Singapore airport is a 'paradise'



Changi makes most botanical gardens blush with envy.



I've heard airports described in many - usually unflattering - terms but never a "traveller's paradise."

But the folks who run Singapore's Changi Airport - my favourite airport in the world - have come up with a menu of activities - most free - for people who are caught there on a layover which makes the giant facility feel like a paradise.

Hats off to the people running Changi  for trying to help consumers - don't we wish airlines were this thoughtful.

Anyway, Changi is now not a bad place to be left stranded, because:

If you have a two to three hour layover at Changi, you can:

- Surf the Internet or send out some emails with FREE Internet services (15 mins);

- Enjoy a relaxing stroll in the world's first Butterfly Garden in an airport at Terminal 3 (20 mins);

- Whiz down the Slide @ Terminal 3, the tallest airport slide in the world and try to beat the best times too (10 seconds or less - sliders determine the time);

- Get a FREE foot massage at the Foot and Calf Massage Stations (15 minutes);

- Pick up fantastic gifts from a wide selection of souvenirs, toys, fashion and books (30 mins);

- Grab a quick bite at Changi Airport Shopping City's wide selection of food kiosks serving anything from mouth-watering local desserts to sushi (on conveyor belts!) (30 mins).

If you have a three to four hour layover:

- Try out a fish micro-massage therapy at the Fish Spa & Reflexology (30 mins);

- Refresh with a quick shower (20 mins) at the Rainforest Lounge on Terminal 1 or at the Ambassador Transit Lounge at Terminals 2 and 3;

- Gamers, test your skills at the FREE Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3 games at the Entertainment Deck (30 mins);

- Shop at the wide selection of fashion labels, gift choices and lifestyle brands (1 hour)

- Enjoy delicious gourmet dining at our wide range of restaurants (45 mins) including Mediterranean cuisine at Fish & Co., Cantonese fare at Crystal Jade Shangai Restaurant, freshly made dim sum delights, noodles, and more at Peach Garden Noodle House - there is something for every palette

If you have four to five hours:

- Soak up the sun and take a refreshing dip in the rooftop swimming pool (30 mins);

- Get a new hairdo or manicure (45 mins);

- Catch a blockbuster movie for FREE at the Movie Theatre (2 hours);

- Rediscover the beauty of nature at one of Changi's themed gardens (15 mins);

- Tuck into a hearty meal and chill out at Harry's Bar or Hard Rock Cafe (45 mins);

If you have more than five hours:

- Join a FREE Singapore Tour and take in the sights and sounds of Singapore, as well as get a glimpse into Singapore’s ethnic heritage and tourist attractions (I've done this and it's great fun) (2 hours);

- Try out various cuisine options from local, Asian and international dining outlets in the airport (45 mins);

- Don't miss out on some great buys from our wide range of duty-free products (1 hour);

- Catch a nap at one of our quiet Rest Areas or check into a napping facility (1 hour).

There's also lots of things to keep kids entertain at Changi.

All this tells me why international magazines continually rate Changi as one of the top 3 airports in the world - I say it's No. 1 because no other airport I know of offers so much for free.

With all that's happening in the "traveller's paradise", I just hope people don;t miss their flights.

Finnair connects Toronto & Singapore

Just got word from my friends at Finnair that they're launching a flight to Singapore via Helsinki from Toronto.

That means you can visit two great parts of the world on one trip. Price of the round trip ticket from Toronto: $1,069 return!

That's an amazing price and one that will be hard to pass up.

I just got back from Singapore and I can tell you there's so much to see and do in Asia's loveliest city - and I strongly suggest you stay at the St. Regis Hotel; one of the best in the city. I've never been to Helsinki but from what I hear, it's one of Europe's best places to visit.

Finnair will be flying out of Toronto five days a week from May 26 to Sept. 11, 2011.

Finnair, which operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe, is the only airline offering a daily connection between Singapore and Northern Europe.

Helsinki’s compact terminal is designed especially for transfer traffic so making your connecting flight from Toronto to Singapore won't be a problem.

Finnair offers a comprehensive route network via Helsinki to over 50 destinations in Europe and 10 cities in Asia. 

For more information, go to www.finnair.com

Time to return home after eight days exploring Singapore and Malaysia

Singapore's St. Regis was a true delight.

DATELINE SINGAPORE - Just finished packing my backs and will soon be checking out of the ritzy St. Regis Hotel - a true wonder of the hotel world - to start my long journey home: an 18 hour flight to New York aboard Singapore Airlines; then a one hour flight to Toronto with Porter Airlines.

Accounting for airport waiting time, I should be home in about 24 hours. And you know what, every minute of travel time to and from Asia is worth it.

What an amazing eight days this has been.

I got to stay in the new Disneyland of the hotel world, the Marina Bay Sands Resort here in Singapore; then I journed to Malaysia to sample some of that wonderful country's genuine hospitality at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort on Langkawi Island; got to experience Langkawi's mangroves and came face-to-face with some of the most fascinating wildlife on Earth; then the cherry on top of the cake was the time spent at the St. Regis.

Of course, it may take me a few weeks to overcome the third degree sunburn I suffered while tracking down stories that I'll soon be sharing with you at travelife.ca and in TraveLife magazine. The pain and suffering I go through for you devoted readers.

Of all the wonders I saw on this trip, Langkawi and its natural beauty were the most memorable.

The sweet, hard working people of that island are truly lovely and their Muslim beliefs make them one of the most welcoming and accommodating people I have ever met. Of course, because Malaysia is a Muslim nation, some people shy away from it. Which is a crying shame.

I will return to Malaysia very soon to see Kuala Lumpur, its capital and one of the biggest and most dynamic cities in the world. And after getting a sample of jungle life in the mangroves of Langkawi, I definitely want to experience Borneo. But most of all, I want to get to know the Muslims of Malaysia better because they opened their hearts to me.

That's why I love travelling. People are what make places so special. And it was the people of Langkawi who made this trip so special for me.

I'll be in touch as soon as I get home.

Until then, safe journeys.

Batali's Singapore eatery disappoints

DATELINE SINGAPORE – Spent a good portion of last night (Friday) trying to secure a reservation at one of the restaurants at the Marina Bay Sands complex.

The 2,500-room hotel has lots of restaurants on sight and there’s plenty more located in the massive retail mall next door known as the Shoppes of Marina Bay. However, with that many rooms comes a lot of mouths to feed.

After pleading and flashing my baby blue eyes at the hostess at celebrity chef Mario Baltali’s much ballyhooed Osteria Mozza restaurant, she agreed to seat us at the counter overlooking the kitchen - a spot I relish in restaurants because I can see the chefs in action.

When the wine list arrived, however, I needed a stiff drink to get over the prices - $25 for a glass of humble grape.

None of the appetizers were very appetizing from a price standpoint – most were north of $20. And the pasta entrees were all in the $25-$30 range and that was for the “small” portions.

I must admit my ravioli dish was excellent – the pillows of homemade pasta were stuffed with a beef mixture that melted on the tongue – and the room’s mozzarella bar was fun the watch but the mozzarella was a bit too salty for my liking.

However, the bill for two came to $230 and that was hard to swallow.

Mario’s prices at Osteria Mozza are as inflated as his waistline!

The Sands company likes to invite TV chefs like Batali (Wolfgang Puck also has a restaurant in the Shoppes at Marina Bay) to showcase their talents in the properties they manage. However, Batali of Po fame in New York and a regular on the Food network, does not impress with this pretentious Singapore room.

The best eating option at the Shoppes of Marina Bay is the food court next to the skating rink where you can eat well-prepared, hearty local dishes for about $10 a person.

Sharing photos of my Good Friday walk around lovely Singapore

I started the day watching the sun come up over Marina Bay
 where offshore dozens of ships, waiting to enter port, were anchored.

Then I walked around Marina Bay and got this photo of the
 city's new  lotus flower-shaped Arts and Science museum.



Then I took this shot of the Esplanade entertainment centre,
 now a rival to Sydney's famed Opera House in good looks.

As amazing as Singapore's new designs are, it's still ther city's
old shuttered homes that are being revitalized.

Singapore's skyline, seen from the famed Singapore River,
is one of the most dramatic in the world.

Then I watched a chef at a local dining spot make
fresh paste  for my noodle soup.

What makes Singapore such an amazing city
to walk is its great downtown parks.



Then I came upon this film crew making
a movie in the downtown core.



The streets of Singapore are filled with amusing
art that visitors just love photographing.



Singapore turns into Swingapore!





That's me in the infinity pool  at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

DATELINE SINGAPORE – I finally got to swim in the incredible pool at the $6 billion Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the experience was priceless.

The infinity pool, located on the hotel’s 57th floor, is as long as an Airbus A380 double-decker and is three times the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. From ground level, it takes the shape of a ship.

It’s not the highest hotel swimming pool in the world – that honour goes to the new Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong,  which is located on the 108th floor of the recently-opened hotel on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.

The only thing higher than the Marina Bay Sands Hotel swimming pool are the prices being charged at the restaurants and bars located on property. I just paid $25 (Cdn.) for a glass of New Zealand wine and meals at the Marina Bay run around $100 (Cdn.) – and that's just for appetizers.

The Marina Bay Sands rooftop pool has become the new gathering spot in Singapore – the first thing guests do after checking into Marina Bay is head to the swimming pool to take pictures and email them back home – that’s me in the photo that accompanies this blog.

Despite the high prices, Singapore remains one of my favourite cities on this plant – it’s certainly one of the most colourful cities in the world and the Marina Bay Sands project, with its first-rate accommodation, high end shopping complex, entertainment venues and gambling casinos is a welcome addition.

Finally, Singapore has shed its redneck reputation (you could get flocked for spitting on the streets here not so long ago) and it’s become more “Swingapore” than Singapore.

The Maina Bays Sands, operated by the Sands group out of Las Vegas, is too big and imposing for my liking – it took me 20 minutes to walk from check-in to reach my 14th floor room in Tower 3 – but it does add some life to a city that has often been described as being too boring.

I’ll be in touch tomorrow after enjoying some local chili grab at Jumbo Seafood on Clarke’s Quay.