Inspired by Tom Hanks’movie The Terminal, I decided to spend the ten hours that I had to wait at Singapore at the airport itself since Changi International Airport prides itself for having won for the 500th time, the award for being the best airport in the world . Besides, I thought it would be a lovely staycation in the fashion of the day- checking into a hotel in the city  you live in with the sole objective of relaxing and enjoying the hotel’s facilites.

So I left my baggage in the left baggage and set out to discover what makes Changi Airport the best in the world.

1. Leaving luggage at the left baggage is a painless procedure even though I had to change terminals and the sky train was closed for maintenance, because the trolleys moved smoothly, the ramp approach  and link bridge between the two terminals was smooth and easy to use.
2. I left the baggage and proceeded to have a cup of coffee. It took a while before I located the right shop but realised later that there are several options , all very well indicated in various parts and if you do happen to get stuck , the staff at the Information counters is friendly and helpful.
3. One of my options was to take a City tour which can take from an hour to five depending on how much time you have between flights. I had the whim day but was a bit intimidated by the thought of getting to the start of the HOHO bus by train – and that too one which involved changing the train albeit on the same line. I didn’t feel confident doing this especially on the reverse journey back to the airport ( though there were two couples before me who opted for the bus tour) and went instead to the Information desk to ask for help with the WiFi. I just had to show them my passport and la voila it was done! 
4. With coffee in my tummy, my bags in the locker and my iPhone hooked I was all ready to snooze and use the HAVEN – the pay as you use lounge facility in the public area of Terminal 3. However I wanted to have a shower as well and once I’d checked my bags out of the left baggage, I’d have had to cart them around. So I used the WiFi to make a whatsapp call to a local friend and spent some time with her instead, outside the airport complex.
5. After a dimsum lunch I returned to the complex and tried to claim my GST refund. This, I figured had a caveat- customs has to check the goods for which you are claiming a GST refund. Obviously then I couldn’t reclaim the GST. 
6. I also looked around for the numerous things one can enjoy at Changi but once again found that all these can only be enjoyed after checking your baggage and getting a boarding pass which makes you a transit passenger and therefore eligible to use all the facilities. 

So much for a staycation at Changi Airport! 

But now I’m off to claim my baggage and shower and change before going to the Transit area to actually enjoy the facilities at Changi.

ps  Without a doubt the WiFi here is FANTASTIC so I can’t wait to get into the transit area!