Sunday, October 08, 2006

Changi Airport Information

Changi Airport is one of the best airports in the world. It provides travellers with wide range of facilities including free telephone calls and internet access in the transit areas. Wireless internet is available for S$2 per 15 minutes.

INFORMATION AND HELP DESKS
Information counters are located throughout the airport (tel: (0)6541 2267 for Terminal 1 or (0)6541 2302 for Terminal 2). Help telephones and touch-screen information kiosks are also available throughout the airport. Passengers can also submit enquiries in advance through the airport’s website.

AIRPORT FACILITIES
Money and communications: Bureaux de change are open 24 hours a day. Wireless Internet is available at various points in the airport. Multimedia payphones are available in the News lounge of the Terminal 1 Departures/transit lounge. All local calls made within the Departures/transit areas are free. There are postal services available in both terminals. Eating and drinking: The airport has restaurants, cafés, bars, delis, fast-food outlets and snack bars, offering Western and Asian cuisine; many are open 24 hours. Shopping: There are several shops at the airport, including duty-free and a 24-hour mini-supermarkets in both terminals. Luggage: Left-luggage is available in both terminals. Other facilities: These include medical clinics, a 24-hour medical centre and pharmacies. There is also a swimming pool, spa, showers, massage and a fitness centre, as well as multi-faith prayer rooms. Baby change rooms and children’s play areas are also available; most female toilets have baby change facilities.

AIRPORT HOTELS
There is a hotel reservation counter in the Arrivals hall of each terminal (tel: (0)6542 6966 for Terminal 1 and (0)6545 0318 for Terminal 2). The Transit Hotel (tel: (0)6542 5538 for Terminal 1 or (0)6542 8122 for Terminal 2; website: http://www.airport-hotel.com.sg/) provides rooms on site in both terminals on a six-hourly basis. Nearby hotels include the Le Meridien Changi Village (tel: (0)6587 9132), which provides a free shuttle service to/from the airport, the Ritz-Carlton Singapore (tel: (0)6337 8888), Grand Hyatt Singapore (tel: (0)6734 0375), Holiday Inn Parkview (tel: (0)6733 8333), and, famously, the Raffles Hotel (tel: (0)6337 1886; website: http://www.raffles.com/).

There are many ways to get to out of the airport to the city:

Subway - MRT. The MRT station is located in Terminal 2. Trains runs from East to West of Singapore. It's one of the fastest, cheapest and most comfortable ways to get around Singapore.

By Bus - There are 5 buses bus 24 , 27 , 34, 36 and 53 going from the airport to various parts of the city. The buses are operated by just one person the drive and you have to drop your coins at the entrance. Alternatively, you can purchase an EZ-link (pronunced as 'easy-link') card from the MRT Station or Bus interchange. Its a stored value wireless card that lets you get up bus and MRT with far less hassle.


Taxis - They are more expensive than buses and the subway but for they are alot cheaper than taxis in North America and Europe. To catch a bus from the airport, go to the taxi stand, there's usually very little waiting. Passengers pay a surcharge of S$3 (per cab) from the airport. This surcharge is $5 for Friday, Saturday & Sunday during peak hours.

Shuttle Service- A 6-seater MaxiCab is used for this 2-way service which goes to any hotels in Singapore and anywhere within the Central Business District, excluding Changi Village hotel and hotels on Sentosa Island. You need to make booking at the counters in the Arrival Hall and pay the fare in cash to the driver. Return journeys to the airport can be arranged at the following designated hotels:
  • S$7.00 - Adult
  • S$5.00 - Child
Ultimate Tips
  • Don't rush out of the airport. Spend some time at the airport. This is not known as one world's best airport for nothing. Many locals drop by the airport to enjoy the ambience and to eat at the many restaurants. There are many local food chains located at the airport - they are all good and not too expensive - these include Delifrance, Fish &Co, and Genki Sushi. Of course you can find MacDonald's and KFC at the airport and all over the island. If you can't wait to try cheap local food, there are 2 food centers that the employees of the airport eat.
  • Don't Change all your money at the airport. There are many licensed (I haven't seen an unlicensed one before) money changers in the city that offer tighter spreads. You only save 2-3% on this tip.
  • Learn to take the MRT at the Changi Airport. They are used to tourists and probably more prepared to give you directions.


     

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