A Shopper’s Guide to Singapore. PART 1

Shopping is one of the greatest pleasures in Singapore. Part of the fun is the excellent buys and great variety of shops all over the island. Delight in a bargain at a little neighbourhood shop, pick up a quaint item or two as you stroll through colourful ethnic quarters, discover favourite buys of the droves who flock to Singapore’s modern malls or be enthralled by the splendour of whole shopping “cities” selling everything under the sun. This shopping series is made up of five parts, and will give you all the information you need should you decide to visit the lion city.

Many top hotels also have an attached shopping arcade with fine boutiques specializing in designer fashion, accessories, jewellery and watches.

And designer brands from the fashion runways of the world can be affordable – if you know where to look. Find them at the growing number of discount shops around the city. The magic is affordable in Singapore.

Read more…

Part 2:

When you arrive at your destination:

Have the cash ready in hand, including a tip if you wish. Keep it hidden.

Get out of the taxi and take all of your luggage. Have it all ready to go (i.e., backpacks on your back, handles out, etc).

Hand the driver the money and walk away and do not look back.

Drivers sometimes claim that the money given is not enough or try to impose some additional changes on you. By being ready to go and handing the money over and walking away he has less of a chance of pulling this scam. If your luggage is still in the trunk or you are not ready to go then there is a good chance of this scam developing.

If the driver is very insistent that you have underpaid him (e.g., he follows you into the hotel lobby), then just make sure that you didn’t short-change him or forget an extra charge (e.g., taxi desk at airport charge or a toll booth). Discussion of the problem in the hotel lobby or other public place will likely help you, not the driver, as people there likely know if a scam is in progress.

Taxi drivers never seem to have change, but will gladly take that big bill of yours. If you do not have enough change then tell the driver wait and go into a hotel, restaurant, or other establishment and get some change. Breaking a big bill at the airport prior to taking the taxi will help deal with this situation.

If the driver drops you nearby your destination, such as a couple of blocks away due to “bad traffic”, “difficult area”, “road closed” etc then be aware that this is most likely a scam in progress. The driver will then likely demand a rip-off fare as you cannot just go into the hotel and ask someone what the appropriate fare is or have someone at the hotel talk to the driver in the foreign language. In this situation, demand to be taken to the hotel front door (the better approach to side-track this scam) or just pay what you think is fair (which will never be enough). There is a good possibility that an argument will occur, but stand your ground. You can always WALK to your hotel and if the driver follows you demanding money, then you know it will likely be settled before you get to the front of your hotel. This is much less likely on metered fares, but still there might be extra fees demanded for “luggage” or other likely nonsense.

Part 1

Taking a Taxi from the Airport

Here is some general advice about taking a taxi from a foreign airport:

Load only your large luggage in the trunk. Keep all valuables with you when you get into the taxi. This is to ensure that if there are problems later, that you at least have your valuables with you.

Memorize or record the taxi number and driver’s name (number may just be on the outside of the taxi). If you are able to get the driver’s name then record this as well and of course say ‘hi’ to him (that way he knows that you know his name should any problems arise).

Keep a very close eye on that meter in the front if you have not negotiated a fare. Do not sleep or anything else.

Why of course you have been to Bangkok/Chicago/Beijing/Nairobi before. Just a few months ago, right? Yes, you are a regular traveler to the city. Oh, you have never been here before? Well let’s just take the long road then!

If you have a GPS, pull it out and watch the tracking. If the driver is doing loops then question him and show the GPS track.

If the negotiated fare is suddenly re-negotiated, stick to your original price. Ignore any confirmation from yourself on the new price. If this becomes a problem then have the driver stop and get out. If you have luggage in the trunk, make sure the driver either gets out and opens the trunk or one person stays inside the cab while the other unloads all luggage. Do not pay the driver anything.

If an official rate card is given to you by the driver during your drive into town and the price is re-negotiated, then ignore this as well. It doesn’t take too much effort to print off a few cards and laminate them to try and trick people.

If there is an option to take a ‘toll road’, then leave it up to the driver to decide (“you decide”) unless you know better. Like the rest of us, taxi drivers hate sitting in traffic and although it likely means a higher fare for them, this is not a pleasant way to do it. For tolls, you may either pay them directly or have the driver pay them and then the price is added to the fare. We recommend that you pay the tolls as then you have a lesser chance of getting scammed and of course this also gives you a good method of breaking a larger bill. Regardless, pay attention to the toll prices signs when approaching the payment booths.

Flying with Kids: Childproofing your Flight: PART 2

While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in vehicles, the FAA prohibits passengers from bringing these types of devices on airplanes for use during taxi, take-off and landing. They should be checked as baggage.

Make sure your CRS is government approved and has “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” printed on it. Otherwise, you may be asked to check the CRS as baggage.

Measure the width of your CRS. It should fit in most airplane seats if it is no wider than 16 inches.

Ask your airline for a discounted fare. Many airlines now offer discounts of up to 50 percent for

children less than two years of age. Purchasing a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS.

Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS must be placed in a window seat so it will not block the escape path in an emergency. A CRS may not be placed in an exit row.

If you do not purchase a ticket for your child, ask if your airline will allow you to use an empty seat.

If your airline’s policy allows this, avoid the busiest days and times to increase the likelihood of finding an empty seat next to you.

Ask your airline if they can provide a CRS for your child. If so, you may not be permitted to bring your own CRS on board and may need to check it as baggage.

Arrange for your airline to assist you if you need help making a connecting flight. Carrying a CRS,

a child and luggage through a busy airport can be challenging.

Pack a bag of toys and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.

And, of course, always use a CRS in your vehicle when driving to and from the airport—or

anywhere!

Flying with Kids: Childproofing your Flight: PART 1

Parents go to great lengths to keep children safe at home and on the road. But what about in the

air? When you’re traveling by airplane, an approved child restraint system (CRS) is the only way to make sure your little one will be safe in the event of turbulence or an emergency.

Turbulence is air movement that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by many different conditions, including atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. Turbulence can even occur when the sky appears to be clear.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Turbulence can happen with little or no warning. And when it does, the safest place for your child is in a CRS, not in an adult’s lap. Your arms just aren’t capable of holding your child securely, especially when turbulence is unexpected. Keeping your child in a CRS for the duration of the flight is the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using a CRS. Be sure that the shoulder straps

are properly adjusted and fasten the airplane seat belt around the CRS as tightly as possible.

Do not place a child in a CRS designed for a smaller or larger child than indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions. The FAA recommends that a child weighing:

• Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS.

• From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS.

• More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt.