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Singapore

Transport from airport to central business district
For a comfortable ride, private taxis are readily available at the airport. A ride to the Central Business District (CBD) will cost S$10 to S$15. A S$3 surcharge applies for all trips to and from the airport. There are also airport busses that stop pick up at all the major hotels.

Tipping
Tipping is not encouraged in Singapore. Most taxi drivers will even return change from a fare.

Banking hours
Most banks are open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Mon-Fri and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.

Business Dress
Long-sleeved shirt and tie is the norm for the office. Jackets are seldom seen due to the hot and humid climate year-round. Business dress for women ranges from dress suits to smart trouser outfits.

Recommended restaurants to entertain a client

• Alkaff Mansion (elegant, colonial atmosphere or more informal outdoor dining with Asian and western dishes), 10 Telok Blangah Green, Reservations: Tel. 235-9533
• Thanyin Restaurant (Thai) for a business lunch at the Amara Hotel, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Reservations: Tel. 222-4688
• L'aigle (French) at the Duxton Hotel (quiet, elegant and discreet setting with excellent food), 83 Duxton Road, Reservations: Tel. 227-7678
• Raffles Grill (classic Continental) at the Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road, Reservations: Tel. 337-1886

Good local bar where you won't get ripped off

• Harry's Bar at the Boat Quay (live jazz band), near OCBC/UOB Plazas
• Brannigan's at the Hyatt Hotel on Orchard Road (popular with visiting sailors)
• The Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel (laid-back ambiance complete with ceiling fans), 1 Beach Road

Good place for a drink with a spectacular view of the city Compass Rose, Westin Plaza Hotel (also good for "high tea"), Reservations: Tel. 338-8585

Recommended place/restaurant for local food with good (or colorful) ambience

• Very casual: Newton Circus (open-air hawker centre), at Newton Circus crossing
• Jumbo Restaurant (part of the East Coast Seafood Centre, open-air)
• Imperial Herbal Restaurant (Exotic Chinese Food), Seah Street, Reservations: Tel. 337-049
• The Tandoor (Indian), the Holiday Inn Park View, 11 Cavenagh Road, Reservations: Tel. 733-8333

Recommended tourist(or historic)site to visit if you only have a morning or an afternoon

• Sentosa Island (amusement park/historical/natural sites) by boat, bus or cablecar from the World Trade Centre)
• Singapore Zoological Gardens (or after 6PM on, The Night Safari)--Tourism Award winners
• Haw Par Villa (Chinese folklore village)

Best place to buy local handicrafts

• Chinatown for ceramics, statuary, rattan
• Little India (Serangoon Road) for clothing/sari fabric, gold jewellery,incense, etc.
• National Museum Gift Shop, Armenian Street