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When Singaporeans tell you that shopping is the national sport,
they're only half joking. Shopping ranks right up there with eating
as a favourite pastime. Many visitors to Singapore come with a view
to seeing the sights rather than going on a bargain-hunting binge,
yet somehow they always end up leaving with an extra bag or two.
The famous Orchard
Road features mall after mall of glitzy clothes, shoes,
electronics goods, furniture, rugs, cosmetics, etc. There's always
a big sale going on somewhere, the people all around you are laden
with shopping bags - its impossible not to join in the fun.
When you're tired with going from shop to shop, there's always
a cosy cafe somewhere where you can take a break and have a relaxing
cuppa. Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Spinelli have all made their way here, or if you prefer a homegrown cafe
there's always Delifrance, The Coffee Club or Prima
Deli. There are even malls with shops that offer foot reflexology massages to soothe your poor aching feet - and prime them up for
more street-pounding!
If you're a shopaholic, you may want to time your visit to Singapore
to coincide with the mid-year Great Singapore Sale, when
it seems that the whole island is going at a discount. All major
shopping centres and boutiques mark down their prices during this
period, which can last for up to a month.You may do well to fight
the crowds and shop right at the beginning of the Great Sale - shoppers
in the know say that's when the best buys are to be had.
In the street markets and small shops selling tourist wares such
as Chinese seals or painted fans, we recommend that you bargain for all you're worth. In the department stores and boutiques, of
course, prices are fixed. One exception is the electronics stores
at shopping centres like Lucky Plaza or Far East Plaza - here a general rule of thumb is to start haggling for that digital
camera or personal digital assistant at a price about 25% below
that being offered. Needless to say, credit can charge
cards are accepted virtually everywhere.
Goods and Services Tax
Shopping travellers in Singapore can have
their 5% GST (Goods and Services Tax) Refunded if they spend
more than SGD100 at Premier Tax Free Logo. Ask for these shops
to provide you with a shopping cheque. You can then show cash
the cheque at the Global Refund Counters at Changi Airport
on your departure,Or opt for a bank cheque by mail or a refund
to your credit card.
For more Information call +65 62256238
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Where to go for shopping
Many millions of tourists are heading to Singapore mainly for shopping. Singapore government spent huge fund for developing areas into great places to walk and spend money.
The undisputed hub of shopping in Singapore is Orchard
Road where is probably the region’s most famous shopping
area. The street is lined the shopping malls packed with local and
international department stores, tiny boutiques, restaurants, cafes
and snack bars. Strategically placed in-between are many international
five star hotels like The
Grand Hyatt, the
Marriott, the
Meritus Mandarin, the
Four Seasons, the
Shangri-La, and Hilton
Singapore, as well as quality local hotels – perfect places
to retreat after a hard day pounding the shopping malls.
The varied architectural styles are a testament to the area’s
growth over the past 20 years as the shopping phenomenon has taken
off. Istana Negara Singapura or Presidential Palace, located next
to the Meridien
Hotel is the (non-shopping) place of interest, although it’s
only open to the public on certain occasions.
Everyone goes to Orchard
Road to do their shopping, especially for clothes. You can get
a variety of brands here, ranging from designer labels like Louis
Vuitton to fairly cheap wear like U2 and Giordano.
If you’re here to shop, stay around Orchard
road and save your energy for pounding the malls.
Centrepoint
Centrepoint is among the
largest and most popular shopping centres in Singapore, meeting
virtually every need of tourists and locals alike. Here you'll find
the legendary Robinsons & Co - the winner of the Tourism Awards
2002, Best Shopping Experience - Retail Outlet.
There
are also stores specialising in classical music, casual clothing,
optical equipment, electronics, furnishings, Oriental rugs, sporting
goods, fine arts, Asian antiques and artefacts, books and much,
much more. The self-contained complex also has an excellent selection
of restaurants and fast-food outlets. A one-stop shopping mall
on Orchard Road as everyday items are sold there. For the smart
shoppers.
DFS Galleria Scottswalk
DFS
Galleria Scottswalk, the place to enjoy duty-free savings on the
world's leading luxury brands. DFS Galleria Scottswalk offers many
exclusive DFS-Only items and a selection of unique local specialties.
Shop with confidence as our products come with a DFS 100% Worldwide
Guarantee. So come to DFS Galleria Scottswalk and experience .
Far East Plaza
You'll find
yourself returning to this fun, mixed bag of sorts! Both locals
and expatriates love to hang out at this bustling shopping centre
which sells everything from the most fashionable and outrageous
shoes and clothes, to precious gems, eyewear and CDs. Make sure
you check out Level One, which boasts a wide array of street fashion,
unique accessories and knick knacks.
The Heeren
Here's where you'll
find HMV, the largest music superstore in Southeast Asia. The restaurants
on Level 5 offer a mouth-watering selection of Asian cuisine, from
Peranakan to Japanese and Thai, while Movenpick Marche at the basement
offers casual Swiss dining. At levels 4 and 5, the Annex presents
a new shopping concept similar to Harajuku in Tokyo or Island Beverly
in Hong Kong, where shops sell street and vintage fashion wear,
unique accessories, quirky toys and comics.
Tanglin Shopping Centre
Frequented
for Asian antiques and curios, this centre also houses several shops
specializing in exquisite Persian, Pakistani and Afghanistan carpets,
and a variety of tailors and eating places. C.T. Hoo sells Mikimoto
pearls from Japan while Antiques of the Orient offers antique maps
and prints. Just next door at Orchard
Parade Hotel is Manchester United's Theatre of Dreams' merchandise
store.
Little
India is one of Singapore’s most colourful districts. A
vibrant commercial centre for the Indian community spreading out
along Serangoon Rd, occupied by the descendants of the Indians who
arrived in Singapore in the mid 1800’s, the colour, smiles
and smells are all authentically Indian and authentically warm.
Most
hotels in this area are in the modest 2-3 star range and offer good
value for money. Albert
Court Hotel, Aspinals Hotel Singapore, Broadway
Hotel, Claremont
Hotel Singapore, New
Park Hotel Singapore, South East Asia Hotel and Summer
View Hotel Singapore
Sim Lim Square
one of the
oldest and popular complexes in Singapore for audio and video gear.
Row upon row of shops on four levels deal in stereos, tape decks,
CD players, TVs, VCRs, laser disc players, cameras, video cams and
anything electronic. Be sure to take time to shop around, and compare
and negotiate prices. Check goods carefully and insist on detailed
receipts and full international guarantees.
The Mustafa Centre
The Mustafa
Centre off Serangoon Road is Singapore's answer to Wal-Mart: discount
shopping 24 hours a day. In fact, the Mustafa Centre is Singapore's
only 24-hour shopping venue at last report. The Mustafa Centre takes
up an entire block on the edge of Little India.
Arab Street
The
centre of the Muslim community where it used to be the main selling
place of Muslim men’s headgear (or songkok), the holy Quran,
prayer mats and textiles.
Today, clothes and textiles are famous in Arab Street. Bales of
gorgeous chiffon, silk, cotton georgette and other luxurious fabrics
crowd the pavements, in rainbow hues and intensities.
If you want to escape the shopping crowds (and the slightly higher
prices), as well as get a feel of life in Singapore suburbia, head
for one of the many suburban malls that have been sprouting all
over the island. These are usually conveniently located next to
an MRT station, such as Century Square and Tampines Mall next to
Tampines MRT, Junction 8 next to Bishan MRT and IMM next to Jurong
East MRT.
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