Award-winning Changi airport

Fish pond in Changi airport. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Check in early, a day ahead, for less of a wait in the check-in line. Better attention as well as missing the queue on the day of departure. 

Changi Card

With a Changi card you get reductions at airside shops even if you are not travelling and just seeing friends or family or colleagues onto a flight. Make a diary note to find your Changi card or allow time to get a new one.

Starbucks

We stopped at Starbucks for our favourite coffee, doppio con panne - Italian for double espresso with cream.  This branch did not have my favourite almond slice so instead we had a banana muffin. I read recently, probably in The Daily Mail online, that those healthy-sounding banana muffins carry a large load of calories. Maybe, but they are large so we had one between two of us.

Crown Plaza Hotel
With more hours to spare we fulfilled a long-standing dream, to see the airport hotel, the Crown Plaza and consider whether it's worthwhile checking in for a day before or after a flight or for a few hours to use the pool.

We had mixed feelings about the hotel. The decor is black which some find sophisticated but I think it's oppressive, dark like a funeral parlour. Good if you want to feel anonymous.

We could not see the swimming pool because it is on a floor not accessible to non-residents. However, the hotel's good points are restful curves, an airport trolley area by reception, a bar and Sunday brunch.

Back out to the airport, there are always season displays to see.

Next door to the hotel is the escalator down to the MRT railway. Would you believe it, a shopping mall around the MRT entrance under the airport. Onto the train to Singapore downtown (one stop to Downtown line).

I feel like I've had a holiday although I've only been to Changi airport.

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. See more photos of Changi in other posts. Please share links to your favourite posts.