I doubt I would ever do this but thought I'd throw it out there if anyone was interested.
Hotels in JB are quite a bit cheaper than Singapore. Apparently a lot of Singaporeans go to JB to shop. How easy would it be for some of our tighter memebers to stay in JB and commute to Singapore for their holiday? Anyone know?
Does anyone know if the shopping is appreciably better in JB?
I find food cheap in Singapore, but nothing else appeals.
Many Singaporians go to Kuala Lumpur to shop rather than JB. On the topic, alot of people live in JB and commute to Singapore daily for work but if you're going to Singapore for a holiday I'd suggest you stay in Singapore.
Saves you going through customs/immigration everyday!
Osamas-Cave great advice :)
Hi voteoften, Singapore is actually not as expensive as you think if you stay away from the big hotels.
these are the 2 places we considered staying in that was reasonable and with private bathrooms
http://web.mayoinn.com/
http://www.hangouthotels.com/singapore/index.php?lang=en
We ended up staying at Mayo Inn and it was great! place was very clean, reception friendly and helpful. rooms weren't big but not a shoebox. cheapest room start from SGD110 (about 85-90 AUD depending on rate) all year around, about same rate as Ibis Bencoolen if they were having one of those sales. Location wise it is also amazing. it's in between Little India and Bugis MRT which are 2/3 of Singapore's cheaper shopping precincts (the other being Chinatown). there are shops along the walk to the MRT stations. Sim Lim square is also close by for electronics haven.
the hotel 81 chains i wouldnt even touch even though they're cheap. otherwise look up V hotel Lavender (although very near to MRT station, not as many shops around and also rooms seem quite pokey from the pictures.
hope this helps in your decision making :)
Thanks tugnabs, I did say "I doubt I would ever do this". There are some VERY tight peeps on OzB, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
I stayed at a Hotel 81 across from a whorehouse. They had very good customer service and the locals and the patrons across the road acted as if I didn't exist. It was interesting as the whorehouse had a shrine out front and someone would keep fresh candles lit on the shrine. It was very convenient to one of the hawker centres with a lot of seafood as reasonable prices. I was the only whitey.
I also stayed in Little India for about $50 aud this last time. It was basic, but had good customer service and was clean. It had some homely touches that saved money.
When I visit once or twice in December with my daughter, I'll use my Advantage plus card and stay at the Ibis for $120aud a night but that includes some attraction passes and breakfast, etc.
The big hotels in Singapore are boring. Stay in the shitty ones. They are more intersting. The whole island is safe.
The mayo inn looks quite nice. My only problem with the whole of Singapores motels are the family rooms are only 1 queen or king n 1 single. I will get zero sleep as all you parents know if we have to share our bed with 1 of the kids! Even the mercury and Novotel are the same.
Contact them about a rollaway or similar. Or, can the two kids share a single bed?
Yes I have emailed them waiting on reply. They'll have to at this rate but they r both side ways sleepers lol!
Put them on the floor. Kids don;t mind that and even seem to like it. It makes it an adventure.
Maybe make a tent out of the desk or whatever and a spare blanket. That might end up being the thing they remember about the trip.
Many times have I arrived in Sing. and proceeded overland to JB. I love JB and have stayed there often. Lot of stuffing around really. From Changi airport to JB takes at least 1 hour 20min though with 2 changes of train and 1 bus to catch to customs then 1 bus to Immig then 1 bus to JB. You could do it in 1 hour from JB to central Sing. though. The causeway link (I do believe their is a website)is the bus that cruises between. You are dropped at immigration and customs both ways for the formalities-you just keep your bus ticket and catch any causeway link bus, not neccesarily the same one. You're up down up down escalators, catching buses, passport checks, cramped into buses….. does make it a bit of a trek. I'd connect by train. Not sure about alighting at JB, but before when going from Sing. to KL there was no passport check and no stamp.-i was checked into Malaysia automatically from Sing. No need to leave the train. The new train station is based in Woodlands Sing now as Tanjung Pagar station sadly closed earlier this year. Try to buy return train tickets from JB as you pay more if you buy from Sing. side. Avoid 'Hotel JB' in JB, budget but dirty. Avoid staying in JB on weekends as Singaporeans go there and prices go up. Depending on your lenght of stay you could consider staying in Sing over the weekend (try The Fragrance branded hotels… Perhaps SING$70-80)and JB thru the weekdays. Tune Hotel JB (Tunehotels.com)I have stayed at, as with others, and they offer a (bus) coach to the Marina Bay Sands in Sing. for a reasonable price. They wait at checkpoints for you. You have to go from point to point as they are not permitted to drop you in between points. Try the Malaysian Social buying websites… groupon.my allgroupondeals.my webuy.com.my alldealsasia.com mydeal.com.my swoop.com.sg for example. Some of these sites may not accept an International credit card though. By naming these sites do not take it as a recommendation though. I have local friends in Malaysia buy for me and I repay when Im there. Good luck
Lots of great info there.
I totally love Tune Hotels. The beds are so comfy.
Grrrreat showers too.
Have stayed Tune Kuta, Legian, KL Downtown, KL Damansara (Too far out), JB, Penang
Never paid more than AU$5-7 per night though but always booked way in advance when on spesh. Sadly now, very hard to get it for those prices. Like Bali Tune can fetch upwards of $35/night. Oh well, I enjoyed while I did.
I love how no nonsense the staff are. In Bali, you don't get the same persistent intrusive chatty questions that you get at other places. It is such a relief to go to a Tune.
Thanks OC -
Just as a point of reference for folks that may be interested - is the main shopping centre in JB near their train station?
Also, is the JB airport near the JB train station.
Thanks for your insights.