Trip Review and Tips
This is based on our tour during the last half of August 2025. Your experience may vary, things change, and stuff happens.
Overall: A great tour with some of the best hotels in the world. The tour has a wide range of cultural experiences from diverse and cosmopolitan Singapore to Muslim Java, Hindu Bali, and Catholic influenced Flores. Add to that gardens, temples, monkeys, dragons and some great snorkeling. Opportunities for spa experiences are available at most hotels, some quite economical. We rank this in our top five tours out of 23 with Tauck. Everyone on our tour agreed that it exceeded expectations.
Hotels: Four of the hotels are world class. The Raffles, the two Four Seasons and the Amanjiwo are luxurious and spacious. Expect to be called by name by the attentive hotel staffs. The rooms are suites at the Raffles and villas at the other three. The Plataran Komodo has spacious rooms and a staff that tries really hard, but the hotel is a bit quirky. But, it's right on the beach and the boat to Komodo comes right to their pier. The Phoenix hotel is nothing special, but you're there just one night for easy airport access - just a sleep and a breakfast.
Currency: We got by without getting any local currency. Restaurants in both countries add 10% service to the bill automatically, so there's no need to tip in cash. In Singapore, all shops and restaurants accept credit cards. The only people who needed local currency were those who went to eat at the hawker markets - informal food halls with local vendors. ATMs are readily available in Singapore. In Indonesia, you're mostly
at the hotels in your free time, so there's little need for cash. Formal shops and restaurants take credit cards. Some people went into Ubud from the 4 Seasons Sayan (the hotel runs a shuttle). There are street vendors there and you'll need cash if you want to buy from them. The hotel has an ATM, the only one of the Indonesian hotels that does. You can also get Indonesian Rupiah from airport ATMs while waiting for a flight. Be aware that the largest Indonesian bill is 100,000 Rupiah, worth about $6. Plan to tip your TD in dollars brought from home.
Weather: Singapore is just above the equator and Indonesia, just below. Expect consistent temperatures (high seventies to high eighties) and high humidity no matter when you go. There are a wet season and a dry season. We were there at the end of August, which is in the dry season. Dry is a relative term. We did get some rain, at times heavy. but we lucked out and it didn't impact much on the activities. Bring a travel umbrella and possibly a rain jacket. We did get some days that were less hot and sticky, thanks to the winds that blow up from Australia at that time of year.
Dress: This tour is decidedly casual. Shorts and t-shirts or polos are the standard for men most all of the time. Women can wear shorts or summer dresses. The only exception is dining at the Raffles restaurants, where pants and a collared shirt are needed.
Singapore: There are many casual restaurants in the two shopping centers near the Raffles. If you plan dine at the Raffles, Tauck recommends that you make reservation before leaving. I think this is a good idea, as both restaurants we ate at were quite busy. Just be aware that the no show policy at the Raffles is strict and expensive. We did the afternoon tea in the lobby for lunch one day. It was good, but expensive. There is a limited selection of teas unless you pay a premium. Finger sandwiches and sweets are served together. The scones are served warm separately, so be sure to wait for the scones to arrive before digging into the sweets. We also ate at the Indian restaurant (Tiffin Room), and it was excellent. Be aware that if you want to see the famous indoor waterfall at the airport ("the Jewel), you'll need go on your own. You can get there on the Singapore MRT transit system. It's open 24 hrs., but there won't be time to visit when you arrive or depart. Some of the shops and attractions at the Jewel are only open 10am to 10pm. Visit the Jewel website for more information.
Java: The initial visit to the Borobudur temple just has you walk around the base of the temple. A second visit, the following morning, was available for those who wish to climb to the top of the temple and get a closer view. I would strongly recommend taking advantage of this. Also be aware that you may hear the call to prayer from several local mosques at 4:30 in the morning. The Amanjiwo provides foam ear plugs, but it's not that bad. The speaker who talked about Javanese Kingdoms and archeology was terrible. Best to skip it. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Bali: In addition to the two restaurants at the 4 Seasons Sayan, the bar serves light meals like burgers and pizzas. The Riverside Restaurant is small and books up quickly. You can get the same menu at the adjacent "Tapas Terrace" but there is not overhead covering. Some people went into Ubud or to nearby restaurants up the hill from the hotel, but these would require a taxi ride. Taxis are cheap and negotiable. At the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Tauck provide hors d'oeuvres and drinks on the first night. You can eat at the Sundara restaurant near the Tauck reception, but most of us ate in the Sundara bar which had a good menu for light meals. For lunch the next day you can eat there or at the bar at the pool. We ate at the pool bar and the food was excellent. Both 4 Seasons properties are spread out. You can get around by calling for a buggy (electric cart) to take you around.
Flores: The snorkeling after the visit to the dragons was very good. If you're comfortable in the water and have snorkeled before (recommended), I would not pass up this opportunity. Bringing a rash guard is a good idea, but not a necessity. The food at the Plataran Komodo was just okay. Seafood tended to be overcooked and dry there and should probably be avoided. Maybe they'll get a better cook in future.
That's it for now. I'll add things if I think of them and try to clean up any typos. Let me know if you have any questions.
Comments
Thank you so, so much, Ken. All of these specifics are very helpful!
Ken from Vegas - Thank you for your great review. We are on this trip in 2026 and are really looking forward to it. We will arrive a couple days early. Do you have any other suggestions for must-see things in Singapore?
Lovely review, Ken! Thanks!
Thanks, Ken. Appreciate your comments.
Ken, thank you for your informative review. I leave for this tour on Tuesday. Which hotels would you recommend the spa services? Were mosquitos an issue at any of the outdoor dinners or on Komodo Island? How difficult was the climb to the top of the temple in Borobudur? I'm really looking forward to this trip!
The degree of difficulty throughout this tour is to a large degree based on your humidity tolerance. Some things that would be routine turn into a burdensome task when the humidity is very high.
Yes, for me too the humidity was brutal in Singapore, not quite as bad as Vietnam, but nearly. If you arrive in Singapore early, get out early to do your site seeing.
Mimitravels - Some people went to the top of the Marina Sands after the visit to the Gardens by the Bay. The bus will drop you off (at least on our tour), but you'll have to find your own way back to the hotel (taxi, subway or walk). If you want to gamble at the casino (yes, the Marina Bay Sands has a casino), you'll need to bring your passport. Locals have to pay $120 to enter the casino, but visitors can enter for free.
We also took the hotel tour at the Raffles. It's free and fun. In addition to learning about the hotel, they show you one of the suites for the ultra-wealthy and heads of state. Michael Jackson, and Beyonce slept here. Sign up with the concierge.
Chitraveler - My wife got a massage at the Plataran Komodo, 90 minutes for $100. I suggest you check the hotel websites for more information on spas or talk to your TD. I know the 4 Seasons Sayan has a huge spa that was recently remodeled.
Mosquitoes weren't bad, but I would use bug repellent on Flores and Bali, especially in the evening. I got a couple of bites on Bali, probably when dining at the Riverside restaurant in the evening. Got a couple of more bites at the hotel on Flores, probably when having dinner, as well. There were mosquito nets on the beds in Indonesia, but I never saw a mosquito in any of the rooms.
The temple had some steep and uneven steps in places but wasn't that hard to climb.
I also forgot to mention that we had some early days when flying between islands. One day had a 4 am bag pull (Singapore to Bali), but I understand that may be changing (due to flight schedules, it means that you will get to the hotel later). It's best when adjusting to the new time zone to stay on an early to bed, early to rise schedule.
Ken--On the day snorkeling is an option, are there changing rooms and a restroom available?
Ken from Vegas - Thank you for the suggestions. Do you have any additional restaurant recommendations besides the hotel restaurants?
Jtelli. It will be the boat. When we took the tour there was no opportunity to swim or snorkel. We went there on wooden boats and Tauck arranged for a massage therapist to give us wonderful foot massages
jteiii - You stop for lunch at a resort before the snorkeling. During lunch people take turns using the bathrooms to change. After snorkeling, the boat heads back to the hotel. People who don't snorkel take the other boat straight back to the hotel (that's when my wife did her spa visit).
There is a restroom on the boat, but probably too cramped to change in. It's your basic marine head, don't flush in the harbor.
Mimitravels - Didn't eat that often on our own away from the hotels and no special recommendations. In Singapore, one couple went to Holy Crab in the shopping center across from the Raffles. Chili crab is a popular local dish and Holy Crab apparently does other styles as well. They said eating the crabs wasn't worth the effort it took to eat them. The people who at the hawker markets enjoyed the experience, but they're more adventurous than I am.
Thanks!
Thanks, Ken. Complete and full answer. Much appreciated.