While I was planning my trip to Singapore, my friends warned me that it was a very expensive place and I should completely drop the idea (considering my financial situation that had turned from bad to worse). I had left my last job around 1 month back and it was my 3rd one in the last 7-8 months. Before looking for a new job, I had decided I would go to a faraway place, relax and come back refreshed and stress free. So, the faraway place that I fixed upon was Singapore. Considered as one of the expensive travel destinations that I was going to visit on a tight budget, the small island Singapore has lots to offer.

I was lucky enough to get a roundtrip ticket to Singapore for less than US $100 as the airline was celebrating its 25th anniversary and there were special discounts available. Before moving out of the Singapore Airport, I purchased Ez-link card which would help me in catching any bus or train during my stay here. I was told that there are many hostels located around Chinatown, so I took a MRT to this destination. Here I found a hostel at walking distance from the MRT station providing accommodation for SGD 12 per night. Another advantage, that I experienced, of staying around Chinatown was availability of numerous hawker stalls providing cheap yet clean food. Chinatown and Little India are the best places to have food that suits the pocket of a budget traveler like me. I savored various sound delicacies of South East Asia at cheap rates like I bought a full Indian meal for around SGD 5. I tasted true and authentic delicacies here and it was the most fun experience of the entire trip. I found these areas so interesting that I spent around half of my day strolled in the neighboring areas like Bugis, Kampong Glam and the Slim Lim Square. The diversity of people made me realize why Singapore is called a multiethnic country.

I realized the fact that most of the places to visit in Singapore are free like gardens, museums etc. Of all the gardens that I visited, I especially loved the Botanical Garden and the free concert that is held there every weekend. The amazing picture perfect view of Esplanade, Singapore Flyer from the Marina Bay and Quark Quay which is an architectural colorful village were the best sites to visit for free. I struck a beneficial deal by combining a visit to Singapore zoo with night safari as a trip to Singapore is incomplete without experiencing the ultimate wild life safari. Though I would not say that these activities were actually cheap but they are worth the money. A visit to Sentosa Island with an entry fee of SGD 1 seemed like a dream coming to reality. I heard people say that the 24*7 Mustafa Market is a must visit, I did not visit it as my budget did not permit me to go on a shopping spree.

Though Singapore is considered as an expensive city, I realized that there are ways of exploring it without splurging a lot.