Where to change SGD to TWD in Singapore

Where is best place to change Sing dollars to Taiwan dollars?

I did not had much to change for the taiwan trip this time round.
As recommended previously when changing SGD to MYR , for a small amount of a few hundreds, it may not be worth the time and effort to make a special trip down for the few dollars savings.

However, there is still a way to get a better rate than the money exchangers at the Singapore airport.

And that way is to think out of the box and...

Change at the money exchangers at the Taiwan Taoyuan airport.

Twd change at the airport in taiwan

There will be 3 money changers,
・one straight after you touch down towards immigration,
・one after immigration at the luggage retrieval belts area, and
・the final one at the pathway after the customs declaration.
The final one had the best rate 21.5, though only slightly better than the one right after you touch down towards immigration(21.3).
I would say go for the one with the least queue.

Comparison of rate

Singapore Airport offered 20.6
Taiwan airport offered 21.3 -21.5.
That translates to a 3~4% savings! which turns out can be quite substantial!


Learn tips, share tips

EUFASS

Taiwan: New Taoyuan Airport MRT vs Guo Guang Bus from airport to Taipei Main station

During my recent trip to Taipei, I took the newly launched(Mar 2017) taoyuan airport MRT during my recent trip to Taiwan.

For the month of March, there is a promotional rate of 80TWD one way. Of course, the trip is payable by 悠游卡 （transport card). 

 

How to get to the Taoyuan Airport Mrt

From the airport:

Come out from the arrivals section, turn right and walk towards the escalators and head down to the basement.

To the airport:

It is located at taipei main station, though it was quite a walk from the taipei main station metro (7-10 minutes)

There are many signs that point you to the right direction.

Review of the train ride:

There are 2 types of train services avaialble - the normal service and the express service.
The common sense advised me to take the express service for faster arrival to destination.
The express service only operates a total of 5 stations (airport terminal 1 and 2 included), as opposed to 16 stations for the normal service.

 

The seats are not as spacious as the high speed rail, but still comfortable. I would say they provide better comfort than airplane seats.

 

We were rewarded with a great view of Taipei (or what is in between) as the train zips through an elevated rail.

 

The ride from terminal 1 to taipei is about 30mins - 35mins

 

The usual price is 160 TWD but for the opening month of March there is a half price promotion.

Recommendation (Train vs bus from airport to Taipei main station):

・The MRT provides a faster way to commute to the city, as compared to taking guo guang bus which can take up to 1 hour.

・The price is comparable (160 TWD vs 125TWD)

・One potential disadvantage is that it might get crowded during peak hours, while for the bus there is always the comfort of a coach-style seating.

・Both operates at comparable frequencies.

First time to dubai: what to wear for work, how to get to your hotel, where to change money

I had the chance to visit Dubai,UAE for a work assignment and being the maiden trip for me, I felt myself asking a lot of questions. It was after all, not the usual work trips to Southeast Asia, and the culture is much different.

What to wear to work

I was thinking to wear polo tee in view of the hot weather, but was concerned if it would be too casual by Dubai standards. My worries were unfounded. There were definitely people in suits and ties, there were also a handful in normal long-sleeve shirt and pants, and polo tees were not uncommon.

For ladies, my feel is most expats dress conservatively, though you could still see some ladies dressed like they are still in Europe. (Dubai is a city with a significant number of western expats after all)

In times of doubt on the dress code, always err to the safer side.

Where to change money

Unlike more common places like Malaysia and Japan, where the currency rate does not differ much whether you change it in some of the currency exchange hotspots in town or at the airport, for the case of AED ( United Arab Emirates Dirham, UAE's currency) , it does matter where to change.

In simple numbers, this was the rate i got at various places

Arcade: 1 SGD : 2.530 AED

Airport: 1 SGD : 2.358 AED

That is a difference of about 17 bp , which is about 7% difference. (To put things in perspective, thats about $7 bucks you are saving for every $100 you are changing)

I changed 500 for this trip , saving me about $35. (Totally worth a trip down to raffles place to change!)

I also read online that the rate is better at dubai.

I went to the Dubai mall to check out the rate, they offered 1SGD : 2.35AED (Not fantastic)

Not very sure if I was able to get my hands on any AED at Dubai, I decided to change in Singapore just in case(my usual style). I am glad i did!

How to get to your hotel from the airport 

(Hint:Uber)

Nice rides, you will get minimum a lexus.

Call the driver to coordinate where to meet.

My case:

From the airport, Head out of arrivals turn left, and you will exit to the taxis area.
Across the road is the car park.
This location is gate 2, I waited for my driver here , who parked his car and came out to meet me.

Hope this was useful for you!

Learn tips, share tips

EUFASS