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I recently traveled through Singapore on my way to a week in Indonesia. This wasn't unusual - Singapore is one of the major hubs for air travel in southeast Asia, along with Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. I had a few different flight options, and opted for one with a stop in Singapore so that I could have dinner and sightsee with my friend Margaret, who lives and works there. I also booked a hotel room through a web site she recommended, www.asiarooms.com. Traveling to Singapore is pretty easy for most people; here are a few things I learned before and after arrival, which may be helpful to first-time travelers from abroad.

Getting there:

Singapore's airport is one of the best in the world and is served by a variety of regional and intercontinental carriers, including the excellent national flag carrier, Singapore Airlines. Actually getting there can be grueling, though, since it often involves a long flight. It's a good seven or eight hours from Tokyo or Sydney, and at least a dozen hours from the biggest European hubs in Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London. I had the misfortune to wind up in an economy-class middle seat for the twelve and a half hours it took me to fly from Paris, and think upgrading would be an excellent idea if it's at all possible! On this long of a flight, it's important to stretch whenever you can, remain hydrated, and try to get some sleep to help adjust to the time difference - Singapore is 8 time zones away from either London or the west coast of the US.

Getting in:

For me, entry into Singapore was the easiest part. Like everyone else on my flight who was entering Singapore, I filled out an arrival form before my flight landed. But since Singapore is a free trade zone and has a reciprocal visa waiver program with the U.S., my U.S. passport got me into the country at no cost, with no line, and no problems. The same will probably be true for citizens of many other major trading countries, although I'm sure actual visas will be required for those from some other nations. The arrival form includes a detachable stub, which must be kept with one's passport and turned in upon departure.

I am not a drug smuggler, and will just note for those who are that in Singapore, as in most of southeast Asia, the penalty for drug smuggling is a mandatory death sentence. Just a piece of trivia to keep in mind.

Money:

Singapore is a commercial hub, so it's easy to change money at the airport. I had Scottish pounds sterling, which are exactly the same as any other

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