Solo Week in Three Countries:Southeast Asia

A gentle first day in Singapore

After a roughly 16-hour Air Canada flight from Vancouver, I landed in Singapore at 7 a.m. My first stop was Jewel, the airport’s shopping and dining complex. Its indoor waterfall made a lovely introduction to the city before I headed to my hotel.

I checked into Hotel Boss that afternoon. The city views, location near Arab Street, and price worked well for my trip. Once I had settled in, I went back out for a walk around the neighborhood. It was an easy way to begin exploring without packing too much into the first day.

Where I stayed: Hotel Boss, Singapore

A Slow Morning, an Afternoon of Exploring, and a Night of Lights

I started with coffee around Arab Street, then made my way toward Benjamin Sheares Bridge. Walking along the other side of the waterfront gave me a different view of Singapore’s skyline before I crossed back via Marina Barrage.

From there, I continued to Gardens by the Bay, stopped for lunch, and explored Cloud Forest. Later came Marina Bay Sands and the mall inside. There was plenty of walking, but I liked experiencing the city along the way rather than moving straight from one stop to the next.

I ended the day with two light shows, starting with the water-and-light show on the waterfront at Marina Bay Sands. On my visit, the Supertree light show at Gardens by the Bay started about 30–40 minutes later, giving me time to walk over between the two. Seeing both was such a lovely way to finish the day before heading back to Hotel Boss.

A comfortable ride to Kuala Lumpur

I traveled from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by express bus, a journey of about six to seven hours on my trip. The massage seats were a welcome surprise, and I found the fare affordable. It was a comfortable way to make the next stop part of the journey.

The bus dropped me near a mall, so I spent a little time exploring before checking into Scarletz Premier Suites. Being close to the Petronas Twin Towers made it a convenient base for my short stay in Kuala Lumpur.

Where I stayed: Scarletz Premier Suites, Kuala Lumpur

A Day Exploring Kuala Lumpur

I began the morning at Batu Caves, then returned downtown to explore the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding area. The colorful stairs and city skyline gave the day two very different settings, with some shopping in between.

With just one full sightseeing day in Kuala Lumpur, I kept the plan simple. If you enjoy a slower pace or want more time to explore the neighborhoods, I would add another night here.

Back to Singapore (Bus Tip)

The next day was a travel day back to Singapore. One thing I would do again is arrive early at the departure point in Malaysia. Finding the boarding area can take longer than expected, especially when it is on a different level from the entrance.

Ask security or your bus operator to point you toward the exact boarding location. Once I was back in Singapore, I left the rest of the day flexible and saved the ferry to Bintan for the following morning.

Island Views and a Slower Pace

I took an early ferry to Bintan Island and checked into Four Points by Sheraton Bintan, Lagoi Bay. After several days of city exploring, this was where I slowed down: waterfront views, time around the resort, and meals at a restaurant I really enjoyed.

I did not plan a full schedule of activities here. The resort and its views were enough, and I appreciated having time to enjoy them. My stay felt luxurious for the price I paid, and the people I met were especially kind. It was a lovely change of pace before the journey home.

Where I stayed: Four Points by Sheraton Bintan, Lagoi Bay

One more slow morning by the water

I spent the morning enjoying the pools, gardens, and waterfront before returning to Singapore. There was no need to fit in another long list of stops. A little more time at the resort was exactly how I wanted to spend the last part of my island stay.

A final evening, back where the week began

After the ferry back to Singapore, I completed another arrival card and dropped my bags at the hotel. Then I returned to Arab Street for dinner and a little souvenir shopping.

I ended the evening at Jewel, watching the light show at the indoor waterfall. Beginning and ending the trip in the same place gave the week a lovely sense of coming full circle. My flight home was the following day, so I could enjoy that last evening without rushing straight to the airport.