Shopping will be an important part of your Singapore Travel. Even if you come
for sightseeing and recreation only, you will surely be attracted to the many
shopping malls and the smaller shops which are present all over the country
selling almost anything. Singapore is a multicultural society and each
area has its own charm and getting attracted to a few things and buying them is
a
high possibility. You should always have some extra space in your luggage
when planning your trip. Popular areas for Singapore shopping are:
ORCHARD ROAD:
This ritzy Singapore shopping mall and dining area is often referred to as the "Park
Avenue" of Singapore. Its 2.5 kilometers long and is said to have the
largest concentration of shopping malls worldwide. Orchard Road is a great place
to book your hotel.
LITTLE INDIA:
- Mustafa shopping plaza is one place where you can find almost everything along with great rates and variety, it is located in the Little India area. You can consider buying souvenirs for your family and friends from here. (www.mustafa.com.sg/).
- Tekka Center is another popular destination for the tourists.
- Sim Lim is a giant electronics shopping area squeezed into one building, with hundreds of tightly packed stores offering some of the most competitive prices for computers and consumers electronics in Asia.
- Little India Arcade is a narrow pathway where you will find Indian clothing, accessories and sweet shops.
ARAB STREET SHOPPING:
It offers mostly traditional old style bazaar-style shopping experience. You will find handicrafts, textiles, Chiffon and French lace, Thai silk , batik and much more. Make sure you bargain hard, you can often get items at half the price.
CHINATOWN SINGAPORE SHOPPING
:This are is a famous hub of Chinese migrants. Singapore shopping in this area is spread out in many streets and alleyways. You can find garments, souvenirs, traditional crafts, silk, artifacts, waxed paper umbrellas, gold jewelry, products of medical use like herbs, spices and potions. Popular shops and malls include People's Park Complex, Chinatown Point, OG People's Park, The Majestic, Pearl's Centre, Bee Cheng Hiang, Fragrance and # Lim Chee Guan.
MARINA BAY SINGAPORE SHOPPING:
This is again a popular spot for Singapore Shopping . Popular Malls include
- Esplanade Mall, a three level mall with variety of outlets .
- CHIJMES (popular shopping, dining and entertainment site)
- Marina Square ( A four level mall and one of the larger shopping malls in Singapore)
- Millenia Walk - A collection of designer, fashion and small shops on the Raffles Boulevard.
- Suntec City Mall: Spread over 830000 sq ft of prime retail space, Suntec City Mall is the largest shopping malls in Singapore with over 350 retail outlets. It is divided into four zones Galleria, Tropics, Entertainment Centre and Fountain Terrace. This mall is usually quite crowded.
- Raffles City Shopping Centre and Arcade.
Popular shopping centers include Capitol Building, Funan the IT Mall, Stamford Court, Stamford House and Adelphi.
FLEA MARKETS FOR SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE:
- One of the best flea markets is at Clarke Quay, 3 River Valley Road, every Sunday 10 AM to 6:00 PM.
- The flea market outside Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road opens on the first and third Saturday of every month.
- Thieves Market on and around Sungei Road is open weekends 11:00 AM- 6:00PM.
Goods and Services Tax (GST):
You will be eligible for tax refund of your purchases if you are a tourist in Singapore and you shop for more than SGD $100 at a shop with GST Tax free shopping sign. Show your purchases, receipts and passport to the Customs officials at Changi Airport and have your Global Refund cheques stamped. If and of those need to be checked-in then get a Customs stamp for those items. You can collect your refund in cash, cheque or a credit back to your credit card. This was just an overview, please read the detailed information located at the official site at www.globalrefund.com.
