Singapore: Luxury Travel Insider Guide 2012

STAY

Singapore is a city of rich history including beautifully preserved colonial architecture. Here are a few places where the royal couple can stay and immerse themselves in local history at the same time.

• Raffles Hotel Singapore (pictured) – Raffles is the Royal's hotel of choice e.g. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here when she last visited. With its restoration and reopening in 1991, Raffles Hotel today stands as a jewel in the crown of Singapore's hospitality industry, renowned and loved for its inimitable style and unsurpassed excellence in service and facilities. It was named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. The hotel celebrates its 125th Anniversary this Fall. Some of the legendary guests at the hotel have included prominent figures such as Noel Coward and Rudyard Kipling.

• Capella Singapore - Live like a royal at the sumptuously appointed Capella Singapore Resort and Spa. Nested amidst 30 acres of rolling hills, it is a luxurious retreat set against old world charm with modern conveniences. Capella offers some of the most spacious accommodations in Singapore with 112 guest rooms featuring 61 premier guest rooms, 11 suites, 38 villas including private outdoor showers and bathtubs and two Colonial Manors fit for royalty. The focal point of the resort is “Tanah Merah,” a historic colonial building built in the 1880s by the British Military.

• Fullerton Bay Hotel - Prince William and Kate can share a romantic champagne toast overlooking the world-famous Singapore skyline at Marina Bay's first and only waterfront hotel. The hotel's stylish rooftop bar, Lantern, is centered around the hotel's 25-metre rooftop swimming pool where guests can enjoy gourmet snacks accompanied with fine champagnes, signature cocktails, wines and beverages.

PLACES TO SEE

Ideal for a photo opp, the royal couple will surely find these places breathtaking and awe-inspiring, perfect for some memorable holiday snapshots for the royal photo album:

• Singapore Flyer- The royal couple can scale the heights aboard the Singapore Flyer, which is currently the world's largest Giant Observation Wheel. The flyer offers sweeping views of the Singapore skyline and parts of neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia on a clear day.

• Dempsey Hill, www.dempseyhill.com - Once home to the British army barracks during colonial times, Dempsey Hill features lush greenery and old world charm with gourmet restaurants, exquisite antique furniture, fine teak works, handcrafted carpets and erotic art pieces sourced globally. Kate and William can experience culture, history and life at this historical destination.

• Rochester Park – Tranquil Rochester Park is home to an eclectic collection of dining establishments housed in double-storey black-and-white bungalows, a symbol of Singapore's colonial past.

• Gardens by the Bay, www.gardensbythebay.org.sg – Contrary to popular opinion, Singapore is one of the greenest city's in Asia. With a land area of only 284 square miles, Singapore has made sure that greenery dots its urban landscape and that natural habitats are well protected. About 10 percent of the land is already allocated to parks and legally protected nature reserves, while the greening of city streets and pathways that connect various parks is an ongoing effort according to National Parks Board Singapore also known as NParks. One of the latest parks projects and an integral part of Singapore's “City in a Garden” vision is Gardens by the Bay which spans a total of 101 hectares of prime land at the heart of Singapore's new downtown – Marina Bay.

Comprising three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central – it is a showcase of horticulture and garden artistry.

• Botanic Garden, www.sbg.org.sg - Experience one of Asia's top tropical botanical gardens. Singapore's Botanic Gardens is a national icon, a key tourist destination and flagship park. The Royale Couple can connect with people and plants through the Garden's stunning array of horticultural and botanical displays.

William is noted for his charitable outreach and efforts and he can volunteer at the Botanic Garden – here, he can work on his “green thumb” by repairing and mounting herbarium specimens.

• Singapore Cricket Club, https://www.scc.org.sg–The second oldest sports club in Singapore is located at the centre of the city and has witnessed many of Singapore's triumphs and defeats making it a premier sports and social club in Asia. The Club is near historic buildings including the Raffles Hotel, St Andrew's Cathedral, City Hall, the Old Supreme Court, and many more.

Cricket has been one of the sports of choice for Englishmen for many of years. Prince William can surely find refuge and take in a game or two at the Singapore Cricket Club.

SHOPPING

Singapore is known for world class shopping, here are some ideas of trendy neighborhoods featuring vintage shops that the royal couple will be fond of:

• Ann Siang Hill - The quirky Hill and Club Street was once the home ground of traditional Chinese clan associations and exclusive social clubs. Within a few steps from Chinatown, charming Ann Siang Hill and Club Street hosts a variety of eclectic shops, wine bars, vintage clothing outlets, retro toy stores, alfresco restaurants, pastry/confectionary shops, cafes and watering holes.

• Haji Lane - Local designers and young entrepreneurs have set up picturesque boutiques on the once empty street of pre-war shop houses. With excellent vintage shops selling contemporary, quirky garments and accessories as well as local boutiques with up-and-coming designers, one will be sure to find their own unique style. Just a street away, find textile shops that have been in business since the 1950s. This fascinating Lane has an energetic vibe that will keep people coming back for more.

Kate is certainly taking more bold risks with her wardrobe, and at Ann Siang Hill and Haji Lane she can find contemporary pieces by local designers- making it the perfect place to find one of a kind fashion “gems.”

ART

Singapore is cultivating a burgeoning underground art scene. Here are a few places that highlight the “artsy” side of Singapore:

• Artfolio, https://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/see-and-do/arts-and-entertainment/art/artfolio.html - Artfolio is a visual art gallery built to increase awareness and appreciation for Southeast Asian art in Singapore. The gallery is now mixing art with business by assisting businesses that want to integrate art into their business environment. Artfolio features works by both up-and-coming and established artists featuring watercolors, oils to collages and ceramics.

• Art Science Museum, https://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum/About/ - The ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands is the premier museum destination in Singapore. From major international traveling exhibitions to the most renowned collections in the world, Kate will experience the symbolic gestures that welcome guests from across the globe. The Museum embraces a selection of influences from art & science, to media & technology, to design & architecture.