Singapore Expats

Hi everyone, we are in the process of finding somewhere to live in Singapore. My husband is already there and I am still in the UK. It is so hard to make a decision on photos alone. Could any body tell me how practical it is for us to live on Sentosa Island. My husband is selling it to me big time but its me who has to get 3 kids to school every day and get the shopping etc. The children will go to Tanglin school, do buses go from there to Sentosa. How long is the school run. If they do after school clubs how will they get home if the bus has gone. Are there many ex pats on Sentosa or is it mainly tourists. I would really appreciate an honest opinion from somebody who lives on the island and has to deal with the daily practicalities of it. It all sounds amazing but i think my husband is looking at it like a holiday home, sea views, amusment parks, zoo etc which for us mums is all a novelty that wears thin after a few weeks.
Many thanks in advance
Ali

Well, it depends on your expectations. The average Singaporean would find Sentosa an extraordinarily inconvenient place to live, since there are virtually no facilities on the island itself and no public transport to Sentosa Cove. However, if you have a car -- and you presumably will -- it's a very short drive across the bridge to Vivocity, Singapore's largest shopping mall, and (if I recall correctly?) Sentosa Cove does run shuttle buses to Vivo as well.

Not sure about school buses, you'd do best to contact the schools directly. I would not be surprised if they balk at the distance though...

Also what will Sentosa be like when even more people flock to Sentosa when the casino and Universal open up.

alihau wrote:Could any body tell me how practical it is for us to live on Sentosa Island. My husband is selling it to me big time but its me who has to get 3 kids to school every day and get the shopping etc. The children will go to Tanglin school, do buses go from there to Sentosa. How long is the school run. If they do after school clubs how will they get home if the bus has gone. Are there many ex pats on Sentosa or is it mainly tourists.

Not very practical for a family with school age kids, but you won't be alone.
There are some local families, too.
Best if you get the car and drop hubby off at the MRT or work, but kids will still have to get up early.
Seems that SDC is only allowing 1 car per household for now.

Other than Saturday afternoon and evenings, traffic doesn't seem to be too bad, but there still are a lot of vacant units.
Hopefully, the extra lanes will be opening up before too long.

Sentosa is very artificial, I am not sure if you would like it there aster being there couple times.

Sentosa is a very nice concept, but I would think its very inconvenient, to stay. A total nightmare with schooling kids and no car, definitely.

Why don't you suggest to your husband to stay in a condo near Harbourfront (like Caribean or something)? That way, you are still close to Sentosa, and can pop over on weekends. On the other hand, basic things like getting groceries, getting a cab, sending the kids to school, etc will be a lot easier.

Thank you for all you comments, looks like we may give it a miss for now, cant face spending so much time in the car, thats what I was looking forward to getting away from in the UK.