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S I N G A P O R E C I T Y G U I D E
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2000 Things to Do
Singapore is so excited about the year 2000 that the city is holding its "MillenniaMania" celebrations over a 15-month period. Between June 1999 and August 2000, visitors flying into Singapore can enter a daily "Once in a Millennium" draw. Prizes include flights, hotel stays and cruise vacations, plus a grand award offering the winner and 20 pals free business-class flights on SIA and a three-night stay in the Lion City. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets on Dec. 31, with five massive public New Year's Eve parties from which to choose. The crowds cheering at the Orchard Road countdown will be televised as part of a live global broadcast that will also check into the 2000 festivities taking place in Hong Kong, Tokyo and 27 other cities. Partyers can also opt to bop into the new millennium at an open-air disco at Suntec City or a 16-hour dance championship at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Families may prefer the all-ages concert and carnival at the NTUC resort at Pasir Ris or the fireworks and laser light shows at Marina South, which will be hosting its own millennium clock countdown. Limited edition MillenniaMania watches are being produced by the designers of the city's two countdown clocks: Swatch starts its Orchard Road timepiece on June 15, while Ebel is waiting until the big night to unveil its clock at Marina South. The government is
also getting in the mood, with plans to issue millennial postage stamps. A special series of banknotes is being issued starting in September, with a freshly minted millennium coin to follow in November. And some hardy citizens plan to welcome the new year far from home: a team from Singapore expects to reach the South Pole on Jan. 1, the same day another local group of intrepid trekkers hopes to reach the peak of Vinson Massif, Antarctica's highest mountain.
Singapore Hotel Millennium Packages
Planning a millennium visit to the Lion City? The following hotels have announced special packages for New Year's visitors:
Amara Hotel
Offering 50% of rack rates of S$250 per night. Rates valid from July 1, 1999, to Aug. 31, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 322-6336 or fax (65) 224-3910.
Conrad International Centennial
Offering a Centennial Room Package for S$199.90 per night, or a Y2000 Suite package for S$2,000 per night (including breakfast, champagne, limousine and souvenir clock). Rates valid from Dec. 24, 1999, to Jan. 2, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 334-8888 or send a fax to (65) 333-9166 (or send an e-mail message to conradsg@mbox4.singnet.com.sg).
Copthorne King's Hotel
Offering a Y2 Mania package for S$150 per night (single or double). Offer includes free Internet access in the club lounge. For reservations, call (65) 733-0011 or fax (65) 732-5764 (or send an e-mail message to rooms@copthornekings.com.sg).
Eastern & Oriental Express
Offering a millennium package which begins with a welcome party and dinner at the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, and ends with an overnight stay at the Raffles Hotel. Depending on hotels and tours selected, the holiday package is priced from US$7,500 to US$12,500. For reservations, call (65) 392-3500 or fax (65) 392-3600.
Garden Hotel
Offering a SuperSave package rate of S$125 per night; and a Countdown Celebration package for S$165 a night; and a Y2000 Celebrations Bonanza package (four days/three nights) for S$388 a night. Rates valid from June 1, 1999 to Aug. 31, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 235-3344 or fax (65) 235-9730.
Goodwood Park Hotel
In honor of the hotel's 100th birthday on Sept. 21, 2000, guests who stay a minimum of three nights during the celebrations pay US$100 a night each (based on double occupancy; single supplement is US$200 a night). For reservations, call (65) 730-1849 or fax (65) 738-5034 (or send an e-mail message to enquiries@goodwoodparkhotel.com.sg).
Hotel Rendezvous
A special rate of S$200 a night (including late check-out and free limousine airport transfers with a minimum two night stay) is valid from July 1, 1999, to Aug. 31, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 336-0220 or fax (65) 335-1888 (or send an e-mail message to kellvinong@rendezvous.com.au).
Le Meridien
A special deluxe room rate of S$200 a night (including free breakfasts and local calls, plus a 50% restaurant discount) is valid from June 1, 1999, to May 30, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 733-8855 or fax (65) 732-7886 (or send an e-mail message to meriorch@asianconnect.com.sg).
Marina Mandarin Hotel
A deluxe room rate of US$200 a night (includes free champagne and 25% discount on food and beverages) and a Presidential Suite rate of US$2000 a night (champagne breakfast, gourmet meals served en suite by a butler, and limousine transfers) are valid from Dec. 29, 1999, to Jan. 2, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 331-8061 or fax (65) 336-2876 (or send an e-mail message to mms888@singnet.com.sg).
Raffles Hotel
Help celebrate the hotel's second century with a New Year's Eve gala ball, with staff wearing royal costumes to serve vintage champagne all night. The gala ball package costs S$3,500 a person. Two special millennium room packages are also being offered: a Jan. 31, 1999, room rate of S$1,999 a night (for an extra dollar, you can share the deal with a guest) and a rate of S$1,500 a night (single or double; includes daily buffet breakfast, five-course dinner and daily surprise souvenirs) from Dec. 28-30, 1999, and Jan. 1-2, 2000. For reservations, call (65) 337-1886 or fax (65) 336-5045.
The Regent Singapore
A three-night package for S$1,330 a person includes deluxe room accommodation, daily buffet breakfast for two and a New Year's Eve special dinner for two. For reservations, call (65) 739-3084 or fax (65) 738-9747.
The Ritz-Carlton
A two-night package in a Marina Bay deluxe room is being offered at S$1,999 for two (includes a New Year's Day champagne brunch; a bottle of champagne; a bouquet of fresh flowers and a S$500 dining voucher). The Ultimate Millennium Experience three day/two night package, priced at S$165,000/US$100,000 a couple, offers accommodation in the Ritz Carlton Suite, his-and-hers 18 carat Bulgari watches, a magnum of Taittinger champagne, a case of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and 24 hour use of a chauffeur-driven Jaguar for shopping and sightseeing. For reservations, call (65) 337-8888 or fax (65) 337-5192.
Westin Stamford Hotel and Westin Plaza Hotel
Both properties are offering the following packages: the Millennium Celebration package, a three-day/two-night deal including breakfast on New Year's Day (one of the nights must fall on Dec. 31, 1999); and a special Millennium Rooms Package beginning on June 1, 1999. For more details, call (65) 339-6633 or fax (65) 336-5117.
Worldlink hotels
This collection of hotels, including the Concorde, Mandarin, Merchant Court, Pan Pacific and other Singapore properties, is offering a MillenniaMania promotion of S$199.99 a night each (based on double occupancy). For details on participating hotels in Singapore, call (65) 299-6698 or fax (65) 299-2218.
Note that the above rates do not include taxes; contact the hotels for more details on their millennium deals. Prices quoted in Singapore dollars and U.S. dollars where applicable. Prices were correct at time of posting. For the latest currency rates and conversions see Asiaweek's currencies page.
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