There is something almost regal about Singapore, with its modern glass skyscrapers, elegant shopping malls, and space-age gardens with solar-powered trees, so it comes as no surprise that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose this cosmopolitan city as the starting point for their Far East Diamond Jubilee Tour.

With its rich mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures, Singapore is anything but the sterile and disciplinarian city many journalists would have us believe, but rather a safe and clean metropolis that runs like clockwork.

Singapore boasts some of the finest hotels in the world, with the majestic ship-like Marina Bay Sands taking the number one spot.  Costing around £4bn to complete, this impressive structure boasts a casino, a shopping mall, and an infinity pool that is not only three times the length of an Olympic swimming pool, but it’s on the 55^th floor!

If you enjoy shopping, you will think you have arrived in paradise in Singapore! The shopping displays could give the likes of New York, Hong Kong and London a run for their money, and while the designer goods still cost a pretty penny, the latest electronics and cameras are much cheaper than in the Western World.

Then we come to dining… One never needs to go hungry in Singapore, and whether you fancy a spicy Malay curry, Peking Duck, Fish and Chips or Italian Pizza, you will not have to walk far to find what you are after.  The food halls within the shopping malls are simply to die for, but with so many different menu options and aromas to tempt your taste buds, you may find it hard to choose! Eating out is very reasonable in Singapore, and if you can drag yourself away from the shopping malls and fine dining restaurants, China town has more than a few tasty options.

Many travellers use Singapore as a stopover, when travelling from the US or Europe to Australia for example, but there is so much to see and do in the city that even a week is too short.  With fantastic attractions such as Universal Studios, Sentosa Park, and the brand new ‘Garden by the Bay’ botanical garden to keep you occupied, you will hardly have time to head to the world-famous Raffles hotel for a Singapore Sling!

Singapore is overflowing with action, it is beautiful, it is clean and it’s safe, so why not head on down to this Far Eastern gem, you never know, you might just bump into Wills & Kate!