Value-for-money SG50 deals

Singaporeans can enjoy many treats and deals during the Golden Jubilee weekend

Manatees inside the Amazon Flooded Forest at the River Safari. PHOTOS: ST FILE, MARINA BAY SANDS, MARINA MANDARIN SINGAPORE, SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SINGAPORE, CRAZY ELEPHANT, JETABOUT HOLIDAYS SINGAPORE
Marina Mandarin Hotel.
Crazy Elephant Bar
Marina Bay Sands
Shangri-La Hotel
Jetabout Holidays

As the country celebrates its Golden Jubilee, Singaporeans have been inundated with a slew of treats and deals - from goodie packs to cheaper access to attractions and free insurance plans for babies born this year.

Businesses are tapping into the celebratory mood with more SG50 discounts, freebies and special packages.

Sentosa is one of them. Entry to the island is free (usual fee: $1) till the end of the year.

Sentosa has launched SG50 promotions for its attractions. One ticket for a bundle of three attractions - Madame Tussauds, Images of Singapore Live (interactive exhibition of the story of Singapore) and Sentosa Merlion - costs $30 (usual rate: $50).

Ms Tay Cheng Cheng, chairman of Sentosa's SG50 organising committee, says: "It is only fitting for Sentosa, as one of Singapore's most iconic leisure destinations, to create more opportunities for Singaporeans to have fun on the island."

Over at the Wildlife Reserves Singapore attractions, Singapore citizens, permanent residents and employment pass holders can enjoy discounts on tickets and bundle deals next month and in September.

And what is a celebration without good food? A host of F&B establishments and hotels are dangling SG50 deals.

Marina Mandarin Hotel is offering discounts at its dining outlets - AquaMarine, Peach Blossoms and Cafe Mocha. For example, a buffet lunch at AquaMarine (usual price: more than $60) now costs $50 for citizens.

Ms Patricia Yong, the hotel's director of marketing and communications, says: "We want to extend our deals to as many Singaporeans as possible."

With the four-day Jubilee weekend, hotels including Pan Pacific Singapore and Shangri- La have staycation promotions with cheaper room rates.

Singaporeans who live overseas will not miss out on these deals. The Shangri-La chain's offer of 50 per cent off room rates every second night applies to all its hotels and resorts in 19 cities in seven countries in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

For those who want a short getaway during the long weekend, travel agency Jetabout Holidays has put together SG50 packages to destinations including Bali and Perth that are 10 to 30 per cent cheaper than usual.

Manager Cindy Loo says: "We negotiated these deals specially in celebration of SG50 as we know Singaporeans like to go for short holidays when there are long weekends."

Mr Zachary Zhou, 31, regional manager of an e-commerce company, is planning to take his family of three to Perth in September. "Cost is one of the main factors when we plan our yearly family trip and the Perth package looks like good value- for- money," he says.

Undergraduate Muhammad Hafiz Mohamad, 21, says he is going for the $50 buffet deal at AquaMarine. "I'm considering dining there with my family as I enjoyed its seafood selection and overall dining experience the last two times I was there."

But even with so many SG50 deals, Singaporeans will never tire of them.

Mr Hafiz adds: "Singaporeans will go for any discounts or sale - that kind of makes us who we are as Singaporeans."


1

WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

What: Fifty per cent off admission to Jurong Bird Park next month for Singaporeans, permanent residents and employment pass holders. The discount applies to the Night Safari in September.

There are half-price bundles next month for other Wildlife Reserves attractions. For instance, there is a 50 per cent discount for same-day tickets for the River Safari and Singapore Zoo.

An ongoing offer, valid till Dec 31, is a year's admission to the Jurong Bird Park for the price of a single admission ticket ($28 for adults, $18 for kids and senior citizens).

Info: Go to www.wrs.com.sg/ for details on the four parks


2

SENTOSA

What: Free entry daily for the year if you walk in from Sentosa Boardwalk (usual fee: $1) as well as cheaper packages for attractions such as night show Wings Of Time and the Madame Tussauds wax museum till Sept 30.

Between Aug 7 and 10, one Sentosa attraction will be made free each day. For example, cable car rides are free on Aug 10.

After 5pm, enjoy more than 40 promotions at food outlets and galleries, and on rides such as banana boats and Segways. This offer lasts till the end of the year.

Info: www.sentosa.com.sg/en/sg50/


3

ORCHARD HOTEL

What: Year-long treat for all citizens aged 50 and older at the Orchard Cafe, with a one-for-one offer of a free buffet lunch with every paying adult. From Aug 7 to 10, there will be a special dinner menu at $50 featuring 50 classic local dishes, including bak kut teh, chilli crabs, oyster omelette and durian.

At Cantonese restaurant Hua Ting, award-winning masterchef Lap Fai is whipping up a six-course set lunch menu at $50. All the dishes are unique to the restaurant, including the braised mee pok with Hong Kong-style shredded char siew. Offer lasts till the end of the year. Reservations are advised.

Where: 442 Orchard Road

Info: www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/orchardhotelsingapore/dining-specials/sg50.html


4

MARINA MANDARIN HOTEL

What: AquaMarine restaurant is serving Singapore citizens a $50 lunch buffet every day till Nov 30. At Chinese restaurant Peach Blossoms, the popular Peking duck dish costs $50, $24 less than usual. This offer lasts till Aug 31. From 3 to 7pm daily till Dec 31, there is 50 per cent off pastries at Cafe Mocha, which cost between $2.65 and $4.30.

Where: 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square

Info: www.meritushotels.com/marina-mandarin-singapore/specialoffers/SG50-en.html


5

PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE

What: Cheaper room rates starting at $258 a night till Dec 29, excluding certain dates. The package includes daily breakfast for two, $50 hotel credit per night of stay and a 20 per cent discount for dinner at selected restaurants.

If you wish to view the National Day Parade fireworks in comfort, the Fireworks by the Bay package on Aug 9 starts from $440 a night. A National Day Preview package is available from $360 on Aug 1.

Where: 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square

Info: www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-resorts/singapore/marina/stay/offers/celebrate-sg50.html


6

TANG MUSIC BOX

What: Two hours of karaoke singing at $11.50 a person, with a free drink and one-for-one drinks promotion. Usually, it costs more than $27 a person for three people for three hours.

The offer is available daily from 2 to 7pm till the end of the year.

Where: 3B River Valley Road, 02-03/04 The Foundry

Info: www.tangmusicbox.com.sg/singaporebestkaraoke/golden-jubilee-hours/


7

CRAZY ELEPHANT BAR

What: On Mondays, those aged 50 or are born on Aug 9 enjoy 20 per cent off all drinks from 9pm. The discount is on till the end of the year.

Where: Crazy Elephant Bar, 3E River Valley Road, 01-03 Clarke Quay

Opening hours: Monday, 5pm to 1am; Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday, 5pm to 2am; Friday, Saturday & eve of public holidays, 5pm to 3am

Info: crazyelephant.sg/events.html


8

MARINA BAY SANDS

What: From Aug 7 to 9, Singaporeans and permanent residents get free entry to the ArtScience Museum and skating rink.

Exhibitions at the museum include Dreamworks Animation and The Deep, which features more than 40 deep-sea specimens in a pitch-black environment.

There will also be a photo exhibition, Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow, presented by The Straits Times.

Also, on these three days, enjoy a sampan ride along the canal that runs through The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands at 50 per cent off (usual price: $10 a person).

Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 65 and above also pay half price for the ArtScience Museum exhibition every Monday till the end of the year.

Info: www.marinabaysands.com/museum/exhibitions-and-events.html


9

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

What: Stay in the spacious Horizon Club Premier Room for three nights for the price of two. The package, which lasts till Aug 31, includes access to the Horizon Club, a private area open daily from 6am to 11pm which serves breakfast and evening cocktails.

The Shangri-La chain is also offering 50 per cent off every second night for stays in all its hotels and resorts in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and Fiji (above) till Sept 30.

Where: 22 Orange Grove Road

Info: For the Horizon Club stay, go to www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/offers/section/rooms- suites/details/rooms-suites/sg50-urban-escape/ (Horizon Club stay), for the regional offer, contact the respective hotels for more details.


10

JETABOUT HOLIDAYS

What: Fly to popular destinations such as Australia, Thailand and Cambodia for a three- to five-day getaway at 10 to 30 per cent discount. The Perth family package is back after selling out a month ago. It is open for booking for trips till the end of the year. A five-day trip costs $3,030 for two adults and two children (usual price: $4,510). Four-day trips for two to Bali resorts during the National Day holiday start from $685.

Info: www.jetabout.com.sg/packages-tour-booking.php

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 03, 2015, with the headline Value-for-money SG50 deals. Subscribe