Nov 1, 2026 · 46 min · 10 segments
In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, we take a closer look at Singapore and why it’s so much more than a stopover destination. Join host Penny Thomas and fellow travel writers Leyanne Baillie…
Okay, so I guess for people that are thinking of visiting Singapore, where would you recommend someone stay if it's their first visit? I
And it's close to quite a lot of the other neighbourhoods, so it's easy to explore on foot.
But as I said, because it's on the MRT line, it's very easy to get to other neighbourhoods from there too.
And also because it's in the heart of the Civic District, where you'll find many of the heritage buildings and museums.
Raffles is close by and it's easy to walk down to the riverfront in Chinatown from there.
what do you think? I usually suggest if someone hasn't been before that Orchard Road is a fairly safe bet because you get there and you sort of, you see all the big lights and especially if you're going around Christmas, New Year, they really turn on an amazing show.
You know, there's a great range of hotels, huge number of shopping centres with food courts, very easy to catch taxis in and out of the shopping centres or catch a train.
I have stayed in the Raffle City area and around Marina Bay as well and then made sort of little side quests over to Orchard Road and then a couple of times I've stayed around the river area and then I've felt like I've missed Orchard Road because I think it's quite nice especially if you can spring for a room with a view sort of opening your blinds or even leaving your blinds open at night to just see the sort of twinkling lights of Singapore is quite nice.
Okay, so you've also got Marina Bay, Orchard Road, as you just mentioned, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.
Well, they are all very different, aren't they? I mean, I think Marina Bay is kind of shiny and glamorous, but then you've also got the gardens by the bay.
So you've got a nice green space and lots of interest in there because they have the cloud forest, is it? The cloud forest and flower dome.
But for me, I prefer being in the older part of Singapore where, you know, amongst the heritage sites and things.
But as Sue said, Orchard Road's a kind of shopper's paradise, but it also has a lot of access to green space, doesn't it? Because you've got...
The Botanic Gardens close by, the National Orchard Gardens and Botanics, which is also a lovely space, and Fort Canning Park is close by as well.
Okay, so I guess for people that are thinking of visiting Singapore, where would you recommend someone stay if it's their first visit? I
And it's close to quite a lot of the other neighbourhoods, so it's easy to explore on foot.
But as I said, because it's on the MRT line, it's very easy to get to other neighbourhoods from there too.
And also because it's in the heart of the Civic District, where you'll find many of the heritage buildings and museums.
Raffles is close by and it's easy to walk down to the riverfront in Chinatown from there.
what do you think? I usually suggest if someone hasn't been before that Orchard Road is a fairly safe bet because you get there and you sort of, you see all the big lights and especially if you're going around Christmas, New Year, they really turn on an amazing show.
You know, there's a great range of hotels, huge number of shopping centres with food courts, very easy to catch taxis in and out of the shopping centres or catch a train.
I have stayed in the Raffle City area and around Marina Bay as well and then made sort of little side quests over to Orchard Road and then a couple of times I've stayed around the river area and then I've felt like I've missed Orchard Road because I think it's quite nice especially if you can spring for a room with a view sort of opening your blinds or even leaving your blinds open at night to just see the sort of twinkling lights of Singapore is quite nice.
Okay, so you've also got Marina Bay, Orchard Road, as you just mentioned, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.
Well, they are all very different, aren't they? I mean, I think Marina Bay is kind of shiny and glamorous, but then you've also got the gardens by the bay.
So you've got a nice green space and lots of interest in there because they have the cloud forest, is it? The cloud forest and flower dome.
But for me, I prefer being in the older part of Singapore where, you know, amongst the heritage sites and things.
But as Sue said, Orchard Road's a kind of shopper's paradise, but it also has a lot of access to green space, doesn't it? Because you've got...
The Botanic Gardens close by, the National Orchard Gardens and Botanics, which is also a lovely space, and Fort Canning Park is close by as well.
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