Planning a trip with his friend’s family and his own, Sivakumar Swarnam booked a 4D/3N package to Singapore for 8 people — through TravelTriangle. After availing a discount offered by TravelTriangle, Siva paid Rs. 1,60,000/-. The amount was inclusive of the accommodation, transfers, entry tickets and insurance. Having thoroughly enjoyed his trip — Siva, here, offers an insight into his exciting experience.
When I got married, I made it a point to travel at least once in a year. Thankfully, I have been living up to the resolution even 20 years after marriage. Traveling must be done not only to forget the routine and burdens but to get acquainted with a different lifestyle, culture, and a different world, altogether.
About Singapore, there is no questioning the fact that it is a celebrated destination when it comes to tourism. I have already been to Singapore once, but this time, I planned it with my childhood friend’s family and my own. I was going through the internet as part of my pre-travelling research when I discovered TravelTriangle. Through the portal, I got in touch with I Need Tours, who took care of everything after I shared my requirements with them. Shalini, my travel operator, overlooked my trip and was always available for assistance. I also got to avail a heavy discount on booking the trip in advance, which worked as a major trigger in making my decision.
Day 1: When the family lands in Singapore
We landed in Singapore as per the schedule, but our immigration process consumed a lot of time. After getting cleared, I gave a call to the travel agent, who then arranged our pick-up. Since we were 8 members, we were given a transfer through a private vehicle instead of the seat in coach that was initially booked for us. As soon as we got down from the cab, the driver handed me some entry tickets and vouchers – everything readily kept in a sealed cover.
The hotel we were to stay at — Parc Sovereign — was about 10 km from the airport. Our rooms were excellent and the hotel staff was very courteous. We enjoyed a fulfilling breakfast and took some time to rest and freshen up, before getting picked for the Night Safari in the evening. With something in store for people of all ages, the safari was one of the best things to do in Singapore. Riding a tram, we got to see animals roaming around freely and my younger son Rahul even participated in a show called Creatures of the Night. Having had a great time, we called our driver to drop us back at the hotel.
Day 2: Panoramic City Drive and Fun at Sentosa
Suggested Read: 54 Remarkable Places To Visit In Singapore Where A Wandering Heart Finds Peace
For every visit that we made on our brief trip, we got different cabs and different drivers. The transfers remained smooth and the drivers used to turn up right on time. Our second day was booked for a City Tour, which began at 10 in the morning. The guide, Mr. Kumar, added his touch of knowledge to the trip and further enriched our experience.
Driving around in the cab, we got to explore the major tourist attractions in Singapore. From the Singapore Flyer to the famous Merlion Park, we witnessed some very impressive spectacles. We also made a stop at the Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples and concluded the City Tour with a visit to the Chocolate Factory.
After the half day city tour, we were dropped at the cable car station to reach Sentosa. Meanwhile, I did not receive the tickets for the Sky Ride and was almost on the verge of missing out on it. I immediately called Shalini, who suggested me to purchase the tickets then and there; and assured me that it would be refunded. I bought the tickets and the funds also got credited when I returned to India. I was thankful to the services of Shalini, who was very accommodating, all through the trip.
Suggested Read: Reasons Not To Miss Sentosa Underwater World On Your Singapore Trip
Cable car ride, Sky ride, Dolphin Lagoon and Underwater World – our visit to Sentosa turned out to be a blast. The dolphin show was amazing and we also got to witness a wide variety of fishes at the Underwater World. At the Sentosa Island beach, we put our swimming gear on and took a dive in the sea. There were a plenty of more places to swim in Sentosa. Coming back from the Island, we went to the famous Little India for dinner. Open 24*7, the place is famous for offering authentic Indian cuisines and shopping.
Day 3: A day at the Universal Studio
The time arrived for the most awaited visit to the Universal Studio. The place was a little crowded but we got to indulge in (almost) all the rides. As one can indulge in a ride n number of times, we made the best of the opportunity and enjoyed the Transformer twice.
Suggested Read: 16 Best Adventurous Activities in Singapore To Make You Scream In Thrill
The energy of the place is infectious and induces a certain kind of a thrill in you. From the magnificent Roller coaster to the ‘Mummy’ – it was this very thrill that drove us through a magnificent mix of rides. As we got immersed in our adventures, the climate began to change. It started drizzling and we moved to the ‘Madagascar’, not letting the drizzle dilute the fun. But soon, the weather cleared and the sun began to shine.
The rides were resumed and we finally got to enjoy the ‘Jurassic Park’. A lot many artists were dressed as famous characters, and my wife had a dance with a made-up Charlie Chaplin. Amidst an atmosphere of fun and joy, things could not have got any better.
We left the adventure park at around 4 and went for shopping in the Mustafa and around. Since now-a-days everything is available in India, we didn’t spend much time shopping. The thing we thought was worth buying, was some gold jewelry; and that’s what we did. The day was thrilling but very tiring. So we ended the day with a plethora of memories to celebrate.
Day 4: Bye-bye Singapore
The breakfast provided by the hotel throughout the trip was beyond expectation. For us, non-vegetarians, a good variety was offered every day. For the vegetarian, the options were restricted but good enough. We didn’t get to experiment with food since all our days were packed. Our vehicle came sharp at 9 am, to drop us at the airport for a flight at 12:00. The rest of the trip was planned in Malaysia and arranged by a friend.
High Points:
- The most important thing was that my family enjoyed each and every moment of the trip. But, being actually involved in the Transformer at the Universal Studios, was an experience that will hold a special place in my memories.
- Overall, the trip was so excellently well organized and fine-tuned, that we didn’t have to bother about a thing!
Low Points: We were not able to go to the Butterfly Park because we did not receive the tickets on time. Also, had I gotten the itinerary a little earlier, I could have researched the places in a better way.
Tip to Future Travelers: To go to Sentosa, a traveler must ditch any other mode of transport and take the cable car ride and witness the entire Singapore.
What are you waiting for? Take your family to Singapore, Asap!
