Singapore vs Kuala Lumpur for birthday trip for my gf

[ToddWeston]

I'd also like to add if you treat yourselves to Singapore this time the next logical trip would be to Hong Kong and Macau. Same same but different in so many ways.

[gamini]

Interesting suggestions. But no shopping bargains in Singapore due to high rentals. I would personally suggest Penang rather than Singapore or KL. But KL is much better value for money than Singapore and Malaysians are much more friendly than Singaporeans.

[LawrenceChee]

Interesting suggestions. But no shopping bargains in Singapore due to high rentals. I would personally suggest Penang rather than Singapore or KL. But KL is much better value for money than Singapore and Malaysians are much more friendly than Singaporeans.

Agree but the OP is trying to impress his girl with a great trip and Singapore has more photo sites for a Thai as opposed to KL

[islandguy]

Singapore will be much more fun for her, it is so modern and wow! Mustafa is a great call, probably only cheap shopping in town but big enough and different enough for all shopping energy. You can buy small appliances for use in Thailand just need adapter for plug. Cheap eats around there too. I think no cigs allowed into Singapore.

[LawrenceChee]

Singapore will be much more fun for her, it is so modern and wow! Mustafa is a great call, probably only cheap shopping in town but big enough and different enough for all shopping energy. You can buy small appliances for use in Thailand just need adapter for plug. Cheap eats around there too. I think no cigs allowed into Singapore.

You are right no duty free for cigs at all ...if its for your own use it has to be an open packet and they allow only one

[chuang]

Singapore...clean and safe..

[pomchop]

Not sure about KL but if you plan to drink much alcohol in Singapore be prepared for some big prices.....like $10 usd for a beer in a ho hum bar....$35 usd for six small tiger beers in a 7/11.....there may be some less expensive booze in SIN but if there were I sure didn't see them....

Singapore to me used to be a fun and semi inexpensive city....now it is all about being clean and having a list of rules of stuff that you cannot do a mile long....but they do have a great underground and airport system.

[hanno]

KL has the best prices on 5 star hotels in SE Asia

Wrong, that would be Siem Reap.

As others have said: more options in Singapore, but also a lot more expensive. If you have the budget, go to Singapore but be prepared to pay some hefty money for things like booze and shopping. When it comes to food, Singapore takes the price hands down.

[FDog]

Why not check out Langkawi, a duty free island, very nice.

[rickthailand]

for entertainment and activities i would go to singapore for budget better to go to kl

by the way as it is a surprise you better make sure your gf has a passport

rick

[GrantSmith]

Not sure about KL but if you plan to drink much alcohol in Singapore be prepared for some big prices.....like $10 usd for a beer in a ho hum bar....$35 usd for six small tiger beers in a 7/11.....there may be some less expensive booze in SIN but if there were I sure didn't see them....

Singapore to me used to be a fun and semi inexpensive city....now it is all about being clean and having a list of rules of stuff that you cannot do a mile long....but they do have a great underground and airport system.

$US35 for a 6 pack of Tiger at a 7/11, you're having a laugh, right? Oh wait, were you buying from the 7/11 next to Orchard Towers? Would explain the price hike

I've never paid more than $S20 for a 6 pack of Tiger from a 7/11 in Singapore.

Singapore CBD is clean, venture outside of that area and you will find it's just as clean as any other major metropolis.

To the OP - Are you trying to "wow" her on a budget? It's a bit of an oxymoron

Singapore can be an expensive city in which to "wow" someone, I do love the little city state, spent many a night and day - sometimes all rolled into one - in the place and I have plenty of friends there to not be a stranger.

My tip, if you're out and about GQ'ing it with HiSo cliques, buy by the bottle, a lot of the "wow" places sting you for drinks by the glass. Buy in bottle and save, you can still play all Rico Suave and James Bond, but you can do it without burning a hole in your sky rocket. And I guess a bottle adds a certain "wow, so HiSo" factor as well

Also, nothing better than a Sunday afternoon at Tanjong Beach Club either, just a warm afternoon drinking the afternoon away, not a care in the world. Great way to ease into the working week by recovering from the night before.

As for bedding down for the night, again on a budget, you're going to be stuck for choice a little bit, what is your budget per night? The ibis Singapore on Bencoolen Street is a favorite of mine, conveniently located in Bugis, close to MRT (if you want) or taxi's are readily available from the front and back of the hotel (as is the case with most hotels)

Hotel81 is a kin to I'd imagine staying at the Nana hotel on Soi 4 - they're designed for the same purpose. As the saying goes "here for a good time, not a long time" seems to be the unofficial slogan of the Hotel81 brand. If you're attempting to "wow", even on a budget, this hotel choice will not go down well.

KL on the other hand is the poorer older sister. KL is cheaper by comparison but doesn't have the cool kid factor that Singapore has. All the big hotel players are in KL and are also cheaper by comparison. The last few times I've been in KL have been one nighters, so I've stayed in the Sentral area (due to the proximity of fast and convenient transport): Hilton, Le Meridien and aloft (the Mark Wahlburg of the current Sentral hotel scene).

These hotels are conveniently located to the KL Ekspres train service which takes you from KLIA to KL Sentral in 28 minutes - something that can't be done by taxi and is probably safer- RM70 return.

Traffic in KL CBD can and is a f**king nightmare! Worse than Bangkok on a bad day!

If your budget allows for it, I'd take Singapore over KL.

[mataleo]

Thx

She does have passport already checked that

I dont have to WOW her with expensive htels and resteurants, My gf is orite with money better then me, she got currency exchange boxes in pattaya ... heh

But she never been anywhere just hard working, and I just want do for her something nice... take her away for a while...

[arthurwait]

Kl is

Pretty much double the price of Bangkok or was about 5 years ago. Nothing of note stuck out and beer is quite expensive anyway.

Didn't notice much in the way of shopping that isn't in Bangkok and most the local shops are stocked from Platinum in Bangkok at several times the price. Saw BIL dresses in many shops some at several times the price he sold them.

[Choonpon]

Hotels in SG: find one within walking distance to MRT. Skip geylang and little india.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[dickyknee]

What ya could do is send the GF to KL, and you go to Singapore.

[phuketrichard]

if choosing Singapore - I personally would find a hotel on orchard road, where the main shopping area is. also remember Singapore and KL will be more humid. Singapore has sentosa island which is a good day out.

Singapore has lots of cheap places to eat / street food. but it is not like Thailand though. you will have to look a bit harder for the street food. Singapore is also a lot cleaner

food courts in the major dept stores on Orchard road have good inexpensive food,

also little India is great an she will love it

Make sure u take her to the Aquarium on Sentosa

I stayed at the Ibis on Bencolen with My cambodian gf and i have to tell ya, the room is small and the refrigerator is the smallest i have ever seen!! But super clean and convinient

Pay a visit to the Casino on Sentosa as well but dress nice an dtake ur passport

No comparisonn as to the WOW factor for KL. Singapore wins by miles

Penang is nice but doesn't get the wow

Edited July 22, 2013 by phuketrichard

[canman]

i think east coast singapore be nicer

If you want to stay east coast have a look at the Capri by Fraser, one of the few at the eastern / Changi end of the island which is close to an MRT. Another option would be the Changi Village hotel although you would be bussing or cabbing it to get to the city.

[canman]

Forget Geylang. The hotels are not good at all. Noisy and a lot of traffic during the night. Furthermore outside will be a lot of men (Indians, Pakistanis, Malays, etc.) not the best. Find something in China Town. They have hotels starting at SGD 80 per night. Hotel 81. They have a few better ones at Keong Sai Road./ Teck Lim Road It is very close to outram mrt station and the hop on hop off bus is stopping there too. It has a great night life too. Duxton Hill is close by as well. Great food and drinks. But remember Singapore's nightlife is not the cheapest. You should go as well to Clark Quay. I personally would prefer Ku De Ta on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel instead of the Flyer but it is a personal choice.

I would recommend to take one day with the hop on hop off bus with the boat ride. You can enjoy the bus the whole day and you will be able to cover most of the sightseeing points. Take one of the last boat rides to the Marina Bay as it will stop in front of the Sands and you will be able to enjoy the light show from the boat. It is quite nice.

Sentosa Island is great but I would not go into Universal, to expensive and crowded for my taste. For that I would go to Siam Park in Bangkok. To relax on Sentosa go to one of the beach clubs. Just be reminded that it will most likely be empty during weeks days but packed on weekends. Stop at Harbourfront MRT and take the sky train over to Sentosa Island. Convenient and you will not need to pay the entrance fee otherwise applicable. Ride cost SGD 3 for a round trip. Get an SMRT card once you arrive. You will be able to pay MRT, Buses, SMRT Taxis and at a few outlets with the card. No need for a taxi within Singapore. At the airport you can go via Taxi, Bus or SMRT to the city.

Every decent shopping mall has a food court where you can get good food for a reasonable price. If you find the time go and visit the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Bird park. They are really nice.

Make a stop at little India. Great food, spices, etc. Arab street might be interesting for you too. orchard road is only good if you really want to go shopping for designer stuff. Most of it is more expensive than in other countries. Hope this is giving you a few ideas what to do in Singapore.

All good reccomendations above. I would add the board walk at Fullerton one for an evening, looks across the bay towards Marina Bay Sands, a few bars and restaurants along there. Great place to people watch and relax with a few drinks.

[GrantSmith]

I stayed at the Ibis on Bencolen with My cambodian gf and i have to tell ya, the room is small and the refrigerator is the smallest i have ever seen!! But super clean and convinient

But compared to other ibis hotels around the world, they're actually decent sized. I could've at least swung the cat, if I'd have so chosen to do so

The fridge can at least hold a six pack, and there's a 7/11 next to the hotel

The only annoying thing with this hotel is the lack of ironing facilities in the room, you have to go down to the 2nd floor to do your ironing. A right pain in the arse.