Travelling away from Singapore

Weekend Trips

Malaysia:

Malacca - 3-5 hours drive north on west coast; museums, resorts/golf, antique shopping
Tioman Island – 4-6 hours drive and ferry ride northeast on east coast; resorts, beaches, water sports, jungle walks
Penang Island – 2 hours drive and flight, on west coast; resorts, museums and old colonial district, hill with temple
Kuala Lumpur (KL) – 5-6 hours drive or 1 hr. flight north in centre of the peninsula; national museums, shopping, views of city, night life

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Indonesia:

· Batam Island, various hotels and resorts

This is the cheaper of the two Indonesian islands for residents of Singapore to visit and is largely used for manufacturing by Singaporean and foreign companies. It also has the reputation of not being safe, although the unsafe areas are very specific (in some areas of Nagoya town and along some of the harbours). The hotel/resort personnel can tell you which areas to avoid and the resort areas are definitely safe. Ferries leave from the World Trade Centre (city centre) and Tanah Merrah Terminal (by Changi) and leave at frequent intervals. Ferry rides take 25-45 minutes.

Some resorts that come with recommendations are: Turi Beach Resort, Holiday Inn and Harris Resorts. The shopping day trip is for those who want to get out of the resorts, see the great bridges of Batam, a huge Chinese temple and like shopping for local dried food and factory outlets.

Bintan Island, various hotels and resorts

Almost all of Bintan’s holiday places are 4-5 star and focus on golfing and spa, but also include water sports. There is one simpler hostel for those who seek lower prices, but you need to book far in advance. The upper third of the island has been rented by the Singaporean government for 99 years and therefore developed and administrated Singaporean style. Payment is also only in Singaporean dollars.

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Further a field

· Bali and Lombok, Indonesia

· Hong Kong, SAR, China

· Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui, Thailand

· Sabah and Sarawak (on Borneo Island), Malaysia

· Langkawi, Malaysia

· Ankor Wat, Cambodia

· Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa (all in northern area), Vietnam

· Sri Lanka

· Sulawesi Indonesia

Travel Agents

There appears to be a general consensus that there are no really good travel agents around. Nevertheless, here is a list of some agency that focus on budget travel and some that will deliver the ticket to NTU.

Budget travel agents:

- STA Travel – they have three branches, the main one in the Orchard Towers and the nearest one at Nanyang Polytechnic near Dover MRT (6737-7188; it is better to go in person)

- Nam Ho Travel – at mall next to Outram Park MRT, specializing in regional travel and China

- Travel Haven 64633800, 3rd floor of Holland Village Shopping Mall

- Eureka Travel 64694766 619B Bukit Timah Rd. - more expensive packages, but good

Travel agencies who will deliver to NTU:

- Global Travel (6226-2911)

- Trident Travel (6823-1633)

- Misa Travel (65380318)