New to Singapore

[DanielHoward]

Hi all – My name is Dan and I'm a 34 yo single professional male from the UK.

I am relocating to Singapore from the UK arriving on Friday 3rd Feb.

I am being moved by my company so have a work pass and everything organised but as I have never been to Singapore I am looking for help, advice and any suggestions to help with my first days/weeks in Singapore

I've been advise that short term room rental is better & cheaper than hotels when arrive???

Many thanks
Dan

[beppi]

Serviced apartments (which start at S$3500/month or so) are cheaper than a hotel room of the same size, but for a single person a cheap hotel (starting at S$60/night) is possibly a better deal.
Search this forum for recommendations!

[durain]

so your company got everything organised but not accomodation? are you on short term in singapore?

for long term, it would be best to stay in a hotel/serviced apartment for about 1 or 2 weeks to look for your long term accomodation. most long term accomodation carry a minimum 12 months contract.

[JR8]

Mr. ERA agent,

I'd vouch that your ar$e is going to get fried to well-done by the time the sun comes up!


Bwahahaha....

[ecureilx]

Mr. ERA agent,

I'd vouch that your ar$e is going to get fried to well-done by the time the sun comes up!


Bwahahaha....

oh blimey .. got your knickers in a twist .. yah .. didn't happen

Wake up, wake up .....

[DanielHoward]

Hey thanks everyone - My company has given me a relocation budget to spend as needed so allowing me to arrange my own accommodation...
My plan is definitely to get a short term (1 month) room rental in a shared house for when I arrive so I can take my time finding somewhere permenant that I like...

A couple of other things I would be grateful for tips on -
Bugs/insects - While they dont really bother me I would rather be prepared. Do I need to bring bug spray?

Also opening a bank account - Any tips on good banks that are favourable to new arrivals and is this process relatively easy?

Thanks
Dan...

[JR8]

Hey thanks everyone - My company has given me a relocation budget to spend as needed so allowing me to arrange my own accommodation...
My plan is definitely to get a short term (1 month) room rental in a shared house for when I arrive so I can take my time finding somewhere permenant that I like...

I have no idea what kind of standard of living you are used to, but I think by any definition a one month flatshare rental is going to be a dump. Did you read the tales of woe yesterday from someone trying to move into such a place?


A couple of other things I would be grateful for tips on -
Bugs/insects - While they dont really bother me I would rather be prepared. Do I need to bring bug spray?

No. Bugs, vaccinations, anti-malarials etc are things tourists do. For reasons I have yet to divine once you are resident in SE Asia none of the precautions are deemed necessary any more. Or at least followed. Once you live here for a while you will look a bit askew when you meet tourists dutifully taking their daily anti-malarials.

Slightly more seriously, on side-trips to places where there are mosquitos, you can buy decent repellant at destination much more cheaply than back in the UK.


Also opening a bank account - Any tips on good banks that are favourable to new arrivals and is this process relatively easy?

The opening process is very straightforward. This topic pops up reasonably often so try using the search function to research it. As I recall OCBC seems to get the highest plaudits for day to banking...

Thanks
Dan...

[DanielHoward]

Thanks again - I am looking in to OCBC.

Does anybody know anything about HSBC - Good or bad comments?

Dan...

[JR8]

Thanks again - I am looking in to OCBC.
Does anybody know anything about HSBC - Good or bad comments?
Dan...

My only experience with HSBC is that they seriously try and up-sell you. So if you want a straight forward chequeing account, don't be surprised to walk away with a 'Premiere account' with personal account manager, a few nick-nacks, a very pretty bank card or two, and oh yes a minimum balance of say S$100k, or big monthly fees.

I also found their fees in general very high.

p.s. What I will say is, open what ever banking facilities you are likely to need in the UK, before you leave. You cannot open a UK account or get a credit card once you are non-resident! Once you have them open, they're ok changing the address to abroad if you tell them you're only away a year or so.

How I rue not opening a plain-vanilla First Direct bank account before I left...

edit to add: you can do a specific search on HSBC too, it gets discussed from time to time...

[DanielHoward]

Thanks very much - I do currently have UK First Direct account so I'll leave that open...