Singapore is without doubt not the most budget-friendly destination. That said, knowing how to cut corners as a budget traveler is key to fully enjoying the country without worrying about cost.
I traveled to Singapore in 2022 and this was the first-ever destination I visited outside the Philippines. Despite my initial fear of getting lost, I decided not to buy a local SIM card for my three-day stay. Read along to know what happened.
Singapore Travel: Deciding Not to Buy a SIM Card
I remember the first moments of my landing in Changi International Airport: using the walking escalators in my long dress and kitten heels with a backpack. All I can think of at this moment is to look for a place where I can buy a local SIM card. How else can this solo traveler who has never gone out of her country survive without data, right?
After passing through the immigration gates, I immediately spotted one and felt a huge sense of relief. Finally, I no longer pictured myself crying in the corner after getting lost multiple times. I went to the booth and asked the representative for their data packages. He showed me a card for sim-and-data packages that are specifically tailored for tourists, but I remember trying to calculate the cost against the length of my stay and realizing I’ll waste a lot this way.
So I went to the corner and Googled: “Can I survive traveling Singapore as a first-time solo female traveler without buying a local SIM card?”. From there I saw tons of blogs and forum discussions sharing how well-connected Singapore actually is.
I decided not to buy a SIM card and left the airport. I love spontaneity and adventures, and this trip is going to be one.
How to Go Around Singapore Without a SIM Card
Here is the best way to go around Singapore without a local SIM or data.
Use the Airport WiFi
The journey starts at the airport and you are lucky because Changi International Airport has free and accessible WiFi. Use the WiFi to Google how to use public transportation such as the metro or buses going to your hotel.
It is best to use VPN since you’ll be connecting to a lot of public WiFi from this point on. If you don’t have one, I used ExpressVPN since it has a Philippine IP address, although it is a bit more costly than others like NordVPN which I also used before.
Download Offline Maps
Utilize the airport’s public WiFi to download offline maps. I personally liked using Maps.me and Mapy.cz since they are free. Download Singapore’s map before leaving the airport and you’ll be good.
Follow the Signs
I don’t mean to overly praise Singapore, but it truly stands out as one of the easiest places to navigate because of its efficient sign placements. I don’t think someone has pointed this out before so this observation might sound like it makes no sense at all. But, if you go to the country, you’ll notice that directional signs are clear, well-placed, and always reliable. Simply following them can lead you to your destination, even without the need for an offline map.
Ask. People.
Singapore is one of the top tourist destinations for Filipinos, including many of my friends who’ve visited. I often heard them remark about the perceived unfriendliness of Singaporeans, so I was expecting to encounter the same during my trip. This made me a bit hesitant to ask for help at the start of my visit.
Turns out that Singaporeans, in my experience, are always willing to help. I wouldn’t say “friendly” because I come from a country that will throw you their hands to say hello when they know you’re a tourist. But they always stopped to help when I asked for directions.
Note: Some, especially the older generation, might not want to speak English. They will do their best to avoid you and that can come off as being unfriendly.
Stay in the Center
One practical way to explore Singapore without an active data plan is to stay near the city center. During my trip, I stayed in a hostel near what I believe is their Little India, a vibrant area filled with restaurants and shopping malls.
These malls weren’t just great for dining and shopping — they also served as convenient spots to access free WiFi whenever I needed to look something up at the last minute. Almost every mall I visited offered free WiFi, making them perfect pit stops during my daily adventures.
Utilize Public WiFi
That said, malls, restaurants, museums, train stations, and tourist spots in Singapore have free WiFi. Not all of them, of course, but most of them. If you happen to get lost, you can easily make a small detour to a nearby mall, connect to the free WiFi, and quickly get back on track without any hassle.
No SIM Card: Is It Worth the Trouble?
If you’ll ask me if it’s worth doing all these “troubles” as a budget traveler? With all honesty, it made me enjoy my Singapore trip more. Not having WiFi means being more present, and I activated my senses in full because of this.
Instead of passively swiping for videos on TikTok while on the metro, I observed how people behaved, dressed, and spoke. I was able to feel and remember the intensity of the sun while walking in the heat, and reflected on the quality of air while exploring.
There are days when I suddenly get a flashback of my Singapore trip and it gives me a huge sense of nostalgia. This is not only because it was my first-ever trip but also because I was so present and fully in the moment.
Instead of passively swiping for videos on TikTok while on the metro, I observed how people behaved, dressed, and spoke. I was able to feel and remember the intensity of the sun while walking in the heat, and reflected on the quality of air while exploring.
