This was published 10 years ago
Changi, with the lot
Julietta Jameson discovers all her needs are met at the airport. Here's why she wants to move in.
The Marina Bays Sands.Credit: Getty Images
A confession: I'm an airport nerd. I love airports, and my favourite in our part of the world is Singapore's Changi International. If Changi were a theme park, I would happily spend 24 hours there. Voted the World's Best Airport at the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards, Changi combines the efficiency and service that travellers expect with excellent shopping, eating and drinking, movies, relaxation and loads of other amusements.
Sure, the latter are curated diversions to keep the stress levels of passengers passing through to a minimum - and Changi served more than 50 million passengers last year.
But a few hours' transit isn't really enough to enjoy all that this airport has to offer. A full day between connecting flights is what I'd want. Here is how it would pan out.
Arrive on Saturday morning. Check into the Ambassador Transit Hotel at Terminal 1 (from $SGD76.51 [$65] a night; see harilelahospitality.com). There are three Ambassador hotels - one in each of the airport's terminals.
The Terminal 1 hotel has a swimming pool and gym, so I'd get the circulation going with a workout, take a dip and seek sunshine by the pool. Both the gym and pool are available to non-guest transit passengers from $SGD13.91 and include shower facilities and toiletries.
Breakfast at Changi can be had at any one of 26 cafes, but I'll choose Kaffe & Toast in Terminal 3 for its traditional Singaporean dishes, such as kaya toast.
Mid morning, I'd pop across to the Free Singapore Tours (FST) Registration Booth to join a guided city tour for transit passengers (see breakout, above right).
Back at the airport for lunch, there's Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Thai and, of course, Singaporean food on offer.
Mid afternoon, I'd take a seat in a comfy lounge and watch sport on one of the airport's big screens and upload some Instagram photos using free Wi-Fi. Then I'd browse the shops and stock up on gifts.
Next I'd catch a free blockbuster movie in one of the airport's movie theatres (terminals 2 and 3). Later, I'd settle in for the night at the Ambassador. The hotels charge in six-hour blocks, given the sheer volume of transit passengers. I'd be on my 12th hour now, and the rate would still be a bargain. I'd book a wake-up call with the hotel's reception desk and … nighty-night.
Next morning, I'd hit the pool and gym again. After breakfast, I'd stroll around the Orchid Garden and Koi Pond in Terminal 2, where Singapore's hybrid Butterfly Orchids form part of a lush tropical landscape of towering palms and plants. I should explore Terminal 3's Butterfly Garden, given it's also home to a profusion of flowering plants and a six-metre waterfall - along with sensational species of butterflies, but would instead seek personal maintenance and opt for the spa at the Rainforest Lounge in Terminal 1, where a 60-minute shiatsu massage is just the ticket. Time for lunch, followed by a little foot therapy at Refresh Bodyworks in Terminal 1. There, a ''fish spa pedicure'' includes having tiny fish nibble the dead skin from one's feet. It's not for the squeamish, so afterwards I would head to a cocktail bar in one of the airport's lounges for a steadying glass of wine.
Some time later, it would be time for me to board a plane, so I'd head back to the Ambassador for a shower, then make my way to the boarding gate.
QUICK AND EASY DOES IT
Transit passengers with a break of five hours or more between connecting flights at Changi Airport can make use of a free two-hour guided Singapore city tour service. The tours take place daily from the airport. The Heritage Tour departs at 9am, 11.30am, 2.30pm and 4pm, and visits Merlion Park, the Colonial District, Central Business District and Chinatown or Little India. Sights en route include the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands.
At 6.30pm, a two-hour City Lights tour departs the airport. This tour, also free, showcases Singapore's icons lit at night, and includes the Singapore Flyer, the Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands and its waterfront promenade and bay-front areas. The tour then continues to the financial district, the night market at Bugis village, and to Raffles Hotel.
Tour registration booths are in terminals 2 and 3. Registration takes place one hour before the start of tours.
MEET YOUR GREENS
Singapore's Gardens by the Bay includes two stunning, asymmetrical, ribbed bio-dome plant conservatories and 18 steel super trees.
DOMES
The larger of the conservatories, the Flower Dome, features the cool, dry environments found in the Mediterranean and parts of Africa.The Cloud Forest dome replicates a tropical climate at elevations of 1500-3000 metres and has vertical gardens, a waterfall, blossoming rhododendrons and exquisite white orchids.
DINING
Gardens visitors can dine at Pollen, inside the Flower Dome (pollen.com.sg), or at Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant (majesticbay.sg).
Gardens by the Bay's outdoor area is open daily, 5am-2am. Free entry. Conservatories open daily 9am-9pm. A two-dome ticket is $SGD20 ($16.75) for adults, $SGD12 for children. See gardensbythebay.com.sg.
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