Reuters Business Traveller

Singapore – Overview

Singapore is bigger than most people realise: apart from the main island there are 62 smaller ones. And it’s growing all the time; extensive land reclamation continues to reshape the 5.1-million-strong city state. Connected to southern Malaysia via a causeway to the north and a bridge (the Second Link) to the west, this brave-new, East-West fused country is the most developed commercial hub in South-East Asia.

But no matter how many skyscrapers have shot up, Singapore still can’t shake off the perception that it lacks the depth of other international business cities. Still, intrepid visitors find the exotic mix of Chinese, Malay, European and Indian influences beguiling as they devour the freshest peppered crab from the wet markets, a pint of London Pride and steak and kidney pie from Harry’s bar; a fish-head curry from the seriously Subcontinental district of Little India; and, since 2010, celebrity chef-devised dishes at one of two blinged-out casino resorts.

Money: The Singapore Dollar (S$). Bank notes come in denominations from S$1 up to $10,000. There are foreign exchange bureaux in the airport, at hotels and in some shopping complexes. Most banks change travellers’ cheques and foreign currencies.

Foreign banks with a major presence in Singapore include ABN Amro, Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and American Express Bank. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, retailers, shops and most taxi companies. The most commonly used credit cards are Visa and MasterCard.