I stayed at this hotel during my first trip to Singapore.
Location
The Peninsula Excelsior is located in Coleman St., right at the city centre. There’s a MRT station “City hall” of the East-West line nearby. (about 5-10 minutes walking).
You’ll find a 7/11 store, a few restaurants and a few shopping malls within a few minutes walking. Thanks to the MRT, you’re greatly connected to many attractions and shopping malls.
Room
Peninsula Excelsior – Superior room
I had a Superior Room during my 3 nights stay at this hotel. The room features twin beds, a desk, an armchair and a flat screen. The enclosed bathroom has a shower cabin and a huge mirror. Wish: It could be a bit cleaner for Singapore standards . I had some good nights sleep, even though my room was next to the elevator.
The main room was clean.
I haven’t tried the breakfast. There’s also a pool, a spa and a gym on the higher floors. The staff at the reception desk and the luggage storage was very friendly.
Can I recommend this hotel? Yes, it is a good option for a stop over.
Welcome to my review of the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge at terminal 2 of Changi Airport. It is a Star Alliance Gold lounge at the dedicated lounge area of terminal 2.
Singapore Changi T2 – KrisFlyer Gold Lounge
After presenting your boarding pass and Star Alliance Gold member card to the lounge agent. You find yourself at a not so well lit room with with lounge chairs and a buffet selection. You can find here an intensive selection of hot and cold food.
The hot food are typical Asian dishes. A selection of different cereals and yogurt or milk is available. Fresh fruits like bananas and apples can also be found.
A selection of non alcohol drinks like bottled orange juice and soft drinks are available in the fridge.
There’s also a coffee machine which makes espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiatto and other.
If you go further you will find a more silent area of the lounge with a selection of news papers and a huge TV screen.
Overall this lounge is a good place to spend some time before your next flight. The lighting setup should be improved, it’s a bit dark.
Singapore has much more than just beautiful gardens and shopping arcades. Singapore has some dark secrets. One of the best places to learn about Singapore’s history and dark secrets is Chinatown.
If you can spare two hours on Friday nights, do a the Official Singapore walks tour starting right next to the MRT station ” Chinatown” (North East line).
A local will walk you through Chinatown and its surroundings. You will learn something about its past, taste some local cuisine and find some stuff you didn’t expect in Singapore.
Gardens By The Bay is a brand new attraction in Singapore.
About 1 year ago Singapore finished the construction of a garden with gigantic super trees and two fantastic flower domes.
The entrance to the garden is free, but if you want to either visit the flower domes or go on top of the super trees then you have to pay admission.
Tip: You get a discount when you present a Singapore airlines boarding pass at the ticket counter.
Chinatown
This is a must visit district in Singapore. Chinatown has a unique atmosphere. lots of little shops and restaurants. It can be conveniently reached by the SMRT on the North-south line.
Tip: Do a “Original Singapore walks” tour on Friday nights. It’s amazing!
Singapore Flyer
The tallest Ferris wheel is not in London. It’s in Singapore! Welcome to the Singapore Flyer – the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. It’s located across the Marina Bay Sands hotel. On top you can enjoy a view of Gardens By The Bay, Marina Bay Sands, The Esplanade and the Singapore Skyline. Breathtaking views – worth the admission fee.
Concert at The Esplanade
The Esplanade
The Esplanade (Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay) is an amazing event location with indoor concert hall and outdoor theatre. The outdoor areas often feature free concerts and plays.
There are also retail and food spaces at the Esplanade Mall.
You can visit this place easily by SMRT, look for station CC3 – Esplanade. 10 minutes walking from there.
Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport – Terminal 3 – Shopping area
Singapore Changi Airport is one of the most awesome airports.
It features lots of leisure and business facilities. Also, you can dine and shop at over 300 stores and restaurants. All terminals have several gardens.
For example you can visit the butterfly garden in terminal 3. It contains more than thousand different butterflies.
Other highlights are free WiFi, phone charging stations, TV and entertainment areas, free movie theaters and a swimming pool on the roof of terminal 1.
Tip: if you have at least 5 hours, do a free Singapore city tour. Counters can be found in all terminals.
[note color=”#FFCC00″]Info: Updated guide! Changi Airport now offers 3 different ways for free WiFi.[/note]
The team of Changi Airport offers international travellers free WiFi in all terminals. Just connect to the WiFi and you’re online? There are several ways. Read this guide for details
Method 1 (December 2012)
On my latest stopover 2012 I discovered another option for Free WiFi at Changi Airport. It’s much better to use than the other options.
Changi is calling it a beta test when you login. I tried it and it’s amazing!
Connect to the network “#WiFi@Changi”
Read the terms and conditions
Click on the big button below the terms & conditions
You’re online!
Method 2 (January 2012, verified in Dec. 2012)
step 1 – check requirements:
You need your passport
Your Netbook/Notebook/Tablet/Pad/Smartphone oder other WiFi enabled device
Okay, let’s start.
step 2:
Go to any information desk in the transit area, you can find them every few hundred meters in all terminals.
step 3:
Ask for the “Free WiFi Pass”. The staff of the information desk will eventually ask you for your passport to note the details.You get a piece of paper with login details.
4th step:
Connect your WiFi device with the access point “Wireless@SG” (SSID). As soon as you want to visit the first website, you will be redirected to a login form.
5th step:
Enter your the login details from the paper and submit. Now you’re online!
Select as service provider “M1net”. The username contains @m1net.com.sg. The password is uppercase.
I’ve used this WiFi in Terminal 3 at Singapore Changi Airport a couple of times. It should work the same way in the other terminals.
[note color=”#FFCC00″]Info: The access for each Username/Password combination is limited to a few hours.[/note]
Method 3
Method 3 requires a Singaporean Sim card. I haven’t tried it, but it’s not as easy as the methods 1 and 2.
I am very happy to announce my upcoming trip to Asia.
My trip starts 14th November in Munich. From there I am travelling to Singapore and Thailand and report about
hotels
airports
airport lounges
attractions
much more.
As a Star Alliance Gold member I plan to visit different frequent traveller lounges in Munich, Singapore and Bangkok and give you an review of the food.
You have a 6 hours stop over at Changi Airport? Awesome. Singapore Changi Airport has so much to offer. The whole airport feels like beeing in a hotel.
Here are some ideas, how you can spend your time smart.
Singapore Changi Airport - Terminal 3 - Shopping area
Plenty of time? You can do a Free Singapore city Tour and take in the sights and sounds of Singapore.
Experience international cuisine at one of the many restaurants and dining options.
Spent some time waling through the flower and plants gardens at Changi Airport. You can find different gardens in every terminal.
Enjoy some time at the fish spa in terminal 1.
Watch a free movie at one of the cinemas and Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
Take swim at the roof top swimming pool in terminal 1.
There’s much more to do and explore at Changi Airport, I will update this article everytime I visit Singapore or fly via Changi Airport.
[note color=”#FFCC00″]Info: This guide is outdated! Click here for the updated 2012/2013 edition of the article.[/note]
The team of Changi Airport offers international travellers free WiFi in all terminals. Just connect to the WiFi and you’re online? It’s not that simple. You can find here the original information page. Here’s a short and simple step by step guide:
step 1 – check requirements:
You need your passport
Your Netbook/Notebook/Tablet/Pad/Smartphone oder other WiFi enabled device
step 2:
Go to any information desk in the transit area, you can find them every few hundred meters in all terminals.
step 3:
Ask for the “Free WiFi Pass”. The staff of the information desk will eventually ask you for your passport to note the details.You get a piece of paper with login details.
4th step:
Connect your WiFi device with the access point “Wireless@SG” (SSID). As soon as you want to visit the first website, you will be redirected to a login form.
5th step:
Enter your the login details from the paper and submit. Now you’re online!
Select as service provider “M1net”. The username contains @m1net.com.sg. The password is uppercase.
I’ve used this WiFi in Terminal 3 at Singapore Changi Airport a couple of times. It should work the same way in the other terminals.
[note color=”#FFCC00″]Info: The access for each Username/Password combination is limited to a few hours.[/note]
That’s why I’m presenting you my Top 3 Airports (from small to huge).
Cairns International Airport
Cairns International Airport
This is my favorite airport of the category “small airports”.
It’s located 2 km north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. It’s a small, but also international, Airport at the north east coast of Australia.
This airport is served by Qantas, JetStar, Virgin Australia and other. I love especially the Domestic Terminal of cairns Airport. You pretty much need just 10 minutes from Check-in to the Gate.
There lots of small shops and eating places. Even a small pub, known as “Blue Sky Brewery”, can be found in the domestic terminal.
Munich Airport International
This is my favorite airport of the category “medium-sized airports”. It’s located 30km outside of Munich. The airport is perfectly connected by train, bus and the motorway. I prefer the train connections between
Munich Airport Centre
Munich Airport and the city of Munich. Trains run on the lines S1 and S8 every 10 minutes. Even until 2am. The airport itself serves people in Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (The Star Alliance Terminal) and the Munich Airport Center.
Terminal 2 is the home of Lufthansa’s second Hub in Germany. Lufthansa flights and partner airlines depart from here until 10 pm at night. There are a few shops in the public area of this terminal. Most of the shops can be found in the passenger area. Many famous brands have their own flagship store at Munich Airport. You can even find an erotic and adult store in the transit area for your personal “pleasure”. You need your coffee in the morning? Starbucks can be found next to the arrival area of Terminal 2.
Terminal 1 is much older, but it’s also stuffed with shops, snack bars and restaurants. BA and other Oneworld partner airlines depart from Terminal 1.
The already mentioned Munich Airport Center is located between both terminals. Basically a shopping mall with big open air area and an Biergarten, where you can enjoy some delicious Bavarian Beer. The Beer is brewed at the airport at the AirBräu brewery. Awesome! It is also home to many fun sport events and other activities. Have you ever been surfing at an airport? Munich Airport was home for an big wave surfing event. Lots of people headed to the airport to go surfing. Sounds strange? That’s Munich. 😉
Munich is famous for its 30 minutes connection time. That means you can arrive from an international flight, go through passport control and board your domestic flight in under 30 minutes. Have you ever tried that at Heathrow Airport?
Singapore Changi Airport
First, this is my favorite airport in the world. It’s huge and it’s the world’s most awarded airport. The whole airport looks like a 5-star hotel. The whole airport is stuffed with carpet (almost everywhere) and plants. Free WiFi in the whole
Singapore Changi Airport - Terminal 3 - Shopping area
airport, several gardens (Butterfly garden in T3 and cactus garden in T1), free cinema, awesome shopping malls…. You get it 😉
Changi Airport consists of 3 terminals, connected by automatic shuttle trains between them. It takes about 10 minutes if you want to walk from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. The airport itself is perfectly connected by SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) train service.
Terminal 3 is awesome. all famous brands have their own stores in the shopping area. Lots of dining and beverage options. E.g. Starbucks, Subway, Hard Rock Cafe, Boost juice bars.
You can find drinking water dispenser and foot massage chairs all over the terminal. Don’t know what to do? What about a free foot massage in one of those chairs that you can find almost anywhere in the terminal. Or you can jump over to the free movie cinema, where blockbuster movies are shown. Click here for the current screening times. What about a swim Singapore Changi Airport - Terminal 3 - Cinemawhile watching arriving and departing planes? Time to explore Singapore Changi Terminal 1.
Terminal 1 has the biggest shopping mall I’ve seen so far. Hundreds of shops, restaurants and fast food. All major brands have their own stores.
This Terminal is also home to another open garden of Changi Airport. The famous Cactus garden features many surreal plants. Terminal 1 also has a place that is very unusual to find at an airport. On the roof top of Terminal 1 you can find a leisurely swimming pool.
Terminal 2 offers a sunflower garden. I heard it’s very beautiful. I haven’t been to Terminal 2 yet, hence I will write more about this terminal next time when I am at Changi Airport.
I will feature these airports in upcoming posts with much more detail. Stay tuned.
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for some food porn. “What’s onboard”.
Today’s featured flight is SQ298 – Christchurch – Changi (departs at 11:20am)
Lunch
This was my first daytime flight with Singapore Airlines. Therefore had been very excited about the lunch menu they’re offering.
Even in economy class you have the choice between several meals.
Lunch on SQ298 - January 2012
appetizer: Couscous salad with beef pastrami
main courses
Grilled salmon fillet with green peppercorn sauce
Kung-po style chicken with rice and vegetables
dessert: Ice cream
I opted for the Grilled salmon fillet. It’s really delicious and maybe the best economy class meal I’ve had so far.
They offered hokey-pokey ice cream. I read it’s Kiwi’s favourite ice cream.
Inflight snacks
The lovely Singapore Girls regularly go through the aisle and offer drinks and light bites
What they offer:
Savoury sandwich/rolls
vegetarian sandwich/rolls
Roasted peanuts
Sweet slice
Muffin
Potato chips
Fruit
I picked a delicious Savoury sandwich.
Light meal
Time for an early dinner. (I love time zone differences).
appetiser: Waldorf salad with smoke chicken
Main courses:
Roasted chicken with honey mustard sauce
Stir fried beef in oyster sauce
dessert: Chocolate mousse
I opted for the stir fried beef. with seasonal vegetables and rice. My first thought: The best inflight meal in economy class.
Light Meal on SQ298 - January 2012
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