General
Information about Singapore
Airport
Tax
A passenger service charge of S$21.00
should be incorporated in the air ticket (including
tickets issued outside of Singapore). If this has
not been done, you may be required to pay the S$21.00
during check-in.
Baby-sitting
Baby-sitting services are available.
Banking
Banking services are very easy to
arrange. There is a range of foreign & local
banks available to handle your transactions. Each
bank has different requirements for opening an account.
The minimum balance and account charges may differ.
The local currency is Singapore
dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of
SGD 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 10,000.
Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50
cents and SGD 1.
Banking hours are Monday to Friday:
9:30am to 3pm, and Saturday: 9.30am to 11.30am (some
banks are open until 3pm). Sunday, 9.30am to 3pm
(some banks in Orchard Road). Many banks now support
automated kiosks, phone and on-line banking.
Most banks handle travellers’
cheques and change foreign currencies. However,
some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings
on Saturday. Passports are required when cashing
travellers' cheques. A nominal commission may be
charged.
Drinking
Water
It is perfectly safe to drink water
straight from the tap in Singapore. However, for
those who prefer bottled mineral water, local supermarkets
and grocers always have ample stocks.
Credit/Charge
Cards
Major cards are widely accepted
by establishments in Singapore.
American Express
Tel: (65) 6880 1111
MasterCard
Tel: 1800 - 110 0113
Diners Card
Tel: (65) 6416 0800 Visa
Tel: 1800 - 448 1250
Currency
Other than the Singapore Dollar,
the US Dollar and Australian Dollar, Japanese Yen
and British Pound are also accepted in most major
shopping centres and big departmental stores.
Drug
Abuse
Drug abuse is viewed seriously in
Singapore. Illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited.
Driving
without a valid driver's license
Driving without a valid license is
dealt with very seriously. You may even risk imprisonment
if your license was previously suspended, or if
injury was caused.
Driving
while using a mobile phone
Do use a hands-free earpiece while
driving, even if only for your own safety. Offenders
will be fined up to S$1,000 and may serve a six-month
jail term.
Electricity
Before you move in, you will need
to arrange for utilities accounts to be set up.
Usually your real estate agent will make this arrangement
as part of their services.
Singapore voltage is 220-240 volts
AC, 50 cycles per second. The power plugs used in
Singapore are of the three-pin, square-shaped type.
Fireworks
Any individual found keeping, possessing,
having under his control, discharging or letting
off dangerous fireworks (including firecrackers,
rocket fireworks, sand crackers and such other fireworks)
is liable to a fine not exceeding S$ 5,000 or imprisonment
for up to 2 years or both.
Gambling
Charity draws, Toto and Singapore
Sweep lotteries, and on-course betting at the Singapore
Turf Club on horse races are the only authorised
forms of gambling in Singapore. All other gambling
activities are illegal in Singapore.
International
Calling
To make an international call, dial
the access code followed by the country code, area
code & telephone number. There are many companies
offering services for international dialing and
it’s easy to subscribe to such services. To
make international calls, the access codes are 001
for SingTel, 002 M1 and 008 for StarHub. Different
telephone companies use different access codes.
Check with:
SingTel
Hotline: 1800-333-0001
Fax: 6336-0977
StarHub
Tel: 1800-782-7482 or 1633
Fax: 6280-5000
M1
Tel: 1627
International Calling Cards in denominations
of S$ 10, S$ 20 and S$ 50 are also available at
all post offices including Changi Airport, 7-Eleven
stores and other retail outlets.
Internet
The Internet is very popular in Singapore
and there are several Internet service providers
(ISPs). They have different pricing schemes and
special offers for new subscribers.
Check with:
Singnet (http://www.singnet.com.sg)
Starhub (http://www.starhub.com.sg)
Pacific Internet
(http://www.pacific.net.sg)
Laundry
Same-day laundry service is available.
Independent dry-cleaners can be found in the Yellow
Pages of the Singapore Phone Book.
Medical
Facilities
Singapore's medical facilities are
among the finest in the world, with well-qualified
doctors and dental surgeons. Many clinics are opened
during the weekends with some closing late during
the weekdays.
Pharmaceuticals are available from
numerous outlets, including supermarkets, department
stores, hotels and shopping centres. Registered
pharmacists work from 9 am to 6 pm.
The Traveller's Health and Vaccination
Clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital provides pre-and-post
travel evaluation, advice and treatment of travel-related
illnesses as well as vaccination services.
Traveller's Health and
Vaccination Clinic
Tan
Tock Seng Hospital Medical Centre
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Level B2
Singapore 308433
Tel: (65) 6357 2222
Fax: (65) 6352 5661
Internet: http://www.ttsh.com.sg
The doctors are listed under Medical
Practitioners in the Yellow Pages of the Singapore
Phone Book. For an ambulance, dial 995. Visitors
could also consult doctors at the following hospitals:
Singapore
General Hospital
Outram Road, Singapore 169608
Tel: (65) 6222 3322
Fax: (65) 6224 9221
Mount
Elizabeth Hospital
3 Mt. Elizabeth Road, Singapore 228510
Tel: (65) 6737 2666
Fax: (65) 6734 0518
Mount
Alvernia Hospital
820 Thomson Road, Singapore 574623
Tel: (65) 6347 6688
Fax: (65) 6255 6303
Gleneagles
Hospital
6A Napier Road, Singapore 258500
Tel: (65) 6473 7222
Fax: (65) 6475 1832
Mobile
Phones
Consumers have a choice of four mobile
and paging operators in Singapore.
There are two mobile phone networks
- GSM900 and GSM1800 - and three mobile telephone
service providers - SingTel,
M1 and StarHub.
Money
Changers
Apart from banks, you can change
currencies from the "Licensed Money Changer".
Most shopping complexes have a licensed money changer.
Many ATMs are also tied to international network
that gives you access to your home country bank.
If you hold travellers’ cheques
denominated in the legacy national currencies, they
can be encashed or exchanged at:
Travelex (S) Pte Ltd
Singapore Land Tower #01-02A/B
Tel:(65) 6535 0111
(for Thomas Cook Travellers Cheques only)
Please note that processing will take one month
Changi Airport - American
Express Foreign Exchange Services Pte Ltd
Tel: (65) 6543 2580
(for American Express Travellers Cheques only)
For more information, including how
to recognise the new Euro banknotes and coins and
their security features, visit website at www.euro.ecb.int.
Phone
Services
Consumers have a choice of two fixed-line
providers. Only Singtel
and Starhub
provides fixed line services as well as mobile network
services. Telephone rentals are S$ 100 a year for
private lines and S$ 150 a year for business lines.
Postal
Services
Mail service
is very reliable. Singapore Post operates a network
of more than 1,300 postal outlets conveniently located
throughout the island. These outlets offer a wide
range of postal, telecommunication and agency services.
Most postal outlets are open Monday through Friday,
from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm and until 1.00 pm on Saturday.
Post Restante
service is also available at:
Singapore Post Pte Ltd
10 Eunos Road 8
Singapore Post Centre
Singapore 408600
Open: 8.00 am - 9.00 pm (Mon - Fri), 8.00 am - 6.00
pm (Sat),
10.00am - 4.00pm (Sun and Public Holidays)
Tel: (65) 6741 8857
Fax: (65) 6841 6085
Safety
Foreigners are
understandably more concerned about personal safety
and security issues today than ever before. Singapore
remains calm and stable and it is business as usual.
The Singapore
Government has and is constantly vigilant in ensuring
that Singapore remains safe. It has stepped up security
measures at key installations and other sensitive
places. The Government has also made it known that
extremism originating from religion or race has
no place in Singapore and it will not hesitate to
take action against any extremist or terrorist groups
or individuals.
Smoking
Smoking is not
permitted in public service vehicles, museums, libraries,
lifts, theatres, cinemas, air-conditioned restaurants,
hair salons, supermarkets, department stores and
government offices. Offenders can be fined up to
S$ 1,000. While it is an offence to smoke in air-conditioned
eating places, smoking is permitted in air-conditioned
pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.
Spitting
Spitting in public
places is an offence.
Tipping
Tipping is not
encouraged as most hotels and restaurants in Singapore
already levy a 10% service charge on customers'
bills. Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore
and is prohibited at the airport.
What
to Wear
Singapore has
a warm and humid climate throughout the year with
a daily average temperature range of 24 degrees
Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. Light and summer
clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton is
best for everyday wear. Casual dress is acceptable
for most situations and occasions but some establishments
may require a more formal dress code. It is always
advisable to check beforehand on dress regulations,
if any.
