Bintan

What about Singapore?

I have been visiting Singapore for many many years.  It’s a great place to visit the first couple of times.  However you run out of things to do in Singapore after that.  My primary attraction of Singapore is hanging out some of the Singapore natives I have befriended over the years of travel thru Singapore and have become really good friends – Cedric and Lisa Lim.  We met them when we (my son Robin and I) were in Ko Samui, Thailand in 2002.  Since then every time we go through Singapore it has become a standard part of our stay to spend time Cedric and Lisa.  Cedric (ex-IBM Global) owns an IT consulting company and Lisa works for Sun Micro.  Given their professional background we are never at a loss for things to talk about.  They are very hospitable and gracious hosts and I really enjoy spending time with them.  Each time I’m in Singapore Cedric is always bringing some of his friends to meet me over dinner and finding me new golfing partners.  Typically they are almost always technology professionals.  As a result connecting with them is very easy.  My other favorite activities in Singapore are golf and dining out.  Golf is very expensive in Singapore and very hard to get a tee time unless you know someone who has a golf club membership.  This time Cedric introduced me to a friend – Shawn, who is a member at the Tanah Merah Country Club.  Shawn and I played at the TMCC the day after I returned from Bintan.  It’s a great course.  Really enjoyed playing the course and was very happy to make one more friend in Singapore.  I just love all the outdoor dining places in Singapore.  Because of the tropical climate and outdoor dining in the evening is just divine.  Last year Cedric took me to a new place called Chjimes – it’s a complex of restaurants and retail stores all having outdoor dining.  It’s a great place dine and hang out, frequented mostly by members of expatriate communities of Singapore.

My hotel of choice in Singapore- Holiday Inn Parkview (HIPV)

http://www.parkview.holiday-inn.com  I have been staying at this hotel for many years and has become my hotel of choice when I come to Singapore.  It’s not like a Holiday Inn in the US.  In terms of cost and quality closer to a Marriott or a Hyatt.  What I like best about this hotel is it’s location and for the price over quality of the hotel is a good value.  Very centrally located and most things I need are within walking distance.  My favorite dining joint in Singapore is this Indian Restaurant called Maharaja, it’s located right next to the HIPV.  The best way to book a room in hotels in Singapore is not make a reservation before you get there.  There is a hotel reservation desk at the arrival hall of the Changi Airport.  At that desk the airport authority has negotiated rates with most hotels in Singapore that is about 30-40% cheaper than their cheapest rate that you can directly from these hotels.  For example the cheapest rate for a standard room at the HIPV is about S$190 and at the airport is S$133.  However, there is a catch.  These rooms are made available by the hotels only based on availability.  As a result there is no guarantee that you will get a room at HIPV.  That’s the chance you take.  One way around that is to book a room on the internet – I was told by HIPV staff that’s their cheapest rate, without credit card guarantee and then try to get a room at the airport arrival hall.  As long as you are arriving before 6:00 PM, if you don’t get a room at the airport you still have you room that you booked.  This time both pre and post Bintan, I was out of luck and did not get a standard room at the HIPV.  Instead I was able to get a room in the executive level (with executive lounge and a few other perks) for S$190.  That was what I would have paid for a standard room anyway.  So it worked out OK.  The staff at the executive lounge were very friendly, attractive and poised (see the pictures).  Enjoyed their hospitality during my stay at the HIPV – both times, pre and post Bintan stay.