AirAsia X Promotion 2013: Buy 1 Free 1 Promotion

Malaysia based long-haul budget airline AirAsia X offers some of the cheapest ways to fly cheap to distant cities from South East Asia. Based in Kuala Lumpur the airline also offers regular promotions. In this newest AirAsia X promotion named "Buy 1, Free 1", AirAsia X offers fares from as low as MYR 449 for 2 travelers in Economy, and MYR 1,698 in Premium from Kuala Lumpur to Australia (Perth, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide), China (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai,), Nepal (Kathmandu), Japan (Osaka), and Korea (Busan).

To enjoy the latest promotion you should book online until 6 October 2013. The promotional flight tickets are for travel period from 1 October 2013 to 23 January 2014 and terms and conditions apply.

This is not the first time AirAsia X offered "Buy 1 Free 1" promotion. The previous one was in high demand. Travelers can pair up with friends or loved ones and take this opportunity to plan their holiday getaway to our X-citing long-haul destinations as well as our Fly-thru destinations across the AirAsia network.

Also available are Buy 1 Free 1 Fly Thru destinations. AirAsia X’s passengers are now able to connect via Kuala Lumpur to exotic destinations such as Penang, Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, Chennai, Jakarta, and many more wonderful destinations.

You can enjoy the promotion with 3 simple steps.

AirAsia X is aiming to stimulate demand for both their fly-thru destinations and destinations between the AirAsia X’s long-haul networks. Promotional deals like this would allow greater access for friends, families, couples and even business travelers to a myriad of holiday and business destination choices and open up opportunities for guests to plan multiple holiday getaways.

AirAsia X was the first long-haul, low fare carrier to introduce Premium Flatbed seats, which have standard business class specifications of 20” width, 60” pitch and stretch out to 77” in full recline position.

The Premium flatbeds feature universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen. Premium seat guests also enjoy premium complimentary products and services including Pick A Seat, Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage, 25kg Baggage Allowance, Complimentary Meal and Pillow & Duvet. 

Tigerair flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1

Singapore based budget carrier Tigerair Singapore currently flies to 28 destinations in 12 countries within an approximate five-hour radius from Singapore. The airline flies to cities in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Cambodia and Taiwan.

It was one of my most popular budget airline before I repeatedly had some problems with Singapore Budget Terminal counter staff. Since Budget Terminal is history and Tigerair now flies from Singapore Changi Terminal 2, I have started to use it again.

Tigerair Singapore departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 (T2) to many destinations. Here is the list of these destinations offered by Tigerair. Also below you can see Tigerair destinations map (map also shows the cities served by Tigerair Australia, Tigerair Philippines and Mandala Airlines) :

From Singapore to Bangkok (Thailand)
From Singapore to Krabi (Thailand)
From Singapore to Phuket (Thailand)
From Singapore to Bandung (Indonesia)
From Singapore to Jakarta (Indonesia)
From Singapore to Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
From Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
From Singapore to Penang (Malaysia)
From Singapore to Bangalore (India)
From Singapore to Chennai (India)
From Singapore to Bangalore (India)
From Singapore to Chennai (India)
From Singapore to Hyderabad (India)
From Singapore to Kochi (India)
From Singapore to Thiruvananthapuram (India)
From Singapore to Tiruchirapalli (India)
From Singapore to Cebu (Philippines)
From Singapore to Manila (Philippines)
From Singapore to Guangzhou (China)
From Singapore to Haikou (China)
From Singapore to Hong Kong (China)
From Singapore to Macau (China)
From Singapore to Shenzhen (China)
From Singapore to Hanoi (Vietnam)
From Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
From Singapore to Perth (Australia)
From Singapore to Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
From Singapore to Taipei (Taiwan)
From Singapore to Yangon (Myanmar)

Tigerair and sister companies destination map

iPrice Coupons in Singapore and Hong Kong

Are you looking for new ways to save money in Singapore and Hong Kong? Now, you have one more option to check. iPrice Coupons has started services in Singapore and Hong Kong. The online coupon site is also active in Indonesia (iprice.co.id), Vietnam (iprice.vn), the Philippines (iprice.ph) and its “home market” Malaysia (iprice.my).

iPrice Coupons is targeting increased online coupon discount demand in Singapore and Hong Kong. In these markets, coupon sites are not only used to enjoy huge savings up to 60-80% in relatively cheap items, they are also used for savings in relatively luxurious items such as yacht tours, cruises, luxury travel destinations and 5-star hotel stays.

According to iPrice Coupons, one really interesting and supporting fact for a product launch in Hong Kong and Singapore is the state of development of online markets and the online consumers:

With regards to the rest of SEA, consumers in Hong Kong and Singapore are by far the most developed internet users with a comparably high internet penetration rate. That makes them also ready for the next step of e-commerce, where consumers become picky and price sensitive and also step into a state where they would like to bargain prices. Bargaining which definitely also is part of the cultural roots of the trader folks in Singapore and Hong Kong, is usually not possible in the online sphere. iPrice Coupons is bringing back this option and translating it into the online world. The option to save money through the best bargaining skills gets replaced by their service for the best deals, coupons and vouchers, enabling a broad crowd of savvy online shoppers to take advantage of cheaper prices and at the same time allowing brands and retailers to target this highly qualified traffic through a new distribution channel.About iPrice Coupons:

iPrice Coupons Hong Kong (iprice.hk) and iPrice Coupons Singapore (iprice.sg) as well as its other local sites are aiming to become the most powerful and useful couponing network in South East Asia. The above mentioned vision of becoming an additional digital distribution channel for companies and an enabler for customers to essentially save money during online shopping and finding the most recent deals and discounts on the net is deeply based in the roots of iPrice Coupons. For retailers and brands iPrice Coupons offers a platform to reach the growing, savvy online crowd with exclusive partnerships for coupon codes and discount vouchers. Some of its partners are Accor Hotels, Qoo10, Expedia, Zalora and Lazada which have their own store section on iPrice Coupons.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in Singapore

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 32 GB version is released in Singapore on September 28th 2013 with a price tag of  $1,048 without a 2-year contract. The new Samsung Phablet is be available in Classic White and Jet Black at all telecommunication operators, major consumer electronics stores and Samsung Experience Stores. No telco contract plan and prices are announced yet. The phablet, which is one of the first next generation handsets, is launched in Singapore a day before on September 27th. All 3 telcos, SingTel, StarHub and M1 have launched Samsung Galaxy Note 3 yesterday.

Singaporeans have shown a great interest to Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Hundreds braved the rain, and one person even started queuing from 4:30 am this morning, just to get their hands on the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone and Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

Samsung has announced Samsung Galaxy Note 3 early this month at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) trade show in Berlin along with a brand new Galaxy Gear smartwatch and Note 10.1 tablet. Samsung Note 3 phablet which comes with 5.7-inch screen with full HD display looks like a slim version of Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Note III comes in six colors, including pink, orange, blue, white, green and black and can record video in 4K quality or 1080p at 60 frames per second.

Release date of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in Singapore was correctly speculated to be as early as the end of September 2013:

The chaebol will be unveiling its new Galaxy Note phablet at its IFA 2013 event held in Berlin, and according to tech site HardwareZone, which is claiming reliable insider sources, the handset will be available for sale on September 27 in Singapore. Other reports also seem to indicate a global launch on Sep 27, so we wouldn't be too surprised if this is true.
Source : Samsung Galaxy Note 3 set for Sep 27 in Singapore?

Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Photo - Samsung Mobile Singapore

Cheap flights from Singapore to Yangon by Tigerair

Singapore based budget airline Tigerair will commence daily flights to Yangon Myanmar from Singapore Changi Airport from 1 October 2013 onward. The 3 hours flight to Myanmar's largest city which is booming with business and leisure travelers holds good promise of becoming the centre of trade, connecting Southeast Asia with countries in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Yangon was a British colonial capital and holds a relatively untouched and rich heritage which can best seen in its architecture of a bygone era. The city has the highest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia, such as the former High Court, Secretariat buildings, Strand Hotel and St. Paul’s English High School. Visitors to Yangon can also expect to take in a myriad of sights and sounds in popular spiritual and tourist destinations such as the Karaweik Palace, Shwedagon Pagoda and the temples of Bagan, the city’s green parks and gardens and museums that offer good insights into the history and culture of Myanmar. They can also enjoy a variety of flavorful Burnese fare that has been inspired by a mix of Chinese, Indian and Thailand cuisine.

Cheap flights between Singapore and Yangon will be increasingly in demand thanks to increased business and leisure interest for Yangon from Singapore and Singapore from Yangon. Because of the vast opportunities, Yangon is becoming a popular destination for businessmen from Singapore. It is also fast becoming an attractive tourism spot for Singapore residents, drawing a constant stream of visitors to its rich heritage. On the other hand Singapore is also increasingly becoming popular business and leisure destination from Myanmar. There are currently 50,000 strong Burmese community in Singapore and the flights will also benefit them.

Low cost airline Tigerair (formerly Tiger Airways) operates services to regional destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia, China and India from its main base at Singapore Changi Airport. It usually flies to destinations within 5-hours flight distance from Singapore.

Maeda Atsuko and Onoe Matsuya dating

Former AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko (22) and kabuki actor Onoe Matsuya (28) are dating since the start of this year according to those who know the two. Matsuya has already introduced Maeda to his mother, and Maeda has also informed her mother about their relationship.

Atsuko Maeda is a Japanese singer and actress who was one of the most prominent members in Japanese idol group AKB48. She has "graduated" from AKB48 in August 2012 and has since continued with a solo singing and acting career. AKB48 forces love ban on its members so since last year she is also free from the ban.

Fans of former top idol turned actress Maeda Atsuko, known as Acchan to them, seem to not know Matsuya a lot but says whatever makes Acchan happy is fine.

Some fans seem to not be able to accept to come back to planet earth from the dreamworld created by AKB48:

Such a heartbreaking news for me as Aachan's admirer. I still cant believe it and cant think straight to face the fact that Aachan is dating a "Guy", and she's not a virgin anymore cause of this guy. I feel like myheart my soul and my body are broken into pieces. I'm so heartbroken. U might think i'm weird or whatever. But seriously, I'm in love with her eventho she doesnt know I'm exist :'( hope i can "move on" soon
A fan of Maeda Atsuko commenting on dating news

Maeda Atsuko and Onoe Matsuya dating

Cheap flights to Maldives and Colombo with AirAsia X

Malaysia based low-cost, long-haul airline AirAsia X is launching flights to Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Male (Maldives) on 28 September 2013. Airline will fly from Kuala Lumpur to Maldives and Sri Lanka 4 times a week and is offering cheap flight deals from as low as MYR 219 on Economy and MYR 959 on Premium to Colombo and from as low as MYR 399 on Economy and MYR959 on Premium to Male from Kuala Lumpur. Bookings are available online until 29 September 2013 for travel between 28 September 2013 and 29 March 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “We are excited to announce our latest route to Colombo as well as to the capital city of Maldives that is Male. Our guests may now fly to Sri Lanka to take in the rich flavours and cultures that Colombo has to offer, and also to Maldives for a quick scenic and relaxing getaway. Both places have their very own unique charm and we are pleased to offer our guests more destination choices for their travel and holiday getaways.”

“What’s unique about this new route is that, guests may opt to hop on our flights to Sri Lanka, or continue on to Maldives or fly direct to Maldives and vice versa from the Kuala Lumpur hub. With greater connectivity, more of our guests would be able to experience the crystalline blue waters of Male and experience the natural beauty of lush greens in Colombo and its surrounding regions. We are confident that these two new routes will stimulate new travel demand and boost tourism and business potential for us and the two countries,” concluded Azran.

AirAsia X is the medium and long-haul operation of the brand AirAsia, which is Asia's largest low-cost carrier. It operates flights from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne (Avalon), Newcastle, Gold Coast, Manchester, London (Stanstead), Prague, Moscow, Bahrain, Dubai (Sharjah), Amritsar, Tianjin, Cheongju, Hangzhou, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.  

High demand for serviced apartments in Singapore

There are 36 serviced apartments in Singapore as of end August 2013 according to Colliers International. And demand for their collective supply of 4070 apartments units is just booming. And the increased demand is coming from nontraditional sources.

Traditionally, relocation and long-term corporate assignments have driven demand for serviced apartments in Singapore. Recent years, corporate demand for short term stays are in rise. Companies have discovered that accommodating a small project team on a short term assignment here in a serviced apartment in Singapore is much cheaper and convenient than accommodating them in separate rooms. Serviced apartments not only provide these folks separate rooms to sleep in, it also provides common living areas to work together.

And it is not only the business folks discovering advantages of staying in serviced apartments:

At the same time, leisure travellers – who typically stayed in hotels – are increasingly considering serviced apartments as a viable accommodation option as they become more aware of the convenience and benefits including cost savings of staying in a serviced apartment, especially for those travelling in larger groups, with families and/or for longer periods. 

Indirectly, the greater ease and convenience of making travel arrangements via the internet using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets has also helped the hospitality industry, including the serviced apartment segment, to capture more corporate and leisure business. Other demand sources include incoming expatriates who stayed in serviced apartments for at least a month while seeking more permanent accommodation in Singapore, and to a lesser extent, local residents who stayed in serviced apartments while renovating their homes or for other reasons requiring temporary accommodation. 

A portion of the demand for serviced apartments was also driven by repeat guests or those who have experience staying in a serviced apartment, whether in Singapore or elsewhere in the world.
Source : Welcome to My Home-Away-From-Home"

Serviced Apartment - Hotel Hybrids in Singapore
As the type of demand for serviced apartments is changing, new types of serviced apartments are emerging. These are serviced apartments with hotel licences which have no restriction on minimum stay and can rent out their apartment units on daily basis. There are currently three serviced apartments with hotel licences supplying a total of 639 serviced apartment units: 146-key Ascott Raffles Place Singapore, which opened in 2008; the 313-unit Capri by Fraser Changi City, a new hotel-residence brand by Frasers Hospitality located in Changi Business Park (CBP) which commenced business in 2012; and the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road which started operating in May 2013 with 180 suites.

Ascott Raffles Place Singapore offers serviced apartments which can be rented on daily basis.

Another departure from the typical serviced apartment model, was the opening of The Club at Capella Singapore in 2009, which offers 62 sea-facing suites, 10 penthouses and nine manors. According to Colliers International Not only is this Singapore’s first and only serviced apartment development on Sentosa, it is also the first serviced apartment to offer a stand-alone villa-style serviced apartment option, instead of the usual apartment-style units seen on the main Singapore island.

The Club at Capella Singapore is Singapore’s first and only serviced apartment development on Sentosa.

First hotel in Hong Kong adopts Mobile Key Check-in Service

Regal Hotels is the first hotel chain in Hong Kong offering “iclub Mobile Key Check-in” service at its iClub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel, a new select-service hotel to be opened first quarter of 2014. With the innovative mobile key technology, guests will be given the options to use mobile device for check-in service or traditional key card or both to access their guestroom. The technology provides guest with convenience of accessing their hotel rooms using their mobile device that will automatically unlock the door, completely by-passing the front desk, and possible check-in queue.

When guests are booked on the Regal Website and register for the mobile key check-in service, on the day of arrival, the guest will receive a text message on their mobile device giving details of their room number. Upon arriving the guestroom, the guest simply needs to call that number and an audio signal will be played back, which will be detected by a sensor to open the door. Mobile key check-in service is available to both smartphone and non-smartphone user.

You can watch a demo video of using mobile key below. The technology is the sole proprietary of Openways, an access and security solutions provider and distributed by DOCOMO interTouch, a leading Japanese technology company.

Along with the soon to be opened iclub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel, this mobile key check-in service will also be extended to the iclub by Regal Tin Hau Hotel and iclub by Regal Soho Hotel, both hotels are under construction.


Ms. Belinda Yeung, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Regal Hotels International said “We understand that busy business travelers are looking for travel convenience and dislike queuing up for check-in.  We are proud to be the first hotel in Hong Kong offering such service, providing our guests with the convenience and innovative service.”

The advanced mobile key check-in service will be firstly implemented in iclub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel, which will be opened in the first quarter of 2014. Under the management of Regal Hotels International, iclub by Regal Sheung Wan Hotel is a select-service hotel that centrally located amidst Hong Kong’s famed Sheung Wan District, it provides smoke-free environmental with 248 chic and trendy guestrooms and suites. The hotel will be available for reservations end of 2013. Check out Regal Hotels or iclub by Regal at www.regalhotel.com.

Hong Kong Airport Hotel - Regal Airport Hotel

Regal Airport Hotel is the only airport hotel connected directly to the passenger terminal of Hong Kong International Airport by an enclosed, air-conditioned link bridge. This Hong Kong airport hotel is awarded the Best Airport Hotel in the World 2012 for 5 consecutive years. With sophisticated transportation networks, the Regal Airport Hotel is just 23 minutes from the business, financial and shopping district of Central via the Airport Express Line (AEL). The super-speed AEL brings you to the AsiaWorld-Expo in one minute or you can take a five minute walk through the direct footpath connection, while the nearby Hong Kong Disneyland is within an easy access by the hotel limousine and public transportation.

Regal Airport Hotel provides superb accommodations with 1,171 rooms, state-of-the-art meeting and banquet facilities including Hong Kong’s largest pillar-less hotel ballroom and 30 function rooms, authentic cuisines with 6 restaurants and bar, and a complete range of recreational facilities including outdoor and indoor swimming pools and a luxurious spa facility. For a quick stop in Hong Kong, you cannot go wrong with Regal Airport Hotel.

The hotel is one of 6 luxury hotels operated by Regal Hotels International, one of the largest hotel operators in Hong Kong with 9,300 guestrooms and suites and 100 restaurants and bars under its portfolio. Regal Hotels International currently operates 6 hotels in Hong Kong, 4 in Shanghai and 1 in Chengdu, Shandong and Guiyang, China.

Hong Kong Airport Hotel - Regal Airport Hotel

Being within walking distance to airport, this is the nearest hotel to Hong Kong International Airport. It is quite convenient especially for late night arrivals to Hong Kong.

You can check reviews of Regal Airport Hotel here in hotelscombined page. For latest prices, promotions and flash deals you can check Agoda.com.

Refer here for other hotels near Hong Kong International Airport.

Budget flights from Singapore to Hong Kong by Scoot

Looking for cheap flights to Hong Kong from Singapore? Singapore based long haul budget airline Scoot is expanding its network with addition of flights to Hong Kong from Singapore on November 15th. The new service, for which the tickets will go on sale from 09:00 AM on September 30, will start as five times weekly and is planned to be ramped up to daily flights in December.

The budget flights will depart from Singapore Changi International Airport at 01:30 and arrive to Hong Kong International Airport at 05.25. Return flights from Hong Kong will depart at 06.50 and touch down in Singapore at 10.35. All these plans are subject to government approval.

“Scoot is thrilled to fly between Singapore and Hong Kong, linking these two exciting and vibrant cities" said Campbell Wilson, CEO of Scoot. "Singapore travelers love Hong Kong for its distinctive cuisine and unique shopping experience. With Scoot’s low fares, you’ll have plenty of cash left in your wallet to indulge in Hong Kong’s dim sum delights. And once you’re fuelled up, you can exercise away those extra calories with a day of unbeatable shopping options. For the budget-conscious traveler, flying with Scoot is an easy choice to make. Whatever your travel plans are in Hong Kong, Scoot is delighted to be a part of it. Soak up the Scootitude flying experience the moment you step onto our aircraft and find out why flying Scoot is such a unique travel adventure. It’s time to start Scootin’ outta here to Hong Kong!”

Scoot operates medium and long haul budget flights between Singapore and Sydney, Gold Coast, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Tianjin, Shenyang, Nanjing, Qingdao and Seoul, with Hong Kong commencing shortly. 

AirAsia Loyalty Programme BIG in Singapore

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia's loyalty program named BIG allows travellers to accumulate loyalty points to be redeemed later for free AirAsia flights and other AirAsia add-ons such as baggage and Hot Seats.
AirAsia has expanded its loyalty programme, BIG, to Singapore. The program is now expanded to Singapore where BIG has also partnered with local giants, DBS Bank and StarHub, where customers from both brands can also convert their reward points to BIG Points for redemption.

The AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme was launched in Malaysia back in November 2011, followed by Indonesia a month later; and Thailand in February 2012. Through alliances with the partners at the various markets, the programme has vaulted to more than 700,000 members globally comprising 150 nationalities, and is expecting to quadruple its revenues this year. The Programme is also venturing into new markets such as China, India and the Philippines.

AirAsia BIG’s CEO Alice Goh said, “With an exhaustive and growing list of over 70 regional partners, representing more than 1,500 brands in the retail, financial and travel industry such as Petronas and CIMB Bank in Malaysia, Bangkok Bank and Central in Thailand, Bank Mandiri and Indosat in Indonesia and now, DBS and StarHub in Singapore, it is evident that BIG is evolving rapidly in the ASEAN market. AirAsia BIG is more than just a frequent flyer programme; it is the only regional frequent flyer program that makes travel even more attainable to our customers. Our Big Shots can redeem any seat across Asia that is available on AirAsia and redemptions can start from as low as 10 BIG Points. Big Shots can also top up any redemption with cash as long as they have a minimum of 500 BIG Points.”

Sim S. Lim, Singapore Country Head, DBS Bank, said, “We are pleased to partner AirAsia to bring greater travel benefits and convenience to our 4.5 million customers. The ability to leverage insights and form strategic partnerships that help to cater to the lifestyle preferences of our customers are reasons why they choose to bank with DBS. With this latest collaboration, our cardmembers will now be able to enjoy affordable travel with one of Asia’s fastest growing low cost carrier as part of our holistic rewards offering.”

DBS’ cardmembers will be able to convert DBS Rewards Points to Big Points or choose to earn 3% cash rebates when they purchase AirAsia flights using their POSB Everyday credit card.

Tan Tong Hai, CEO of StarHub added, “StarHub wants to actively seek new and innovative ways to say 'thank you' to our loyal customers. Travel is a big part of the lives of consumers in Singapore, and we’re very happy to collaborate with AirAsia BIG to bring the world closer to our customers whereby they can convert their StarHub Rewards Points to BIG Points to redeem free AirAsia flights. This addition to our loyalty programme has been warmly welcomed, and we will continue to reward our customers with exclusive merchant privileges that are highly relevant and sought after. Establishing strategic partnerships with strong brands is a key focus for StarHub. This is only the beginning of our partnership with AirAsia, and we hope to deliver more delightful surprises to our customers soon.”

 Big Shots in Singapore can now earn points flying on AirAsia and converting their DBS Rewards Points and StarHub Rewards Points to BIG Points. From as low as 100 BIG Points which is the equivalent of less than Sin$50 spent on StarHub services or 35 DBS Rewards Points earned on DBS credit cards, Big Shots can redeem a flight to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Phuket and more. Likewise, for less than Sin$2,000 spent on StarHub services or 1,700 DBS Rewards Points earned on DBS Credit Cards, BIG Shots can redeem a flight to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne or Gold Coast flying out from Kuala Lumpur, which are as low as 5000 BIG Points on promotion. Terms and conditions apply.

To celebrate AirAsia BIG’s launch in Singapore, AirAsia BIG and our partners have great offers to reward BIG Shots. From 23rd September to 20th October 2013, BIG Shots who register with DBS, or convert through StarHub Rewards Programme with AirAsia BIG for the first time, will receive 500 BIG Points to start him on his journey of experiencing an AirAsia BIG redemption for himself or herself.

 Also, during this celebration period, StarHub customers can enjoy five times more BIG Points when they convert their StarHub Rewards Points. Furthermore, AirAsia BIG will double the number of points a BIG Shot earns when booking a flight originating from Singapore or converting on either DBS’ or StarHub’s points conversion programmes with AirAsia BIG during this period.

The AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme is borderless and open to anyone aged two and above anywhere in the world. Membership is free for those who opt to go without the physical BIG Card.

1888 Hotel in Sydney offers free stay for Instagram celebrities

Do you have 10,000 plus Instagram followers? Then you can stay in this Sydney hotel for free. 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont Sydney is offering free one night stay for those who has 10,000+ followers in Instagram. The hotel, named after the year Kodak released its first box and roll camera, is designed to be instagram-worthy and is one of the most instagrammable hotel in the world.

According to 1888 Hotel's instagram page the deal is only for the first 50 to redeem it.

1888 Hotel is 1 month old and using Instagram to market itself. According to Mashable when you walk into the boutique hotel, you're greeted by a revolving digital mural of Instagram images, and a selfie space to snap a photo of yourself as you check in. More than 100 guest-shot Instagram photos adorn the five-story space's 90 rooms.

Rated as Fantastic (8.5 points / 10) by travelers in Agoda.com, 1888 Boutique Hotel usually receives positive reviews:

"I booked this hotel as I was looking for somewhere close to the Sydney Convention Centre. This was just newly listed and I am so glad I tried it as it by far exceeded my expectations. The staff went that bit further for you each time they met you. The cosy relaxing ambience of the place made you feel like you didn't want to leave. Very efficient service with everything and the rooms were amazing."

1888 Hotel - Photo : Mashable

Parkroyal on Pickering is Hotel of the Year

PARKROYAL on Pickering Hotel in Singapore has been named as Hotel of the Year by World Architecture News in the prestigious annual WAN Awards.  The judging panel selected WOHA designed PARKROYAL on Pickering as joint-winners of this year’s award, alongside The Raas Hotel in Rajasthan, India.

In their recent press release, World Architecture News announced that there had been a rare global spread of entries for ‘Hotel of the Year’ longlist, and after much deliberation, the panel decided to declare joint-winners for this year’s award.

PARKROYAL on Pickering was awarded the highest possible accolade for its “lush gardens that seem to spill like a waterfall of greenery into the surrounding metropolis” and described by the judging panel as a garden of ‘warmth and vitality’ floating through Singapore’s canyon of concrete.

The 367-room PARKROYAL on Pickering was conceptualised with established developer UOL and designed by internationally acclaimed Singapore architectural firm WOHA.  The design concept was inspired by the PARKROYAL brand’s promise to give their guests a ‘Local Connection’ to the environment around them. It features a stunning hotel-in-a-garden concept with energy-saving elements incorporated throughout the building. Its 15,000 square metres of lush sky gardens, planter terraces, waterfalls and cascading vertical greenery comprise twice its land area. The hotel’s green features include rainwater harvesting, automatic sensors to regulate energy and water usage, and solar cells that power landscape lighting.

Parkroyal on Pickering Hotel in Singapore

To date, PARKROYAL on Pickering’s sustainable project design and green efforts have already earned it the BCA Green Mark Platinum, Singapore’s highest green rating, as well as the Solar Pioneer Award for its innovative solar energy system. The award also follows on from PARKROYAL on Pickering’s recent finalist status in the Luxury/Upscale Hotel section, in the Hospitality Design Awards 2013.  The HD Awards honour the very best in hospitality design, from hotels and resorts to restaurants and bars.

JEM ceiling collapse injures 3

Update: A day after JEM ceiling collapse, the mall is closed until further notice. According to inspections by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), there was a leak in the water-pipe and the weight of the water, which collected on the false ceiling, was a likely cause of the false ceiling collapse. BCA has ordered the building owner to close off the affected area and to get a professional engineer to check all the false ceilings in the mall and investigate the nature of the false ceiling collapse. The building owner has also asked its consultants to check the water pipes for any other signs of leakage.

JEM Mall's first floor ceiling collapsed due to a burst water pipeline and injured two yesterday night at 10:15 PM.

"I was walking and heard a loud sound coming from behind me. When I turned around, the ceiling just fell to the floor and water gushed out" a witness said. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said three people suffered minor injuries and had to be taken to hospital.

"I actually heard a very loud bump sound. I actually ran there because I saw everybody running. So when I got there, I saw the whole ceiling (at level two) collapsed... there was water rushing out of the pipes" another witness said.

Jem (Chinese: 裕廊东广场) is a suburban mall situated in Jurong East, Singapore. JEM is the first lifestyle hub in western Singapore with integration of shopping, entertainment and residence at the same location.
The mall is also directly connected to Jurong East MRT station and close to Jurong East Bus Interchange.

JEM ceiling collapse - Photo: The Straits Times

JEM ceiling collapse is the 3rd incident in the brand new mall in Jurong East. Last month, a deep fryer at NTUC FairPrice Xtra cought fire and 3 employees in the shop were injured. In another incident, a Nissan saloon caught fire in JEM's carpark last month. Jem's official opening was initially to be on 11 June 2013 but due to tenant permit issues, the opening of the mall was delayed.

Zhou Xun pregnant?

Tabloids in Chinese speaking part of the world have reported that Chinese actress and singer Zhou Xun (周迅) is pregnant after they have "seen" a baby bump and a source close to the couple allegedly confirmed they are expecting a child. According to some sources she has been seen toasting with water instead of wine (pregnant women are supposed to not drink wine). Zhou Xun is dating Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai.

38 years old actress has neither confirmed nor denied the pregnancy rumours. These rumours just came after Zhou Xun's engagement rumours to her boyfriend:

On Monday morning (September 16, 2013) the Chinese Sun-Times reported Zhou Xun and boyfriend, to be shopping for engagement rings.The couple was seen closely eyeing some pricey bling in a couple of major jewelry stores — especially major diamond baubles that could only be described as the kind usually slipped on a woman’s left-hand ring finger.
Source : Zhou Xun Engaged?

In fact, Chinese tabloids have even reported that she has secretly married but later story was confirmed to be wrong.

Zhou Xun

Zhou Xun is regarded as one of the "Four Dan actresses" (四大花旦) in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.

SingTel iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C Contract Price Plans and Launch Date in Singapore

SingTel, the largest mobile network operator in Singapore, has announced launch dates for Apple's new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C models along with price plans. SingTel's launch event will be on Friday September 20th and start 8 am at Exhibition Hall E in Basement 2 of the Marina Bay Sands.

iPhone 5S 32 GB model is priced at 668 SGD,  16 GB model is priced at 538 SGD and 64 GB model is priced at 818 SGD with SingTel Lite plan of 39.9 SGD per month while all models (16 GB/32 GB/64 GB) will be free with the Prestige price plan of 239.5 SGD per month.

iPhone 5C 16 GB model is priced at 318 SGD and 32 GB model is priced at 538 SGD with SingTel Lite plan of 39.9 SGD per month while all models (16 GB/32 GB) will be free with the Prestige price plan of 239.5 SGD per month.

Apple has recently released these quite disappointing models and although iPhone 5S is almost same with iPhone 5 and supposedly cheap model iPhone 5C is not cheap expect some queues in SingTel's launch event. If you are interested in these two iPhone models you can book an appointment online to purchase iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c at the launch event from 4pm onwards on Wednesday, Sept 18.

For customers who have registered, you will receive an email and/or SMS from SingTel that enables you to book an appointment with them to secure your iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

SingTel iPhone 5S Price Plans
	Lite $39.9/month	Value $59.9/month	Plus $99.9/month	Prestige $239.9/month
16 GB	$538	$278	$48	$0
32 GB	$668	$368	$128	$0
64 GB	$818	$528	$278	$0

SingTel iPhone 5C Price Plans
	Lite $39.9/month	Value $59.9/month	Plus $99.9/month	Prestige $239.9/month
16 GB	$318	$118	$0	$0
32 GB	$538	$238	$28	$0

Other telcos has not announced the price plans yet. StarHub on September 11th announced it will offer iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to customers beginning on Friday, September 20.

AirAsia Promotion 2013: 1 Million Free Seats

Popular budget airline AirAsia is offering 1 Million Free Seats promotion for booking period of 17 September 2013 until 22 September 2013. All the tickets are for travel period from 7 January 2014 to 5 August 2014.The promotion is for AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, Johor, Alor Setar, Bintulu, Kota Bharu, Kuala erengganu, Labuan, Langkawi, Miri, Sandakan, Sibu, Tawau, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Jakarta, Bali, Medan, ...

Here are the AirAsia promotional flights from Singapore Changi Airport (with airport fees and taxes):

From Singapore to Bali RM 148.00
From Singapore to Bandung RM 183.00
From Singapore to Jakarta RM 183.00
From Singapore to Makassar RM 148.00
From Singapore to Medan – Kualanamu RM 129.00
From Singapore to Semarang RM 202.00
From Singapore to Surabaya RM 202.00
From Singapore to Yogyakarta  RM 202.00
From Singapore to Kota Kinabalu RM 175.00
From Singapore to Kuala Lumpur RM 110.00
From Singapore to Kuching RM 123.00
From Singapore to Langkawi RM 156.00
From Singapore to Miri RM 142.00
From Singapore to Penang RM 123.00
From Singapore to Bangkok – Don Mueang RM 175.00
From Singapore to Phuket RM 156.00

Visit AirAsia web page for the promotion.

California Fitness Singapore launches CXWORX

Busy Singaporeans can now achieve a svelte body in just 30 minutes with an exercise regimen that comes with its own sleek moves. California Fitness is launching the internationally popular CXWORX at their Raffles Club on 22 September 2013.

CXWORX, originally called CX30, was launched by the Les Mills Group in 2011 and was hailed as groundbreaking. It is one of the few exercise programs that is backed by scientific research that got the fitness industry to rethink their approach to core muscle training. Traditionally, core exercises involved working isolated areas such as the upper and lower muscles. It has always been thought that working other muscles together with the core will reduce the benefits. But Dr. Jinger Gottschall, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University, found that an integrated multiple-muscle approach was able to achieve greater activation across the core.

Core training is one of the most popular fitness trends in the industry. It is the exercise prescribed to improve functional strength. The core plays a significant role in transferring power from legs to upper body and is key to preventing back injury. Tightening and toning the core will reduce the occurrence of lower back pain. Studies show that eight in 10 people will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives.


CXWORX 
CXWORX uses core training principles to tighten and tone the abs and butts and at the same time targets back, obliques and the muscular ‘slings’ that runs diagonally connecting the upper and lower body from shoulder to hip. The moves are purposefully designed to target specific areas at high intensity so that you get the maximum benefits in the minimum time. It is suitable for adults of all fitness levels. CXWORX uses elastic tubing to provide just the right resistance during functional movements. It improves functional strength for balance, mobility and injury prevention all in 30-minute sessions. Paired with hi-energy music, the sessions have been described as mentally and physically challenging, but inspiring and fun as well.

"As leaders in the fitness industry, we are constantly looking out for new and effective fitness programs for our members. When California Fitness came across CXWORX, we immediately saw it as a natural fit to our range of fitness classes in our club", said Mr Anthony Pan, Senior Vice President of Singapore and Shanghai. "CXWORX is an all-round efficient core workout that builds a strong mid section. Our instructors are fully certified to run the program. We have the best facilities and environment for anyone to enjoy the class with the best returns on health and fitness."

Cheap Bus Tickets Promotion for Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Trip During September

BusOnlineTicket.com is recognized for their low prices and convenient service. Now, an even less expensive option for the country hill resort destination of Cameron Highlands is being offered by the premier travel website. Travelers can book tickets for a bus to Cameron Highlands with a 5% discount during September.

“We want to encourage travel to this popular destination during the low season. Therefore, we are giving a great discount for our premier travel,” stated a representative from BusOnlineTicket.com.

BusOnlineTicket.com is a straightforward website that gives travelers an easy experience while searching for bus tickets. The website displays an easy-to-use search box located on the home page. Tickets for a bus to Cameron Highlands can be booked through three dependable bus operators. Various payment options are accepted by the premier bus ticket provider in the form of Malaysian Ringgits or Singapore dollars, providing a smooth process for their customers. The company also creates ease by not requiring printed tickets for travel.

The website houses many services for travelers. While purchasing tickets for a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands, customers can search for hotel rooms. Also on the website are various links to trusted travel guides that display information about travel throughout Malaysia.

Cheap Bus Tickets Promotion for Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands

Tourists can book bus tickets for travel to several destinations throughout Malaysia and Singapore. BusOnlineTicket.com has partnered with various dependable coaches in order to offer routes at great prices with comfortable and safe travel conditions. BusOnlineTicket.com is constantly improving their service to offer quality travel experiences to their customers. They also work to expand their services to include popular destinations and vacation spots. Loyal customers can join their miles program, BOT Miles, and receive reward points and discounts.

Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Budget airline JetStar will have 3 Boeing 787 Dreamliners by the end of 2013 and by 2015, it will use only 787 on its long-haul flights. Airline is planning to fly the Boeing 787 within selected domestic routes within Australia from November, before moving onto international services in December. Jetstar will be the first airline in Australia and New Zealand to fly the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

These three Boeing 787-8s due for Jetstar out of a total order of 14 for Qantas. 787's will eventually replace all Airbus A330s used on international routes of JetStar. JetStar is offering long-haul budget flights in Asia-Pacific region.

The 787 Dreamliner offers an new flying experience. The airctraft is roomier, with higher ceilings and easy-to-reach overhead lockers that are designed to slope upwards and out of the way. the noise footprint is 60% lower than similarly sized aircraft, so it’s quieter for both passengers and those on the ground. Quieter airconditioning and carefully selected interior materials reduce vibrations and cabin noise. Cabin windows are 30% larger than on similarly sized letting in more light and giving everyone a view outside. Windows can be dimmed or darkened with the push of a button.

Every seat in JetStar Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be equipped with a touch-screen inflight entertainment system, which provides movies on demand, games and seat-to-seat chat. Every seat will have a USB and power socket for charging personal electronic devices.

A Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner seen here in paintshop in Seattle. This plane
will be Australia's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Also expect smoother rides with the Dreamliner because the aircraft employs a new system that senses turbulence as it comes and counters it using wing-control surfaces.

You can subscribe to Jetmail and JetStar will email you about special exclusive offers, sales fares and very latest news on Dreamliner. Visit jetstar.com/dreamliner.

More hostels in Singapore as demand for cheap stay increases

A hotel room in Singapore costs on average $261 per night. So demand for hostels in Singapore is (not suprisingly) high. As of July 2013 there are 56 licensed hostels in Singapore. There were 46 licensed hotels by July 2012. Besides the increase in number, quality of the hostel stock also changed a lot. There are many hostels now in Singapore offering much more than bunker beds in dark and far corners of the island state. There are many centrally located boutique hostels in Singapore now offering relatively luxurious stay. ABC Premium Hostel and Bunc@Radius Backpack Hostel in Singapore Little India, Wink Hostel and Adler Hostel in Singapore Chinatown are just some to name.

More gap-year travellers, flashpackers are travelling to Singapore which is driving the demand for hostels. And price is not the only reason for many to stay in a hostel. Hostel offers a communal environment and a chance to meet more people compared to a hotel. Another group of hostel dwellers are people looking for a job in Singapore and students.

If you are looking for a hostel in Singapore, you can read our articles on the topic:

• Hostels in Singapore
  
• Singapore's First Pod Style Flashpacker Hostel
  
• Backpacking to flashpacking: Flashpacking hostels of Singapore and South East Asia
  
• Tree In Lodge Singapore’s first environmentally-friendly hostel
  
• Pod Hotels getting popular
  
• Boutique hostels in Singapore
  
• Adler Hostel in Singapore offers luxury hostel stay
  
• Wink Hostel in Singapore Chinatown: Upscale pod style beds in Singapore
  
• ABC Premium Hostel in Singapore Little India: Truly a premium grade hostel
  
• Bunc@Radius Backpack Hostel in Singapore's Little India

Sentosa Spooktacular 2013

This years Sentosa Spooktacular 2013 halloween event is aiming to outdo the last years highly successful and sold-out event. It will contain 5 haunted houses (or horror trails) based on Thai horror movie hits such as cooming Soon, Shutter, Body, Dorm and Pee Mak. 2013 event will be produced by leading Thai movie production studios GMM Tai Hub and feature scare trails based on Thai horror movie hits such as cooming Soon, Shutter, Body, Dorm and Pee Mak.

Evil spirits from these horror movies (Chaba from Coming Soon, Netre from Shutter, Nak from Pee Mak, Dararai from Body and Wichien from the Dorm will haunt Fort Siloso Sentosa Island on October 19, 25, 26, 31 and November 1 and 2. from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Trail: Coming Soon Ever watched an actress giving the performance of her life? Well, keep your eyes peeled for starlet Chaba, who gave her all to her career — literally. In the last scene of a production, she suffocated to death due to a technical glitch, while the crew stood transfixed by what they misinterpreted as a breathtaking execution. She’s back for her final act, and no one’s off the hook from her lethal hex. Would you pay for this haunting encounter with your life? Break the jinx with an autograph from Chaba herself. Without her stamp of approval, your only fate is death.   Trail: Shutter In the face of a vindictive phantom, are you capable of making snap judgements? When photographer Tun noticed mysterious white shadows in his shots, he knew something was amiss. It became clear that the apparitions were Netre, his ex-girlfriend who was raped by his best friends; they had pressured him to capture the misdeed in order to blackmail her, driving her to commit suicide. She returns to exact her revenge, and it doesn’t look pretty. Vengeance is blind and now you’re part of the picture. Save yourself: collect and burn the foul photographs without getting yourself exposed. Make it snappy.   Trail: Pee Mak You know that looks can be deceiving, but would you still fall for the pretty face of something devilish? After the war, Mak invited his best friends – Ter, Puak, Shin and Aey – to visit his hometown, and introduced them to his beautiful wife, Nak, and his newborn baby. However, they soon heard a village rumour that Nak had died during childbirth. It is now up to the foursome to uncover the ugly truth and save Mak from his ghostly wife.

Trail: Body If you’re a compulsive busybody, let this teach you not to nose into grave matters that should be left untouched. Chon, a medical student who has performed countless autopsies, was increasingly perturbed by nightmares filled with horrific flashes of one of the corpses he recently studied; it belonged to Dararai, who had been gruesomely butchered. And it seems the vengeful soul has placed a deadly curse on the whole faculty — including you. To lift the curse, you need to locate and retrieve Dararai’s grisly body parts (gloves not provided) before piecing them together in the unholy Temple of Dawn, and perform a divine dance ritual to rip off Nak’s façade.   Trail: Dorm Can you survive the wrath of a restless spirit hell-bent on making YOU disappear? Wichien, a boarding school loner, had no friends; no one noticed when one fateful summer he fell down a well and met his doom. Desolated, he resolved to make his absence felt. Now, with kids going missing one by one, and drowning incidents commonplace at the school, it’s time to face the fear head-on. 

ZoukOut 2013 Beach Party in Singapore

ZoukOut 2013, 13 installment of Singapore dance and music festival, will be on dates 13 December and 14 December 2013 this year at Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island of Singapore. ZoukOut is organised by one of the oldest and most popular nightclubs in Singapore, Zouk, and it is one of Asia's biggest music dance festivals. The party is a one of many events of large Christmas in Tropics (CIT) chain of events in Singapore.

The annual music festival is held since 2000 and is attendance goes into 20,000+ (largest 26,000 party goers in 2008). ZoukOut hosts several famous and mainstream DJs and some DJs that have performed at ZoukOut are Paul Van Dyk, 2ManyDJS, Masters at Work, Gilles Peterson, Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth, Peter Kruder, James Lavelle, Armin Van Buuren and Stereo MCs.

ZoukOut 2013 First Wave Line-Up will include Afrojack, Danny Avila, Dash Berlin, Lee Foss, Martin Solveig, Nervo, Otto Knows, Solomun and Zedd.

ZoukOut 2013 DJ Lineup include;

Above & Beyond / UK
Blink & goldfish / Mal, zouk KL
Hardwell / Ned
Kaskade / US
Major Lazer / Us
Sudha / (live) UK
Avneesh (electrocaïne)
Eddie Niguel (Midnight Shift)
Ghetto
Hong
Bassic with Ming and Zeratone
FFF Girl DJ Bootcamp
Para//el with Adrian Wee

ZoukOut 2013 -- Metamorphosis (First Wave Line-Up)

You can buy tickets from ticketing.zoukclub.com. can also buy tickets to ZoukOut 2013 through www.sistic.com.sg. 2 days pass tickets are $168.

Faye Wong and Li Yapeng divorce

44-year-old Canto-pop and Mando-pop singer Faye Wong announced yesterday that she has divorced her second husband, Li Yapeng. "Our affinity and connection as a husband and wife in this life has come to an end," wrote Faye Wong on Weibo. "I'm well. Please take care of yourself as well.". The couple was married for 8 years and they have a daughter. The two will share the custody of their 7-year-old daughter Li Yan.

On the other hand Li Yapeng wrote "What I want is a family, but you are destined to be a legend" on his Weibo page later.

Usually referred to in the media as a diva (天后 literally meaning "Heavenly Queen"), Chinese singer-songwriter and actress Faye Wong is hugely popular in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture, Jeroen de Kloet characterised her as "singer, actress, mother, celebrity, royalty, sex symbol and diva all at the same time.

Li Yapeng is a Chinese Television actor. He starred two CCTV TV series adaptations of Louis Cha's Wuxia novels; Guo Jing in The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003) and Linghu Chong in Laughing in the Wind (2000).

The news of Faye Wong and Li Yapeng's divorce seem to shock the fans:

The news came as shock to Internet users, many of whom said they didn't read any signs before and they will not believe in love again. The couple tied the knot in 2005 despite doubts that the A-lister Wong could overshadow Li. 

The couple always made joint public appearances to publicize their Smile Angel Foundation dedicated to helping children who suffer from cleft palate just as their daughter Li Yan did.
Source : Faye Wong and Li Yapeng shock fans with divorce

Faye Wong and Li Yapeng married in 2005.

Top Three Budget Hotels in Geylang of Singapore

Amrise Hotel, Fragrance Hotel Ruby and Santa Grand Hotel Aljunied emerge as the top three favorite budget hotels in Geylang district in Singapore according to BudgetHotels.sg, an online hotel guide platform specializing in listing budget hotels near MRT train stations in Singapore. Top spots were determined based on the cheapest room rates, most convenient hotel and value-for-money hotel based on reviews from travelers and in-house statistics.

Santa Grand Hotel Aljunied was rated as the best value-for-money hotel in Geylang while Amrise Hotel was unanimously voted for offering the cheapest room rates. The Fragrance Hotel Ruby was named as the most convenient hotel due to its close proximity to a MRT train station.Danny Lee, founder of BudgetHotels.sg, commented: “From our statistics, we concluded that Geylang hotels are very popular with travelers from Asian countries such as Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. However, many people have a big misconception about Geylang being unsafe because of its red-light district connection.

“Staying in Geylang is safe even for female travelers who travel alone, due to Singapore’s rigorous law enforcement environment. Not just that, you can also feast on a wide variety of famous local dishes such as Chilli Crab, Frog Leg Porridge and Beef Kway Teow found in this district.”

Santa Grand Hotel Aljunied, a 42-room budget hotel and recipient of Singapore Prestige Brand Award has won over travelers with its value-for-money accommodation, with room rates starting from US$59 per night. The rooms offer free WiFi, LCD TV with cable channels, mini-fridge, safe deposit box, and the property has a gym as well.

The 58-room Amrise Hotel, while it may not have won a single award, has been voted by budget travelers as the cheapest hotel in Geylang. From US$34 per night, the rooms are understandably no-frills type with practical amenities such as LCD TV with cable channels, attached shower and free WiFi.

Amrise Hotel, Fragrance Hotel Ruby and Santa Grand Hotel Aljunied emerge as the top three  favorite budget hotels in Geylang district in Singapore.

Lastly, with the 168-room Fragrance Hotel Ruby a short 5-minute walk from the Aljunied MRT train station, it is not surprising for the hotel to win the most convenient location accolade in Geylang. The room rates start from US$52 per night and are equipped with flat-screen TV with cable channels, attached shower, hairdryer and WiFi access.

“A big advantage when choosing to stay in a hotel in Geylang is its unique location – it’s halfway point between Changi Airport and the city center. You just need to hop on the cheap and fast train from the airport and arrive at your hotel in less than 30 minutes. Heading to downtown locations such as Orchard Road, Bugis, Little India, Chinatown and the Marina Bay is also a breeze, with just a 15-20 minute train ride from the nearby Aljunied MRT station,” added Danny Lee.

A big advantage when choosing to stay in a hotel in Geylang is its unique location – it’s halfway point between Changi Airport and the city center.

Discover Bangkok & Angkor Wat Tour

Backyard Travel, a Bangkok based online travel company, offers a discount on one of their tailor-made trips to Bangkok, Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia. The tour can temporarily be taken for less with a 15% discount until the 31 October 2013.

The fully customizable five-day, four-night tour begins in Bangkok, where travelers can take their pick of exciting experiences led by a local expert guide. Available activities include either a Bangkok temple tour to visit the famous Wat Pho and majestic Grand Palace; a Chinatown tour to see the strong connection of Thailand and Chinese culture and browse the bustling markets; or a cruise along the Chao Phraya River to see the scenic riverside and many of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks.

Once in Siem Reap travelers will again be led by an experienced local Backyard Travel guide to discover what are arguably the world’s most magnificent temples. Travelers will visit Angkor Wat at a time perfect for avoiding the crowds to allow a more relaxed viewing of the increasingly popular attraction.

The ‘Discover Bangkok & Angkor Wat’ trip is now available with a discount of 15% when taken before 31 October 2013.

Bangkok Wat Phra Kaeo Bangkok Thailand

“Our multi-country adventures are proving very popular with travelers who seek a vast array of experiences in one outstanding vacation,” said Backyard Travel’s General Manager Maeve Nolan. “We are delighted to offer a limited-time only promotion for this Bangkok and Angkor Wat tour, which we hope will encourage more visitors to these already popular and thoroughly spectacular destinations.”

Carlton City Hotel Singapore

If you are looking for a business hotel in Singapore in the Central Business District (CBD), you now have one more option. The brand new Carlton City Hotel Singapore located just 2 minutes walk away from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station is completed and opened its doors in August 2013 for business executives who would like to stay in a central location in Singapore.

The 29-storey Carlton City Hotel Singapore offers 386 hotel rooms across 4 categories : Deluxe Room, Executive Room, Carlton Club room and Carlton Suite.  the hotel also offers Carlton Club Lounge on level 28th, quite literally the height of luxury with sweeping views of Singapore from its lofty perch. Besides the stunning spectacle comprising the ever changing city skyline and elegantly preserved old shop houses, the Club offers a perfect retreat from a busy schedule. The location is unbeatable especially for business executives. Positioned as an International Business Hotel, it is located in the business district and 1 MRT station away from Singapore's Raffles Place.

The hotel also offers a very convenient location for tourists near Chinatown and MRT Green Line. With its modern and contemporary design, the hotel offers simple but comfortable stay. It is designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates and is the second property of the Carlton brand. Timeless and contemporary, Carlton City is a business hotel that reflects the same sense of tradition and excellence that is exemplified by the first hotel.

As a new hotel, everything in the room and facilities are new. This is important because a lot of business hotels in Singapore are quite old and you may end up staying in a small aging room with aging furniture if you do not chose a new or upgraded hotel.

With Carlton City Hotel Singapore there are now 2 Carlton Hotels in Singapore. The other one, Carlton Hotel Singapore is on Bras Basah Road and do not forget to clearly mention your taxi driver the name of the hotel otherwise you can end up in the older one.

Here you can find Carlton City Hotel Singapore reviews. For deals, discounts and booking visit Carlton City Hotel Singapore Agoda page.

Princess Cruises Sapphire Princess heads to South East Asia

Sapphire Princess cruise ship will be deployed to South East Asia for a four-month cruise season from November 2014 to February 2015 as a response to vast potential of the Indonesian and Southeast Asian cruise market by bringing the Sapphire Princess to Southeast Asia for a four-month season from November 2014 to February 2015. This will enable American owned cruise line Princess Cruises to tab vast Indonesia market where the number of cruise passengers increased significantly and Princess Cruises is newly entering. According to the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy, 112,882 visitors came to Indonesia by 214 cruise calls in 2012. This year, the Ministry is expecting a jump in cruise calls to 308 calls and a rise of in the number of passengers to 147,134 people, and this number is forecast to increase in the future.

The total economic impact to Indonesia is expected to be considerable, based on passenger and crew spending in each port, port and other local costs as well as travel agent commissions and marketing costs.

“We are excited to have Princess Cruises sail to Indonesia. With its abundance of unique cultural and natural attractions, Indonesia offers an appealing range of destinations for cruise vacationers,” said Farriek Tawfik, Director for Southeast Asia, Princess Cruises.

Princess Cruises will offer itineraries custom-designed for the diverse Asia vacation market. Cruises will call at 7 countries and 16 ports in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Brunei.

The wide range of cruise lengths will run from three to 11 days, providing passengers with a wide array of vacation experiences. The highlight for Indonesia is a 10-day sailing that visits Jakarta, Bali, Komodo Island and Lombok.

Approximately 40,000 passengers are expected to be carried during this first season of cruising. Passengers will be sourced from Indonesia and throughout Asia, in addition to international markets including North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.

These itineraries have also been designed with the option of being combined to offer passengers a choice of 25 cruises of up to 21 days in length, with a rich array of ports in one seamless experience. For example, the 10-day Indonesia cruise can be combined with the three-day Straits of Malacca cruise for a 13-day itinerary with six ports.

The 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess carries 2,670 passengers and features more than 200 suites and mini-suites with private balconies, Lotus Spa, Sterling Steakhouse, Sabatini's trattoria, wine bar, patisserie, pizzeria, boutiques, and Internet café among other amenities.

The new Princess Cruises Indonesia itineraries is to include a total of 16 ports in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lombok, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In April 2013, Princess Cruises has announced that it will position Sapphire Princess cruise liner in Singapore between November 2014 and February 2015. The cruise ship will homeport in Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Centre and offer 15 round-trip departures. Sapphire Princess will offer cruises as short as a three-day trip from Singapore to Malaysia and as long as 11-day voyages from Singapore to Vietnam and back with stops in Brunei and Bangkok. It will also offer itineraries such as a 10-day Indonesia trip and five-day tours of Thailand. All itineraries will include shore excursions.

In conjunction with this new program Princess Cruises has launched a version of the on-demand, on-line training program called Princess Academy, which will enable travel agents in Indonesia and the region to become experts on cruise sales, the Princess fleet, destinations and programs. Globally, over 50,000 travel agents are active participants in Princess Academy, making it one of the largest online travel universities in the world.

“We definitely look forward a good working relationship with our partners in Indonesia such as the travel agents and authorities, especially the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economy to bring international passengers to the shores of Indonesia,” added Mr Tawfik.