Most of the time, people get bored at the mention of airport hotels. But not if it is Singapore’s airport hotel, or better known as Crowne Plaza Hotel. Located at Terminal 3 of the Changi International Airport, Crowne Plaza Hotel is anything but boring-looking.

Think a business hotel but with touches of a holiday resort; plush sofas in candy pop colours juxtaposing clean white work desks with reading lamps, pots of orchids and other greens in a predominantly wine and berry-hued space. The facade alone welcomes the world to Singapore with the subtle reflections of how our Garden City is like.

An afternoon walk around the hotel led us to several quiet gardens and courtyards, each with a view to boast of, and some even over-looking the majestic airport runway.

The pool is also one of the nicest in Singapore. Nestled in the quiet outdoors on the third level, the sheer landscaping blew us away. The tall palm trees brought a sort of calmness, and the elusive little “boxes” (or relaxing corners) within the pool itself made us feel like we were on a total hideout at a private beach where there was nobody else but us.

We checked in to a pool-access room, also located on the third level. Clean and spacious, the modern-looking room is furnished with wooden touches and felt very much like a holiday resort. The rooms are also fully soundproofed and complete with an oh-so-comfy bed and huge bathtubs.

And if you are looking to indulge in some weekend brunch, head to Azur – the hotel’s all day dining and buffet restaurant – which offers a selection of local dishes and international fare.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel
75 Airport Boulevard
Tel: +65 6823 5300
Nearest Station: Changi Airport
Note: This was an invited media stay.

Chasing planes is always a thrill that adds on to the entire travel experience, and this was what we used to enjoy, until we got spoilt by Changi Airport and decided we all need a travel ritual to kickstart a true blue holiday.

No two airports are identical, and for that, Changi Airport is outstanding and amongst the best in the world. A holiday actually begins at Changi Airport, because our award-winning international airport has an enthralling list of offerings that makes it all worthwhile to check-in early so as to enjoy the facilities and amenities to its best.

Need to fill your tummy? The F&B options cater to different taste buds and time allowances. Whether you are rushing for a flight and need a quick take-out, or looking for a cosy diner to enjoy a meal with family and friends who are sending you off, there are plenty of options in both the public and transit areas.

And if you need to pick up duty-free items, the shopping is so irresistible that we strongly advise putting aside more time for some retail therapy. From perfumes and cosmetics, to books and electronics, you can find everything you need at Changi Airport.

Here is a guide to Changi Airport, featuring some of our favourite dining options, places to go, and things to see at the World’s best airport.

For a start, checking-in is a breeze because there are ample rows and counters that clearly segregate the airlines and flights, and there will always be staff patrolling and doing crowd control. We have been to many airports – both domestic and international – and we say it with utmost certainty that Changi Airport has the most seamless experience in this aspect.

Photo credit: Changi Airport

Things to see and do at Changi Airport

Catch a free show at the movie theatre, or watch the latest soccer match on large screen at the Xperience Zone. For the kids, there are several playgrounds located at all three terminals.

Or how does a spa indulgence sound? Head to Wellness Spa for some self-pampering! For the brave-hearted, try the fish spa where you have your feet submerged in a pool of tiny fishes, and they will rid the dead skin off your feet.

To relax your mind, take a stroll at one of the five gardens – Butterfly Garden (T3), Enchanted Garden (T2), Cactus Garden (T1), Orchid Garden (T2), and Sunflower Garden (T2) – in Changi Airport.

There are so many things to see and do at Changi Airport that it is impossible to share everything in this post. Next month, we have lined up a special guide on the 12 Things to do at Changi Airport, where we will share some of the things that you never knew about our beautiful airport.

Shopping at Changi Airport

Changi Airport is truly a shopping heaven. Melody always goes crazy at the perfume and cosmetic shops because there are so many brands to choose from, and enticing promotions that no one can resist. The guys have it good too. The latest gadgets can be found at the electronic stores. If not, head to the bookstore and pick up a good read for your flight.

When you shop at Changi Airport, you will get to enjoy 7% GST savings, which can be a substantial saving especially for big-ticket items. The 7% GST savings also applies to all shops in the public area. And the best part is there is a 30-day Money Back Guarantee. For those who are not satisfied with their purchases, they can return the product within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.

Dining at Changi Airport

Melody and I go to Changi Airport so often that it feels like our second home. When our family is sending or picking us, some of the places we dine at include O’Coffee Club, Swensen’s, Itacho Sushi, Saboten, and Ramen Champion.

Swensen’s and O’Coffee Club at Changi Airport open for 24 hours daily, making them the ideal spots to grab a bite when we touch down in Singapore late at night. Both of us are big fan of Japanese food, so it is no surprise that Itacho Sushi is our favourite haunt as it serves good quality sushi at reasonable prices.

Another Japanese diner that we really like is Saboten, which has consistently good tonkatsu and is great for a quick meal before boarding the plane. For ramen lovers, a stop to Ramen Champion will have you spoilt with different renditions from 4 carefully selected chefs from Japan, who each dishes up their specialties in the individual booths.

The transit area has even more options. Peach Garden Noodle House, Cedele, Bakerzin, Killiney Kopitiam, Tai Hing Roast Restaurant, The Green Market, just to name a few.

In March, we will be sharing a more comprehensive guide on where to eat in Changi Airport.

The World Airport Survey is conducting polls for the World’s Best Airport Award. You can vote for your favourite airport via this link – let’s do our part for our beloved airport!

Changi Airport is often the talk of the town (or the world), and it is with great pride that as a Singaporean and as the first social media ambassador of Changi Airport, I share with you the best of our award-winning international airport. With infinite possibilities, a myriad of shopping and dining options and endless entertainment, your holiday starts at Changi Airport.

For more information, go to www.changiairport.com. Follow Fans of Changi on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.

This post is brought to you by Singapore Changi Airport.

My quest to find the best tonkatsu brought me to Saboten at Changi Airport Terminal 1.

I’ve always wanted to try Saboten after hearing so much about it. Many people have been telling me that it is their favourite tonkatsu restaurant in Singapore. I am embarrassed that it took me so long to go there, but I am happy to say that I finally had the chance to drop by to sample some of the signature items on the menu.

The question now is, does Saboten have the best tonkatsu in Singapore?

From pork loin, to shrimp, to salmon, and Japanese curry, Saboten has many things to offer. I was tempted by everything on the menu, so we ordered quite a few dishes. The food came after a while, and it was quite a magnificent sight as they filled up the entire table. We had Loin Katsu ($23), Loin Katsu Curry ($19.5), Tonkatsu Asparagus Cheese Roll, Loin Katsudon ($20), Salmon Katsu ($20), and Oyster Katsu.

I was very excited to see the Loin Katsu ($23). I quickly picked up a piece of the gorgeous pork loin with my chopsticks, and took a bite.

It was good. But not out-of-this-world good. I was slightly disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much, but it did not blow me away.

Then, we had a Katsu with Asparagus Cheese Roll. It was essentially asparagus and melted cheese stuffed within crispy katsu. This was followed by the Deep-Fried Oyster Katsu, and Salmon Katsu.

The oysters were not too bad; it didn’t have any fishy taste. The Salmon Katsu ($20), on the other hand, was surprisingly good. I was quite skeptical initially as I thought that it would be too dry.

I was wrong, of course. Saboten’s Salmon Katsu managed to retain the moistness of the fish, and it wasn’t dry at all. That being said, I probably wouldn’t order this on my own because a) I don’t really fancy deep-fried salmon, and b) I need to save room for the pork loin.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Loin Katsudon ($20). Huge chunks of meat buried under the thick and fluffy eggs. There’s only one word to describe this: YUM.

Another of my favourite dish is the Loin Katsu Curry ($19.5). It combined the sweet Japanese curry with breaded pork loin. I could eat this for lunch everyday.

Saboten is definitely one of the better tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore, but it is not my favourite. I still prefer other places like Tampopo, Tonkichi, and Tonkatsu by Ma Maison.

Having said that, I can see myself coming back as the food is generally good, and reasonably-priced. I am kind of glad that I am not staying in the East, otherwise I would probably be eating tonkatsu very often.

Saboten
80 Airport Boulevard
#031-004 Departure Check-in Hall Level 3
Changi Airport Terminal 1
Tel: +65 6214 9504
Daily: 8am – 10.30pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

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The giveaway is now closed. Thank you for participating. The winners are #401, #254, #15, #198, and #152. I will be contacting you via email shortly after.

From 16 – 25 March, Azur Restaurant at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is presenting a special true-blue Peranakan buffet by Guest Chef Kenny Chan.

Some of the Peranakan dishes include the signature Ayam Buah Keluak (stuffed Indonesian black nut with chicken), Babi Pong Teh (braised pork in salted bean paste), Ikan Goreng Cili (fried fish with sambal), Nyonya Chap Chye, Telur Cincalok (fermented shrimp omelette), and Nyonya Cendol.

So here’s the good news. The kind folks at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has kindly agreed to give 5 couples the chance to try the Peranakan buffet ($55++ for weekday dinner, and $65++ for weekend dinner). All you need to do is to answer a question by leaving a comment.

As usual, remember to ask your foodie friends to join the giveaway by sharing via the tweet and facebook buttons so that you guys have more chances of winning!

How to enter Crowne Plaza Peranakan Buffet Giveaway

1. Five winners will get to bring along a guest to go for the Peranakan Buffet at Azur Restaurant, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.

2. Answer this question by leaving a comment below: What is your favourite Peranakan food?

3. Azur Crowne Plaza Peranakan Buffet giveaway is open to Singapore residents only.

4. A random generator will be used, everyone has an equal chance of winning.

5. Giveaway ends on 4th Mar 2012 Sunday 12 noon. Winners will be notified by email.

6. Note that comments are moderated, they will only appear after I approve it. Please do not submit more than once.

Azur Restaurant is located at 75 Airport Boulevard, 2nd Floor Crowne Plaza Hotel (Next to Changi Airport T3) Tel: +65 6823 5354.

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: This is not an advertorial, no monetary benefits were received for this giveaway.

I have been traveling a lot recently, and it gives me a new perspective about everything.

Each time I visit a new airport, I can’t help but to compare it with Singapore Changi Airport. The outcome is always the same — very few airports in the world can match Singapore Changi Airport in terms of efficiency and facilities. I think many of us always take things for granted; we complain about this, and grumble about that. But we are very fortunate to be living in one of the finest cities in the world.

“Can you take a photo of the in-flight food?”

A friend asked as he has never taken Singapore Airlines (SIA) before. Now, I may have taken photos of food at random places before, but to use my bulky dslr on a plane? No way! Fellow passengers would probably think that I’m crazy, and maybe the cabin crew might just throw me off the plane!

But speaking of airplane food, they have been improving over the years; not just in variety but also in terms of taste and appearance. This is hardly surprising since Singapore Airlines has an International Culinary Panel (ICP) to advise and create the in-flight food menu. The panel includes celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Sam Leong, and Matthew Moran.

If you are looking for the cheapest flight from Singapore to Shanghai — I’m sorry, but you are looking at the wrong page. This may sound bias since I’m a Singaporean, but Singapore Airlines is definitely one of the best in the world.

People always ask what’s the big deal about Singapore Airlines, and I used to question that too. It’s only after I took other airlines then I realized the little things that made a huge difference. KrisWorld, the in-flight entertainment system is definitely a  life savior (especially for long haul flights) with an impressive list of the latest blockbuster movies.

By the way, if you are traveling soon, do take a look at the following posts by my fellow fashion & beauty blogger: 5 Fashion Traveling Essentials, and Guide on Travel Beauty Tips.

// This is not an advertorial and no payment was received. I’m just sharing about my recent experience on the Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Shanghai.