Singapore Attractions Reopen From 1 July 2020: Best Credit Cards To Use When Visiting

Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and Universal Studios may not have been on your travel bucket list for 2020, but it looks like they will have to do. 

With leisure travel looking increasingly unlikely for Singaporeans until 2021, at the earliest, there’s some consolation in STB’s recent announcement that selected local attractions will be permitted to resume operations from 1 July 2020.

These attractions are:

• Bounce (1 July 2020)
• Madame Tussauds (1 July 2020)
• ArtScience Museum, Sands SkyPark and Observation Deck and Casino at Marina Bay Sands (1 July 2020)
• Universal Studios Singapore and Casino at Resorts World Sentosa (1 July 2020)
• S.E.A. Aquarium (4 July 2020)
• Zero Latency (4 July 2020)
• Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay (11 July 2020)
• Jurong Bird Park (open to members from 3 July, and general public from 6 July 2020)
• River Safari (open to members from 3 July, and general public from 6 July 2020)
• Singapore Zoo (open to members from 3 July, and general public from 6 July 2020)

Other attractions will be allowed to reopen once their safe management measures are approved by the MTI, so we should see this list growing over the next few months. All attractions will initially be capped to no more than 25% of their operating capacity. 

Since Singaporeans are the only potential visitors at the moment, I’m sure we’ll see a deluge of deals as attractions try to woo back business. But if you’re holding on to the following credit cards, you may already be entitled to some discounts. 

Maybank Visa Infinite credit card: Complimentary VIP tours at Universal Studios Singapore

Maybank Visa Infinite cardholders who purchase at least four day passes will be entitled to a complimentary 5-hour VIP guided tour, complete with priority access to rides and shows. The VIP tour can normally cost up to $388 per person, so this can be a great deal if you hate waiting in line. 

Cardholders will need to email VIPExperience@RWSentosa.com to book their tour, with a minimum of 7 days’ advance notice. This offer is valid until 31 December 2020.

HSBC credit cards: 1-for-1 attraction deals

HSBC credit cards receive a complimentary copy of The Entertainer, a membership that provides thousands of 1-for-1 deals. 

This includes local attractions such as:

• AJ Hackett Sentosa
• Bounce
• Forest Adventure
• Freeing SG
• Gogreen Segway
• Mega Adventure Park
• Timezone
• Virtual Room Singapore
• Wings of Time Sentosa
• Xcape Singapore

To get your complimentary copy of the Entertainer, download the special HSBC Entertainer app from the Google Play or Apple App Store (note that it’s a different app from the stand-alone Entertainer). 

Depending on what card you hold with HSBC, you’ll either be entitled to the Standard Entertainer offers or the Premium Entertainer offers. The good news is that almost all the attraction offers are classified as Standard — the Premium tagging is reserved for a few higher-end restaurants. 

The Entertainer offer is renewed on a yearly basis, so all admissions are valid till 31 December 2020. 

Standard Chartered credit cards: 15% off ArtScience Museum and Sands SkyPark Observation Deck

Standard Chartered cardholders will enjoy 15% off entry tickets to both the Art Science Museum and Sands SkyPark Observation Deck. 

Tickets need to be purchased and used by 30 September 2020, and there is a cap of four tickets per transaction. These can be purchased either at the box office or on the Marina Bay Sands online booking platform.

OCBC credit cards: 15% or 50% off NERF Action Xperience

OCBC cardholders will receive 15% or 50% off NERF Action Xperience tickets, depending on which package they purchase and when they do so. The 15% discount applies to the ‘Kick Off’ package, and the 50% discount applies to the second ticket purchased after 6 pm daily. Both offers are valid till 31 December 2020.

Don’t have cards from these banks?

If you do not have any credit cards from the above banks, you can consider using the following generic discounts. You’re entitled to these so long as you hold a Visa or Mastercard, regardless of which bank issues it. 

Generic Visa privileges

• 15% off at Flight Experience Singapore, valid on Mondays to Thursdays only
• 10% off at the Skyline Luge Sentosa

Generic Mastercard privileges

• 15% off Sentosa Fun Pass
• 15% off Cable Car Sky Pass, Sentosa Island Bus Tour, Wings of Time
• 10% off S.E.A Aquarium VIP Experience
• 10% off Universal Studios VIP Experience

Which card should I use to purchase attraction tickets?

Attraction tickets that are purchased online can earn you as much as 4 miles per dollar (mpd) when you use the right credit card. Here are some cards you can consider using:

Conclusion

In addition to the discounts above, do remember that memberships like SAFRA or PAssion may also offer savings at your preferred attractions. 

Due to capacity constraints, certain attractions like the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park only intend to accept advance reservations, and not sell onsite tickets initially. Be sure to check the conditions before heading down. 

Read these next: 
No GSS, No Problem. Check Out These Amazing Mid-Year Sales And Promotions (2020)
Best Products To Buy During This Mid-Year Sale (GSS 2020)
Singapore Public Holidays 2021
7 A La Carte Buffets To Enjoy During Phase 2
Best Dining Credit Cards in Singapore