So my sister called me last week, right? And she's like, "I need to plan a Singapore trip but I'm totally overwhelmed with all these tour packages online." And honestly, I get it. When I first started looking at Singapore tour packages myself back in March, I went down this rabbit hole of websites and prices that made zero sense.

Here's the deal – I've done Singapore twice now, once solo and once with a package deal, and I'm gonna tell you what actually worked versus what was just fancy marketing.

The Whole Package Thing... Do You Even Need One?

Look, I was skeptical at first. I'm usually the "figure it out yourself" type of traveler, you know? But after spending like three hours trying to coordinate hotel bookings with Universal Studios tickets and this random cable car thing, I was pretty much done. That's when I actually started taking Singapore tours seriously.

The thing is (and this surprised me), some of these packages aren't trying to rip you off. I found this Singapore tour package 3 days 2 nights deal that was actually cheaper than if I'd booked everything separately. Wild, right? It included the hotel near Bugis, Gardens by the Bay tickets, and airport transfers for around ₹32,000 per person. When I calculated doing it myself, I was hitting like ₹38,000 easy.

But here's where I messed up the first time...

My Expensive Mistake (Learn From Me, Please)

First trip to Singapore, I booked this "budget" package because the Singapore tour package price looked amazing. Super cheap. I was feeling pretty smart about it. Then I got there and realized the hotel was literally 45 minutes from everything. Like, I spent more on Grab rides in three days than I would've spent upgrading to a better package.

Also – and nobody tells you this – some packages don't include breakfast. Mine didn't. Do you know how expensive breakfast is in Singapore? I was paying like 15-18 SGD for coffee and toast. Every. Single. Morning. (Side note: why is coffee so expensive there? Still don't get it.)

What Actually Matters in Singapore Holiday Packages

Okay so after my first disaster trip, I got smarter for round two. When I was comparing Singapore travel package options, here's what I learned to focus on:

Location is everything. I mean it. If your hotel isn't near an MRT station, you're gonna have a bad time. My second package put me near Clarke Quay station and it was like night and day difference. I could get anywhere in like 20 minutes max.

Check what "sightseeing" actually means. Some packages say they include sightseeing but it's literally just a bus tour where you see stuff through windows. Boring. The better 3 days Singapore tour package deals I saw included actual entry tickets to places, not just transportation past them.

This guy I met at my hotel (super nice dude from Mumbai) had paid extra for what he thought was a "premium experience" but it was the same bus tour I could've taken for $30 on my own. He was pretty annoyed about it, honestly.

The 3-Day Sweet Spot

Here's my hot take: three days is perfect for Singapore. Maybe unpopular opinion? But I think 4-5 days is too much unless you're planning to just chill by the pool. The city isn't that huge.

Most singapore local tour packages I looked at were either 3 or 4 days. I'd say go for three days, save the money, and maybe add a day trip to somewhere nearby if you want. Actually, scratch that – I did add Sentosa Island separately on my second trip and that was worth it, but I'm glad it wasn't forced into my package at a marked-up price.

My ideal three days looked like: Day 1 - Marina Bay area and Gardens by the Bay (go at sunset, trust me), Day 2 - Universal Studios (get there when it opens or you'll waste half your day in lines), Day 3 - Chinatown, Little India, and whatever shopping you wanna do.

Price Real Talk

Okay, so about Singapore tour package price – and I'm gonna be straight with you here because the internet is full of lies about this.

Budget packages: ₹25,000-35,000 per person Mid-range (what I'd recommend): ₹35,000-50,000 per person Fancy luxury ones: ₹60,000 and up

But wait, here's the thing nobody mentions – those prices usually don't include your main meals, shopping, or activities beyond what's in the package. I budgeted an extra ₹15,000 for food and random stuff, and I basically spent exactly that. My cousin went and only budgeted ₹8,000 extra and she had to like, ration her eating by day three. Don't be that person.

Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

The weather is humid. Like, change-your-shirt-twice-a-day humid. Pack light clothes but bring more than you think you need.

Also, those packages that include "free time" – that's actually good? I thought it was them being lazy about planning, but honestly having half a day to just wander around without a schedule was when I found the best local food spots. (There's this place in Chinatown... I can't remember the name but it had the best chicken rice I've ever had. It was down some random alley. This is why free time matters.)

Oh, and insurance. Some Singapore tours include travel insurance, some don't. Check that. I didn't the first time and then got paranoid the whole trip about losing my luggage or something.

The Actual Best Part Nobody Talks About

You know what made the package worth it for me? The airport transfers. Sounds boring, right? But landing in a foreign country at 2 AM and having someone holding a sign with your name, knowing exactly where to take you... that peace of mind was kinda priceless? Especially because I was traveling solo the second time.

Also the hotel concierge that came with my package helped me book a restaurant I'd been trying to get into for weeks. Apparently they had connections or whatever. Small thing, but it made my trip.

So Should You Do It?

Look, if you're the type who loves planning every detail and wants complete control, maybe book things separately. But if you're like me and my sister – working full time, limited patience for travel logistics, just wanna show up and have a good time – yeah, get the package.

Just read the fine print. Actually read it. And maybe don't go for the absolute cheapest option unless you enjoy 45-minute commutes to everywhere interesting.

I'm probably gonna do it again next year honestly, maybe drag my sister along this time so she can stop asking me questions. Though knowing her, she'll still have questions even after going...