I took a quick trip to Singapore in November 2018, partly to see the WTA Tennis Finals and partly to get to Platinum Medallion status on Delta. Some might say, “You’re crazy to travel 27 hours there and 30 hours back for four days.” I say, “Screw you, I’ve been to Singapore and you haven’t!”
Singapore Summary
- The airport is fantastic
- The metro is super accessible and cheap
- Autumn flights seem to be cheaper
- It’s very wheelchair-friendly
The Flight to Singapore
I used my Chase points to get a ticket on Delta from Chicago via Detroit and Tokyo for around $600 in points. I have seen low fares and low mileage award tickets for the fall the last two years. I had a stop in Tokyo where just by exploring the airport I was convinced I needed to visit Tokyo sometime.
Singapore Transportation
I arrived at a really weird time and the metro didn’t open until 5AM so I spent the night mostly in The Haven lounge, which was on the arrival side of the airport. There were shower rooms, food, beverages, and not very many people. I had heard that taxis from the airport were expensive for wheelchair users so it was a no-brainer.
The Singapore metro was sooooo good that I actually got excited to use it. As a wheelchair user, metro/subway systems are hit or miss in most places — mostly miss. But this system was wholly accessible to all the places I wanted to go, WITHOUT HELP. I got the Singapore Visitor Pass at the airport station and used it religiously.
The Hotel in Singapore
I stayed at The Westin Singapore and the location couldn’t have been better for the price (under $200 a night). It’s near a great metro station and best of all, the harbor. It was very quiet in the mornings on the weekend and I loved it. The room I had was designated accessible and had a HUGE bathroom with roll-in shower.
The Stuff to do in Singapore
I went to the botanical gardens, the Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India, Orchard, and a few other areas. All were accessible enough with my power chair. The only place I had issues was Fort Canning Park because it was hilly and my chair was running out of battery.
The WTA Finals were at the Singapore Sports Hub, which was easily accessible by the metro. The arena had accessible seating and the staff was very friendly.
My Singapore Memories
One of my wheelchair motor releases was bent during the flight and it kept making this squeaking sound as I motored around the botanical gardens. It was so close to a flagellation sound that people would laugh a little when it would happen.
As I cruised around the bay, this jogger was running barefoot next to me and tried to keep up with me, but couldn’t. He tried to give me a high-five before giving up but I can’t lift my arms up so I just left him hanging and zipped on.
I happened upon a street where the sidewalk was lined with shoes and as I turned the corner there was a pre-Dewali procession going down the road. It was super cool, but I am pretty sure I smashed somebody’s flip flops trying to avoid the crowd.
It cost $50+ for an appetizer platter and skillet queso at the Chili’s in Sentosa. Don’t judge me, I was hungry. I usually only reserve stops at American restaurants for quick, cheap bites when I am really hungry.
Why You Should Go to Singapore Anyway
I had never been to Asia before and was expecting it to be overwhelming. However, Singapore was surprisingly one of the most accessible places I’ve ever been. The people were super friendly and the city was so clean and safe. I would recommend it to anyone who is afraid of Asia but wants to go.
You Should Go Anyway 
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