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PHOTOS
JOREM CATILO
W E E K E N D S U R V I V A L G U I D E
Matchbox
Coining itself “The Concept Hostel”,
Matchbox is set up on one of the
trendiest streets in Chinatown. But
unlike the costly cafés, restaurants
and bars that surround this spot, these
guys do not charge an arm and a leg.
The three dormitory rooms are set
up with modern custom-made pods,
from the smallest with two pods to
the biggest with 18. Setting it apart
from their fellow hostels, these guys
provide complimentary toiletries, Wi-Fi,
all-day breakfast and even free use of
Places to stay
So you’ve already spent a pretty penny on your concert tickets
—
now you need an affordable place to rest your head.
their massage chair.
Beds from SG$28
(
PHP938); 39 Ann Siang Rd;
matchbox.sg
Sleepy Sam’s
Bed&Breakfast
Kampong Glam, a colorful enclave
of streets south-east of Little India,
is where you will find Sleepy Sam’s.
Anyone not looking to keep others
awake through noisy snoring — or just
those in need of some privacy — will
be happy to hear that they offer private
rooms in addition to dorms.
Beds from
SG$19 (PHP637), private rooms from
SG$40 (PHP1,341); 54 Bussorah St;
Five Stones Hostel
The nine themed rooms in Clarke
Quay’s Five Stones Hostel offer the
creativity you’d normally find at a
boutique hotel designed by local artists.
Each room focuses on childhood
games including one on hopscotch and
another with pick-up sticks. In addition
to the mixed and female dorm rooms,
two private doubles are available.
Coffee and tea can be enjoyed all day
in the Makan Corner, and free earplugs
will ensure a quiet night’s sleep.
Beds
from SG$30 (PHP1,006); private
rooms SG$105 (PHP3,520); 61 South
Bridge Rd;
Tree in Lodge
A three-minute walk from the Bugis
MRT station, this eco-friendly hostel
makes efforts to protect Mother Nature
through green initiatives like the use of
energy-efficient appliances and non-
toxic cleaning products. They’ve even
set up a program that entitles cyclists
passing through Singapore to 50% off
the standard rates.
Beds from SG$22
(
PHP737); 2 Tan Quee Lan St;
treeinlodge.com.
Midnight
in theGardens
One of the most recent additions
to Singapore’s must-see list is
environmental park Gardens by the
Bay. Save its Flower Dome and Cloud
Forest (entrance to these is SG$28/
PHP940; they close at 9pm) for a less
party-heavy weekend and stick to
the outdoor jungle of
Avatar
-
like
“
Supertrees” this time
around. These vertical
gardens that soar 25 to
50
meters in the sky
are scattered about
and open to visitors
to wander around for
free until 2am daily.
10
Marina Gardens Dr;
gardensbythebay.org.sg
Nearby attractions
Take a break from the beats to check out these spots.
Down to a
science
Dodge the high-
end brands at the
neighboring Marina
Bay Sands mall and
duck into the ArtScience
Museum. This striking
piece of architecture — some
liken it to a hand, others to
a lotus — houses galleries
with exhibits that find
ties between art and
science. In “The
Art of the Brick”, a
temporary exhibit
that will run until April
14,
New York-based
artist Nathan Sawaya
showcases 52 large-
scale LEGO sculptures.
10
Bayfront Ave;
marinabaysands.com;
“
The Art of the Brick”
admission: SG$15
(
PHP500)
Waterworld
Grab a kite, pack a picnic and
stroll over to Marina Barrage, the
first reservoir built in the center of the
city. The Green Roof is the size of four
football fields and offers panoramic views
of the city skyline. Check out Italian
sculptor Lorenzo Quinn’s
The Force of
Nature
near the central courtyard, or
stretch your legs on a walk across
Marina Bridge — it’s all free for visitors
to enjoy.
Marina Barrage, 8 Marina
Gardens Dr;
The loft at Matchbox
Nathan
Sawaya’s
Yellow
Fly a kite
at Marina
Barrage
PHOTOS
ADI EFFENDY (LEGO); DANISH CONNECTION (MARINA BARRAGE)
