Not only are there extensive duty-free shopping facilities, but other options for killing time also vie for your attention. No matter how weary you are on arrival, a state-of the art health and fitness centre, mobile phone chargers, free internet plug-ins for computer notebook users and a smorgasbord of international and regional cuisine to suit all palates and budgets just might wake you up.

For longer stopovers, visitors can book a guided one-hour tour of the island’s highlights. Or for the more adventurous the city is made thoroughly accessible by its impeccably efficient transport system. Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is among the world’s best, and runs along the easily navigated North-South and East-West lines. Efficient bus services ply the areas not covered by the MRT, all with extensive information at each stop. Reasonably-priced taxis are also ubiquitous, and can’t be missed with their bright and innovative advertisements on the roof.

A true delight of Singapore is that despite the nation’s multi-cultural make-up, everyone speaks decent, international English. The lingua franca is even heard between citizens of the same cultural groups who share other mother tongues.

Moreover, Singaporeans truly do seem to act on the state’s encouragement to be courteous. The consideration shown to each other and visitors is laudable, especially compared to the bewilderment one often encounters in touristed destinations elsewhere. This is one place where friendly and honest help is always available, even on the street.

And then there's shopping
Many visitors make Singapore a destination in its own right. In fact, tour operators from across the world organise shopping tours to the city-state. Singapore’s accessible location and economic clout make it an ideal port of call for anyone wishing to find quality, diversity and value in everything from cutting-edge technology to ancient traditional crafts from surrounding nations.

The glamorous Orchard Road district is a luxurious cornucopia of all that money can buy. Traders and buyers will also find a number of designer surplus shops and technology discounters tucked away beyond the swish façades.

Bargain-hunters will find even better — if less glitzy — hunting grounds in the traditional Little India and Chinatown areas. Bookworms will find ample food for thought in the bookstores, which offer the widest range of English material in Asia.

Although it seems to be an endless summer in Singapore, the trendy like to keep up with international seasons, and the northern hemisphere’s seasonal ranges are available in designers clothing stores. Despite the flashy labels, prices compare well, since many brands are actually manufactured cost-effectively in the region.

Join the tech-set
Technological saturation of the wealthy Singaporean society means that supply and demand work in favor of most tech-shoppers visiting the island. While similar prices can be found elsewhere in Asia, the impeccable service, English assistance and luxury experience is unrivalled.

For collectors of arts and crafts, Singapore offers time- and effort-saving diversity. Those who do not have the time or inclination to scour the perilous jungles of South-east Asia to barter for souvenirs, tourists equipped with nothing more than charades and chutzpah will find the work already done for them. Arts and crafts of the entire region are well-represented and, though it’s not quite rock-bottom, the prices are still decent. Those who do plan to hunt down authentic artefacts elsewhere, can catch a convenient glimpse of what lies in store on their brave adventures.

Whatever your plans, tastes or passions Singapore offers surprises a-plenty and is, as it promises, the perfect gateway to the world.

For more info...

• To find out more, visit the Singapore Tourism Board website.
• Singapore Airlines flies daily from South Africa to Singapore.