Money
The currency used in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar. It is normally abbreviated SG$ or S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies.
The Singapore dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents and SG$ 1 coins, and SG$ 2, SG$ 5, SG$ 10, SG$ 20, SG$ 50, SG$ 100, SG$ 1,000 and SG$ 10,000 notes.
There is no restriction on the amount of money that one can bring to Singapore.
A good website that gives current exchange rates for almost all the currencies in the world is : www.xe.com
Money can be changed in banks, Hotels and Licensed Money Changers (bureaus), which can be found in major tourist areas and large shopping malls.
Banks will normally give better rates than hotels and tourist establishments, while bureaus might give a better rate than the bank. If you change your money in a bureau, make sure that you checked the exchange rate properly and see wehther they charge a commission...
Most banks open from Monday to Friday, 10 am - 3 pm. Centrally located branches also open on Saturday mornings, 9:30 am - 1 pm.
Bureaus are normally opened later, as well as on weekends.
Cash can be withdrawn 24 hours a day at the ATMs.
Most international credit cards are accepted in Singapore.
Traveler cheques will be accepted in almost every bank and bureau.
Communications
Post : Singapore post is very efficient. Around 1300 branches are scattered across the city, most of which are open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm and on Saturday mornings, until 1 pm.
.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
Internet : Unless your hotel/guesthouse provides internet facilities, or if the price they ask for is too high... The best way to send or receive an Email, to plug in to Skype, or simply to load your photos on a CD, is to enter one of the Cyber cafes in town. These can be found along the streets in the central business areas and in shopping malls. You should look for the signs, as these businesses are more likely to be found in a small office space than in a shop, facing the street (That is due to the high rent)
I.R.C are opened 24 hours a day and have two central locations : Their Peninsula Plaza branch (#B1-02) is a short walk from City Hall MRT, while their Parklane Shopping Mall branch (#B1-16) is not far from Dhoby Ghaut MRT.
They charge SG$ 4 per hour for guest and less than SG$ 2 per hour for a member.
Cyberarena is located in Capitol Building (11 Stamford Road - Opposite Raffles City)
@ Netwave Cybercafe is located at Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd. (Just a stonethrow from MRT - Orchard)
A good place in Little India is the 24 hours internet on 326 Serangoon Rd., just a short walk from Mustafa.
Musa, on 16 Bali Lane (next to Arab Street) provides 24 hours internet connection, alongside some basic secretarial services (photocopy, lamination, fax and so on...)
Cyberbyte is located at Parcos Bugis Junction.
Far East Shopping Centre, at 545 Orchard Rd., is another place where you can find some cyber - cafés... There is also a reasonably good internet place in Lucky Plaza (305 Orchard Rd.), on the 3rd floor
In addition, some public libraries would let you use their internet facilities free of charge and, a growing number of coffee shops offer wireless connection to their customers.
Phone : Making an International call from your hotel room can be very expensive and, therefore, unless you use your own mobile phone, you'll better buy a stored-value phone card that will allow you to call from every phone in the country (including public phones).
There are all sorts of discounted cards that offer "package deals"... but you'll better check first if your home country is actually included in this package...
stored-value phone cards can be purchased from every post office, phone cards dealer, 7-eleven and other convenient stores or retail shops. They come in denominations of SG$ 2, SG$ 5, SG$ 10, SG$ 20, and SG$ 50 (for local calls) and SG$ 5, SG$ 10, SG$ 20 and SG$ 50 (for international calls). Make sure the card you buy can be used in a payphone.
Basically, There are three service providers in Singapore, namely: Singapore Telecom (SingTel), Starhub and M1
To make an international call, dial the access code followed by the country code, area code and telephone number. Different providers use different access codes:
- SingTel's IDD access codes are 001, 013 and 019,
- StarHub's IDD access codes are 008 and 018.
- M1's IDD access codes are 002 and 021
Domestic calls (inside Singapore) should be free but hotels seem to charge for them. Calls from public pay-phones costs SG$ 0.10 for every three minutes but in large shopping malls you may find phones from which it is possible to call free, within Singapore.
Singapore's country code is 65. There is no city code.
Time
Singapore doesn't apply summer saving time. The time is GMT+8 all year round.
Weights & Measures
Like most countries in the world, Singapore uses the metric system: millimeters, centimeters, meters and kilometers are being used to measure distances. Grams, kilograms and metric tons are used to measure weights. Liters and cubic meters are being used to measure volumes.
Electricity
The electrical current in Singapore is 220-240 volts / 50 cycles alternating current (AC). The plugs have three rectangular-shaped prongs (similar to the ones used in the UK). It is always advisable to get an adaptor, as outlets in Singapore are different to those in other places around the world...
......................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
You may also want to read about...
When to come? What to wear? What to bring?
Customs and Immigration
Visiting neighboring countries
Emergency - what to do in case of a problem
Health & Hygiene
