Aug 1, 2008
S'pore so costly, says regular visitor
I AM writing as someone who travels to Singapore regularly on business.
I read somewhere that the number of visitors has dropped by more than 8 per cent compared to last year. Also that Singapore Airlines passenger traffic and revenue have declined. I am not surprised.
I used to be astounded how expensive Singapore was. But recently, I have given up all hope of ever understanding. Taxi and hotel rates have gone up 80 per cent and 50 per cent respectively since 2005. An average meal at an average restaurant costs two to three times what I would pay back home.
I take a taxi to the office and back to the hotel every day. No two receipts are the same. Distances and extra charges are all different. Once, a taxi driver took me on a much longer route, although I complained about his choice of roads.
In one restaurant at Boat Quay, an expensive fish we did not order showed up on our table. The waiter argued that we had ordered it. In another restaurant, an item listed at $12 on the menu was charged at $56, causing us to argue again.
In a hotel I had booked at $228 per night, that turned out to be the cost of the first night. I was charged $380 the next night.
With such bad experiences, how could I return as a visitor or recommend Singapore to my friends?
Alp Kocaman
Texas, USA
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title given was misleading ... shld hv been .. sg so unscrupulous, says regular visitor ... :p
S'pore so costly, says regular visitor
I AM writing as someone who travels to Singapore regularly on business.
I read somewhere that the number of visitors has dropped by more than 8 per cent compared to last year. Also that Singapore Airlines passenger traffic and revenue have declined. I am not surprised.
I used to be astounded how expensive Singapore was. But recently, I have given up all hope of ever understanding. Taxi and hotel rates have gone up 80 per cent and 50 per cent respectively since 2005. An average meal at an average restaurant costs two to three times what I would pay back home.
I take a taxi to the office and back to the hotel every day. No two receipts are the same. Distances and extra charges are all different. Once, a taxi driver took me on a much longer route, although I complained about his choice of roads.
In one restaurant at Boat Quay, an expensive fish we did not order showed up on our table. The waiter argued that we had ordered it. In another restaurant, an item listed at $12 on the menu was charged at $56, causing us to argue again.
In a hotel I had booked at $228 per night, that turned out to be the cost of the first night. I was charged $380 the next night.
With such bad experiences, how could I return as a visitor or recommend Singapore to my friends?
Alp Kocaman
Texas, USA
_______________
title given was misleading ... shld hv been .. sg so unscrupulous, says regular visitor ... :p
