Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
46
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
If you require hospitalization, the centrally
located
Mount E lizabeth H ospital
is
near Orchard Road at 3 M ount Elizabeth
(
&
65/6737-2666;
for accidents and
hospitals also hav e walk-in clinics for
emergency cases that are not life-threaten-
ing; you may not get immediate attention,
but y ou won 't pay the high price of an
emergency r oom visit. We list
hospitals
and
emergency numbers
under “F ast
Facts: Singapore,” p. 290.
If y ou suffer fr om a chr onic illness,
consult your doctor before your departure.
Pack
prescription medications
in y our
carry-on luggage, and carr y them in their
original containers, with pharmacy
emergencies, call
&
65/6731-2218). You
can also try
Singapore General Hospital,
Outram R oad (
&
65/6222-3322;
for
accidents and emergencies, call
&
65/
6321-4311).
Any foreign consulate can provide a list
of area doctors who speak E nglish. If you
get sick, consider approaching your hotel's
front desk, as many hotels hav e a general
practitioner on call. You can also tr y the
emergency room at a local hospital. M any
labels—otherwise they won 't make it
through airport security. Carry the generic
name of pr escription medicines, in case a
local pharmacist is unfamiliar with the
brand name.
7
SAFETY
Singapore is an extremely safe place by any
standard. There's very little violent crime,
even late at night. I f you stay out, ther e's
little worr y about making it home safely .
There is vir tually no political or social
unrest. Women trav elers ar e tr eated with
respect.
In recent years, some pickpocketing has
been r eported. H otel safe-deposit bo xes
are the best way to secur e v aluables, and
traveler's checks solv e theft pr oblems in a
jiff.
Before y ou go, always check the U.S.
State depar tment w ebsite to see if any
warnings have been issued in this r egion:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/
tw/tw_1764.html
.
3
8
SPECIALIZED TRAVEL RESOURCES
TRAVELERS WITH
DISABILITIES
Most disabilities shouldn 't stop any one
from traveling. While planning y our trip,
check out
www.disability.org.sg
to learn
about accessibility issues facing those with
disabilities, plus practical information
about how to get around the city on public
transportation.
Most hotels have accessible rooms, and
some cab companies offer special v an ser-
vices. Almost all of the newer buildings are
constructed with access ramps for wheel-
chairs, but older buildings ar e very prob-
lematic, especially the shophouses, with
narrow sidewalks and many uneven steps.
For mor e on organizations that offer
resources to disabled travelers, go to www.
frommers.com/planning.
GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELERS
The conservative Singaporean government
doesn't r ecognize or suppor t alternativ e
lifestyles; however, gay and lesbian culture
