We’ve flown into and out of Singapore’s legendary Changi Airport several times, but always during the wee hours when most of the magic of the Jewel complex was closed for the night. But that streak ends today because we’re spending the next 24 hours next to the best planet!

As we wrap up our 3-week, 11-flight trip in Southeast Asia, we’re beginning ending through Singapore. Heading home, we’re flying Singapore Airlines into Changi and flying United back out. Obviously, we’re curious to see just how these two airlines stack up. As Premier 1k flyers, United definitely has our loyalty, but everything we’ve heard about Singapore’s flight experience has us wondering if there’s a better way to travel into and out of Asia.

Our family of five’s on quest to experience 110 distinct cultures across all 7 continents by the summer of 2025. We’ve just started a 3-week tour of Southeast Asia and the first spot is Singapore, where we stayed at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Here’s what it’s like.

Singapore is a relatively young city-state that’s about 74% Chinese, 14% Malay, and 9% Indian. That means they have no single official language and very little in the way of official national symbols. But because the culture of this area goes back at least a thousand years, the one thing you’ll find that is purely Singaporean is its food. And our family is out to sample the full range, from authentic food stalls to Michelin starred dishes.

This week, Reagan is staying with her mom in Denver for school while the rest of us head out on our longest, farthest, and most adventurous trip so far. We’re about to spend 3 weeks exploring Singapore and the islands of the Philippines. This trip will mark the 12th and 13th countries and the 3rd continent we’ve hit since 2020.