Cheap Flights to Singapore from Taiwan by Tigerair Taiwan

If you are looking for cheap flights from Taiwan to Singapore or Singapore to Taiwan, new budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航), will add one more alternative to the existing flights in late September. The low-cost carrier, which is a joint venture between Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL, 中華航空) and Singapore’s Tigerair, will offer daily round-trip flights between Taiwan and Singapore. In a Facebook post, Tigerair said it will take delivery of its first aircraft around early September in preparation for the launch of its daily round-trip flight to Singapore later in the month.

Currently, Tiger Airways, Jetstar and Scoot are offering cheap flights on the route between Singapore and Taiwan. Full cost carriers like Singapore Airlines, CAL and EVA Airways (長榮航空) also offers flights between these two island nations.

Taiwan is a popular holiday destination for Singaporeans and Singapore is one of the most developed aviation hub in Asia. With flights to Singapore, passangers from Taiwan will have access to the large budget network of Tigerair as well as global network of big carriers like Singapore Airlines.

Tigerair Taiwan will be Taiwan's first low-cost airline. The joint venture will release more information next week about its flights and had said earlier that it was also considering destinations such as Macau, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea in its initial flight network.

Singapore

Taiwan's TransAsia Airways's V Air is set to be the second budget operator in Taiwan as it is set to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Jetstar promotion 2014: The Great Singapore Sale

Jetstar is kicking off the week with Jetstar Great Singapore Sale promotion with awesome fares from as little as $36. Jetstar has got many exciting destinations on sale from the beautiful beaches of Phuket or Bali to the bright city lights of Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur.

Jetstar Great Singapore Sale promotion ends 1 June 2014 unless sold out prior. Below are some Jetstar promotional flights with this deal:

Jetstar flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur from $36,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Jakarta, Penang and Phnom Penh from $54,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Medan - Kualanamu from $58,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Surabaya from $68,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Bangkok from $78,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Bali  from $84,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Darwin and Haikou from $98,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Manila from $118,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Hong Kong, Siem Reap and Shantou / Jieyang from $128,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Perth from $138,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Hangzhou from $148,
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Taipei from $168 and
Jetstar flights from Singapore to Melbourne (Tullamarine) from $228.

For details, go to Jetstar web site.

Jetstar promotion 2014: The Great Singapore Sale! Over 20 destinations on sale from $36!

Travel dates for this promotion are below. Fares may not be available on all flights and days.
Singapore - Kuala Lumpur: 10 Jun - 23 Jul, 6 Aug - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Penang: 10 Jun - 23 Jul, 6 Aug - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Phuket: 10 Jun - 23 Jul, 6 Aug - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Bali: 12 Aug - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Bangkok: 10 Jun - 23 Jul, 6 Aug - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Darwin: 29 Jul - 18 Sep, 14 Oct - 9 Dec 2014, 3 Feb - 25 Mar 2015
Singapore - Hong Kong: 10 Jun - 17 Jul, 2 Sep - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Taipei: 2 Sep - 13 Nov 2014, 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2015
Singapore - Melbourne: 30 Jul - 11 Sep, 15 Oct - 19 Nov 2014, 10 Feb - 25 Mar 2015

Economy Starter fares come with 10kg carry-on baggage only. Carry-on baggage limits, including size restrictions, will be strictly applied. Passengers with more than the applicable carry-on baggage allowance will need to check in baggage, and charges will apply

28 Easy Ways to Save Money in Singapore

BudgetHotels.sg, a site providing information on budget hotels and cheap accommodation in Singapore for budget-minded travelers, released a list of ways to save money in Singapore for travelers who want to see their dollars go further. “28 Easy Ways For a Tourist To Save Money in Singapore” guide is available online now at BudgetHotels.sg.

Packed with insider tips from seasoned Singapore visitors and locals alike, the guide promises to have tourists demonstrating native street smarts with over two dozen invaluable pointers on where to shop, eat, sleep and sightsee while touring the island nation.

The money saving tips are broken down into a number of sections; hotels, getting around, shopping, sightseeing and eating, so tourists can get the expert insight they need at exactly the right time. Compiled by the travel experts at BudgetHotels.sg, the tips are intended to help visitors get more enjoyment from their stay by making even the smallest of spare change go further.

The guide starts with a series of suggestions to help with the search for affordable accommodation, pointing readers in the direction of budget hotels in areas such as Bugis, Chinatown and Geylang. For those with the minimum of finances, the guide also lets readers into the secret of securing free accommodation in Singapore. Also in section one is invaluable pointers dedicated to getting around including common pitfalls to avoid when traveling by taxi and the cheapest passes for public transport.

In section two of the bumper money saving post, BudgetHotels.sg unearths the best shopping deals in Singapore. Top tips include exploring the tax rebate for cash back on purchases, the Great Singapore Sale season and how to enquire about tourist privileges in malls.

Section three is ideal for those who want to see everything without spending their entire vacation budget. It covers how to get free entry to a host of museums, gardens and parks. There’s also a shortlist of the best value attraction passes to look out for.

New Tune Hotels in Indonesia and Philippines

Tune Hotels has expanded its rapidly growing portfolio of hotels in South East Asia with two new hotels – Tune Hotel Davao in the Philippines, and Tune Hotel Bekasi in Indonesia.

The 155-room Tune Hotel Davao, located at J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City, the Philippines welcomed its first guests on Tuesday, 17 December 2013, while Tune Hotel Bekasi, with 157 rooms and located at Blu Plaza, Jl. Chairil Anwar 27-36 in Bekasi Timur, Indonesia opened for business Thursday, 19 December 2013.

Tune Hotels now has seven hotels in operation in the Philippines and six in Indonesia.

Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels said, “Both Indonesia and Philippines are great markets for us and our rapid expansion in both countries signifies their importance ... Including the newly-opened Tune Hotel Davao and Tune Hotel Bekasi, we have launched three new hotels each in the Philippines and Indonesia this year alone. By early 2014, three more are coming up in Indonesia and another in the Philippines, and these underscore our plans for the two countries.”

Tune Hotels Downtown KL in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Elsewhere, Tune Hotels has eleven hotels in operation in Malaysia, four in Thailand, five in the UK and one each in Australia, India and Japan. In total, there is a total of 40 hotels available for booking.

Tune Hotels is a limited service hotel chain operated by Tune Hotels Regional Services Sdn Bhd that provides a claimed "5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price" accommodation. Tune Hotels is part of the Tune Group, the private investment group of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, founder and group CEO of low-cost airline AirAsia. Tune Hotels states that it is aiming for 100 hotels in its global portfolio by 2015.

Tune Hotels operates a “pay-as-you-use” concept that has become popular among travellers from across the world. Under the concept, guests only pay for room rates with the option of adding on other amenities like air-conditioning, towels and toiletries, in-room Wi-Fi and satellite TV service to keep costs down, reduce waste and save energy.

Tune Hotels.com is a limited service hotel chain operated by Tune Hotels Regional Services Sdn Bhd that provides a claimed "5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price" accommodation. Tune Hotels is part of the Tune Group, the private investment group of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, founder and group CEO of low-cost airline AirAsia. Tune Hotels states that it is aiming for 100 hotels in its global portfolio by 2015.

All Tune Hotels, such as the one on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok featured in the HD video below, offer space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: 5-star beds and powerful hot showers. The hotels provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, extensive CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight for extra security.

10 best hotels in Singapore under $200

With an average room price of more than $250, Singapore hotels are expensive but still you can find hotels under $200 which cannot be classified as a budget or cheap hotel in Singapore. Some of these hotels offer almost all the facilities a standard hotel offers such as gym, pool, business center, etc.

Below is a list compiled from user reviews of AsiaRooms.com and published in AsiaOne.com. The hotel below are dubbed as the 10 best hotels under $200 in Singapore.

BIG Hotel

If you are looking for a Singapore hotel near MRT Station and centrally located then Big Hotel is one of the best options you have. This 306 room boutique hotel on Middle Road is just 10 minutes walking distance away from not one but three MRT Stations: Bugis, Bras Basah and Dhoby Ghaut MRT Stations. The hotel offers reasonable room prices, clean rooms, convenient location as well as basic facilities. Like most relatively cheap hotels in Singapore, rooms are very small but quite modern.

Dorsett Singapore

285 room Dorsett Singapore is just right next to Outram Park MRT Station and 10 minutes walking distance away from Singapore Chinatown. It offers a fully equipped gymnasium, 30 m outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, a landscape roof garden and more (these facilities are share with the condo apartment owners in the mixed-use development).



The Seacare Hotel
Business traveler oriented The Seacare Hotel on Chin Swee Road offers good value in good location with 5 minutes walk to Robertson Quay and 10 minutes walk to Chinatown. The hotel provides services like a laundry & dry cleaning service and tour arrangements, alongside various other facilities like a sky lounge and sky terrace.

Grand Park City Hotel
Grand Park City Hotel is not the best in terms of room size but its location is unbeatible. Just 5 minutes walk away from City Hall MRT Station, it is a popular hotel for business and leisure travelers as well. The hotel's award winning SPA Park Asia is quite good place to relax.

Kam Leng Hotel
Located near Little India, Kam Leng Hotel was first opened in 1927 by an owner whose identity is not known till today. This heritage hotel along Jalan Besar offers 70 rooms designed in Peranakan style with comfort in an affordable rate. Note for families : Children aged 11 years and below can sleep free at the existing bed in the standard rooms.

Peninsula Excelsior Hotel
Peninsula Excelsior Hotel is a central and affordable Singapore hotel just 5-minutes away from City Hall MRT station.

Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park
Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park is a 4-Star hotel near Novena MRT Station and is quite new (opened in 2012).

Park Avenue Changi Hotel
If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Changi Airport, Park Avenie Changi Hotel is one of the best options. It is located in Changi Business Park and is also ideal for the business travelers of the park and Singapore Expo. It is just right next to Expo MRT Station and there is a nice shopping mall near named Changi City Point.

Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park

The 405 room Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park is a very new hotel. It has opened its doors in December 2012 and is located in a popular budget hotel area, Balestier Road. The hotel offers 24-hour gym, all-day dining restaurant, free in-room Wi-Fi and is closed to (5 minutes with service bus) to Novena MRT Station on the Red Line. The location also offers a supermarket, food and beverage outlets and a retail shop near the hotel.

Hotel Re Pearl's Hill
This retro-themed Singapore hotel is within walking distance to Chinatown and Clarke Quay and is a 10-minute train ride away from Orchard Road.

Source : 10 best hotels under $200 in Singapore

Tigerair $1,000,000 worth of flights to be won

Would you like to have free flights to anywhere you want on a budget airline in 2014? Then read on. Singapore based budget airline Tigerair is giving the year a grand finish with $1 million worth of flights in their year-end draw. 100 lucky travelers will walk away with $10,000 worth of flight credits. Each and every booking you make gives you 1 chance in the draw. Winners will be able to start using the flight credits from 1 January 2014 and also share it with a travel partner.

To qualify for this Tigerair lucky draw, the contestant must be residing in Singapore aged 18 years and over, book a flight between 13 November and 15 December 2013 for a travel date between 13 November 2013 to 14 January 2014.

If you are lucky enough to be in 100 winners, you will get a whopping $10,000 flight credits valid throughout 2014 which can be used for base fare. You can use the credits for Tigerair Singapore (TR), Tigerair Philippines (DG), and Tigerair Mandala (RI) routes.

And the best is you can share your credit with up to 3 nominated travel partners. With every booking made, one travel partner can be selected to fly with.

Tigerair $1,000,000 worth of flights to be won

For details of Tigerair $1,000,000 worth of flights to be won, refer to Terms and Conditions.

7 Tips to Find Cheap Hotels in Singapore

BudgetHotels.sg, cater to budget travelers looking for cheap hotels in Singapore, says that despite what you might think, you do not have to spend a fortune to stay at a four or five-star hotel. Here are seven tips for finding cheap hotels for less than $100 per night in Singapore. With these tips, travelers can trim hotel costs and make the most from their stay in Singapore.

Singapore has become an expensive travel destination in Asia due to a confluence of strong economy and strengthening currency over the recent years. This comes without a surprise as the recent Worldwide Cost of Living 2013 survey conducted by London-based Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Singapore as the sixth most expensive city in the world.

These tips are not exclusive to specific websites and travelers can easily apply these tips on popular hotel booking engines such as Agoda or Booking.com.

“As a local expert, I know there is an abundance of cheap accommodation in Singapore that travelers may not be aware of. Hence, I’ve decided to curate a list of tips on how to find cheap hotels in Singapore so travelers can use their savings from hotel fees to spend on other activities like shopping and theme parks”, commented Danny Lee, founder of BudgetHotels.sg.

1. When you book matters – certain months of the year are considered off-peak in Singapore when hotel rates can be heavily discounted up to 60%.

2. Which day you check-in is important – misinformed travelers may not be aware that room rates can be much lower if you check-in on certain days of the week.

3. Which district you stay in Singapore matters too – it will determine if you are going to pay more than $100 per night for a room.

4. Which hotel to stay at – certain budget hotel chains in Singapore offer decent rooms with practical amenities such as free WiFi for less than $100 per night.

5. Stay at alternative source of hotel rooms – there exist another class of accommodation with cheap rooms that most travelers are not aware of.

6. Reduce booking fees with reward points – certain hotel booking sites offer generous points system to reward traveler’s loyalty that can be used to offset future hotel booking fees.

7. Get more reward points to reduce booking fees – travelers can easily earn additional reward points by writing short hotel reviews.

Flights to Chiang Mai, Lombok, Langkawi and Lijiang from Singapore by Tigerair

Tigerair is flying to Lijiang (3 times every fortnight), Chiang Mai and Langkawi (4 times weekly) as well as Lombok (3 times weekly) from Singapore starting on 29 October 2013 in conjunction with its 9th  birthday celebrations this month.

Together, these four destinations comprise a rich palette of heritage sites and natural attractions that promise to charm even the most seasoned travellers. Take for example, the 800-year old city of Lijiang located in Yunnan Province, China. Lijiang is home to the enchanting Old Town, China’s most well-preserved ancient town which is today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has also earned a reputation for its breathtaking snow mountains and crystal clear streams that add to the city’s splendor.

Chiang Mai is another historic city that boasts a diverse blend of deep Thai traditions and popular culture which charms over five million visitors each year. Chiang Mai’s natural beauty has also garnered it a spot as one of Trip Advisor’s ‘25 Best Destinations in the World’ to visit for 2013.

Langkawi offers its visitors many opportunities to explore its natural, picturesque landscapes, and provides for a variety of activities for travellers to indulge at their own pace and budget with its wide range of resorts, golf courses, hotels and backpacking accommodation options.

Located two-and-a-half hours by air from Singapore, Lombok, otherwise known as the ‘unspoiled Bali’, has become a welcome respite for busy city dwellers attracted to its well-preserved and uncrowded environment, including the beautiful white sand beaches of Kuta, surfing and scuba diving hot spots in the south, as well as attractions such as Narmada Park and Mayura Park.

“History and nature together play a big role in re-enchanting the seasoned cosmopolitan traveller,” said Mr Alexander Knigge, Chief Commercial Officer at Tigerair, “Our latest offering of four new destinations combines both of these elements particularly well, and stirs the traveller’s imagination. I’m confident that our
customers will discover something uniquely special for themselves in one of these offerings, for a truly memorable experience.”

Concurrently, Tigerair will also be increasing the frequency of its Surabaya-bound flights from seven to 13 times weekly starting 15 November 2013. 

Ten Budget Hotels in Singapore below US$100 per night

Both business and leisure travelers are looking for more ways to save their money on upcoming travel to Singapore and one of the best way to do that is to stay in a budget hotel in Singapore to cut cost on expensive hotel room prices. BudgetHotels.sg, a Singapore hotel guide platform specializing in budget hotels in Singapore, has recently released a list of 10 hotels with below US$100 per night room rates. These Singapore budget hotels are also located near the city center and within walking proximity to MRT train stations and with their affordable room rates are a boon to both business and leisure travelers.

These budget hotels are shortlisted based on pricing, followed by guests’ feedbacks and amenities. Many of these hotels are also located near the city center and within walking proximity to MRT train stations.
“We want to help travelers pinpoint the most affordable hotels that fit any vacation style and budget,” said Danny Lee, founder of BudgetHotels.sg. “While some travelers may feel a little shell-shocked because of increased airline fees and expenses, they can take relief that there are still cheap hotels to be found in Singapore.”

Check out the ten Singapore hotels below US$100 here:

1) Big Hotel 
A three-star Scandinavian-inspired hotel located in downtown Bugis district and under 10-minute walk to Bugis MRT train station. Room rates in Big Hotel start from US$89 per night.

2) Porcelain Hotel 
A chic-boutique hotel in Chinatown district and short walking distance to Chinatown MRT station. Guests can rest in Porcelain Hotel from US$90 per night.

3) Hotel 81 Bugis 
A clean and no-frills hotel that is very popular with budget travelers for its city center location. Daily room rates start from US$90 in Hotel 81 Bugis and the Bugis MRT station is a short 10-minute walk away.

4) Venue Hotel 
A unique hotel with strong colonial features in eastern part of Singapore. The nearby Paya Lebar MRT train station is within walking distance and 25-minute by train from Changi Airport. Rooms in Venue Hotel are available from US$60 per night.

5) Marrison Hotel
Located in central Bugis district, this modern hotel is popular with tourists who use it as a base to explore Singapore. The Bugis MRT station is just 5-minute walk away and rooms in Marrison Hotel can be booked from US$90 per night.

6) Fort Canning Lodge
This budget hotel with spacious rooms is favored by shopaholics who prefer to stay near Orchard Road. Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is 5-minute walk away and the rooms in Fort Canning Lodge can be booked from US$90 per night.

Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen 

7) Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen 
The only hotel in the list with an Oriental theme and rightfully located in the cultural Chinatown district. The themed-rooms in Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen can be booked from US$80 and the Chinatown MRT station is just one block away.

8) Kam Leng Hotel 
Kam Leng Hotel  is located near historic Little India and the Mustafa Center, the only 24-hour shopping mall in Singapore. It is 15-minute walk from Lavender MRT train station and rooms are from US$80 per night.

9) Bliss Hotel 
This budget hotel is well-liked by past staying guests for its convenient location and friendly hospitality. Bliss Hotel  is a stone throw from Chinatown MRT train station and room rates start from US$90 per night.

10) Amaris Hotel Singapore 
Located in a strategic location that straddles Bugis Junction and Suntec City Convention Center, Amaris Hotel Singapore is less than 10-minute walk to Bugis MRT station and daily room rates start from US$90.

Source : Top 10 Hotels below $100 in Singapore

Cheap flights to Bangkok from Singapore

Bangkok is one of the most popular holiday destination in Asia and since Singapore is quite near to Bangkok (less than 2 hours flight) it is one of the most visited destination from Singapore. The popularity of Bangkok has exploded in the past 10 years thanks to the emergence of budget airlines in 2004. All of the budget carriers offer cheap flights to Bangkok from Singapore multiple times a day and when a new player comes Bangkok is always in the top 3 destinations they start to fly.

Some travelers to Singapore does not quite know or trust budget airlines of the region but they are quite reliable, offering ticket prices half of full service carriers and if you are planning to fly from Singapore to Bangkok or visa versa, you should definitely check these companies for cheapest flight to Bangkok.

All budget airlines serving Singapore, AirAsia, Tigerair, Jetstar Asia and Scoot offers cheap flights to Bangkok:

Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia offers direct flights from Singapore to Bangkok 5 times a day from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1.

Singapore based low cost carrier Jetstar Asia Airways offers direct flights from Singapore to Bangkok 4 times a day from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1.

Singapore-based low-cost long-haul airline Scoot Airlinesoffers daily direct flights from Singapore to Bangkok from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1. Unlike other budget airlines offering cheap flights to Bangkok Scoot uses large body Boeing 777 in Singapore - Bangkok route.

Singapore based budget carrier Tigerair Singapore offers flights from Singapore to Bangkok as its sister company Scoot Airlines.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

Tigerair to Launch Four New Routes

Singapore based budget airline Tigerair is adding four new destinations to its network. From 29 October 2013, Tigerair will introduce flights to Lijiang, Chiang Mai, Langkawi and Lombok. Lijiang flights will be 3 times every forthnight, Chiang Mai and Langkawi flights will be 4 times a week and Lombok flights will be 3 times a week.

800-year old city of Lijiang located in Yunnan Province, China is home to the enchanting Old Town, China’s most well-preserved ancient town which is today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has also earned a reputation for its breathtaking snow mountains and crystal clear streams that add to the city’s splendor.

Chiang Mai is another historic city that boasts a diverse blend of deep Thai traditions and popular culture which charms over five million visitors each year. Chiang Mai’s natural beauty has also garnered it a spot as one of Trip Advisor’s ‘25 Best Destinations in the World’ to visit for 2013.

 Langkawi offers its visitors many opportunities to explore its natural, picturesque landscapes, and provides for a variety of activities for travellers to indulge at their own pace and budget with its wide range of resorts, golf courses, hotels and backpacking accommodation options.

Located two-and-a-half hours by air from Singapore, Lombok, otherwise known as the ‘unspoiled Bali’, has become a welcome respite for busy city dwellers attracted to its well-preserved and uncrowded environment, including the beautiful white sand beaches of Kuta, surfing and scuba diving hot spots in the south, as well as attractions such as Narmada Park and Mayura Park.

Tigerair has recently changed its brand name from Tiger Airways.

“History and nature together play a big role in re-enchanting the seasoned cosmopolitan traveller,” said Mr Alexander Knigge, Chief Commercial Officer at Tigerair, “Our latest offering of four new destinations combines both of these elements particularly well, and stirs the traveller’s imagination. I’m confident that our customers will discover something uniquely special for themselves in one of these offerings, for a truly memorable experience.”

Tigerair will also increase the frequency of its Surabaya-bound flights from 7 to 13 times weekly starting 15 November 2013.

Jetstar Promotion 2013: A chance to win a year of FREE flights

Singapore based budget airline Jetstar Asia Airways has partnered with 7-Eleven Singapore for another awesome promotion. From today to until 8 October 2013, if you spend a minimum of $5 in a single receipt at 7-Eleven (purchase excludes cigarettes, lottery sales & fuel purchase), you can stand a chance to win a year of FREE flights! All you need to do is to SMS to 72008 in the following format:

7E*Receipt No.*Name*NRIC*Email (Normal SMS cost will be applied)

Entry is limited to 1 SMS entry per receipt. Multiple submissions are allowed as long as they are accompanied with valid receipts.

At the end of this Jetstar promotion period, three winners will be drawn and winners will be notified on or before 18 October 2013 via email and phone.Each winner must present original NRIC and original receipt for verification upon endorsing the letter of receipt for the prize so do not lose your receipts!

The lucky draw is open to only residents of Singapore aged 18 years and above.

Each prize consists of Jetstar travel to the value of SGD $15,000.

Jetstar Promotion 2013: A chance to win a year of FREE flights

CASE in dispute with Scoot over refunds for duplicate bookings

Duplicate flight bookings may occur when you accidentally select the payment tab twice, or if the system fails to register a successful transaction. When this rare problem appears with an airline you may be surprised like one Scoot passenger who was billed $1,363, twice the amount for the flights he had booked.

In case of dublicate bookings, the airline refunds the passanger for one of the bookings but this may take some time (measured in months). But refund may not be the case with all incidents according to a Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) press release. CASE got into dispute with budget airline Scoot over refunds for duplicate bookings.

According to CASE press release, over the last three years, it has received 23 complaints from customers who were charged double for a budget flight when booking online. According to CASE out of the four airlines involved, Scoot, which received three complaints, was the only one which did not offer a refund.

A month earlier than the Scoot customer above, another passenger made a duplicate booking and later tried to contact the company repeatedly for a refund, but has not heard from the airline so far. Another was able to reach Scoot with Case's help, and transfer the second booking for a small fee.

But Sccot denies the allegations and says "as long as the names, flights and travel dates are identical, one of the bookings will be refunded."

The other three airlines - Jetstar, AirAsia and Tigerair - offer full refunds for duplicate bookings, although it can take as long as two months. Airline staff urged customers to call up and check on their bookings if they encounter errors online, instead of trying to re-book.

"Don't assume it didn't go through just because you didn't get your itinerary. Always call the airline first," said a Jetstar call centre officer to the The Strait Times.

Hong Kong residents demand for budget flights

According to a survey conducted for Jetstar Hong Kong nearly 70% of Hong Kong residents have intentions to fly on a budget airline in the next 12 months. 79% said they will fly more if the fares are lower, 81% said they would spend more on hotels and activities if they saved on their airfare and 84% welcome more home-based budget airlines in Hong Kong. The research is conducted by the Public Opinion Programme at the University of Hong Kong (HKUPOP) on behalf of Jetstar Hong Kong.

According to Jetstar Hong Kong CEO Edward Lau this latest research reaffirms the strong demand in Hong Kong for low cost travel. He said the research also indicated strong flow on benefits of more low cost carrier travel with 81 per cent of respondents saying they would spend more on their hotel and holiday activity if they could save on the airfare.

“By making air travel more accessible to more people, not only will we see more people travelling more often, but we will see people spending more money at their destination including those visiting Hong Kong,” Mr Lau said. “This provides new opportunities for the broader tourism industry including hotels, rental car companies and tourist attractions at the destinations where LCCs fly,” he said.

“Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai and Seoul all have home grown LCCs – now Hong Kong consumers are saying it is their turn with nearly 80 per cent saying they would travel more if the fares were lower.

Jetstar Hong Kong is a proposed low fare airline which will be based at Hong Kong International Airport. Jetstar Hong Kong plans to commence services in 2013, subject to the regulatory approval from the Government of Hong Kong. There are plans to expand the fleet to 18 aircraft by 2015. The budget airline will initially serve short-haul routes to cities in China, Japan, South Korea and South East Asia.

Source : Survery reveals Hong Kong's demand for low cost carrier

Boutique Capsule Hotel in Singapore - The Pod

Singapore now has one more affordable hotel option - The Pod, a boutique capsule hotel on Beach Road (Bugis), has opened. The hotel, which offers 83 capsules to its guests with personalized concierge services and a range of complimentary services such as dry-cleaning and laundry service, hot buffet breakfast with Nespresso coffee, use of business suites, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity and more.

This new Singapore budget hotel is catering to those travelers who are tight on budget but still want to enjoy the comforts and quality synonymous with a hotel says Mr. Seetoh Kum Loon, co-founder of The Pod Singapore. “Currently, in Singapore, travellers can choose to either stay at a hotel and pay a little more, or opt for the budget backpacker hostels, potentially compromising on comfort, service and amenities. Here at The Pod, we want to give travellers the best of both worlds by offering them the premium amenities, services, look, and feel of a boutique hotel,  along with the communal and affordable nature of a hostel. The Pod was conceptualised to serve this gap in the market.”

Each Pod in The Pod Capsule Hotel comes with a personal locker below the Pod with keycard access, two pillows, personal reading light, fold-down table for laptop use or writing, international power socket, hangers, and a clothes rack.  Adding a touch of luxury, each Pod also comes with 300 thread-count cotton sateen sheets and a fluffy duvet. Pull-down blinds in each Pod provide guests with added privacy.

The emphasis on design and privacy is extended into the washrooms and vanity area. A long marble common vanity against a mirrored wall provides guests with easy access to a quick wash or touch up. Separate self-contained bathrooms  comprising a shower separated from the water closet and sink by a glass screen enable guests to enjoy the comforts of a private toilet within a shared washroom.

There are two Single Pod types in the hotel: front-entry Pod providing more privacy and side-entry Pods offering more locker space. for couples or very closed budget friends, there is the bigger and roomier Queen Pod which accommodates up to two guests. For female travelers, there are also female-only Pods for added privacy.

The Pods in The Pod Boutique Capsule Hotel Singapore

In Singapore's super expensive hotel environment, these budget hotels are also appealing to business travelers for short stays. The Pod Capsule Hotel offers complimentary business suites which come with laptops, telephones with free local calls, Wi-Fi connectivity and printing/scanning services.

The location of The Pod is also quite appealing. It is located at 289 Beach Road, Bugis, very near to Arab Street and walking distance away from Bugis MRT Station.

The capsule prices begin from S$78 for Single Pods and S$98 for Queen Pods.

Flights to Adelaide from Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia X

Are you looking for budget flights to Adelaide (South Australia)? Then the good news is that one is starting from Kuala Lumpur this year. On 30th October 2013, Malaysia based long-haul budget airline Air Asia X will start flights to Adelaide from Kuala Lumpur which will be operated by Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a seating capacity of 377. With the launch, Adelaide will be Air Asia X's 5th destination in Australia after Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth largest city in Australia. With a population of 1.23 million, Adelaide is the financial and government center of South Australia and houses many financial and public institutions.

“We are thrilled to announce that AirAsia X is finally jetting into Adelaide, which means now every Adelaidian can fly to South East Asia and beyond and vice versa,” said AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani. “Australia is one of our core markets where AirAsia X will see its wings expand and the Adelaide route has been a priority. Our goal since launching our first Australian service on the Gold Coast in 2007 was to operate in the five major states, and we are proud to have accomplished this within six years ... We are very excited to finally touch down in South Australia and bring some much needed competition to the skies.”

AirAsia X will increase its flight frequencies to daily services during peak periods between December and February from Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia X is the medium and long-haul operation of the brand AirAsia, which is Asia's largest low-cost carrier.

An Air Asia X Airbus A330-300 like the one seen here in Melbourne Airport will serve
Kuala Lumpur - Adelaide route.