Airport Singapore’s Changi Airport offers just about everything you might need across its two terminals, with a third opening to cater for the recent proliferation of regional budget airlines. It has banks and ATMs, exchange bureaux, hotel bookings, car hire, a medical clinic, eating, drinking, shopping, TV lounges and free internet corners—even spas and a swimming pool. Free two-hour tours are available for those with at least five hours to spare.

Car There is a car hire desk at the airport’s Terminal 2, but with taxis and public transport so inexpensive and available, renting a car can work out quite costly by comparison. You will also need to purchase a cash card from the rental company to cover ERP (Electronic Road Pricing). Avis is open 7am-11pm (Tel: 6542 8855).

Taxis Situated 12 miles east of the central business district (CBD), by road the airport is around 25 minutes from the city centre and five minutes from Singapore Expo.

A taxi is most people’s preferred method of getting into town, and the occasional long queue will move surprisingly quickly. There is a small taxi surcharge from the airport, but the journey into town should cost around [00a3]5.60.

Airport shuttle Six-seater MaxiCabs operate every 30 minutes by day, every 15 minutes by night, costing [00a3]2.30 to any hotel or the CBD. And white Mercedes limousines or London taxicabs are also available at a flat rate of about [00a3]11.20 to anywhere in Singapore.

Public transport Unsurprisingly, this is cheap, clean and efficient. Cash payment for either bus or MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) train requires exact (small) change, so it’s advisable to buy an E-Z Link card from the MRT station.

You simply swipe this upon embarking and disembarking buses and trains and the cost of your journey is automatically debited. These cards can also be ‘topped up’. Airport Terminal 2 to city by MRT takes 27 minutes and costs about 55p. The public bus will cost much the same but takes longer.