3 Day Stop over Singapore or Malaysia

focus123 on 27/11/2024 - 12:03
Last edited 27/11/2024 - 12:53

We are a family with two kids, a boy aged 9 and girl aged 7, traveling to South Asia from Adelaide in March-April next year, and we're contemplating the idea of having a 3-day stopover either in Singapore or Malaysia.
. Which option is better (and value for money) for them during March-April 2025?
(We know that the tropics will be very hot due to the equinox during March and April, but this is the time that we have leave available.)

Update:
We have been to Malaysia and Singapore a few times before COVID. So things must have changed since.
Malaysia Airlines offers free side tours for local destinations such as Langkawi. Not sure if the kids will enjoy such destinations, but for us it will be a new experience as we have visited major attractions in Kualalumpur.

Travel Asia Malaysia Singapore

Comments

  • capslock on 27/11/2024 - 12:13
    +2

    Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world. In some surveys it comes up as the most expensive city in the world. Malaysia is one of the cheaper ones. Both Singapore and KL have decent tourist attractions for a stop over. Singapore however is more famous.

    • jv on 27/11/2024 - 12:30
      +4

      Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

      They are going there for 3 day stop over, not buying an apartment…

      • poor_me on 27/11/2024 - 12:57
        +4

        Hate to agree with JV but…

        Hawker centres food is definitely cheaper than Australia.

        Just plain sightseeing and shopping wasn't too bad. Hotel rooms may be smaller but price wise isn't much more than something comparable in Sydney CBD.

        • frondono on 27/11/2024 - 13:39
          +1

          It's going to be a minimum of $300 a night per room for anything decent.

    • bargaino on 27/11/2024 - 15:18

      OP can check the price of accommodation online. The rest is not so expensive.
      Family room in Geylang for $150/night?

      Langkawi is nice, but a world away from Singapore. How do you feel about exploring the island on rented scooters with kids on the back seat?

      Penang is also a good side-trip.

  • Zen on 27/11/2024 - 12:14
    +2

    It wont be cheap, but your kids will have a blast at Universal Studios Singapore and exploring Sentosa Island if you plan on staying there for 3 days, 2 nights.

    Malaysia hands down value for money, you can still fly via Singapore and cross the boarder to Malaysia and spend 3 days, 2 nights @ Legoland and surround in Johor Bahru.

    Either will be decent options just depending on your budget.

  • vinzchang on 27/11/2024 - 12:16

    Malaysia Genting theme park
    https://www.gentingskyworlds.com/en.html

  • JimB on 27/11/2024 - 12:24
    +1

    If you haven't done Singapore before, then go Singapore. 3 days won't break the bank.

    Malaysia/KL is also great but will take more time to explore as it's much larger.

  • MrThing on 27/11/2024 - 12:42

    Singapore for sure if you have never been before

    3 days is enough time to do and see all of Singapore

    but as mentioned Singapore is not cheap, Malaysia on the other hand is cheap (but you wont do all of Malaysia in 3 days, that's a whole holiday on its own)

  • scrimshaw on 27/11/2024 - 12:54
    +2

    . Which option is better (and value for money) for them during March-April 2025?

    Singaporeans often travel to Johor in Malaysia to enjoy the lower exchange rate and the drastically reduced costs of accom / entertainment / shopping, so if you're budget minded I would consider staying over at Malaysia for 3 days.

    Kuala Lumpur is the place to visit for all the family friendly attractions (e.g KLCC, which houses a Science centre and aquarium), and a Bird Park + Butterfly Park so it's probably the best place to stopover in Msia.

    the entirety of Singapore is very walkable and it's easy to get to places on foot, since it's a very dense island country you can visit all the major theme parks and museums just by taking the MRT and the occasional bus or Grab (ridesharing). There are heavily curated natural spaces like Gardens by the Bay / Botanic Garden and the Mandai Zoo will also take you perhaps 2 full days to properly explore.

    Singapore's main park, Sentosa can get pretty expensive, as you can see from their theme park entry passes. I'm sure their theme parks are better quality than Malaysia's but it will be a splurge and their accomodation is a little pricier too.

  • Ryanek on 27/11/2024 - 13:16
    +1

    Your kids will enjoy Universal Studios in Singapore.

    • montorola on 27/11/2024 - 15:32

      +1. I recommend the mummy ride at Universal. Went on it 3 times!

  • Benoffie on 27/11/2024 - 18:12
    +2

    Yes, Singapore blah blah but…

    If Malaysian are offering free internal flights, take them to Penang.

    1 - Penang + Adelaide = 🤝❤️ George Town is our sister city and is known as Little Adelaide for good reason - theyll get a little history lesson 😀

    2 - its a safe place, easy to get around and has a free bus

    3 - cheap local eats, quirky places theyll like (Munchkins Cat Cafe 🥹) and cheap shopping

  • aaronh001 on 28/11/2024 - 07:59
    +2

    Your kids are a great age for Legoland Malaysia:
    https://www.legoland.com.my/
    It's a fun park a bit more focused on kids that are your kids age. Also has a water park which is great for the hot weather. Staying at the hotel is great fun but not particularly cheap. My two boys loved it and we took them a 2nd time.

  • Emli on 28/11/2024 - 08:56
    +1

    Check out the hotel prices for the dates that you will be away and use that to start making your decision. We were in Singapore in June and August to connect to our flights to Europe. In June we paid $170 for a room without windows and the showerhead was 30cm away from the toilet.
    We are in Singapore at the moment for a few days and got a reasonable hotel special. Download the grab app, use public transport (will need four credit cards for this), buy snack at the ABC bargain outlet or fruit in Bugis markets. You have been here before and are aware of the attractions. Sentosa is crazy busy and I think overcommercialised.

    • focus123 on 28/11/2024 - 12:36

      Thanks for the hint on checking hotel accomodation

  • SlickMick on 28/11/2024 - 13:26

    Just don't get accommodation in one and try to visit the other, unless you want to waste 1/2 your time at the border crossing.
    We once accidentally booked accommodation in Malaysia and the taxi dropped us at the crossing and couldn't go any further.
    We had to exchange money with a tourist to get across the border, or we might still be stuck there.

    • kiitos on 28/11/2024 - 17:41

      What did you need cash got to cross the border? A visa?

      • SlickMick on 28/11/2024 - 17:55
        +1

        You have to take a bus to get from the entry point to other other side, and they only accept cash of the Malaysian variety

  • skillet on 28/11/2024 - 18:04
    +1

    I can guarantee you that Singapore is A LOT safer than Malaysia. No Malaysian will disagree with that.

    • montorola on 02/12/2024 - 14:21

      +1.

      I felt safer in Singapore than I do here in Australia lol

      • skillet on 03/12/2024 - 22:44
        +1

        Actually they have serious gangland problem in Singapore especially the Bishan otter gang. Their fight for territory can stop the whole nation.

        However this is nothing compared to the notorious otter gang in Malaysia which attacks human.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1nr8mOnZSI

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