sg if you have the app.

For your dad, make sure he stays hydrated.drink water like never before, especially if you are outside a lot. only place i drink beer with a pint of water chaser, but I'm a fat Scottish bloke who isn't used to more than 15 celsiusbiggrin
lots of the malls and mrt stations are connected on orchard, so you can walk underground in air conditioned comfort.
Botanic gardens are close to orchard as well and very nice.
Irish pub at the back of somerset MRT.

I see the orchard hotel is close to Orchard Towers (aka Four floors of wes)Probably best not to take your dad there....hehe

Edited to add- the Irish pub is now close to your hotel. It used to be there, went to another location for 3 years and now its back ! thumbup


Edited by JML on Wednesday 6th September 00:02


Edited by JML on Wednesday 6th September 00:14

CRA1G

Original Poster:

6,499 posts

194 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
quotequote all
Many thanks JML for your timely advice much appreceatied may even see you there...

4654334

1 posts

79 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
quotequote all
Hotel Jen, Orchard Gateway?

Edited by 4654334 on Wednesday 6th September 17:07


Edited by 4654334 on Wednesday 6th September 18:59

garreth64

663 posts

220 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
quotequote all
We are heading out on Weds to arrive next Thurs, first time visitors so thx for useful info.

We are in Stamford as well. Staying in Ibis on bencoolen and planning on getting MRT pass and a bit of walking as well.

Any decent craft beer bars around? There is a mikkeller bar near our hotel i was planning to try.

Norfolkit

2,394 posts

189 months

Wednesday 6th September 2017
quotequote all
JML said:
Get an MRT card for the underground - its cheap to use goes most places you need and its air conditioned. Best way to get to the track as well.
taxis are realtively cheap as well, but dont fall for thecexecutive taxi stuff at thecairport. Regual ons are fine and cheaper

Orchard is pretty much upmarket shopping zone but easy to get around Singapore from there.
I'm leaving glasgow on Tuesday arriving Wednesday next week , been at the GP for last 4yrs. Have 3 day premier walkabout ticket.
Touristy non f1 stuff - Singapore Walks - guided walking tours- highly recommended if you want to learn a bit about the history of Singapore.The Changi ww2 one is very sobering.Done a few of them and found them all very good.
Night safari at the zoo supposed to be v good,not done it myself.
singapore flyer big wheel but once the track is closed this is in zone 1 ticket area.
roftop bars- flight (i think) on marina bay sands and 1-altitude but thevprices reflect the view. There are a good few more
Sentosa island reached by taxi or monorail if you want to go to the beach.
Eating - you can eat cheap in hawker centres - you should do at least once for the experiance anyway- or you can eat very expensively in Sg.
Try the local food - its great and plenty of western options as well. Try kaya toast for breakfast.
drinking - go for happy hour deals if in orchard/marina bay/river. On the riverside my recommendation is Brewerkz mircrobrewery. Beer starts cheap at lunchtime and gets progressively more expensive through the day / evening. Buy a pitcher in the aftenoon and watch the world go by.beer
Cheap souveneirs - some of the shops in mall halfway down orchard at somerset or bugis market (take an mrt)
I go a lot for work, so know some more local bars and restaurants in east coast park as well if your interested.
F1 - you can usually walk most of the track on wed or thu evening except the pit straight

it gets hot. Very very hot.and humid. really humid.wobble
this is just the stuff that comes to mind - there is plenty more to do/see - chinatown, little india etc

Hope all this ramble helps.

If you want to meet for a beer let me know.

edited to add- Raffles. How did i forget that. Go to the Long Bar and have Singapore Sling.

Edited by JML on Tuesday 5th September 21:09


Edited by JML on Tuesday 5th September 21:21
Agree with all of that plus if the OP is going out to Sentosa go and have a look at Fort Siloso, it's a British artillery site from WW2, really interesting, worth an hour or so of your time. The history books will tell you that British guns could only fire out to sea during the Japanese invasion of Singapore, wrong, the guns at Siloso could and did fire the other way

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Friday 8th September 2017
quotequote all


Reckon I'm here a week too early.

4159265

141 posts

80 months

Sunday 10th September 2017
quotequote all
rofl

We're getting in a day late! Missing most of the Friday events.


Speed1283

1,163 posts

94 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
Another one here, I'm currently in Kuala Lumpur and am heading to Tioman Island for a few days but will get into Singapore on Friday evening. I have the Fri-Sun roaming pass too.

Have all the usual guide books so I'm sure I can fill the days and obviously the evenings will be busy with F1.

I'm traveling solo, any advice on where one can head to for decent nightlife? I've been to a few rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur but being stood there alone like a lemon wears thin after an hour or so despite the advances of high class good time girls.

Also is the temperature in Singapore on par with Kuala Lumpur? It's been really oppressive here but someone told me KL is more humid than Singapore due to it being land locked and surrounded by hills.

JML

52 posts

227 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
Leaving UK in the morning

According to BBC ,Singapore forecast is around 30 deg and 75-80% humidity over next few days, so probably not much different to KL

Norfolkit

2,394 posts

189 months

Monday 11th September 2017
quotequote all
Speed1283 said:
I'm traveling solo, any advice on where one can head to for decent nightlife?
<cough> Orchard Tower <cough>

cuprabob

14,416 posts

213 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
Norfolkit said:
Speed1283 said:
I'm traveling solo, any advice on where one can head to for decent nightlife?
<cough> Orchard Tower <cough>
There's a good Irish bar just at the side of Orchard Towers smile

Last time I was in Singapore was 2005 and used to frequent a club called Zuek, mainly because it was next door to my hotel smile

Clarke Quay has some good pubs.

JML

52 posts

227 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
Norfolkit said:
Speed1283 said:
I'm traveling solo, any advice on where one can head to for decent nightlife?
<cough> Orchard Tower <cough>
nono he clearly said decent biggrin

Agree with Clarke Quay.
Also Killiney Post Office in Orchard, Emerald Hill area @ Orchard

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
quite a crowd coming i see!!! (nice view from Suntec Colonial!)

Some local tips - Get a prepay sim for data - M1 network are doing a great tourist data deal.

Get GRAB app for taxi's (asian version of UBER, many more drivers including regular taxi's), at airport got a red, blue or yellow taxi, not a mercedes / Chrysler 300 as they are 30% more expensive.

getting to the circuit - during the day you will be able to taxi to very close to your gate, in the evening take an MRT as it will be busy. - get an MRT card (ezlink - $15 with credit and they will give you cash back when you return it)

Get the app Moove - great for finding bus routes also - very handy if the MRT is packed out, and often just as convenient.

Bring umbrellas - they are not just for the rain - grandstands are not covered, and if you are watching support races in daylight, the sun is brutal (we are only 90km from the equator)

Rehydrate regularly - Tiger has lots of electrolytes.

Food - try everything, it is all good.

Boozing - closest to the track is Clarke Quay, but there is also Boat Quay near the city, and Robertson Quay (my local) just past Clarke quay - these spots will be a little cheaper. Also any outside eating place (i.e. not in a Mall) will sell beers - chinatown point is a great locals food and booze spot that is close to the track.

Orchard - dont let your credit card go there in the company of your wife it will get raped ..... .

Happy to provide any "local" info needed by anyone.

I have just gone for a zone 4 walking pass on Saturday this year, get some atmosphere then retreat to a boozer to watch the race on Sunday.



Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 12th September 01:41

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
JML said:
Edited to add- the Irish pub is now close to your hotel. It used to be there, went to another location for 3 years and now its back ! thumbup
Muddy Murphy's .... great Sunday roasts (no, not that sort - stop sniggering in the back), great spot to perv, also good for watching automotive porn.

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
Norfolkit said:
The history books will tell you that British guns could only fire out to sea during the Japanese invasion of Singapore, wrong, the guns at Siloso could and did fire the other way
Indeed - the true story of how Singapore fell, that is generally not in the history books is that the Japanese poisoned the water supply. SIngapore has no natural water source other than rainfall, so once the reservoir was tainted, they had no option.

sorry for that off topic history lesson - back on topic, F1, Beer and Orchard Towers it is

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
cuprabob said:
Norfolkit said:
Speed1283 said:
I'm traveling solo, any advice on where one can head to for decent nightlife?
<cough> Orchard Tower <cough>
There's a good Irish bar just at the side of Orchard Towers smile

Last time I was in Singapore was 2005 and used to frequent a club called Zuek, mainly because it was next door to my hotel smile

Clarke Quay has some good pubs.
Zouk - so you were staying in the Copthorn Riverside smile Zouk is now in Clarke Quay.

Fantastic Establishments such as Ipanema, Naughty Girl and Crazy Horse are obvious suggestions in Orchard Towers.

Rooftop bars - 1 Altitude (1 Raffles place), Lantern (80 Colliers Quay), Loof (opposite Raffles Hotel), New Asia bar (top of Swissotel Stamford)

Booze aint cheep here, look out for the happy hours / 2 for 1 deals etc.



Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Tuesday 12th September 2017
quotequote all
Back in oz now frown

Level 24 of the Conrad had nice views. 31 even better.

Now applying for jobs at URA. Interesting place.